Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) Plc has reinforced its board with the appointment of legal luminary Mr. Wolemi Esan (SAN) and finance expert Dr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga as non-executive directors, following the retirement of two long-serving board members.
The appointments, which took effect on July 1, 2026, were disclosed in a regulatory filing to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) signed by the Company’s Secretary, Bello Abdullahi.
The new directors replace Mr. Akinwumi G. Fanimokun, the company’s former Vice Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Taofeeq Oluwatoyin Salman, whose retirements became effective on June 15 and June 30, 2026, respectively, after eight years of service on the board.
NAHCO also announced the appointment of existing Non-Executive Director, Mr. Tajudeen Omoshola Shobayo, as Vice Chairman, succeeding Fanimokun.
The company noted that although Fanimokun retired in line with age considerations, he remains a substantial shareholder in NAHCO.
Esan joins the board with more than two decades of experience in commercial law, arbitration, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and infrastructure development. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he has advised leading corporations, financial institutions and government agencies on complex legal and regulatory matters, including major rail, port and airport concession projects.
His expertise has earned recognition from leading international legal directories, including Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and Legal 500. Esan holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Lagos State University, a Master of Laws from University College London as a Jeremy Bentham Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration from Durham University.
Omodayo-Owotuga brings extensive experience in banking, infrastructure finance, corporate governance and the energy sector. He currently serves as Executive Director at First Bank of Nigeria Limited and previously held key leadership roles at Geregu Power Plc, Forte Oil (now Ardova Plc), Africa Finance Corporation, Standard Chartered Bank and KPMG.
He played a significant role in the transformation of Geregu Power into Nigeria’s first listed power generation company and was instrumental in driving governance reforms, capital raising initiatives and operational improvements. His professional credentials include the CFA Charter, fellowships of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Institute of Credit Administration, while he is also a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
Academically, Omodayo-Owotuga holds a Doctor of Business Administration from Oxford Saïd Business School, an MBA with distinction from IE Business School, and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, alongside executive education from Geneva Business School and other global institutions.
The appointments are expected to deepen NAHCO’s expertise in corporate governance, finance, legal strategy and infrastructure as the aviation ground handling company continues to strengthen its leadership and pursue long-term growth.
