By ETIM ETIM
Akwa Ibom State University on Saturday conferred an honorary doctorate degree (Doctor of Business Administration) on Ms Emem Usoro, Central Bank Deputy Governor in charge of the Corporate Services Directorate, and seven other eminent Nigerians. The convocation ceremony took place at the Convocation Arena of the main campus and the Visitor and governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Eno was present. The other awardees are Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero (Doctor of Arts); Engr Uwem Stephen Okoko (Doctor of Engineering); Mohammadu Indimi (Doctor of Business Administration); Engr Oliver Ebong (Engineering); Pastor Inyang Udo Tobby (Humane Letters) and Engr. Elvis Effiong Osung (Engineering). It was a combined 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th convocation in which over 2,000 students received undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Ms Usoro was appointed Deputy Governor in 2023 along with three other deputy governors and Yemi Cardoso as Governor. Her responsibilities cover Human Resources, Corporate Communications, Security Services, Legal Services, Medical Services, Procurement and Support Services – functions that are indispensable to the Bank’s operational effectiveness and the successful execution of its policy objectives. Under her leadership, these key departments have been strengthened into cohesive pillars of resilience, excellence and institutional capability. Prior to her current role, she served as Deputy Governor in charge of the Operations Directorate where she provided oversight for Banking Services, Reserve Management, Information Technology, Currency Operations and Branch Operations departments in the Bank. In that role, she championed initiatives that strengthened financial inclusion, advanced digital banking and regulatory reform.
Gov. Eno commended the University for selecting such a distinguished group for the awards and particularly praised Usoro as ‘’a beloved daughter of Akwa Ibom State who has made significant contributions in the financial services industry, her community and church’’. Whilst serving as Deputy Governor, Operations, Usoro was also the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Plc (NSPM), which is responsible for producing Nigerian’s banknotes and coins. NSPM is Africa’s foremost security printing company and the only full-fledged security printing organisation in the West African region. As Chairman of the Board, Usoro drove far-reaching strategic reforms, new partnerships and technological advancements at the institution which achieved significant production efficiency, waste reduction, cost savings, and new improved management style.
She has also championed a range of forward-looking initiatives focused on financial inclusion, digital banking transformation, regulatory reform, operational modernization and workforce development. Her efforts continue to position the Central Bank of Nigeria as an impact focused, high-performance organisation with strong emphasis on technology-driven service delivery and inclusive economic empowerment. Working with Governor Cardoso, Usoro’s vision and commitment to advancing the Bank’s mission of maintaining monetary and financial stability, while fostering institutional excellence, innovation and sustainable growth, recently led to the Central Bank of Nigeria being named the world’s “Central Bank of the Year” at the 2026 Central Banking Awards, London, in recognition of the sweeping monetary and structural reforms undertaken by the Bank that has stabilised the Nigerian economy and restored investor confidence after years of policy distortions.
Usoro is currently the only female member of the Committee of Governors in the Bank (and the first female from Akwa Ibom state). She serves on the CBN Board, including some of the Bank’s Board committees. She is also a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria- the highest policy-making body within the Bank responsible for formulating monetary/credit and financial system policies and setting key rates like the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to ensure price stability, manage inflation and support economic growth,
She joined the CBN with more than 23 years of outstanding professional experience in the financial services sector. Before her appointment as Deputy Governor in the Central Bank of Nigeria, she served as Executive Director, North, at one of Nigeria’s leading banks, where she earned widespread acclaim for her exceptional leadership across retail, commercial, public sector, corporate banking and advisory services. Her career reflects a consistent record of excellence in business development, financial advisory, strategic planning and the management of complex asset portfolios.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB), she holds an MBA from Obafemi Awolowo University. She is also an alumna of Harvard Business School and Lagos Business School, where she completed distinguished executive programs including the Advanced Management Program and the General Management Program. She has also attended several executive programmes at world’s leading business schools including Columbia Business School, New York; National University of Singapore Business School, Singapore, etc., and has broadened her global leadership education at the Harvard Kennedy School, Massachusetts; the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America; the University of Pretoria in South Africa, etc. Her intellectual depth, global exposure and disciplined leadership have equipped her with a refined understanding of institutional governance and transformative strategy.
As Visitor to the university, Gov. Eno attended the convocation with a retinue of his cabinet members and several important dignitaries. He applauded the Vice Chancellor, Professor Otoabasi E. Akpan, for the great job he is doing, starting from when he was the Acting Vice Chancellor and now as the substantive chief executive.
Under his leadership, seven new faculties have been established alongside the approval of 60 new academic programmes by the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), one of which is the Department of Business Development and Entrepreneurial Studies, which the governor had urged the university to establish during the last convocation held on February 28 this year.
‘’I am so thrilled with the addition of this department that I am announcing here today my readiness to teach a course pro bono in that department. Entrepreneurship is an area that is dear to my heart; it is the single most critical ingredient that can unlock potential and set one on the path of growth and sustainability’’, the governor said. He described himself as a prime example of that mindset and approach, and I truly believe that the more our people are exposed to the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, the more growth, personal fulfillment, and wealth creation will take root and become a shared aspiration and internalized culture.
Eno was a successful entrepreneur in the hotel and catering business. It is an established practice, especially in the United States and Europe for successful entrepreneurs to join university faculty as adjunct professors based on their practical experience.
ETIM ETIM is a veteran journalist and PR professional with over 35 years of cognate experience.
He is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Policy & Politics (www.policyandpolitics.com.ng), an online newspaper dedicated to insightful analysis of Nigerian news and world’s report. He is also a columnist with BusinessDay and The Cable and is a regular contributor to other newspapers.
Contact: +234802 3159969 (WhatsApp Only)
