Olusegun Alebiosu is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank Group), having assumed the role in June 2024, following a stint as Acting CEO earlier that year . With nearly three decades of experience across Africa’s top financial institutions, he brings deep expertise in risk management, corporate governance, and strategic operations.
🎓 Education & Background
• Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations & Personnel Management and a Master’s in International Law & Diplomacy from the University of Lagos.
• Earned a Master’s in Development Studies from the London School of Economics, and completed the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at Harvard Business School .
• A seasoned certified executive, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Associate of the Nigeria Institute of Management, and member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria .
💼 Career & Leadership Philosophy
Beginning his career at Oceanic Bank Plc in 1991, Alebiosu later held senior roles at Coronation Merchant Bank, the African Development Bank Group, and FirstBank, where he served as Chief Risk Officer from 2016 before transitioning into executive leadership in 2024 .
He believes in a leadership philosophy rooted in risk diligence, operational excellence, and stakeholder-centered banking. As CEO, his focus has been on strengthening FirstBank’s risk architecture, expanding its digital ecosystem, and steering the bank through post-recapitalization growth.
During his early tenure, Alebiosu emphasized:
“We must ensure a resilient bank that balances innovation, efficiency, and customer trust.”
Under his stewardship, FirstBank has extended its digital presence—servicing over 36 million customer accounts, issuing more than 11.8 million cards, and scaling the most extensive agent banking network in Africa, with 170,000 agents. The bank now ranks among the continent’s largest card issuers and digital service platforms .
🧭 Personal Interests & Outlook
Away from the boardroom, Alebiosu is a golf enthusiast who enjoys adventure travel. He is happily married with children. He often shares that balancing personal well-being with professional demands helps him stay focused on delivering sustained value for FirstBank’s stakeholders .
Olusegun Alebiosu’s appointment marks an important transition for FirstBank as it consolidates its position in a fiercely competitive banking landscape. His deep risk discipline, global education pedigree, and digital-first leadership are critical to steering one of Nigeria’s most storied institutions toward greater market relevance.
With increased emphasis on financial inclusion, digital innovation, and robust governance, Alebiosu is helping ensure that FirstBank remains not just a legacy brand, but a future-defining force in African banking.
