Profile of Bomber’s Father

DR. UMARU ABDUL MUTALLAB. Photo: First Bank Nigeria.

San Francisco (THEWILL) - Dr. Umaru Abdul Mutallab is chairman of the Nigeria’s first Islamic Bank, Jaiz Bank International Plc which was established in 2003. He has over 30 years experience in developmental, commercial and merchant banking.

One of his co-directors at the bank is Nigeria’s minister for petroleum resources & former secretary of OPEC, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman.

CAREER AND LIFE

A Veteran Chairman of the Board of First Bank Plc Alhaji Umaru Abdul Mutallab, 70, was born in Katsina State on December 15, 1939. He formally retired from the position of chairman after serving on the Board for thirteen years.

His voluntary retirement was announced at the Board meeting of the bank in Lagos some weeks ago. First Bank named Ayoola Oba Otudeko as replacement.

Mutallab was appointed to the Board of First Bank in 1996 and became its Chairman in 1999. He attended Barewa College, Zaria, Achimota College, Accra, Ghana and the South West London College, London.

He started his working career in 1965 as Management Accountant with Fuller Jenks Beecroft & Co in London. He also served as Chief Accountant/Acting General Manager, Defence Industries Corporation in Kaduna. He was also the Financial Controller of the company.

He rose to become the General Manager, New Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC) from 1968 to 1975. In 1975, he was appointed as Federal Commissioner (i.e. Minister) for Economic Development & Reconstruction and was re-assigned to the Federal Ministry of Cooperatives & Supply in 1976.

He was a member, Federal Executive Council from 1976 to 1978. He left to serve as Executive Vice Chairman/Managing Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) up till 1988.

Mutallab is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered and Certified Accountants (FCCA), Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), Fellow Institute of the International Bankers Association of the United States (FIBA) and Fellow Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

He holds the Nigeria National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and the Italian National Honour of Commander of the Order of Merit. He was awarded a Honourary Doctorate Degree by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Mutallab also served on the boards of several companies such as Arewa Textiles Limited, NEPA, NACB, NCC, Nigeria Agip Oil, and the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria [CCNN].

He is currently Chairman of several companies, including Impresit Bakolori Plc, Incar Nigeria Plc and Spring Waters Nigeria Limited (SWAN). He is also Chairman, Business Support Group of the Vision 2020.

* Additional materials supplied by Daily Trust.