The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc (NAHCO Aviance) has announced a significant reshuffle of its Board of Directors with the appointment of two accomplished professionals—Mr. Wolemi Esan, SAN, and Dr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga—as Non-Executive Directors, alongside the elevation of Mr. Tajudeen Omoshola Shobayo, FCA, to the position of Vice Chairman.
The appointments, disclosed in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) signed by the Company’s Secretary, Mr. Bello A. Abdullahi, come as the aviation ground handling giant bids farewell to two respected board members who completed their statutory eight-year tenure.
Retiring from the Board are Mr. Akinwumi Godson Fanimokun, Independent Non-Executive Director and Vice Chairman, whose retirement became effective on June 15, 2026, and Mr. Taofeeq Oluwatoyin Salman, Non-Executive Director, who exited on June 30, 2026.
The company expressed appreciation for their years of dedicated service, noting that Mr. Fanimokun continues to retain a substantial equity stake in NAHCO even after stepping down from the Board.
To ensure leadership continuity, the Board approved the appointment of Mr. Tajudeen Omoshola Shobayo, FCA, an existing Non-Executive Director, as Vice Chairman with effect from July 1, 2026.
Esan Brings Extensive Legal, Governance Expertise
One of the newly appointed directors, Mr. Wolemi Esan, SAN, is one of Nigeria’s leading commercial lawyers with more than two decades of experience advising multinational corporations, financial institutions and public sector organisations.
He has built an impressive career representing clients in complex commercial litigation, domestic and international arbitration, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, corporate governance, infrastructure financing and regulatory compliance.
His expertise extends to several landmark transportation and infrastructure projects, including airport, seaport and railway concession transactions, making him a strategic addition to NAHCO’s Board at a time when Nigeria’s aviation sector continues to pursue expansion and modernisation.
Esan has earned international recognition from prestigious legal ranking organisations such as Chambers Global, IFLR1000 and Legal 500 for his excellence in commercial law and dispute resolution.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Lagos State University, a Barrister-at-Law qualification from the Nigerian Law School, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from University College London as a Jeremy Bentham Scholar, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Durham University.
Omodayo-Owotuga Adds Wealth of Corporate Leadership
Joining the Board alongside Esan is Dr. Julius B. Omodayo-Owotuga, an accomplished finance executive whose career spans banking, infrastructure finance, oil and gas, and the power sector.
Before joining the Board, he served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Geregu Power Plc, Nigeria’s first publicly listed power generation company, where he played a pivotal role in transforming the organisation from a government-owned utility into a market-driven enterprise.
His leadership at Geregu Power focused on strengthening corporate governance, improving operational efficiency and leading strategic capital-raising initiatives that enhanced the company’s competitiveness in Nigeria’s electricity market.
Earlier, Dr. Omodayo-Owotuga served as Group Executive Director of Forte Oil Plc, now Ardova Plc, where he helped engineer the company’s remarkable turnaround from sustained losses to profitability.
His professional journey also includes serving as Asset and Liability Management Specialist at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), where he managed funding strategies, liquidity planning and relationships with multilateral financial institutions while supporting infrastructure financing across Africa.
He previously held senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank and KPMG, where he developed deep expertise in financial reporting, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), auditing, risk management and corporate finance.
Dr. Omodayo-Owotuga currently serves as Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and sits on the boards of Quant Investment Managers and several other organisations, bringing decades of executive leadership and governance experience to NAHCO.
He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), and the Institute of Credit Administration. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors Nigeria.
His academic credentials include a Doctor of Business Administration from Oxford Saïd Business School, a Master of Business Administration with distinction from IE Business School, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Lagos. He has also completed executive education programmes at Geneva Business School and other leading international institutions.
Positioning NAHCO for Future Growth
Industry observers believe the latest appointments further strengthen NAHCO’s corporate governance structure by bringing together deep expertise in aviation-related infrastructure, finance, legal practice, risk management and strategic business transformation.
The company has, in recent years, consolidated its leadership in Nigeria’s aviation ground handling industry through investments in modern equipment, improved operational efficiency and expansion of its service offerings.
With the addition of seasoned professionals such as Esan and Omodayo-Owotuga, as well as the appointment of Shobayo as Vice Chairman, NAHCO is expected to deepen board oversight, strengthen stakeholder confidence and position itself to capitalise on emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s growing aviation sector.
The appointments underscore the company’s commitment to robust corporate governance, sustainable growth and delivering long-term value to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.
Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO) appoints Wolemi Esan (SAN) and Dr. Julius Omodayo-Owotuga as Non-Executive Directors, while Tajudeen Shobayo becomes Vice Chairman following board retirements.
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