NIGERIA – The United Africa Company of Nigeria PLC (UAC), the parent company of UAC Foods Limited has appointed Mr. Ibikunle Ibiyinka Oriola as the Group’s Finance Director.

Mr. Oriola is a seasoned professional with 17 years’ experience gained from diverse functional roles spanning finance, strategy, risk management and corporate finance.

He has provided strategic finance leadership, driving transformational and growth agenda of conglomerate businesses spanning several sectors such as hospitality, real estate, power, agriculture and asset/funds management.

In the past, Mr. Oriola has worked as Group Chief Finance Officer (GCFO) at Asset & Resource Management Holding Company Limited (ARM), where he had oversight on the group’s finance function.

He has also worked as the chief finance officer at Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC (TRANSCORP) responsible for executing a broad range of finance and ancillary roles.

He has extended corporate finance experience gained as a transaction adviser working with Ecobank Capital and KPMG – a financial audit, tax and advisory firm. 

In 2007, Mr. Oriola was seconded to KPMG United Arab Emirates for 15 months where he worked on several infrastructure finance projects. 

He also previously worked with Kakawa Discount House (now FBN Merchant Bank).

Mr. Oriola, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from University of Lagos, is an Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) merit award winner.

In his new role Ibikunle will deploy his experience to the development and implementation of appropriate finance strategies to uplift productivity and business performance across the UAC Group.

The UAC of Nigeria is a conglomerate of industries whose business operations include food and beverages, manufacturing, services, logistics and warehousing, agricultural and real estate.

The company operates a food and beverages segment under the subsidiary UAC Foods Limited through a joint venture between UAC of Nigeria Plc and Tiger Brands and manufactures packaged snacks, fruit juice, ice-cream, and bottled spring water.

UAC has also ventured into the grains and cereals sector through it Grand Cereals Limited business which manufactures and markets Grand Edible Oils, Vital Poultry/Fish Feeds and Grand Maize Meals.

UAC also runs investments in the restaurant sector the UAC Restaurants which operates brands like Mr Bigg’s.