Bisi Onasanya

Born in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Onasanya hails from the Onasanya Family in Ijebu Land, Ogun State. He grew up in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, where he attended St Paul’s Anglican Primary School (Mushin), Eko Boys High School (Mushin), and the then Lagos State College of Science and Technology. He is the eldest of four children from his mother, and the third of his father’s children.

Onasanya joined Wema Bank as a senior accountant in 1985, and over the nine years he worked there, rose to become Head of Accounts.

Onasanya spent three years (October 2005 to December 2008) as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Pension Custodian. Incorporated by the First Bank Group in response to reforms to the Nigerian pension industry which saw the actuarial system move from a “defined benefit” to a “defined contribution" basis, Onasanya took First Pension Custodian from the application stage, through authorisation by the industry regulator. Thereafter, he successfully established it as the sector leader in the Nigerian pension custody market.

The company broke even with almost N400 billion in pension assets under management by the time he left in 2008.^[3]

Onasanya spent 21 years with First Bank of Nigeria Limited until his retirement in December 2015 (barring the 3 years when he helped set up First Pension Custodian). Joining First Bank as a Senior Manager, he then held several positions, including that of Group Head, Finance and Performance Management Department. From his period as Chief Executive at First Pension Custodian, he returned to First Bank as an Executive Director, Banking Operations & Services, then rose to become Chief Executive Officer, the position he held until his retirement.^[4]

Onasanya retired as Group Managing Director/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, on December 31, 2015. He is currently the chairman/CEO of his real estate business, the Address Homes Limited.^[5]