Jacob Ajekigbe

Former Managing Director, First Bank

Education: University of Ibadan, 1975; Masters, Business Accounting, University of Lagos, 1990.

Career: Agricultural Credit Officer, First Bank, 1977; Senior Manager, First Bank, 1986; Principal Manager, First Bank, 1993; Assistant General Manager, First Bank, London, United Kingdom, 1996; Deputy General Manager, Corporate Banking, First Bank, 2000; Executive Director, Retail and Consumer Banking, First Bank, 2000; Managing Director and CEO, First Bank, 2002-09.

Commentary: As a former Managing Director of First Bank, Nigeria's oldest and largest bank, Ajekigbe is well regarded in the business community. He is also one of the founders of Transcorp, a Nigerian-owned 'mega-corporation' that promotes the country's economic interests at home and abroad. Transcorp was closely modeled on South Korea's giant Chaebol conglomerates, which are among the biggest in the world.