EDUCATION
Mr. Dikko was among the most outstanding BSc. Accounting graduates from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in the Class of 1980. He graduated with a second-class upper degree and later secured a commensurate MSc. in Management Science, concentrating in Finance from the University of Manchester, England. In 2018, the University of Abuja recognized his unparalleled excellence in his field, and the lavish experience he has garnered in leadership and management, and therefore conferred on him an honorary doctorate degree in Business Administration.
CAREER HISTORY
Mr. Dikko’s exceptional performance in the university laid the foundation for what later became his accomplished career path. His professional journey through the workplace spanned over three decades in retail banking, corporate finance, pension administration, organizational leadership and boardroom portfolio. His career began very early in life with a famous chartered accounting firm in Kano, Aminu Ibrahim & Co, where he was involved with auditing and investigation tasks. Even at that apprentice stage, Mr. Dikko exhibited signs, which demonstrated how accomplished he would likely become in the years ahead. To cap his unparalleled career, from 2005-2011, he led Premium Pensions Limited as one of the most efficient and effective Chief Executive Officers of the company. And for ten unbroken years (1995-2005), he became the most proactive, most strategic thinking, and indeed one of the longest serving Managing Directors at the United Bank for Africa (UBA). The decade was obviously his golden era in the banking industry. He had earlier served as Deputy Managing Director from 2003-2004, which propelled him into the CEO position in recognition of his exemplary service to the bank, reputed to be one of Nigeria’s biggest three. Earlier, between 2000-2003 he served as Executive Director for the bank. In this capacity, he successfully handled the following critical functions: Treasury and Consumer Banking, Commercial and Public Sector Banking, Investment Banking, Chairman Board of Directors, UBA Capital and Trust Limited, Chairman Board of Directors, UBA Securities Ltd., Chairman, Investment Assets & Liabilities Committee, and also supervised the International and Multilateral Sectors for Treasury & Financial Institutions at the New York Branch of the bank. From 1998-2000, Mr. Dikko also served as General Manager in charge of Investment Banking and the Public Sector, at UBA. Between 1997 and 1998, he held the post of Deputy General Manager for UBA with responsibility for mobilizing Federal Government Deposits into the bank. And in 1996, he briefly served as Deputy General Manager.
At this time, he was placed to take charge of the Bank’s Commercial Credits and Relationship Management covering the entire Northern region. Before then, he also had a short stint on the Deputy General Manager portfolio from April 1995 – July 21, 1996. In this role, he was responsible for the North-West Region of UBA. Mr. Dikko was credited to have successfully managed and supervised the general operations of 31 branches of the bank during his barely one-year service in this role. Before joining UBA, Mr. Dikko worked for three years (1992 – 1995) with Urban Development Bank in Abuja. As Controller of Banking Operations, he took responsibility for multiple functions including Investment Appraisals, Funds Management and Disbursements. Rising through his memorable career path, Mr. Dikko also tested the Merchant Banking sub-sector substantially. He worked with ICON Merchant Bankers from 1991-1992, where he served the role of Senior Manager for Kaduna Area office covering four states. He was earlier promoted to the position from the post of Manager for the Kaduna Area office, a post he held from 1990-1991. In 1989, he held the post of Deputy Manager for Credit and Marketing at ICON Merchant Bankers Kaduna until 1990. For two years (1987-1989) Mr. Dikko was Assistant Manager for the bank at the Kaduna Area office where he managed and supervised the Credit and Marketing Group. He rose to this position from the rank of Credit Officer (1984 -1986) at the Lagos Head office on the famous Broad Street, Nigeria’s undisputed financial warehouse. His role in this start-up position involved credit appraisals presentations at management Credit Committee and the management of loan portfolios. Outside of the banking sector Mr. Dikko served as Accounts Officer for Ceramics Manufacturers Nigeria Limited from 1981 – 1982. He also doubled as Company Secretary for the firm. The dual responsibility placed him in charge of the Company’s Accounts and Governing Board Meetings and other Secretarial Responsibilities.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
1984: Credit Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
1985: Correspondent Banking School Course, Citibank, N.A. Athens, Greece.
1987: Adcoms Marketing Course – ADCOMS LIMITED, Lagos.
1989: Basic Techniques Leasing Workshop, The Equipment Leasing Association in collaboration with Amembal and Isom, Lease Consultants Utah, USA.
1989: Exceptional Sales Performance and face-to-face Selling Skills, The Forum Corporation.
1990: Advance Management Workshop. Financial Institutions Training Centre.
1980: Strategic Management in Banking – INSEAD, Fontaineblue, France.
2004: Bank Strategic Master class Euromoney Training, London.
2005: Fundamentals of Risk Management, International Faculty of Finance London.
2009: High Performance People Skills for Leaders, London Business School.
2013: Applied Corporate Finance – Euromoney Training EME.
2013: The Leadership Journey Wharton Business School University of Philadelphia USA.
2014: Leadership Through Self Mastery GLOMACS Dubai, UAE.
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