Young Banker of the Year 2023 Grand Final

Adebola is the Head of Custody at Ecobank in Nigeria and Managing Director of Ecobank Nominees Limited (A Member of the Ecobank Transnational Incorporated). Her experience within the financial services industry cuts across the areas of business start-up, strategy, institutional custody & securities services, operations, and treasury asset & liability management. She began her banking career in 2008 with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc Nigeria, and has also worked with NatWest Bank UK, Citibank UK, First City Monument Bank Nigeria and FSDH Merchant Bank Nigeria.

Adebola is a pioneer, having set up the custody businesses of 2 Banks in Nigeria. She has successfully spearheaded projects some of which are the automation of revenue generation process and development of a custody management software in conjunction with a local software developer in Nigeria.

Adebola holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Physiology from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and an MSc. in Management from the University of Southampton, UK. As part of her contribution to the society, she volunteers as the Director of Strategy & Partnerships with CrimsonBow Sickle Cell Initiative, an NGO focused on caring for sickle call warriors, based in Lagos State, Nigeria. She is a firm believer in mentoring, using a one-on-one approach at influencing her generation and generations after. She is adept at organizing people and activities, and loves to read, dance, and listen to music.

John is a Product Owner for Lloyds Banking Group. During his time within the group John has lead large teams across the country, including launching the Halifax Flagship Branch, the largest retail bank branch in Europe. John has completed two apprenticeships with the group and is currently studying his third, a level 7 in Senior Leadership. 

Craig started his career in banking at the age 17 through Tesco Bank’s modern apprenticeship scheme. Craig worked a number of analyst roles at Tesco Bank within customer operations, finacial crime and digital before joining Sainsbury’s Bank in January 2023 as a Product Analyst in Credit Cards Commercial. Craig recently won the 2023 Chartered Banker Institute Young Banker of the Year competition with his proposal to support customers living with dementia. Craig is also a committee member of Scottish Financial Enterprise's Young Professionals network, working in the Changing Customer Needs workstream which looks to empower Scotlands financial services sector to support customers evolving needs.

Uzma is a Performance & Business Management Manager in Corporates & institutions (C&I) department of NatWest Bank, managing financial deals/projects, collaborating with internal & external stakeholders, and working with German & Poland KYC Teams to perform end to end process. Her banking career started with RBSG in 2012 as a front desk cashier and since then she worked her way up to C&I after working in Business banking & Commercial banking sectors.

She has been inspired by her father who worked in Banking industry all his life and she also would like to develop her career in Banking.

Uzma is honoured to have reached the semi-finals which gives her a platform to present her idea that helps her customers & colleagues to tackle their personal Inflation in an innovative and digital way.

Uzma is also a member of Principals for Responsible Banking Academy (PRA Academy) and recently also had completed NWG Climate Change Transformation Programme and achieved the Certificate from University of Edinburgh Business School.

In her spare time, Uzma is volunteering as a Magistrate and currently awaiting on Lord Chancellor’s Recruitment Advisory Committee for official appointment.