Nova Bank appoints Jude Anele as managing director/CEO

*Meets CBN capital requirements to open eight new branches in 2026.

NOVA Bank Limited has announced the appointment of Jude Anele as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The appointment comes at a crucial time in the Bank’s evolution, following its transition from an investment bank to a commercial bank and the successful completion of its recapitalization program ahead of the regulatory deadline of 31 March 2026.

Anele has over 33 years of banking experience across West and Central Africa, with deep expertise in retail/commercial banking, corporate banking, risk management, institutional transformation and executive leadership. Throughout his career, he has led complex banking operations, strengthened governance frameworks, achieved sustainable revenue growth and built high-performing teams.

The appointment reflects the Board of Directors’ strategic commitment to consolidating NOVA Bank’s commercial banking platform, while accelerating growth in the Corporate, Commercial and Retail segments, as well as priority markets.

Speaking on his appointment, Anele said he was honored to take over the leadership of the Bank at a decisive stage in its growth.
“Nova Bank has built a strong institutional foundation defined by regulatory compliance, capital strength, disciplined governance and a clear commercial mandate. Our focus now is on execution: deepening client relationships, expanding responsibly in priority markets, strengthening risk discipline and delivering sustainable value to our shareholders,” he said.

Bank President Phillips Oduoza also expressed confidence in the new leadership.

“The Board is pleased to welcome Jude Anele as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. His deep experience, strategic clarity and proven leadership align strongly with NOVA Bank’s growth ambitions,” Oduoza said. He added that with the recapitalization completed ahead of regulatory time, the Bank is entering a new phase defined by scale, stability and structured expansion.

NOVA Bank also confirmed that it has met the recapitalization requirements set by the Central Bank of Nigeria ahead of the regulatory deadline, strengthening its capital adequacy and long-term financial stability. The capital increase, supported by new and existing shareholders, further strengthens the Bank’s balance sheet and positions it for disciplined growth.

In 2025, Global Credit Rating reaffirmed NOVA Commercial Bank’s nationwide long-term and short-term issuer ratings of BBB(NG) and A3(NG), respectively, while Agusto & Co. reaffirmed the Bank’s ‘Bbb’ rating with a stable outlook, reflecting its strong capital base, strong liquidity position and resilient asset quality relative to its risk profile.

NOVA Bank currently maintains operations in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri and Port Harcourt, with plans to open eight additional branches in major business hubs in 2026 as part of its expansion strategy.

The inauguration of the Bank’s regional office in Owerri marked a significant milestone in its growth strategy in the South East and South South. The event attracted business leaders from government officials and Nigerians in diaspora and highlighted NOVA Bank’s commitment to supporting business development and economic growth.

NOVA Bank Limited is a commercial bank authorized and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria. After starting operations in 2018 as an investment bank, the institution transitioned to a commercial bank in 2024 and provides retail, SME, corporate and corporate banking services through its Phygital model, an integrated approach that combines physical branch presence with digital banking infrastructure.