First HoldCo Plc has confirmed the appointment of Mrs. Abiola Baruwa as its new Group Company Secretary.
The announcement was made in a corporate disclosure to the Nigerian Exchange on September 23, 2025. The filing, endorsed by Chairman Olufemi Otedola, stated that Baruwa will take over from Mr. Adewale L.O. Arogundade, who is set to retire on November 7, 2025, after 35 years of service to the group.
With over two decades of professional experience spanning law and finance, Baruwa is expected to strengthen the company’s governance framework while bringing a fresh strategic outlook to its leadership.
Baruwa earned her LL.B (Hons) in Law from Lagos State University before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, where she was called to the Bar in 2004. She later obtained a Master’s degree in International Finance Law (LL.M, Merit) from King’s College, London.
Her career began at Olaniwun Ajayi & Co LP in 2004, followed by a stint as an Associate at G.M.O Legal Practitioners. In 2006, she joined Sahara Energy Limited as Legal Services Supervisor, marking the start of her transition into the corporate and financial services space.
Between 2008 and 2012, she worked at Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank) as Legal Services Officer before moving to FBNQuest Merchant Bank, where she rose to Vice President, Debt Solutions, and played key roles in financing transactions across oil and gas, power, and telecoms.
Baruwa’s career later saw her take on senior roles at Ecobank (2017) as Senior Manager for the Company Secretariat and Corporate Bank Legal Services, and at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) in 2020, where she served as Company Secretary and Head of Legal for RMB Nigeria Asset Management.
Her professional affiliations include membership in the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) and the Institute of Directors (IoD). She is also an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIBN) and has participated in several leadership and governance programs locally and internationally.