Ms. Rabi Isma is an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of the Bank. She was previously Director of HR Business Partnering & Health and Safety at Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (operators of 9Mobile). Prior to this, she had served in various roles as HR Consultant and Lead (international assignment) at Etisalat Sri Lanka; Director of Leadership and Organization Development at Etisalat Nigeria. Between 2011 and 2013, Ms. Isma also served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano State on matters relating to Non-Governmental Organizations, policy framework for investment and governance technical reform advisory.

Ms. Isma also served as a Marketing Director for the British Council in Nigeria delivering strategic goals in the organization’s partnership relations across education, marketing and communications. Prior to this, she had for the three preceding years served as Director, Support Services, where she amongst other things, developed and led British Council Nigeria strategy for learning and development hubs, corporate communications, customer service support and the national strategy for outreach. Ms. Isma started her career as an Assistant Banking Officer at Guaranty Trust Bank PLC in 1996 and had risen to the cadre of Assistant Manager in 2002 when she left the Bank.

In terms of qualification, Ms. Isma holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in International Development from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom; PD Certificate in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Thailand; Master of Science (M.Sc.) Economics, Management of Information Services, University of Wales, Aberystwyth; Master of International Affairs and Diplomacy (MIAD), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Computer Science and Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Ms. Isma has also attended several executive programmes including General Management Program (GMP21) at Harvard and Advanced Human Resources Executive Program at the Michigan Ross Business School, Michigan USA.

Ms. Isma currently sits on the Board of Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa, a non-governmental committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled African Leaders. She also sits on the Board of ActionAid Nigeria, a non-profit organization focused on advancing human and reducing poverty levels.

She is a member of the following Committees:

• Board Remuneration Committee (Chairperson)
• Board Risk Management Committee
• Board Nomination and Governance Committee