In the high-stakes world of Nigerian banking communications, where public trust meets policy turbulence, Rasheed Bolarinwa has closed a pivotal chapter as President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB). Elected in 2022 following two terms as Secretary-General, and re-elected in early 2024, Bolarinwa’s tenure—spanning 24 months—anchored the association’s voice amid some of the sector’s most defining moments.
In his valedictory address at the Annual General Meeting, Election and Swearing-in of New ExCo, the outgoing president of ACAMB, encouraged members to rally behind the incoming leadership while highlighting the transformative achievements of his four-year tenure. “Together, we chose impact, structure and relevance,” Bolarinwa declared, reflecting on how the association evolved from a crossroads into a robust voice for banking communication and marketing professionals. He credited regulators like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NDIC, and NECA for their pivotal support, saying, “Your openness, guidance and consistent engagement gave our advocacy credibility and depth.”
Bolarinwa spotlighted key institutional reforms that restored ACAMB’s integrity, including account audits, debt recovery, a constitutional review, and a historic name change to better align with its modern identity. The administration also boosted visibility through a new website (acambng.org), official email protocols, and media initiatives like a policy documentary on the Naira redesign. “We audited our accounts, recovered long-standing debts, reviewed our constitution, and successfully executed a historic change of name,” he noted proudly, emphasizing deliberate investments in reputation management.
Looking ahead, Bolarinwa urged sustained collaboration, praising members for fueling vibrant programs like national conferences, mentoring sessions, aerobics series, and CSR efforts at the Stella Obasanjo Orphanage Home. He expressed unwavering confidence in the future, stating, “ACAMB is bigger than any individual, any tenure or any ExCo. What matters is continuity of purpose, clarity of vision and collective responsibility.” Bolarinwa called on members to offer the new ExCo the same strong support that propelled his term’s successes.
It is worthy of note that during Central Bank of Nigeria’s Naira Redesign Policy roll out in 2023 that sparked nationwide queues, debates, and digital frenzy, ACAMB, under Bolarinwa’s leadership, stepped up with strategic public communications. Representing 24 deposit money banks, the association coordinated clear, unified messaging that navigated public concerns. This effort didn’t go unnoticed—Bolarinwa received the “Most Outstanding PR Practitioner of the Year” award from the Osun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Q1 2024, spotlighting ACAMB’s role in steadying narratives during economic flux.
Bolarinwa’s imprint extended to high-profile collaborations. As Media & Publicity Chairman for the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria’s (CIBN) 15th Annual Bankers & Finance Conference in 2022, he amplified visibility across platforms, drawing stakeholders into dialogues on industry evolution. Throughout his leadership, ACAMB prioritized capacity-building initiatives and adherence to best practices in public relations and marketing communications. These moves fortified the association’s position as a collaborative force, fostering professional standards in a landscape crowded with unqualified voices.
In his 2024 re-election speech, Bolarinwa reflected on two years of tangible progress, underscoring how ACAMB delivered enhanced visibility and upheld core competencies for its members. This period marked a deliberate push to shape positive perceptions of banking through targeted awareness programs, ensuring the sector’s communicators remained agile and credible.
As Bolarinwa hands over, ACAMB stands at an inflection point. The next president inherits a solid foundation—honed collaborations, proven crisis navigation, and a commitment to excellence. With Nigeria’s financial sector eyeing digital transformation and regulatory shifts, it is hoped that Bolarinwa’s sucessor has the runway to build on these strides, driving even greater impact in brand storytelling and stakeholder engagement. The stage is set for ACAMB to elevate further, keeping banking communications at the forefront of trust-building.
