Olorogun O'tega Emerhor
Olorogun O’tega Emerhor | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 25, 1957 Evwreni, Ughelli, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Chartered accountant, entrepreneur, politician |
| Known for | Finance and executive management; Chairman of Urhobo Progress Union Special Fund Management Board; CEO of Standard Alliance Group; Chairman of Fair Life Africa Foundation |
Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, born on November 25, 1957, in Evwreni, Ughelli, Nigeria, is a distinguished Nigerian chartered accountant, entrepreneur, and politician recognized for his extensive expertise in finance and executive management.
Education and career
Emerhor graduated with First Class Honors in accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1983, earning several prestigious academic accolades. He achieved his qualification as a chartered accountant in 1986 following his professional training at Price Waterhouse Coopers. To further enhance his managerial capabilities, he pursued advanced programs at the Institute of Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, attended executive courses in London, and completed studies at the Lagos Business School.
His professional journey in banking includes leadership positions at Citibank (formerly Nigeria International Bank), Fidelity Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Crystal Bank Plc (now UBA Plc). In 1995, he made history as the youngest individual to be appointed Managing Director/CEO within the Nigerian banking sector. Emerhor spearheaded a consortium that acquired Comet Merchant Bank, which was later transformed into First Atlantic Bank Plc., where he held the role of Chairman. Additionally, he was Vice-Chairman and served on the board of First Inland Bank Plc. (subsequently FinBank Plc.) until 2009.
Presently, Emerhor sits on the board of directors for Transcorp Plc and chairs the board of Transcorp Hotels plc, managing key properties such as Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, and Transcorp Metropolitan, Calabar. He also leads Standard Alliance Group as CEO and is actively engaged with Heroes Furniture Group.
He maintains fellowships and memberships with prominent organizations including the African Business Leadership Forum, Institute of Credit and Risk Management of Nigeria, Academy for Entrepreneurial Studies, and Institute of Marketing Consultants.
Emerhor’s directorship extends to Suntrust Oil Ltd.; he has held the position of Vice-Chairman at the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and served as Chairman of Vitamalt Plc..
Social and political activities
As Chairman of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Special Fund Management Board, Emerhor oversees efforts to mobilize resources dedicated to advancing the Urhobo Nation. His political involvement commenced with a bid in the 2007 PDP Delta State gubernatorial primaries. In 2013, he became the pioneering candidate to contest an election under the newly established All Progressives Congress (APC) during the Delta Central senatorial by-election.
Currently leading the APC in Delta State, Emerhor contested as its gubernatorial candidate in the April 2015 elections.
Philanthropy
Emerhor is the founder and chairman of the Fair Life Africa Foundation, a Lagos-based NGO committed to reuniting street children with their families, supporting educational initiatives, and empowering marginalized communities. He also provides local scholarships and regularly offers support to widows.
Awards and honors
Among his accolades are Nigeria’s Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) national honor and the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award. He was recognized as Midwest Personality of the Year in 2002, appointed United Nations – POLAC Ambassador of Peace in 2013, and granted Honorary Citizenship of Georgia, USA in 2015.