Urum Kalu Eke
UK Eke | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1964 Lagos, Nigeria |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, banking executive |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Known for | Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc |
Elder Urum Kalu "UK" Eke, Mfr (born 20 November 1964), is a prominent Nigerian entrepreneur and banking executive who held the position of Group Managing Director at FBN Holdings Plc until his retirement in December 2021. Before this appointment, he served as an executive director at First Bank of Nigeria Limited and also occupied an executive director role at Diamond Bank Plc. His professional journey began in 1986 at Deloitte Haskins & Sells International, a firm specializing in chartered accountancy.
Honored with the Nigerian National Order of Merit (NNOM) and recognized as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (Mfr), UK Eke is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Presently, he acts as Executive Chairman of Fairchild Group and holds the presidency of the Lagos State Council of the Boys' Brigade in Nigeria.
Early life
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, UK is the son of a nurse trained in Scotland who relocated his family from Lagos prior to the outbreak of the 1967 Nigerian Civil War. As the third child and eldest son, UK completed his West African School Certificate and Higher School Certificate at Comprehensive Secondary School, Aba, and Government College, Umuahia, respectively. He obtained a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Lagos in 1985 and later earned an MBA specializing in project management technology from Federal University of Technology, Owerri in 2008.
Deloitte Haskins and Sells International
UK commenced his professional career in 1985 by undertaking his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with Deloitte Haskins and Sells International. He extended his tenure there for an additional five years, during which he advanced to the role of audit senior/consultant.
Diamond Bank
Over a nineteen-year period at Diamond Bank, UK ascended through various positions including branch manager, regional manager, divisional head, and ultimately executive director before leaving the institution in April 2011.
First Bank
Joining FirstBank as executive director for Public Sector (South) in May 2011, UK was responsible for managing relationships with state and federal governments as well as tertiary and healthcare institutions across southern Nigeria. In 2013, he was appointed Chief Knowledge Officer at FirstBank.
On January 4, 2016, UK assumed the role of group managing director at FBN Holdings Plc., taking over from founding Group CEO Bello Maccido. He concluded his tenure on December 31, 2021.
Personal life
UK is married to Dr. Uganze Eke, a pharmacist by profession; together they have four daughters. He leads Fairchild Group as chairman—a non-operating holding company—and established the Elder (Chief) K.U. Eke Memorial Foundation to promote educational scholarships, women’s empowerment initiatives, clergy training, mentoring programs, and capacity development.
Dedicated to community involvement, UK has served as President of the Lagos State Council of the Boys' Brigade Nigeria since August 2024. His leadership has emphasized innovation, digital transformation, brand enhancement, infrastructure development, organizational growth, and forging strategic alliances.
A Fellow of both the Institute of Management Consultants and Institute of Directors, UK has been a board member of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since February 16, 2017.