Bashirat Odunewu

What KOKO knows now

Bashirat Odunewu serves as Seplat Energy's senior independent director, having joined the board in May 2022. Her financial-services career includes approximately 30 years of experience, with work spanning corporate lending, treasury, audit and investment banking. At First Bank Nigeria, she covered energy, natural resources and infrastructure in a corporate banking role until June 2021. Earlier responsibilities included supervising the bank's international subsidiaries and its representative office in China.

Odunewu's experience includes financing oil and gas projects and arranging syndicated funding for acquisitions and development. She studied at Manchester and Imperial College, and holds professional qualifications in accountancy and arbitration. Her other governance roles include board membership at Leadway Holdings and Barloworld, together with the chairmanship of FBN Bank Senegal. She also serves the Franco-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a director and treasurer.