In keeping the record straight, the Press Society Association of Nigeria, in its wisdom, has delved into the affairs of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) to research and highlight the reason behind the emergence of Rasheed Bolarinwa as the association’s President for the second term.

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ACAMB, was established at a time when banks had a not-so-good image resulting from frequent failures, poor lending to the real sector, and the much-talked-about round-tripping in the foreign exchange market.

When ACAMB began operations, less than a quarter of the banks had corporate affairs departments. Even then, reports have it that, apart from the four big banks, most were one-man or one-woman departments, suggesting that bank CEOs at the time did not reckon with Public Relations.

ACAMB has now attained the age of maturity with over 300 registered members since its inception in 1996. The first President of ACAMB was Dango, who served from 1996 – 1998.

Rasheed Bolarinwa, head of corporate communications at Polaris Bank, has been elected President of the Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB). This was announced on Wednesday, sometime in January 2024, after an election in Lagos.

Prior to the election, Bolarinwa was the secretary-general of the association for two terms.

Bolarinwa Rasheed anchored his agenda on the theme: ‘PEAL” (Partnership & Platform, Engagement, Advocacy, and Learning & Value addition).

After his swearing-in, Bolarinwa said the new leadership will work assiduously to deliver an ACAMB that encourages and ensures every marketing communication staff in banks aspires to and attains the highest level of professional recognition and fulfillment on the job while at the same time being assured of a sustainable livelihood long after exiting the industry. “We have no time to waste. Work commences immediately,” Bolarinwa asserted.

Other elected executives include Oze Kalu, 1st vice-president (FirstBank); Lola Egboh, 2nd vice-president (First City Monument Bank, FCMB); Sipe Babajide, secretary-general (EcoBank); Omide Odekina, assistant general-secretary (United Bank for Africa, UBA); Patrick Osilaja, financial secretary (Fidelity Bank); Funmilayo Falola, treasurer (Wema Bank); Abdul Imoyo, publicity secretary (Access Bank); Utulu Ozena, social secretary (Heritage Bank).

Some of his strides in capacity as ACAMB President include:

ACAMB advocacy visit towards discussing the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) to bridge the perception and reputation management gap in the nation’s banking sector.

1st National Stakeholders Conference on Synergy between the Nigeria Banking Industry and the organized private sector.

Second National Stakeholders Meeting Themed “Marketing Financial Services in Dynamic Times”, the ACAMB stakeholders’ conference spotlighted the evolving role of marketing communications in Nigeria’s burgeoning financial services industry.