President Muhammadu Buhari has forwarded the name of Mrs Aisha Ahmad to the Senate for confirmation as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Mrs Ahmad is expected to replace former CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Economic Policy, Sarah Alade, who retired from the Central Bank in March 2017 as the only woman in the top hierarchy of the apex bank.

According to a statement on Thursday, October 5 by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president presented Mrs Ahmad’s name to the senate in accordance with the provisions of “Section 8(1) (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Establishment) Act 2007.”

The statement quoted the President as urging the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, “To consider the expeditious confirmation of Mrs Ahmad, who would then resume work immediately.”

Aishah Ahmad, 40, has been actively involved in banking at the top level for most part of the last 20 years, either as a banking executive or investment adviser on retail banking, wealth management, consulting and financial advisory.

Born October 26, 1977, Mrs. Ahmad, an indigene of Niger State, was, prior to her appointment, the Executive Director (Retail Banking) at Diamond Bank Plc.

She is the chairperson of the executive council of Women in Management, Business and Public Service, WIMBIZ, a Nigerian non-profit organisation, established in 2001, focused on addressing issues affecting the interest of women professionals in business, with particular attention on promoting leadership development and building capacities to engender growth.