Cadbury Nigeria Appoints Economist Salami as New Chairman

In a strategic move to fortify its leadership and chart a course for sustained growth, Cadbury Nigeria Plc has announced the resignation of Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman as Chairman, and the appointment of Dr. Rasaq Adedoyin Salami as his successor. The Board also welcomed Mrs. Uwa Osa-Oboh as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Both appointments took effect from August 3, 2026.

The announcement was communicated via a notification from Afolasade Olowe, the Company Secretary, to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX) and the investing public. The statement expressed appreciation for Mr. Sulaiman’s significant contributions, highlighting his tenure since August 2009 as a Non-Executive Director and his leadership as Chairman from July 2020.

The Board emphasized that Dr. Salami, appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director since March 26, 2026, is poised to bring his extensive experience spanning both private and public sectors to steer Cadbury Nigeria’s strategic initiatives.

Mr. Sulaiman’s legacy is marked by his expertise in management and strategy consulting, with a focus on enterprise transformation, organizational development, and leadership. He previously served as Country Managing Director and Chairman of Accenture Nigeria until his retirement in 2010. An ardent advocate for corporate governance, he has held influential roles across various organizations, including ABSA Nigeria (formerly Barclays), SecureID Limited, Interswitch Limited, and served as Chairman of Nigeria’s Financial Reporting Council from 2017 to 2021.

Dr. Salami, the new Chairman, is an accomplished economist with over three decades of leadership experience across academia, consulting, and public-sector policy. He is currently the CEO of KAINOS Edge Consulting Ltd, an applied economics advisory firm he co-founded. His governance portfolio includes leading roles at Prestige Assurance Plc and ARM Investment Managers Ltd, as well as serving as Nigeria’s Chief Economic Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

His international contributions include membership on the IMF Advisory Group for Sub-Saharan Africa, and consulting engagements with the World Bank, UNIDO, IFC, and the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). An academic at heart, Dr. Salami is a long-standing faculty member at Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, where he specializes in macroeconomic modeling, manufacturing transformation, financial sector reforms, and market systems development.

Mrs. Uwa Osa-Oboh, appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director, brings a wealth of experience in strategic growth, organizational transformation, and stakeholder engagement. She is Head of Corporate Development at Capital Alliance Nigeria, part of Africa’s leading investment management group. Her career spans legal practice, financial services, and executive leadership, with a track record of driving business development across Africa.

Commenting on these leadership changes, Mr. Ayman Fahmy Gaafar, Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, expressed confidence in the new appointments:
“Mr. Sulaiman demonstrated exemplary leadership during his tenure on the Board of the Company and helped the business to navigate turbulent times.

‘Mr. Sulaiman has added significant value to our Board and organisation in the last 17 years. We treasure his time with us and wish him well in his future endeavours.

‘We are excited to have Prof. Salami, who is a respected economist, accomplished academic, and former presidential adviser, among others, as our new Chairman. We look forward to his contribution to our business success. In the same vein, we are pleased to welcome Mrs. Osa-Oboh, a multidimensional business leader to our Board.’”

This strategic leadership transition underscores Cadbury Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening governance, fostering innovation, and delivering sustained value to its stakeholders.

The official statement was issued by Frederick Mordi, Head of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs.