Abubakar Suleiman, born on August 19, 1973, is a prominent Nigerian banker and economist who has been leading Sterling Bank Plc as its Managing Director and CEO since April 2018. He is known for promoting sustainable growth through strategic investments in Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation, which are key focus areas under the bank’s H.E.A.R.T. initiative.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Abubakar Suleiman |
| Date of Birth | August 19, 1973 |
| Place of Birth | Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Benue State |
| Partner | Private |
| Children | Private |
| Occupations | Banker, Economist, CEO |
| Net Worth | USD 2 million |
Early Life and Education
Born and raised in Otukpo, Benue State, Nigeria, Abubakar grew up in a family where his father worked in government and journalism, and his mother was a trader.
He lost his father at the age of eleven. He completed secondary education at Government Secondary School, Otukpo.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master’s degree in Major Programme Management from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford.
Career
He began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. (now KPMG Nigeria) in 1996 and later worked at MBC International Bank. From 2000 to 2003, he was with Citibank Nigeria focusing on currency trading and risk management.
Suleiman joined Sterling Bank in 2003 as Group Treasurer and played a pivotal role as Integration Director during the bank’s acquisition of Equatorial Trust Bank.
He rose through various leadership roles including Executive Director of Retail Banking and Chief Financial Officer before becoming CEO in 2018, succeeding his predecessor.
He also holds non-executive director positions at Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc and serves on the board of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.
Personal Life
Abubakar Suleiman maintains a private personal life with no available information about his wife or children.
Philanthropy and Social Impact
Abubakar is committed to youth empowerment and economic development in Nigeria. Through Sterling Bank’s H.E.A.R.T. strategy, he advances investments in crucial sectors such as Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation to foster national growth.
Net Worth
Abubakar Suleiman’s estimated net worth is approximately USD 2 million.
Awards and Recognition
- First Nigerian CEO to conduct a virtual bell-ringing ceremony at the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
- Under his leadership, Sterling Bank doubled its profits and was recognized as one of Nigeria’s top workplaces and received awards for outstanding HR practices.
- Named among Nigeria’s outstanding CEOs at prestigious national business awards.
