Sam C. Okojere, B.Sc., M.Sc., MBA, P2P, Dip.  Currently the Director of Banking Services department at the apex bank, Sam is the pioneer Director in charge of the National Payments System Management Department at the Central Bank of Nigeria where he was responsible for the supervision, Licensing, Regulation, and oversight on the Payments System (including the Fintechs) in Nigeria. Prior to his appointment to this exalted position, he was the team lead Payments System Vision 2020 project – an initiative of the Central Bank of Nigeria to ensure the enthronement of a Payments System that is “nationally utilized and internationally recognized” and to promote cashless culture in Nigeria.

With over 28 years behind, Sam is an experienced professional with extensive hands on expertise in the set-up, implementation and monitoring of wide range of projects (including Payments System). He has worked in several Departments/Units within the Central Bank of Nigeria. These include but not limited to Agricultural Finance, Nigerian Export-import Bank (NEXIM), Bank Examination, Anti-Money laundry, Development Finance, Banking Operations, Banking and Payments System and now Banking Services Department. He is Proactive, intuitive, innovative, good listener, full of initiatives, and humility.

Sam as he is fondly called, obtained his Bachelor’s degree (B.Sc) in Agricultural Economics from the famous University of Nigeria, Nsukka; bagged a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Delta state University, Abraka Nigeria, and also obtained Master’s of Science Degree (MSc.) in Project Management from University of Lancaster, United Kingdom. In addition, Sam, bagged two (2) Diplomas Certificates in Project Management, and Monitoring & Evaluation respectively from Galilee International Management Institute, in Israel. Professionally, Sam is a PRINCE2 Practitioner certificate holder. Above all Sam has attended numerous professional and Management courses locally and internationally.

Above all, he is married with Children.

Sam is an exceptional enterprise risk manager and FELLOW of the Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professional, AERMP.