By InvestAdvocate

Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)-The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Monday it has appointed Mojisola Ruth Adeola as the new council secretary and head of the Council Secretariat.

“Adeola’s appointment follows on The Exchange’s decision to drive greater efficiency and innovation by separating its Legal Department from the Council Secretariat,” a statement from the Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator said.

According to the NSE, Adeola, a lawyer and chartered secretary, has extensive company secretarial, legal and governance experience, having held prior relevant positions. Most recently, she served as company secretary/legal adviser to Acorn Petroleum Plc.

In the same vein, she holds an LLB degree from the University of Lagos and qualified to practice as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2005.

Adeola takes over from Tinuade Awe who served as council secretary from January 2011. “Awe will remain at The Exchange as general counsel and head of the Legal and Regulation Division,’ the NSE added.

Nigeria’s apex capital market regulator says in Awe’s role, she will focus on driving greater efficiency in The Exchange’s regulatory functions within the zero tolerance rubrics, improving its relationship with other regulators, and preparing it for demutualisation.

In the same vein, the NSE affirmed that Irene Robinson-Ayanwale who previously headed both the Legal Department and the Council Secretariat retains her role as head of the Legal Department where she will focus on protecting The Exchange from legal liability and providing first class legal support for NSE’s ongoing initiatives.

Oscar Onyema, chief executive officer (CEO) of the NSE said the executive management and council noted the significant contributions of Ayanwale who combined the two (2) roles reporting to Awe prior to the appointment of Adeola.

“I must also thank Tinuade Awe, who assumed the role of council secretary at a challenging time for The Exchange during the Interim Administration and was instrumental in building the governance structure currently at the NSE. “It gives me great pleasure to welcome Adeola to The Exchange and I wish her every success in her new role,” Onyema said.

The Council Secretariat which is currently under the Legal and Regulation Division will now be one of a number of departments integrated into the Office of the CEO.