Cadbury Nigeria appoints Salami as new board chairman

Cadbury Nigeria Plc has ushered in a new era of leadership with the appointment of Dr. Rasaq Adedoyin Salami as its Chairman, succeeding Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman, who resigned after a six-year tenure.

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The change in leadership was announced through a notification issued by Afolasade Olowe, Company Secretary of Cadbury Nigeria, to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public, with the appointments taking effect on August 3, 2026.

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Concurrently, Mrs. Uwa Osa-Oboh has been named as an Independent Non-Executive Director, bringing a wealth of experience to the board.

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The board has expressed its gratitude to Mr. Sulaiman for his invaluable contributions to Cadbury Nigeria, dating back to his appointment as a Non-Executive Director in August 2009 and subsequent elevation to Chairman on July 22, 2020.

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During his tenure, Mr. Sulaiman leveraged his extensive experience in management consulting, enterprise transformation, organisational development, and corporate governance to drive growth at the company.

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Prior to his role at Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Sulaiman had a distinguished career with Arthur Andersen & Co., Andersen Consulting, and Accenture, where he held the position of Country Managing Director and Chairman of Accenture Nigeria until his retirement in 2010.

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His professional portfolio also includes serving on the boards of several organisations, such as ABSA Nigeria, SecureID Limited, and Interswitch Limited, as well as chairing the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria from 2017 to 2021.

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Dr. Salami, the incoming chairman, brings over three decades of experience in economics, public policy, academia, and corporate governance, having joined Cadbury Nigeria's board as an Independent Non-Executive Director in March 2026.

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As the Chief Executive Officer of KAINOS Edge Consulting Ltd, an applied economics advisory firm he co-founded, Dr. Salami has garnered expertise in various sectors, including logistics, insurance, asset management, pensions, and infrastructure.

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His leadership experience extends to previous roles as Chairman of Prestige Assurance Plc and ARM Investment Managers Ltd, as well as serving as Chief Economic Adviser to former President Muhammadu Buhari and Chairman of the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

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Dr. Salami's international engagements include membership in the International Monetary Fund Advisory Group for Sub-Saharan Africa, and his consulting experience encompasses institutions such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, and the former UK Department for International Development.

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As an academic, Dr. Salami is a member of the adjunct faculty at Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, where his research focuses on areas including macroeconomic modelling, manufacturing transformation, financial sector reforms, and market systems development.

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Mrs. Osa-Oboh, the company's new Independent Non-Executive Director, is currently the Head of Corporate Development at Capital Alliance Nigeria, a member of the African Capital Alliance Group.

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Prior to joining Capital Alliance Nigeria in 2013, Mrs. Osa-Oboh served as Chief Executive Officer of ReStraL Limited, a management consulting firm where she advised corporations and government agencies on strategy, organisational effectiveness, and performance improvement.

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A lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988, Mrs. Osa-Oboh has built a diverse portfolio of experience across legal practice, corporate finance, investment management, strategy, and business leadership.

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Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria, Mr. Ayman Fahmy Gaafar, commended the outgoing chairman for his significant contributions to the company over the past 17 years, stating that Mr. Sulaiman has added substantial value to the Board and organisation.

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Mr. Gaafar expressed enthusiasm for the incoming chairman, Dr. Salami, describing him as a respected economist, accomplished academic, and former presidential adviser, and welcomed Mrs. Osa-Oboh, a multidimensional business leader, to the Board.

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Cadbury Nigeria Plc, a subsidiary of global snacking company Mondelēz International, manufactures a range of products, including the Bournvita beverage brand and confectionery products, catering to consumers in Nigeria.