Leaders of Partner Organizations & Networks

Mrs Tokunbo Martins
Former Director, Banking Supervision Department [BSD] and Director, Other Financial Institutions Supervision Department [OFISD], at the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN]

I worked with Lucy on the Board of FITC while she was the Managing Director/ CEO and I was the Director of Banking Supervision from 2012 to 2016. I found her a most forthright, hardworking and progressive leader.

During that period, she led FITC to enviable heights, transforming it from a mere training centre to a citadel of consultancy, research and other value-adding services. Several trainings and capacity building exercises for the financial services sector, took place under her able leadership, which many have testified improved their professional competencies significantly. Together, we conducted Corporate Governance workshops for Boards of Banks and the industry is all the better, for those proactive efforts.

I can describe Lucy as pragmatic, amiable and charming. No challenge was ever a too big for her to surmount. At Board meetings, she always ensured members got all the information and explanations required. She also went to great lengths to get the most out of members in terms of advice and professional experience. She was always willing to collaborate and receptive to the ideas of others. Amongst her team, the air of conviviality was always apparent. Not once do I recall any serious issue or lapse or reason for concern about her leadership at Board level. She was creative and always seeking new ways of improvement. In a nutshell Lucy is an exceptional leader and a real asset to FITC

Mr. Jide Akintunde
Managing Editor/CEO, Financial Nigeria; FITC Media Partner

Dr. Lucy Newman combines positive values with a remarkable track record of leadership accomplishments.

During her tenure as CEO of FITC, she transformed the corporate profile of the institution and its services. FITC developed its corporate headquarters; and its courses for the continuous education of bank directors, were, for the first time, internationally certified.

As CEO of FITC, I interviewed Dr. Newman three times. In those interviews, she evinced a leadership with vision. She was also very passionate about delivery of value to her institutional stakeholders, while motivating and building positive team spirit among her staff, across the cadres.

Most noteworthy, Dr. Newman is an ethical leader. She is transparent in negotiations and diligent in leading implementation of agreements. She always wants the best possible value for her institution, while ensuring clients are treated fairly.

Dr. Newman was always mindful of the ecosystem in which FITC operates.

Very Rev. Engr. Ifeanyichukwu C. Nwade, FNSE. FICA
2014 – 2019 President, West African Bankers Association (WABA)

I met Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman almost a decade ago, as members of the Executive Council (EXCO) of the West African Bankers Association (WABA). She represented the Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC) as the MD/CEO on WABA EXCO. Among several impactful contributions, she successfully coordinated the sub-committee of WABA EXCO that was charged with the responsibility of strengthening the corporate governance structure of WABA through comprehensive reviews of rules, regulations, statutory documents, processes and procedures of the Association.

While lauding the achievements of Dr. Lucy as a member of WABA EXCO as well as arguably one of the most transformational MD/CEOs of FITC, I can readily attest to her sterling leadership qualities of integrity, vision, reliability, sincerity and team spirit. She brings a lot of positive energy to any team and task that she is assigned, effectively harnessing her sound academic abilities with her robust cognate experience and her eloquent, influential personality. Dr. Lucy is academically qualified, professionally competent and emotionally intelligent.

Dr. Jill Russell
Retired Professor, Accounting & Business Programs, Camden County College, New Jersey, USA

I have worked with Lucy in person and as a virtual teammate for the past four years. Lucy and I began the UOP doctoral program in 2003 online. We met face-to-face in Phoenix, AZ at our Residency I, where we established our working relationship as well as a friendship. I have worked with many virtual teammates across the last four years and I would have to describe Lucy as in the top one percent. She is an excellent communicator with an exceptionally high level of integrity and honesty. She can be depended on to do her part and more. She is timely and engaging; she knows the true meaning of discretion and always did much to maintain harmony in what many times was a less than conducive situation. I have the highest regard for Lucy and trust her implicitly. In addition, she is extremely intelligent and well read. One could not choose a better colleague or friend than Lucy Newman.

Pascal Ebhohimen
Retired Director, Claims Resolution, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation [NDIC]

Dr. Lucy is a highly articulate person, well grounded on issues of performance management, strategy and execution”.

Said Baraka Kambi, 
CEO, the Institute of Directors in Tanzania andimmediate past Chair of the Executive Committee of the ACGN (ACGN Chairman)

“I first met Lucy during the meetings leading to the setting up of the African Corporate Governance Network (ACGN) from early 2012, when she represented FITC and indeed Nigeria. I was immediately drawn to Lucy’s technical and soft skills, unique drive, passion, professionalism, and of course infectious camaraderie as exhibited in all aspects of her work and engagements. Later I also came to learn of her excellent work as exhibited by FITC’s expanded impact and footprint in Africa and beyond. The respect which she commands not only from FITC staff, but also indeed across the stake holding “value chain” of the FITC, plus previous organizations which she has worked for, speaks volumes about her goodwill, engaging and collaborative style. I have truly enjoyed and benefitted from Lucy’s positive personality and exceptional input in my different roles, be it as the founding deputy Chair of the ACGN, Chair of the ACGN and also, the CEO of the Institute of Directors in Tanzania. Over the years, I have become fully convinced of Lucy’s outstanding professional and social qualities. Indeed, her technical expertise, excellent leadership and managerial skills, healthy dose of self-confidence, keen eye for organizational sustainability, and moral standing, combine to make her an excellent and high value asset for any deserved venture, regardless of size; whether local, continental or international. While I wish Lucy well as she comes to the close of her tour of duty at FITC, I continue to look to her as one my important professional colleagues and friends.”

Mrs. Shola Taylor-Pearce
Executive Secretary/Chief Operating Officer; Sierra Leone Association of Commercial Banks

I first met Dr. Lucy Newman in 2014 in Banjul, The Gambia, at a meeting of the Executive Council of the West African Bankers’ Association (WABA). As I listened to her contributions and submissions, I immediately knew that I was in the company of a brilliant, dynamic and focused personality. I wasted no time in making her acquaintance during the break session and my luck was to run even higher when by the end of that meeting, I had been coopted to serve with Dr. Newman on a subcommittee tasked with reviewing the Constitution and Bye Laws of WABA.

I must confess that I am attracted to brilliant people and as we worked together on this project, Dr. Newman’s acute knowledge of organizational behavior and structures, never ceased to dazzle me. I gobbled up the contents of her emails, as she analyzed and synthesized the issues, proffering profound ideas and suggestions, in the simplest of ways. It was not long before I began to say to her “Lucy, when I grow up, I want to be just like you”

You would then understand why I did not think twice to honour her invitation to attend her 50th birthday celebration in Lagos Nigeria, where I was fortunate to hear testimonials about her from family and church members. It then all came together like a jigsaw puzzle. That which I had admired from first meet, i.e., Dr. Newman’s beauty, brains and brawn were anchored on the importance she placed in the values of faith and family.

Congratulations dear friend and colleague on the commencement of a new chapter, one, which I believe, shall be even more glorious, more impactful and more splendid than the past several years have been. God bless you.

Dr. Mike Aigbiremolen
(A facilitator with FITC for almost two decades)

I first met Dr. Lucy Newman sometime in 2005 during one of the “consolidation meetings” we were having at the then FSB Training Academy, Ikoyi. Three legacy banks (“Old” Fidelity, FSB International and MannyBank) were in “merger talks” and different sub-committees were set up to anchor the programme. She was a member of the Human Capital Sub-Committee whilst I was a member of the Strategy Sub-Committee. Once in a week, we usually had sessions for the General Steering Committee to review deliberations at the Sub-Committees’ level. During such meetings it was not difficult for me to “spot out” Dr. Lucy. She would always come up with innovative ideas and practical solutions to the myriad of challenges especially in the area of “harmonizing” the staff from the three legacy banks that eventually merged and became the “new” Fidelity Bank in January 2006. I was therefore, not surprised when I heard sometime in 2009 that she had been appointed as the new MD/CEO of the “born again” FITC. The transformational leadership role she has continued to play during her tenure is quite commendable which earned FITC fantastic awards ranging from Winner of 2012 Top 10 Great Place To Work in Nigeria Survey to Winner of 2018 African Quality Achievements Award.

There is no gainsaying the fact that in the past ten years or thereabout, FITC as an institution has witnessed a lot of milestone developments. In fact, it has metamorphosed from just a Training and Research Centre to an international Human Capital Development firm. I give special kudos to the AMAZON herself but I am quite convinced that the best is yet to come!

Ed Esteves
Global Executive (COO/VP Business Development in North America, LATAM and EMEA)

Lucy is a highly prepared executive. Very well connected, intelligent, smart, who has a great sense of humour. She is a true “TALENT”. Congratulations for your success.!!!