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Testimonials

Dr. Rotimi Adelola
Former Vice President, Treasury & International Banking Network, Omegabank Plc.

I met Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman in 1997 when she was employed as Manager, Treasury Marketing in the Treasury And International Banking Network of then Owena Bank Plc. (the bank later changed to Omegabank and subsequently merged with other banks to become Springbank which is the progenitor of the current Heritage Bank). I was then the Vice-president of the Treasury and International Banking Network. Dr. Lucy Newman’s responsibility was to lead marketing activities to generate deposit for the bank. She interacted with both junior and senior members of the bank to identify performance issues; analyse such issues to unravel performance impediments and then designed appropriate interventions to improve treasury-marketing performance.

A case in point was the development of various deposit mobilisation products (QIMA, O-WISE, CATCH THEM YOUNG, HOME LINK ACCOUNT) when she was Leader of the New Product Development team. She also played lead role in the SALES CANVASSERS SCHEME designed to employ and train young graduates on retail selling of financial products. Dr. Lucy Newman developed the performance metrics to track the performance of more than 100 Sales Canvassers nationwide. The efforts resulted in 75% improvement in performance within a year. Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman was also a key member of the team that developed the bank’s international money transfer service. HomeAccess Money Transfer. The product focussed on transfer of foreign exchange to Nigeria by Nigerians in the USA and UK. Dr. Lucy Suryhel Newman left Omegabank in year 2000 as reputable, visionary, loyal, creative, open-minded, adaptable, detail-oriented Manager with team leadership quality and boundless enthusiasm.

Mr. Tunde O. Lemo, OFR
Independent Director on the Board of Glaxo Smikline Pharmaceuticals, Plc in Nigeria; Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Lucy is a very intelligent and brilliant person of profound soft and technical skills. Her approaches to getting things done at work for her employer and for her employer’s clients entail a profoundly collaborative, innovative and high impact orientation. Her broad experience and teachable personality endear her to colleagues, bosses, peers, clients and professional networks. These have been clearly demonstrated in all that FITC has so far been able to achieve, under her leadership. She drives performance by recognizing high value traditional issues, while assessing the system for impact and therein via engagement, negotiating a future that takes all along as stakeholders, in the new environment. This style of leadership has endeared her to her predecessors, leaders of organizations in the system, her colleagues and respective boards. She has successfully expanded FITC’s brand in Africa and beyond. She is potentially a high value leader and asset to any system she gets to commit to, as she has done to the Nigerian Financial system and beyond, which is visible from FITC’s expanding footprints in Africa, especially. I wish her well, as she closes on her 10-year tenure at FITC.

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.

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.!!!

Ed Esteves

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

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

Pascal Ebhohimen

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

Miss Helen Amromaya
Former Staff of FITC; 2003 – 2018

My Personal Experience: Dr. Newman, a full book will not be enough for me to describe and thank you for the positive impact you had in my career and personal life. You believed the best in me, even when I failed, which I did, severally, you allowed me learn from my mistakes to grow and be better. When I think of you, six words quickly come to mind: strength, purpose, intelligence, passion, compassion and faith.

I had the privilege of accompanying you to several meetings, I saw you stand up for what you believed in, you never ever allowed anyone to intimidate you, irrespective of their status you would always speak up, with conviction, articulately and intelligently. You never cowered when faced with challenges, while others would think it was impossible, you would not give up, you always pushed to the end. When it was time to be tough, you wore an iron glove. When it was time to be kind, you showed great compassion. I recall, when I had personal emergencies, I was still able to walk tall because you gave me assurance that you and FITC were behind me.

You invested in the lives of your staff, knew staff spouses and children by name and took staff personal issues personally. No wonder my Nieces and Nephews will always ask me for “Aunty MD”- that is how they see you – Aunty MD.

Your love for God was apparent in the way you sustained the FITC monthly staff devotional. You made it your goal to preside over the sessions periodically thereby infusing spirituality into a professional environment. You are indeed an Amazon: a great woman, a great leader, a coach and mentor. You took FITC to a higher level of international standing and made FITC a great place to work. The numerous awards speak for you and your legacy cannot be forgotten.

Victor Odozi
Former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria

I have known Lucy for over three decades now. In particular, I have worked closely with her during the last ten years as a member of a competence network under the auspices of the IFC/FITC. In that capacity, I served as an external reviewer of some FITC research publications and co-facilitated with her at several Corporate Governance and Board Leadership training sessions. Also, as a former Chairman of the FITC Board of Directors, I have been involved in conversations with her on the plans and programmes of the Centre and shared in its celebrations. These engagements and interactions afford me the confidence to assert that I know Dr. Lucy Newman well enough to be in a position to issue this testimonial.

Dr. Lucy Newman is a banker, certified performance technologist and an IFC-authorised board leadership and corporate governance trainer, with excellent interpersonal, facilitation, networking, negotiation and transformational change management skills. Over the years, particularly during her tenure as the Managing Director/CEO of FITC, she has been able to hone these skills. According to her resume, her core values include equity, integrity, Godliness, authenticity and continuous personal and organisational improvement.

Equipped with these capabilities, Lucy has excelled in leading FITC during the period, 2009 to 2019. Her outstanding achievements have been both quantitative and qualitative and include: the physical, institutional and qualitative transformation of the Centre; the doubling of its networth and training programme participation level; the extension of its footprints to West and East-African countries; enhanced corporate visibility and reputation; and winning numerous local and international corporate awards.

Her short to medium-term professional aspirations include: serving on Boards of multinationals deeply engaged in African development and renewal, where she could add strategic value; assessment, design and delivery of governance systems at local and international levels; orchestrating transformational leadership initiatives; and performance improvement advisory. I have no doubt that Lucy is eminently qualified and equipped to fulfill these aspirations and wish her every success in her endeavours.

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.”

The Venerable Segun Agbetuyi, (FCIB, DSc)
CEO, Omega Bank Plc.; 1993-2005 & Foundation Chairman, Spring Bank Plc.,

Dr Lucy Newman (then known as Mrs Lucy Mshelia) was one of our key Managers at Omega Bank from 1997 to 2000. She was Manager of Treasury Marketing responsible for directing a team of Officers engaged in developing, bringing to market & managing innovative banking products for our local & international markets, hiring, supervising & managing the performance of product specialists bank wide & working as part of the larger Strategy Group for the bank.

Lucy reported directly through the office of the Group Head & Vice President of Strategic Planning, Dr Rotimi Adelola who reported to my office as Chief Executive Officer. She was a focussed, results oriented & brilliant Manager, who led her team effectively & creatively. Lucy was courageous in mapping new frontiers & products such as our flagship O-WISE (a banking product designed for Women Entrepreneurs) & the HOME LINK account (a product empowering Nigerians in the diaspora to build up assets back home in Nigeria). She was personable & friendly in her relations. She was well liked across functions. I had no doubt that Lucy would succeed eminently in a broader management career & I am quite pleased with the brilliant accomplishments that she has achieved over time. She has more ground to cover & I would recommend her unreservedly for broader responsibility”.

Tolu Peters
Deputy Chief, IMF & Leadership Coach

Lucy Newman is a multi talented person whom I had the privilege to work with at FSB International Bank. At that time, she was responsible for training and development in the Human Resources Department, and she brought to bear her business experience in the implementation of her work. She is very strategic, result oriented, calm, attentive to details and has excellent inter personal skills. Lucy is a well-rounded person who has been on the two sides of business and this provides her with insights on the challenges faced by organizations. Her success is well deserved, and I wish her the best in all her endeavours.

Bunmi Balogun

2011/2012 Mason Fellow; MC/MPA Candidate; Harvard Kennedy School of Governance

Lucy is unassumingly brilliant, with an engaging personality. She has consummate expertise and is passionate about strategic business development. Articulate and well read, she is an astute manager always exceeding set targets. I recommend her unreservedly.

Mrs Abimbola Jimi-Adebakin, CPT

Former FITC Head of Consulting; 2007 – 2015 – STv

Dr Newman came in at the best time in my life. Her style of leadership was not at first palatable, but she won me over doubtless. Her penchant for transparency, over just disclosure…the two being often confused to mean the same by many…but not quite. That has endeared me to her for life. She makes it safe to fail/fall! Any leader that can get staff to willingly “confess” mess-ups and give you room to address it, that leader has my accolades! Dr Newman has my accolades.

She has changed the game for FITC. Her drive was to build strength and structure, giving hope and strength to many and ensuring we mind the major things. Did she perform perfectly? Certainly not. But she scores a high A+ any day, anytime! She shared her life with us and gave me a clear example of authentic leadership to help in my own journey! So many of us actually.

I wish her so much more for the future. Not sure she will still retire and “put up her feet” as she once shared with me, because I know we have a true and tested nation-builder here. May Nigeria produce many more like her.

Kudos, my mentor. You have run a highly commendable race ma’am.

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!

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.

Judith Hale, PhD, CPT, CACP, CIDD
CEO, Institute for Performance Improvement; Founder, The Hale Associates Center; Past President of the International Society for Performance Improvement [ISPI]

Dr. Newman brings a unique combination of experience and expertise in applying the principles of performance improvement to the workplace. The principles focus on doing work in ways that produce meaningful results while being socially and environmentally responsible. The principles also demand a sensitivity to the organization’s culture and work practices, thoughtful engagement of stakeholders in identifying opportunities to improve productivity and earnings, and the application of a systematic process beginning with discovery and validation and ending with evaluation. It was Dr. Newman’s expertise in the application of the principles that led to her being elected to the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) Board of Directors. In that role, she successfully represented all of the members outside of the USA. She is a credit to the Society and to the principles on which it is based”.

Mej(eroh) John Obada
Independent Consultant

Lucy and I worked in the same team at PricewwaterhouseCoopers Nigeria and I have been quite taken with her diligence, amiable personality and management style. She is always willing to share information and makes a point of arriving at decisions by consensus. She is an accomplished individual with deep insight in and a passion for her solution area”.

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

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

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

Mr. Jide Akintunde

Managing Editor/CEO, Financial Nigeria; FITC Media Partner

Mrs Abosede Ologbosere
Former staff of FITC; 2006 – 2017

Hmmm!! Dr. Lucy Newman, a woman of excellence and pedigree. I am very proud to have worked with this woman of many paths.

I joined FITC in 2006, as an Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, a position I held for three years before she took over the mantle of leadership as the Managing Director/CEO. Her leadership style is indeed transformational as the beginning of her tenure in FITC marked the beginning of a new journey in my career.

Some months after she assumed office, Dr. Newman decided to scrap all secretarial positions after a thorough Personal Profile Assessment was done for every staff and I was moved to the training department (My best Job Fit). That move was a very big leap for me in my career. I remember that very day she called me and said “Abosede! You have managed three executives, it is time for you to take up the topic Managing Your Boss and start leading discussions on it”. That was the beginning of facilitation for me and it was a remarkable experience. By the time I left FITC, I had facilitated on many programmes, helped developed training curriculums for some banks and participated in several consulting assignments, just because she saw that potential and gave me the opportunity to explore.

Dr. Newman means different things to different people, but to me, she is an Amazon! A Performance Improvement Specialist per excellence!

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.

Mr. Toyosi Bello
Former Staff of FITC; 2009 – 2016

FITC became one of the best places to work during Dr. Lucy Newman’s tenure, with her exemplary leadership style and good industry knowledge. She introduced policies and creative recommendations that brought about process improvements and employee satisfaction company-wide. As a matter of fact, FITC became more visible in its service offerings to deliver its core mandate within and beyond Nigeria during her tenure at FITC.

As a former FITC staff, I know Dr. Lucy Newman to be a good listener who gives prompt feedback to everyone. Her turnaround time to respond to deliverables was top notch. Her open door policy was also commendable which ultimately made FITC staff to see themselves as one big family. Her good sense of humor also spices up the FITC atmosphere with love and compassion. She is very keen at inspiring and developing people to succeed. This is evident with the way FITC had transitioned over the years. Dr. Lucy Newman also delights in taking responsibility and never blames others. She is a leader that leads by example and also committed to giving her best at all time.

Dr. Lucy Newman is focused and passionate about people’s achievements. She does not play favourites and treats everyone equally. The introduction of a transparent performance management system by her was widely embraced by the employees. Her contribution to the growth and development of FITC was highly impeccable. I wish her good luck in all her future endeavours.