If the appointment of Ms. Arunma Oteh as Vice President and Treasurer of the World Bank, last weekend, came as a big surprise to her critics, the news was, however, received with indescribable joy by her staunch supporters as deserving.
Prior to her recent appointment, Oteh had been in the eye of the storm, while she held sway as the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Though many would attest to her brilliance and intelligence, Oteh’s tenure was trailed by controversies. She, however, fought gallantly and came out with her head very high in the end. It is on record that she initiated a lot of impressive reforms while her tenure lasted Today, Oteh, OON, who was literally the rejected stone, has now become a head cornerstone, thereby proving to her critics that she is not only a first-class brain but a precious treasure to the continent of Africa. The elevation has kept their mouth shut permanently. What a way to silence your enemies!
Born to Engineer Oteh and Jane Egbichi fifty years ago, Arumah’s brilliance was never in doubt, as she had shown her worth in many capacities she found herself in the past.
Fifty-year-old Oteh, who obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School, was appointed by the late president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in 2009, though she resumed in 2010.
Prior to her last appointment, she had worked in various institutions, including the Harvard School for International Development and Centre Point Investments Limited, Nigeria. She joined the African Development Bank (ADB), in 1992 and was Senior Investment Officer/ Senior Capital Markets Officer from 1993 to 1997 before becoming Divisional Manager, Investment and Trading Room from 1997 to 2001. She was later appointed the bank’s Group Treasurer before she eventually became Vice-President, Corporate Management, ADB, in 2006.
