FirstBank has announced the appointment of Professor Kenneth Amaeshi as the inaugural holder of the FirstBank Samuel Asabia Professorial Chair of Business Ethics at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

The Chair, established in 1994 as part of the FirstBank Education Endowment Programme, honors Samuel Asabia, the first indigenous Managing Director of the bank. The endowment supports high-level research and learning initiatives in federal universities across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

As the Chair’s occupant, Prof Amaeshi will lead research initiatives and mentor professionals on business ethics, fostering a culture of integrity and responsible leadership.

Prof Amaeshi brings a wealth of experience to the role, currently holding the Chair in Sustainable Finance and Governance at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Italy, and the Chair in Sustainable Business and Public Policy at the University of Edinburgh, UK. His work in responsible capitalism, governance, and Africapitalism emphasizes business as a driver for inclusive growth and shared prosperity.

Welcoming Prof Amaeshi, FirstBank Group CEO Olusegun Alebiosu stated:

“We are delighted to welcome Professor Amaeshi as the first occupant of the Chair of Business Ethics. His global expertise and dedication to ethical leadership align perfectly with FirstBank’s vision of fostering sustainable development and principled business practices. This Chair will inspire generations of leaders to drive socio-economic transformation through integrity and innovation.”

UNILAG also praised the appointment, noting:

“Prof Amaeshi’s appointment underscores the shared commitment of UNILAG and FirstBank to advancing scholarship, integrity, and values-driven leadership. His presence promises to inspire students, academics, and professionals to lead with ethics, vision, and purpose—from the classroom to the boardroom and into society at large.”

Through this partnership, FirstBank and UNILAG aim to advance research, mentorship, and thought leadership that will shape the next generation of business leaders and define the future of sustainable finance in Nigeria and across Africa.