| Femi Bakre | |
| Birth Name: | Olufemi Nojeemdeen Bakre |
| Birth Date: | 1963 3, df=yes |
| Alma Mater: | University of Lagos |
| Occupation: | Banker |
| Years Active: | 1987 – present |
| Employer: | Parallex Bank |
| Office: | MD/CEO, Parallex Bank |
| Term: | 2021 - present |
Olufemi Nojeemdeen Bakre (born 4 March 1963) popularly known as Femi Bakre is the managing director and Chief Executive Officer of Parallex Bank, a commercial bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria and headquartered in Victoria Island, Lagos.[1] Femi Bakre joined Parallex Bank in 2021 as the pioneer MD / CEO, taking up office immediately the Bank transitioned from a microfinance to a Commercial Bank. [2]
In 1987, Femi Bakre started his banking career as a credit analyst at the defunct Continental Merchant Bank during his National Youth Service program. He later moved to MBC International Bank, where he spent 17 years and ascended to become a General Manager. After the acquisition of MBC International by First Bank in 2006, Femi became the Group Head, Multilateral, Financial Institutions, and Global Custody in First Bank.
In 2011, he was appointed executive director for Institutional Banking Division in First City Monument Bank and held various positions until he was appointed executive director of Corporate and Institutional Banking in the United Kingdom. [3] He held this position till he was appointed managing director and CEO of Parallex Bank in 2021, making him a pioneering managing director of the bank as a commercial bank.[4]
Bakre, holds a First degree and master's degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos
Bakreis married to Funke Bakre and together they have four children, two boys and two girls. His second son is Nollywood star and Big Brother Naija season 3 finalist, Tobi Bakre[5]
In 2021, Femi Bakre and his wife, Funke Bakre were conferred with the Chieftaincy titles of Otunba Bobaselu and Yeye Bobaselu of Awa-Ijebu Kingdom, Ago-Iwoye by the royal father of Awa-Ijebu, Oba Abib Awobajo.[6]
In 2022, Femi Bakre received the honorary fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN[7] In 2023, he was named the 2023 Banker of the Year by Sun Newspapers, alongside his son, Tobi Bakre who won Nollywood Icon of the Year at the same event [8]
He was awarded Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Honoris Causa) Prowess University Delaware-USA[9]
Since his appointment in Parallex Bank as the CEO, Femi has led the bank to win several awards which include; the 2022 Challenger of the Year by BusinessDay,[10] 2022 Most Outstanding Young Commercial Bank by Marketing Edge Awards and Summit, 2022 Excellence in Agency-Banking by Finnovex,[11] the 2023 Reputable Bank of the Year by ReputationPoll International,[12] 2023 Most Innovative Bank by Champions Newspaper, 2023 Regional Bank of the Year by National Daily Newspapers,[13] and 2023 Most Innovative Digital Financial Solutions Provider of the Year’ at the 19th Annual Titans of Tech Awards in Lagos.