Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria

Ochanya R. Dan-Ugo is a seasoned and certified risk management executive with over 33 years of cross-sector experience, including 19+ years in executive leadership roles within the financial technology and payment services industry. She most recently served as Director and Group Chief Risk Officer (GCRO) at Unified Payment Services Limited, where she led enterprise risk management efforts with distinction. A strategic business leader and governance advocate, she holds the Competent Board Designation (GCB.D) and is a Qualified Risk Director (QRD®) from the DCRO Institute, USA. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Women on Boards program and an active member of Women Execs on Boards (WEoB) a global community advancing women’s leadership and board participation. Ochanya’s academic background includes a Master’s in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies (University of Lagos) and a BA in History (University of Jos), with executive education from Lagos Business School, IESE Business School, Cornell University, INSEAD, and others. Prior to her fintech career, she served for 14 years in the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), rising to the rank of Chief Superintendent of Narcotics and leading Records Management (Intelligence) as a Principal Staff Officer. She currently sits on the Board of Hope Payment Service Bank Limited (Hope PSBank)—Nigeria’s premier digital-first bank dedicated to inclusive financial services. Her professional certifications include: • Certified Risk and Compliance Management Professional (CRCMP) • ISO 31000 Lead Risk Manager • Certified Information System Risk & Compliance Professional (CISRCP) • Certified Cyber Governance Risk & Compliance Professional (CGRCP) • Certified Protection Officer (CPO) She is an Associate Chartered Risk Manager (ACRM) of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), a Fellow of the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science (FDMSS), and a Chartered Security Professional and Fellow of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (FAISSO). Beyond her corporate and regulatory work, Ochanya is deeply committed to humanitarian service through ADULLAM, a ministry she founded. Her faith is central to her life—God is her teacher, comforter, helper, and Father.