Okenmor Fidelis Tilije


Fidelis Okenmor Tilije is a Nigerian banker and politician serving as the Commissioner for Finance of Delta State.

Early life and background

Tilije was born in 1958 in Obiaruku, Ukwani Local Government Area, Delta State. He is a Christian and Catholic.

Education

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, holds a master's degree specialising in Corporate Finance, and has professional certificates from Harvard Business School in the United States and Oxford Business School in the United Kingdom.

Career

Professional career

Tilije had a long career in the Nigerian banking and finance sector, before entering public service. He worked in senior roles with institutions such as Merchant Bank of Africa Nigeria Ltd., First City Merchant Bank, and Standard Trust Bank Ltd, and served as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Fortune International Bank Plc. He also chaired the steering committee for the merger of eight banks under the Alliance Bank Merger Group by the authority of the Central Bank of Nigeria. He lectured at Lagos State Polytechnic and later established ZEEP Engineering and Services Ltd.

Political Career

Tilije was first appointed Commissioner for Water Resources Development before being reassigned as Commissioner for Finance in 2019 in the administration of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and retained in that role by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

Professional associations and honours

He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and the Chartered Institute of Marketers of Nigeria, and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Nigeria Stockbrokers.