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I first met Johnson Ememandu through high-profile London-based Yemi Edun at a function in VI, Lagos

He had said, “You should know Johnson, you will need him. I said ‘Okay‘ and shook his hand, and he gave me the warm banker’s smile, which was kinda, different – his eyes were warm.

We spoke briefly, and I walked away.

We had dealings in London where he had come with his then MD to represent his firm at my Investment summit which had Emir Sanusi speaking.

Then the news hit the markets – Johnson was now at Fidbank UK.

Fidbank UK was the latest metamorphosis of loss-making Union Bank UK.

Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank had acquired it and was looking to transform it into an aggressive market cruncher, and it was to Johnson that they turned.

The new entity was making losses in its first two years of operation under the Fidbank brand structure, and the GMD of Fidelity Bank was simply very impatient and made a surgical strike.

The moment Johnson arrived, the markets felt the impact.

This is a coup, I told her, and she smiled.

Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, if you know anything about her, does not joke with performance.

Since she took over at Fidelity, the Bank has been threatening the five giants that make up the FUGAZ commune.

She has shown that corporate shyness is no part of her ethos as she continues to push very boldly into market depths that were reserved for the very elite.

Her perseverance and strategic intent continue to show on the bottom line, where it all matters.

It is with this same naked-eyed pursuit of market leadership that made her zero in on Johnson, whose reputation as a hard-nosed but superbly cerebral International banker had been built over the years through grit and remarkable boldness.

I sat in the darkened theatre in Central London where my Play Kashimawo was playing, looking very intently at Johnson, who had come with a motley crowd of clients and associates.

He smelt of success and his confidence was palpable as he continued pawing at his phone most likely closing or directing a transaction.

Johnson is part of a rare breed of bankers, the type they no longer curate in the space.

Sitting across from him at his well-apportioned suite at the super popular Signature Suites of the Eko Hotel, I could sense a man who had his figures but was not resting on his laurels.

From a £275 million balance sheet size at his resumption, the company closed the year at £450m and is said to be trending at about £550 million.