Stakeholders in Nigeria’s blockchain and digital asset ecosystem are preparing for a leadership transition as Obinna Iwuno, President of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SiBAN), prepares to step down from office this January.
Iwuno, who has led the association through a period of structural reform and increased regulatory engagement, will hand over leadership following the completion of his tenure.
The transition comes after an internal electoral process In December, where Iwuno supervised a transparent internal election that produced a new executive leadership team, scheduled to be sworn in this January.
Although he is stepping aside from the presidency, Iwuno is expected to remain an influential figure within Nigeria’s blockchain ecosystem due to his role in shaping SiBAN’s institutional framework and policy posture.
SiBAN was reported to be largely a community-based association with limited structure and national visibility when Iwuno assumed leadership but over the course of his tenure, the organization evolved into a more formalized institution with defined governance systems, a permanent administrative structure, and strengthened relationships with regulators and industry stakeholders.
SiBAN was established to represent blockchain and digital asset stakeholders in Nigeria, particularly at a time when regulatory uncertainty and market volatility challenged the industry’s credibility. Under Iwuno’s leadership, the association increasingly positioned itself as a bridge between private-sector operators and public institutions.
During his tenure, Iwuno oversaw the adoption of a formal Code of Ethics, alongside constitutional and electoral reforms that strengthened governance, accountability, and democratic processes within the association. These reforms laid the groundwork for institutional continuity beyond individual leadership.
He also led the establishment of a functional Secretariat staffed with full-time employees to manage SiBAN’s day-to-day operations, marking a shift from volunteer-led coordination to professional administration. As part of this structural transformation, Iwuno facilitated the opening of SiBAN’s first physical office in Abuja, positioning the blockchain association closer to policymakers and regulators while reinforcing its national presence.
This outgoing administration led the professionalization of SiBAN by formalizing standard operating procedures and expanding the association’s membership base to include both global and local digital asset stakeholders. Under Iwuno’s leadership, SiBAN formed strategic partnerships with industry players such as Roqqu, aimed at advancing blockchain adoption, education, and regulatory engagement across Nigeria.
The association also strengthened collaboration with public institutions including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NiTDA), contributing to clearer dialogue around digital asset oversight and compliance.
Beyond internal reforms, Iwuno represented SiBAN at high-level policy and compliance forums, including the NCMI Compliance Summit 2025, the FATF/GIABA Joint Experts Meeting 2025, partnered with Moonshot 2025 and the Nigeria Stablecoin Summit amongst others. These engagements reinforced the association’s role in regulatory discussions and blockchain policy development within Nigeria and across Africa.
SiBAN outgoing president, Obinna Iwuno is a Nigerian technology and blockchain professional with experience spanning digital asset innovation, ecosystem development, and policy engagement. He is the founder of CBC Blockchain Services, a growth, compliance and technical solutions partner in blockchain, and has participated in multiple industry and regulatory dialogues on blockchain compliance and responsible adoption.
Despite calls from some members to seek another term, Iwuno chose not to contest but rather, supervised the successful internal election that produced a new executive leadership team
“A leader’s greatest success is not in the length of his stay, but in the strength of the foundation he leaves behind,” Iwuno said in a statement.
Analysts and industry partners have credited SiBAN under Iwuno with elevating Nigeria’s blockchain ecosystem, pointing to the association’s governance reforms, regulatory engagement, and institutional partnerships as benchmarks for professional leadership in the sector.
As SiBAN prepares for a formal handover, the organization enters its next phase with a clearer governance framework, a permanent operational base, and stronger institutional relationships than it had at the start of Iwuno’s tenure.
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