By Yakubu LAAH InvestAdvocate
Lagos (INVESTADVOCATE)- Phillips Oduoza, , group managing director and CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has bagged the Leadership “Banker of the Year” award on Sunday at the annual LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards held in Abuja, a statement on Tuesday by Ramon Nasir, head, media relations of UBA said.
Organisers of the event said Oduoza was given the award for deepening UBA’s value as Africa’s global bank, skillfully guiding big ticket investments that significantly improved shareholder value while expanding the bank’s product offering and elevating customer service.
Other distinguished Nigerians awarded are former military head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, Akinwunmi Adesina, minister of agriculture and others.
According to the statement, General Gowon, who will be 80 years on Sunday, October 19, 2014 received award as the LEADERSHIP “Person of the Year” in 2013 for being the voice moderation in an increasingly fractured political environment.
While Adesina, Nigeria’s agriculture minister was named “Leadership Public Officer of the Year” for aggressively implementing bold policy reforms, tackling decades of corruption in the fertiliser sector and pursuing innovative agricultural investment programmes to expand opportunities for the private sector to add value to crops produced in Nigeria.
Also, Emmanuel Uduaghan, governor Delta state emerged ‘’Governor of the Year“ for his vision of a state beyond oil, and for building bridges of peace across one of Nigeria’s most desparate communities, massively building and renewing infrastructure and placing the economy of Delta State on solid footing.
Others honoured at the ceremony were Olatunde Ayeni, the vice chairman of Ocean Marine Security, as the ‘’Business Person of the Year’’, Simdul Shagaya ‘’CEO Of the Year’’, Mallam Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai, the former minister of the FCT was honoured as ‘’Author of the Year’’ and Stephen Keshi, Super Eagles coach, the ‘’Sports Person of the Year’’.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps emerged the ‘’Agency of the Year’’, Nagari Farm Yoghurt ‘’Product of the Year’’, Chi Limited ‘’Company of the Year’’, LAPO Micro Finance Bank Ltd ‘’Micro Finance Bank of the Year’’, Swift Network Ltd ‘’Telecom Company of the Year’’, Jumia ‘’ICT Of the Year’’, SAMSUNG ‘’Brand of the Year’’, Ice Prince ‘’Artist of the Year’’ and the Golden Eaglets ‘’Young Persons of the Year’’.
The award presentation was preceded by a lecture entitled, “Rebuilding a Nation: Lessons from Other Lands”, by Babatunde Raji Fashola, Lagos State governor, while the event was chaired by Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard newspaper.
The awards had in attendance top dignitaries from all walks of life including politicians, businessmen and members of the public.
