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GMD UBA, Kennedy Uzoka wins Coveted Zik Leadership Award

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The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Kennedy Uzoka, has been announced as a winner of the 2019 Zik Award for Professional Leadership.

Uzoka clinched the much-coveted award alongside the Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer at the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Danbatta.

The Zik Leadership awards is organised by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) and was instituted 25 years ago, in 1995, in honour of the first President of Nigeria, Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, primarily to encourage and nurture leadership on the African Continent and in the Diaspora.

The UBA GMD and others were announced winners in a letter signed by the Member Advisory Board, PPRAC, Professor Pat Utomi, and Executive secretary, Emeka Obasi, which stated that Uzoka was chosen as a result of his outstanding contributions to the development and growth of the Banking and Financial Services Industry and unblemished record of service as a banker of international repute.

The letter read, “The GMD/CEO, of Africa’s global bank, UBA Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka is a banker’s banker and an astute player in the Nigerian financial services sector. He has consistently led the Bank to set a year-on-year track record of profitability, wealth creation and innovative financial products across its operations in the African continent despite global economic challenges.

Continuing, it said, “Kennedy Uzoka continues to lead his team in chalking newer and higher credits by the day. Not even the current challenge of COVID-19 has been a dampener as the bank under his watch continues to scale new frontiers and post assuring results.”

Apart from Uzoka and Danbatta, other winners in various categories of public service, good governance, business, and professional leadership included Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Borno Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum; Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; SGF, Boss Mustapha; Dr. Stella Okolli amongst others.

The PPRAC which is celebrating the silver jubilee anniversary of the Zik prize in leadership awards, pointed out that in the last 25 years, some other notable leaders have been recipients of the prize such as; President J.J. Rawlings, President Nwalimu Julius Nyerere, Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim, President Sam Nujoma, Dr. Nelson Mandela, President Yonweri Muzeveni, President John Agyekum Kuffor, Senator David Mark, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, Otunba Subomi Balogun, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Alhaji Ahmed Joda and Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Whilst congratulating Uzoka and the UBA family, the organisers noted that the formal presentation ceremony of The Zik Prize awards will be a celebratory event to be held on Sunday 6th December, 2020.

Uzoka is a renowned African business executive, with vast experience in banking, business development, financial and business advisory, strategic planning and execution as well as human resource management. He is an advocate of disruptive technology and has led many game changing innovations in the African banking industry over the past two decades of his career.

Kennedy holds a BSc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Benin and an MBA from the University of Lagos. He is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School, Boston USA, the International Institute of Management Development (IMS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the London Business School, United Kingdom. Kennedy is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN).

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Nigeria @64: Oando Boss, Wale Tinubu Urges Nigerians to work together 

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As Nigeria celebrates her 64th Independence anniversary, the Group Chief Executive of Oando group, Mr. Wale Tinubu, has enjoined the citizens to work together for the growth of the country.

 

In a statement posted on his social media handles, Mr. Tinubu wrote:

 

 

‘’Stitch by Stitch, We Weave Our Nation’s Tapestry.

 

 

 

 

As we celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day, we reflect on the journey that has brought us this far. Like a tapestry woven with care and precision, our nation is a beautiful blend of diverse cultures, resilient spirits, and bold aspirations.

 

 

 

Today, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future filled with promise. Let us continue to work together, stitch by stitch, building a nation that is vibrant, inclusive, and unafraid to dream big.

 

 

 

Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!

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Book Launch: You Can Become Unstoppable, Says Olusola Oduola

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Olusola Oduola, the author of the book entitled, ‘Rising Above Adversity: Stories of Resilience and Triumph’, has insisted that regardless of one’s setbacks, “You can become unstoppable.”

 

 

Speaking at the launch of his book on Monday, August 5, 2024, which was held at the MKO Abiola Gardens Estate Hall, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, Oduola who declared that not all storms come to disrupt the life of a person, maintained that, “Some come to clear your path and that when life throws a curveball at you unexpectedly, and it knocks you down or takes you out, how do you deal with it?”

 

Referring to the words of the American poet, Berton Braley on the ‘Will to Win’, the author said, “You can become unstoppable no matter the magnitude of your setbacks.”

 

On his part, the Managing Partner, Alex Taiwo & Co Limited, (Human Resource Consultants), adds that, “Adversity comes to all. Whether you are big or small, young or old, wealthy or not, learned or unlearned, at different stages of life, you have to build yourself abinitio,” explaining how to bounce back after an adveristy.

 

Also Mr Tope Makun of T Consult Limited (Business Consulting & Services) referred to a recent study about a factor that emerged as a significant predictor of success — GRIT.

 

In his words: “GRIT is an acronym for Growth, Resilience, Instinct, and Tenacity. The meaning of the acronym reflects the definition of GRIT referring to one’s ability to show bravery and resolve when confronted with setbacks and obstacles as a major success factor.”

 

The proprietor of Preston International Schools, Akure, Ondo State, Toyin Ajayi stressed the need for resilience and perseverance to help surmount the hurdles along life’s journey and the fact that these ingredients are exhibited in the real-life stories in the book ‘Rising Above Adversity’, “Gives hope to the reader that it is also possible to bounce,” just as Reverend Festus Oyeniyi, in doing Justice to the book, highlighted the salient issues in the 9 chapters as contained in the book.

 

Aside from the speakers, other personalities present at the book launch are the chairman of the occasion, Prof Modupe Asokhia – The Pro-Chancellor of Crawford University; Ebenezer Falade – Managing Director/CEO of JDB Nigeria Limited (Builders & Civil Engineering Company); Eni Ibukun Adebayo – CEO of Cleanace Dry-cleaners and Launderers, and Richard Fadiora – CEO Richard Brainsworth Resources Limited (Real Estate Developers).

 

The book, which is an inspiring collection of real-life stories, showcases individuals who have overcome incredible challenges, embodying the spirit of resilience and triumph.

 

Through a series of captivating narratives, Olusola Oduola sheds light on the power of the human spirit to rise above life’s adversities.

 

To acquire the book, you can visit any of the author’s partner bookshops in Lagos including the following:

 

* @Patabah Books

 

* Bible Wonderland

 

* Roving Heights

 

You can also scan the QR code posted on the author’s timeline at The Knights’ Place on Instagram to order your copy directly.

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If I say anything without seeing Bobrisky and EFCC Chairman, let me die. – VDM tells Reps panel

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Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, has declined to speak further on the allegations by Idris Okuneye, fondly called Bobrisky, that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Nigerian Correctional Services demanded the sum of N15m from him to serve his prison term at a VIP Section of the Kirikiri Medium Custodial Centre, Lagos.

 

Invited to the podium to brief the Investigating Committee, VDM said, “I don’t know why I will be here and the person who made these allegations is not here.

 

“Bobrisky said in the voice note that there is a godfather. Maybe the godfather told him not to come. He has disrespected this committee by not coming here.

 

 

You are already threatening me with arrest. If you detain me, I will stay in the cell.

 

“If Bobrisky is not here, I will not say anything. If I say anything, let me die,” he said.

 

At the time of filing this report, members of the committee were prevailing on him to speak on the allegations, assuring that Bobrisky would similarly face the panel.

 

 

 

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