Nigerian Business Mogul, Dr. Oba Otudeko Beats Dangote And Others To Africa’s Best CEO Of The Year Award!
By Kemi Mobuse - Saturday, March 26, 2016
A Nigerian business mogul, Oba Otudeko, has emerged the
Africa Chief Executive of the Year (2016).
Otudeko, who is the
chairman of Honeywell Group, beat seven other finalists, including Africa’s
richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to clinch the coveted prize at a meeting of
more than 800 chief executives across the continent held in Abidjan, the
capital of Cote d’Ivoire.
Otudeko and Dangote were the only Nigerians listed among the
eight top contenders for the coveted Africa CEO of The Year Award.
Four Nigerian firms–Seplat Petroleum, Dangote Group,
Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank–were also on the list of finalists for
prizes in the six-category award session of the yearly conference of the Africa
CEO Forum. Other categories were African Company of the Year (where Nigeria’s
Dangote Group and Seplat are listed), African Bank of the Year (with Zenith
Bank among the eight finalists), Private Equity Investor of the Year,
International Corporation of the Year and the Young CEO of the Year.
The six prizes were announced in the presence of Nigeria’s
Akinwumi Adesina, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
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| Otudeko and wife |
The Forum rewards Africa’s best chief executive officers,
companies, and investors whose strategies have contributed significantly to the
economic growth of the continent.
Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben
Yahmed, while presenting the award to Otudeko, noted that the prize was
conferred on him based on his achievements in the fields of development,
governance, strategy, leadership, and financial performance across the
operations of his conglomerate.
According to the organizers, Otudeko, in response expressed
happiness at the recognition for his contributions to achieving a better
Africa. ‘’I see the award as recognition of hard work, commitment and
confidence in what is indeed African,” the Honeywell Group chair said, just as
he encouraged African CEOs to continue working together to support the
continent’s growth dynamics.
Otudeko’s Honeywell Group — which originally started
operations as trading concern, importing and marketing baking yeast, stock
fish, glass and steel rods, among others, was founded in 1972. The group of
companies has now evolved into a diversified enterprise with businesses across
major sectors of the Nigeria economy (foods and agro-allied, real estate,
infrastructure, energy and services). Through additional portfolio investments,
the Group is also a significant provider of capital to other sectors of
Nigeria’s economy, including financial services, telecommunications, and
security management.
Otudeko, a chartered banker and corporate secretary, was the
16th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
between September 2006 and August 2009.
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| Winner of the 2016 Africa CEO Forum Award and Chairman, Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko (left); being congratulated by former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. |
He holds the Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the
Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), awarded him in 2011 by former President
Goodluck Jonathan. He was Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University,
Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State from 2001 to 2010 and currently serves as a member of the
Office of Distinguished Friends of the London Business School (UK).
Otudeko also promotes the Oba Otudeko Foundation (OOF), a
not-for-profit organisation, which he runs as pet project.
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