April 2017_1

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UBA CEO AWARDS 2017
AN ENCHANTING NIGHT
Story by Seyi Akindunbi
Eko Hotel and Suites was filled with different
dignitaries and personalities on the 8th of April
2017. Staffs, customers and friends of Africa’s
global bank walked onto a well laid red carpet,
ushering them into what turned out to be an
unforgettable and interesting evening. It is a
special evening with the sole purpose of
celebrating the bank’s staff that have
performed exceptionally in the outgoing
financial year. It is a tradition that the bank has
maintained since 2008 and this was the ninth
edition since its inception.
As usual, it lived up to its reputation as a night of
glamour and glitz as bankers partied and
celebrated with colleagues that were awarded
for their excellent performance in 2016. The
event which was tagged ‘The Journey’ was
aimed at celebrating UBA’s rich history as one
of the biggest and dominant banks through the
ages from its inception in 1949. Ace compere,
Ebere Young and Kate Henshaw, led the
guests through a night of fun and laughter and
of course there were lots to eat and drink. The
multicultural diversity of the UBA group was on
full display as board members and the
managing directors of the UBA subsidiaries in
all its 19 countries of operations outside Nigeria
also attended the event.
Also present were distinguished Nigerians,
including the Deputy Senate President, Ike
Ekweremadu, Governor of Bauchi State,
Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar, the Governor
of Adamawa State, Bindo Jibralla, Former
Governor of Cross-River State and his wife, Mr.
and Mrs Donald Duke. Others were the board
and management of the UBA Group, including
UBA Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu and wife,
Awele; GMD/CEO, Kennedy Uzoka and wife,
Lotanna and other key directors of the bank.
Board members of UBA subsidiaries across
Africa were also present.
The highlight of the evening was the
presentation of an award for excellence to Mr.
Mohammed Ibrahim Ogbanago, a security
man with the Oba Akran branch of the bank for
returning $10,000 belonging to a customer who
forgot the money in the branch last July. Both
governors present at the event as well as the
Senate President gave Mohammed $5000,
$10,000 and N5m respectively bringing the
total to about N11m. Ekweremadu also
announced at the event that apart from the
N5m that will be given to him by the Nigerian
senate, the integrity of the young man will also
be announced at plenary. Some other sta ffwho
received awards at the ceremony, included the
CEO of UBA Ghana, Abiola Buwah and the
Managing Director of UBA ZAMBIA.
There were performances from King Sunny
Ade, Psquare, Flavour, Awilo, Dr Sid, Adekunle
Gold, KC Presh, Kaffy among others who
thrilled the sta ffand guests for hours unending.
Akpororo was also on stage to crack the ribs of
the audience. This was an unforgettable night
as staffs partied and had fun till the early hours
of Sunday without any consideration for the
stress that usually comes with their job.
Ace Comedian, Alibaba and his wife, Mary
Senator Gbenga Ashafa
King Sunny Ade
Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Onari Duke
and wife Mrs. Onari Duke
Group Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, Awardee
and UBA Ghana , Mrs Bawuah
L-R Mr. Ibrahim Puri, Kennedy Uzoka, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar,
Governor Bindow Jibrilla, Dr Ike Ekweremadu, Dr. Frank Nweke Jr
L-R GMD-CEO, UBA, Kennedy Uzoka, Deputy Senate President,
Sen Ike Ekweremadu, Chairman, UBA, Tony Elumelu and
Governor of Adamawa State, His excellency Bindow Jibrilla
L-R Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Oshoba, Publisher of Vanguard,
Prince Sam Amuka-Pemu, Chairman of UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu and
Director of UBA, Chief Kola Jamodu
TONY: THE BANKING DON
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Story by Azuka Ogujiuba
ony Elumelu is the chairman of the United Bank of
TAfrica, Heir Holdings and founder of Tony Elumelu
Foundation. He's an entrepreneur, economist, and
philanthropist. His foundation is dedicated to the
advancement of business leadership and entrepreneurship
across Africa.
His foundation has aided the development of the African
economy with programmes like: 'The Tony Elumelu
Entrepreneurship Programme' (TEEP), 'Tony and Awele
Elumelu Prize', 'Africapitalism Institute', and 'The Elumelu
Nigerian Empowerment Fund'. Each program in one way or
the other has helped fund a business, empower
entrepreneurs, encourage a youth, and sustain a
community.
Tony Elumelu also organises an annual awards called 'UBA
CEO Awards' where UBA staffs all over the world are
appreciated for their hardwork.
Tony Elumelu is indeed a visionary leader, a pacesetter and
a role model to African youths.
The Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme (“TEEP”)
is the flagship entrepreneurship programme of the
Foundation with the purpose of identifying, over a period of
10 years, 10,000 African startups and entrepreneurs with
ideas that have the potential to succeed; support the growth
of these businesses through business training, mentoring,
access to seed capital funding, information and
membership of their respective founders and/or owners
(entrepreneurs), into the TEEP Africa-wide alumni network
and; to create businesses that can generate at least
1,000,000 new jobs and contribute at least $10 billion in
new revenues across Africa over the next 10 years. This
shall be achieved through the selection of 1,000 businesses
annually to participate in a holistic 12 month programme;
The Entrepreneurship foundation has been able to train
2000 already and are already on their way to training and
empowering the next 1000. It is of note that all
entrepreneurs spread across all countries of the continent
According to Dr Etiobhio Samuel Osemudiamen, who
studied Medicine and Surgery at the University of Benin
“Tony Elumelu is the most fore sighted billionaire in Africa.
He's fertilising embryos today which would become well
formed fetuses at the time of delivery. The
Entrepreneurship platform is one of the most organized I've
seen. The mentors provided are world class from various
countries of the world and the vigorous master classes, you
can't get it else well. I think Other multi billion companies
and individuals should key into this vision and lift Africa to
the citadel of greatness and relevance through the
empowerment of aspiring entrepreneurs”
He is also a beneficiary of Tony Elumelu entrepreneurship
programme. Dr Etiobhio is also a painter.
L-R Executive Director, UBA, Mr. Dan Okeke, Awardee,
MD, UBA Uganda, Mr. Agoreyo Johnson, and DMD,
UBA Plc, Mr. John Osadolar
Congolese Ace Musician, Awilo Logomba
Chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu
Dr. Etiobhio a benefector of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme,
presented an artwork of him.
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