Pan-African banking group, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc on Saturday July 30, 2016, organized a befitting sent forth ceremony for its former Group ManagingDirector, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and two retired Executive Directors; Mr. Femi Olayoku and Ms. Obi Ibekwe.
The event which held in the presence of stakeholders including; customers, shareholders, Board of Directors, staff and associates, took place at the Eko Hotel Banquet Halls in Lago.
It had in attendance, top dignitaries from Nigeria and Africa, including the Emir of Kano, His Royal Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido II, captains of industries like the MTN Chairman, Mr. Pascal Dozie as well as political leaders such as Governors Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State; Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State; Simon Lalong of Plateau State. Former Governors were not left out of the roll call. Former Governor of Cross Rivers, Donald Duke, Senate Minority Leader and former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio and former Governors of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Otunba Gbenga Daniels were in attendance.
Regulators such as Mr. Abdul- Nashiru Issahaku, the Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana and Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of the President Mahama of Ghana also graced the occasion.
Tony Elumelu, Chairman UBA Plc, in his remarks at the occasion, paid glowing tribute to Oduoza, describing him as “very cerebral, very diligent, loyal and astute.”
He described Phillips Oduoza as a wonderful colleague and supporter, a man who loves and encourages progress and a man who always works for the best of the corporate. "The performance of UBA today both financial and brand equity are attributable to Phillips and all the professional teams at UBA. PO, as he is fondly called, has served his time at the helm of the Bank, pushing to achieve the strategic vision as outlined by our Board of Directors for the bank here in Nigeria and across Africa. He leaves behind a bank that is not only a dominant player in Africa but also one with the best asset quality ratios in the African banking industry" Elumelu said. In his speech at the ceremony, the Emir of Kano, who was the Central Bank Governor, when Mr. Oduoza was appointed CEO of UBA in 2010, commended him for the reforms he drove as Chairman of the Bankers Committee on the Nigerian Payment Systems.
“Oduoza is largely responsible for the reforms of the Nigerian payment systems,which the banks and many Nigerians are benefiting from today. He drove the reforms in the sector that has now made it easier for many Nigerians to use their cards locally and internationally and also witness the growth of various e-channels in the country” HRH Emir Sanusi II, said
He commended Oduoza for his contributions to the Nigerian banking system describing him as a man of integrity who deserves all the accolades he is getting.
Oduoza, in his response, thanked the UBA Chairman for his kind words and for taking a bet on him. He also thanked the banking regulators for providing the enabling environment that made the bank thrive during his tenure as well as staff and executive management of the bank, who he said were largely responsible for all the bank’s achievement during his tenor as GMD. He stated that he would continue to contribute his quota to the development of the Nigerian banking system.”
Ms. Ibekwe also thanked the bank for the honor done to her. She said that she cherished her time at the bank and will continue to be a great ambassador of the UBA Brand.
Top Nigerian musical acts brought more excitement to an already fun charged evening. Dr Sid as well as Olamide “Baddo” kept the audience dancing throughout. But the night was not just about those retiring as the bank also used the opportunity introduce the bank's new GMD, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka.
It was a sight to behold when the bank's Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Victor Osadolor, Executive Directors, CEOs from its 18 African subsidiaries and its operations in New York, London and Paris, came on stage waving the flags of their respective countries to usher in Mr. Uzoka with panache and fanfare.
In his short speech Mr. Uzoka thanked the Board and stakeholders for the opportunity to be the new helmsman and promised that he and his team would build on the foundation laid by Oduoza to take the bank to greater heights.
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