Nigeria’s Oba Otudeko named Africa’s best Chief Executive for 2016

A Nigerian business executive, Oba Otudeko, has been named the Africa Chief Executive of the Year 2016.

Otudeko, who is the chairman of Honeywell Group, beat 7 other finalists, including Africa’s richest man, 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 the Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire).

Otudeko and Dangote were the only Nigerians listed among the 8 top contenders for the coveted Africa CEO of The Year Award.

Four Nigerian firms including the Dangote Group; Guaranty Trust Bank; Seplat Petroleum and Zenith Bank were also on the list of finalists for prizes in the 6 category award session of the yearly conference of the Africa CEO Forum.

The other award categories included:
– African Company of the Year (where Nigeria’s Dangote Group and Seplat Petroleum are listed);
– African Bank of the Year;
– Private Equity Investor of the Year;
– International Corporation of the Year and
– the Young CEO of the Year.

The Africa CEO Forum rewards Africa’s best chief executive officers, companies, and investors whose strategies have contributed significantly to the economic growth of the continent.

Set up in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Africa CEO Forum is an event organized jointly by Groupe Jeune Afrique – publisher of Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report – and Rainbow Unlimited, a company specializing in organizing economic promotion events.

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 organizers of the yearly event, Otudeko has, over the years, spurred economic growth in Africa by transforming the business landscape with legacy projects.

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.

The 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 (including agri-business, energy, real estate and infrastructure development).

In addition to heading the Honeywell Group, Otudeko also chairs the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Holdings Plc. He has previously served as Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria, and Ecobank Transnational Inc., headquartered in Lome (Togo) between 2002 and 2010. He was the 16th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) between September 2006 and August 2009.