Oba Otudeko Beat Dangote to Win Africa's Best CEO 2016

Though his looks may reflect an unassuming personality, his relentless appetite for risk, his zeal to impact lives by creating jobs and transforming the business landscape with legacy projects and his philanthropy have made the Africa CEO Forum, to name Nigeria’s Ayoola Oba Otudeko, the Africa CEO of the Year (2016).

Indeed, Otudeko has been a pacesetter for quite some time. Born Obafunke (but better known as Oba) Otudeko, the chairman of Honeywell Group has a larger-than-life image as a shrewd businessman and a risk-taker of no mean stature.
Otudeko, the chairman of Honeywell Group, beat seven other finalists, including Africa’s richest, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to clinch the coveted prize.
Otudeko and Dangote were the only Nigerians listed among the eight top contenders for the coveted Africa CEO of The Year Award.
His conglomerate’s operations stretch across oil and gas, flour milling, real estate and marine transportation. Another piece of his fortune is in the oceanfront Radisson Blu in Lagos, Nigeria.

A trained chartered banker, chartered corporate secretary and chartered accountant, the highly successful Nigerian investor and entrepreneur, whose domestic and foreign interests cut across diverse sectors of the economy, was, at various times, chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Bank (UK) Limited, Airtel Nigeria and Fan Milk of Nigeria Plc.
He has also served on the boards of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Guinness Nigeria Plc, British American Tobacco Limited and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated headquartered in Lome, Togo.
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. 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 AfDB.
The 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, the Africa CEO Forum is an event organised jointly by Groupe Jeune Afrique, publisher of Jeune Afrique and The Africa Report, and Rainbow Unlimited, a Swiss company specialising in organising economic promotion events.

Otudeko knew quite early what he wanted out of life and pursued the dream with tenacity of purpose. While he was growing up, the only thing that caught his fancy was business; he refused to be swayed by any other interest.
The grace of God in his life has also united with his training and perception, endowing him with the Midas touch – success has always trailed all that he has ventured into. Having joined the business world at a very tender age, he is, today, considered as the one of the richest men in Africa, according to Forbes.

Oba Otudeko has impacted on the immediate community of Honeywell Group through wealth and value creation, in addition to a pool of highly motivated workforce. It is a fact today that many have tapped and benefited enormously from his huge financial and business experience.
In recognition of his many contributions to the economic and social development of Nigeria, and his consistent commitment to good causes and the Nigerian nation, his National Honour was again upgraded to Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) in November 2011, having previously been awarded Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in November 2002 and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in December 2000.
He was the president and chairman of council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The ever-blunt philanthropist promotes his ideals of philanthropy and giving back to the society through the Footprints Occupational Training Centres initiative of the Oba Otudeko Foundation.
Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed, while presenting the award to Otudeko, noted that the CEO of the Year award 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 organisers, Otudeko in response expressed happiness at the recognition for his contributions to achieving a better Africa.
“I see the award as recognition of commitment and indeed confidence, that the future of Africa resides strongly in the patriotic African person.
“Our future is bright. We should not allow our challenges to diminish our confidence. Africa would prosper in cooperation with all our friends, who are within Africa and outside Africa,’ the Honeywell Group chair said, just as he encouraged African CEOs to continue working together to support the continent’s growth dynamics.
Recently, Otudeko, was also conferred with a special recognition award by the Ogun State government in appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the development of the state and the country as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary celebrations of Ogun State, the ‘Gateway State’.
An indigene of Ogun State from Odogbolu, Dr. Oba Otudeko, who has contributed immensely to the growth and development of the state, was honoured amongst five other distinguished icons of the state.

Otudeko expressed gratitude to the governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the people of Ogun State for the honour. “I congratulate other worthy awardees. We are all proud of what Ogun has achieved in its 40 years of existence and what the present administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is doing, especially in the area of urban renewal. I promise to continue to use my God-given endowments to further the cause of development in Ogun State.”

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.

Source:


http://guardian.ng/news/the-man-otudeko/

No be this guy that is dragging bankruptcy with one new generation bank like that? A ceo who has a penchant taste for killing other business to build his is a selfish and egocentric

jmichlins:
No be this guy that is dragging bankruptcy with one new generation bank like that? A ceo who has a penchant taste for killing other business to build his is a selfish and egocentric

Don't missinform people... Read the CBN banker's committee verdict on the matter.... Honeywell was not indebted to the bank..

thenationonlineng.net/honeywell-not-indebted-to-ecobank/

ekseel:


Don't missinform people... Read the CBN banker's committee verdict on the matter.... Honeywell was not indebted to the bank..

thenationonlineng.net/honeywell-not-indebted-to-ecobank/

guy i no be board member of the said bank but am sure i read it here how the bank sued him and the said company. So do not say am deceiving people rather warn the nairaland mods to stop publishing fake news

does this help or improve the life of the common man?
Lubbish!!!

Thumbs up!

Nice one.

congrats sir!

And this goes to my fellow entrepreneurs in the house
•Be Full of determination.
•Never be afraid to take risks.
•Have an High level of confidence.(dont let people discourage you)
•Crave learning. .pls never stop learning
•Understand that failure is part of the game but the the more u keep going you will achieve your aim
•Be Passionate about your business and never stop breaking fallow grounds.

WE WILL GET THERE MY PEOPLE.

Compromised

This is nice

What is Otudeko's African Forbes ranking?
Ogun is just a state of Millionaires....

Abeg make una dash me LIKES..22nd of March was my birthday but I was unable to get 1000 likes because I requested for it late in the night on that very day due to some issues.I know nairalanders are very generous in doling out likes to celebrelants of birthday.Make una help me continue today.I wan go use am exchange for naira because I learnt that is what the likes gotten on nairaland are used for.And you know the sweetest part,one like is equivalent to one dollar.definitely 1000likes will be 1000 dollars which when changed to Nigeria naira will be nothing less than #300,000.Abeg e o no se or I buruku.I need this money as a capital between today and tomorrow.e seun lopolopo..

Ok

Good for him....meanwhile Dangote needs competitors as such, that will serve as catalyst for him 2 always do better.

Nice to know, business is not meant for one individual..
I'm working on my own seriously, one day I shall be there,, you may not know me now..

Baba God please pick my call to be on Forbes soonest.

At what age is "tender?". I want to know if at my present age I am lagging or leading.

Happy Good friday nairalanders!

who be Oba Otukpo?

Okay

Corruption, he must be probed. Were is Magu and his boys

calliope:
Those this help or improve the life of the common man?
Lubbish!!!

Sometimes you need to think before you type or perhaps read the topic. Who do you think benefits from his job creation?

There were three men living together in London. AnAfro-American, a West Indian and a Nigerian. They were all starving because they didn't have money to buy food.However upon coming close to a posh London restaurant in this classy neighbourhood, they decided to come up with a plan.

The Afro-American went in first. After being seated, he ordered a three course meal with white wine. When he had finished the meal, the waiter came by with the bill. "LISTEN MY MAN, I ALREADY PAID YOU!" - the Afro-American shouted! The waiter was very confused because he could not remember being paid. But because he did not want to cause any trouble, he let the brother leave.

Five minutes later, the West Indian walked into thesame restaurant and ordered a five course meal with red wine. When he was finished eating, the waiter came by to collect the money for the food."HEY, HEY, LOOK AT ME CROSSES. BUT AH PAID YOU ALREADY!" - the West Indian shouted. This time the manager came and had to calm down the West Indian, because he did not want anything to upset the other customers. He let the guy go.

Ten minutes later, the Nigerian walked in. And you know how we are. He sat down. Lit up a cigarette, and ordered the most expensive meal on the menu, plus two bottles of Beer. After he had finished, the waiter came to collect the money for the meal,But before the Nigerian could say anything, the waiter spoke to him."Sir, I have been having all sorts of problems all day and I can't understand it.Two other people like you came in earlier and ate, and they say that they paid me but I don't remember getting any money from them so, " Before he could finish, the Nigerian interrupted, rather emphatically, "OGA I SORRY FOR YOU OOOO. BUT DAT NA YOUR PROBLEM. I JUST WANT YOU TO GIVE ME MY CHANGE!!"

Na their time to shine, my own dey come. I'm next.


Check out my signature & thank me later.

Lmao....lagging or loading nko?

lonelydora:
Baba God please pick my call to be on Forbes soonest.

At what age is "tender?". I want to know if at my present age I am lagging or leading.

A chronic bad borrower. Banks run from his businesses

calliope:
Those this help or improve the life of the common man?
Lubbish!!!

A blindman is speaking.

Do you know how many common men that are in his employment?

Do you know hearing such news can prompt you too to scale greater heights in your life and business?

Go through the history of present day great men and you will see that they became great because they read and applied stories of other great people.

Wake up from your fuulish slumber.

horsepower24:
A chronic bad borrower. Banks run from his businesses

Here you are criticizing, condemning and pulinghim down.

But there he is winning awards.

Do you know how much work you will have to do to ever reach where he is today?

I can't even start to imagine

I remember my time in firstbank
This man has portfolio
See how many companies he is on their board
Am sure he is always on the move
Fbn today... Airtel.. Fan milk ah kini
Commendable
I need more ibo folks to seize d moment
We allowing yorubas n hausas have too much
#weneedmoreibobillionaires

Bad belle is allowed on this thread. It doesnt change anything.