L – R: Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Honeywell Group, winner of the 2016 CEO Award being congratulated by Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Former Minister of Finance and Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) at the 2016 Africa CEO Forum.
The Chairman of Honeywell Group, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, has been conferred with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Year Award at the 2016 Africa CEO Forum held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Otudeko emerged 2016 Africa CEO of the year ahead of seven other African Chief Executives.
The Forum rewards Africa’s best Chief Executive Officers, companies, and Investors whose strategies have contributed immensely to the growth of Africa.
The award to Otudeko is a testament of his outstanding contributions to the development of the African continent.
He has over the years, spurred economic growth in Africa by transforming the business landscape with legacy projects.
Presenting the award, Founder and President of the Africa CEO Forum, Amir Ben Yahmed, noted that the CEO of the Year award was conferred on Dr. Otudeko for his achievements in the fields of development, governance, strategy, leadership, and financial performance across the operations of his conglomerate.
Commenting on the award, Dr. Oba Otudeko, 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”. he stated.
He encouraged African CEOs to continue working together to support the continent’s growth dynamics.
The Africa CEO Forum is one of the most important events in the African business calendar.
It brings together the most influential personalities in African and global finance and in the past three years, the Africa CEO Forum has recognised over 25 CEOs as well as more than 100 African and global companies.
The Honeywell Group, which was founded in 1972 initially, began operations as a trading concern, importing and marketing commodities such as: baking yeast, stock fish, glass and steel rods, among others.
Today, the Honeywell Group has evolved into a diversified enterprise with businesses across major sectors of the Nigeria economy, namely: foods & 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.
Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR is the Founder and Chairman of Honeywell Group and also Group Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc.
He 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 Central Bank of Nigeria (1990 – 1997), Guinness Nigeria Plc (1999 – 2003), British American Tobacco Ltd (2001 – 2004) and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, headquartered in Lome, Togo (2002 – 2010).
Between September 2006 and August 2009, he was the 16th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Professionally, he is a chartered banker, chartered accountant and chartered corporate secretary.
Dr. Oba Otudeko holds the Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), awarded in 2011. 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). Dr. Oba Otudeko is the Promoter of Oba Otudeko Foundation (OOF), a not-for-profit organisation.
