How Otudeko and Dangote emerged best Africa chief executive for 2016

Oba Otudeko is the chairman of Honeywell Group, the Nigeria business mogul has been named one of the best Africa Chief Executive of the Year (2016) alongside with the richest man in Africa 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 Cote d'Ivoire.


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 of the Africa CEO Forum. Other categories were also  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.

HOW THEY EMERGED

The Honeywell Group chairman Oba  Otudeko - 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.

He also chairs the First Bank of Nigeria (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) and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, headquartered in the Togolese capital of Lome (2002 - 2010).

Oba Otudeko, is a chartered banker and corporate secretary, was the 16th President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) between September 2006 and August 2009.
He also  holds the Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), awarded him in 2011 by former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. 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).
The Oba Otudeko Foundation (OOF), a not-for-profit organization is also promoted by him.