It was rain of accolades for the
outgoing Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr.
Phillips Oduoza in Lagos on Wednesday as captains of industry and leading
voices of Nigerian society witnessed the launch of a book in his honour.
The book titled “Dynamics
of the Nigerian Financial System” edited by Professor Michael M. Ogbeide is a
compilation of essays on the Nigerian financial system in honour of Oduoza, who
retires at the end of July, having completed his two terms of three years
each at the helm of the pan African financial institution.
Speaking during the occasion,
Chairman of Best Foods Limited, who was the chairman of the book launch,
Emmanuel Ijewere said Oduoza is worth celebrating because “he has proven
himself to be a worthy banker, an authority in the banking industry, and
an administrator who has traversed the banking and financial landscape without
blemish. A special brand dedicated to excel”.
Also, Chairman United Bank for Africa
(UBA), Tony O. Elumelu, in his remarks, commended Phillips Oduoza for
sustaining the growth trajectory of UBA Plc in the last six years.
“Oduoza is a man with a very cerebral mind, very diligent, loyal and
astute. A man retiring in two days, who still works like he just resumed.
During the period we worked together at UBA, he was a wonderful big brother. A
man who loves and encourages progress and a man who always works for the best
of everything.”
Elumelu said that the performance of
UBA today, both financial and brand management are all attributable to Oduoza
and all the team he worked with.
Alex Otti, former CEO of Diamond Bank
Plc, praised Oduoza for his extra-ordinary talent and management skills and
leaving the banking industry with his integrity intact. He urged Oduoza to
ensure that he puts his wealth of experience in the banking industry to the
benefit of the country.
Also speaking on the occasion, the
editor of the book, a renowned academician from the University of Lagos,
Professor Mike Ogbeide, said the book is a worthy testimony of Oduoza’s
sterling contributions to an industry whose zenith he reached by scoring
many firsts.
Jumai Oduoza, the wife Phillips Oduoza,
put together the book launch to honour her husband’s over two decades sojourn
in the African banking industry.
Reviewing the book,
Professor Awolabi Kuye, said the book is a metaphor for excellence
and recommended reading and study of the book to students and all those
interested in the Nigerian financial industry.
Phillips Oduoza, who has been the Group
Managing Director and CEO of pan-African banking group, United Bank for Africa
Plc since August 2010 officially retires from the bank on 31 July after successfully
completing two terms of three years each. He will be succeeded by Kennedy
Uzoka, who has been the Deputy Managing Director, working closely with Oduoza,
in the last six years. UBA says the smooth transition process is a testimony to
the strength of the bank’s succession planning model.
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