UBA MD Uzoka, NCC boss, Danbatta are recipients of Zik Prize in professional leadership.
The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Africa’s global bank, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr Kennedy Uzoka and the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof Umar Garba Danbatta have been named joint winners of the prestigious Zik Prize in Professional Leadership for the year 2019.
The awards will be presented at an elaborate ceremony scheduled for Sunday, December 6, 2020 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
Announcing the programme of events for the day in a statement at the weekend, Professor Jubril Aminu, Chairman of the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), organisers of the award, said the ceremony will start at 6pm.
Prof Aminu noted that the awardees were carefully selected through a rigorous process for their notable contributions to national development.
At a press conference earlier announcing the year’s event, Professor Pat Utomi, board member PPRAC, said Uzoka and Dambatta were voted as winners on account of their giant strides in their respective organisations.
Utomi said Uzoka has made enviable accomplishments as UBA CEO within the year under review.
According to him, Uzoka, “has consistently led the Bank to set a year-on-year track record of profitability, wealth creation and innovative financial products across its operations in the African continent despite global economic challenges.
“Kennedy Uzoka continues to lead his team in chalking newer and higher credits by the day.
Not even the current challenge of COVID-19 has been a dampener as the bank under his watch continues to scale new frontiers and post assuring results.”
On Dambatta, Utomi said the NCC boss has transformed the commission into a regulator of global acclaim. He noted particularly the establishment and implementation of the NCC’s auspicious strategic 8-Point Agenda, which gave the direction for the activities of the commission.
Utomi said Danbatta has through several innovative initiatives such as Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) registration and 112 Emergency Number, helped in the effort against insecurity in the country, even as he noted the sector’s improved contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as improvements in Quality of Service (QoS) delivery, broadband infrastructure deployment, broadband penetration, effective spectrum utilisation, consumer empowerment, technology innovation.
The award presentation, which will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Zik Prize, will be chaired by Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, while the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe will be the royal father of the day.
Also to be conferred with awards on the night are Nigeria’s senate president, Dr. Ahmad Lawan who was named winner of Zik Prize in Political Leadership; Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha who was named winner of Zik Prize in Public Leadership; Founder of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries, Dr. (Mrs.) Stella Okoli, MON, OON, who emerged winner of Zik Prize in Business Leadership and Pastor Mrs. Ibukun Awosika who emerged winner of Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership.
Three state governors, His Excellency, Sen Ifeanyi Okowa, governor of Delta State; His Excellency, Engr Oluseyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State and his His Excellency, Prof Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno State were also named joint winners of Zik Prize in Good Governance for their unrivaled developmental strides in their respective states.
