Arunma Oteh, Chude Jideonwo, Nigerians Dominate CNBC West Africa AABLA 2014

Macaulay Maduwuba

October 24, 2014 10:29 AM

Securities and Exchange Commission boss Ms Arunma Oteh voted CNBC Business Woman of The Year. FCMB founder Otunba Subomi Balogun honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award

Nigerian businessmen and women swept the board at the West African round of the CNBC Africa All Africa Business Leaders Awards Presented By Johnnie Walker Blue Label (AABLA), when the winners were announced at Lagos’ Oriental Hotel yesterday (October 23.)

Africa’s most prestigious business awards, the AABLAs celebrates the continent’s most impactful business visionaries in a variety of categories, including Business Leader of the Year; Young Business Leader of the Year,Business Woman of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award, Sponsored By Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

says Joe Nazzal, Head of Reserve.

In the category of West African Business Leader of the Year, Atedo N.A Peterside, the Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC took top honours for his numerous path-breaking endeavours, which have elevated the African economy throughout his career.

The West African Young Business Leader of the Year Award was jointly awarded to the Co-Founders and Managing Partners of Red Media, Chude Jideonwo and Adebola T. Williams. Among their manifold achievements, these dynamic young pioneers conceptualised the invaluable youth event, The Future Nigeria Awards, which inspire young Nigerians to strive for brilliance.

West Africa’s Business Woman of the Year is Arunmah Oteh, who was celebrated for her peerless vision and dedication in the role of Director General of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria. Arunmah has been an instrumental force in the on-going growth and development of Nigeria’s economic landscape, and her indelible contributions were lauded at the ceremony.

Founder and CEO of innovative payments service, PAGA, Tayo Oviosu, was named West Africa’s Entrepreneur of the Year. This bold pioneer has seen his company accrue over 1.7 million users, and has set a prime example for future African visionaries.

The coveted Lifetime Achievement Award, Sponsored By Johnnie Walker Blue Label, was awarded to the incomparable Otunba Subomi Balogun, who has reached a multitude of extraordinary milestones in his long and exemplary career. Amongst these achievements is his status as a Founder of First City Monument Bank, with global subsidiaries and an undeniably impressive shareholder’s equity.

The West African round marked the final regional leg of the AABLA Awards with East Africa’s business elite having been honoured in Nairobi in September, and Southern Africa’s pioneers having been lauded earlier this month.

Now, the winners of these three regions move on to the prestigious AABLA Finale Event, to be hosted in Johannesburg on the 14th of November, where they will vie for the ultimate title of the most inimitable business pioneers in their respective fields.

Macaulay Maduwuba