Dangote, Otudeko win big at Africa CEO awards

Aliko Dangote’s Dangote Group, and Oba Otudeko, chairman of Honeywell Flour Mills, did Nigeria proud again as they won African company of the year and CEO of the year at the Africa CEO awards in Abidjan.

The duo were awarded last night in Cote D’Ivoire for their good work in the development of the African economy.

The African company of the year was given to Dangote Group as “the African company that has demonstrated a remarkable expansion on the continent in a recent period (2 years)”.

While the CEO of the year went to Otudeko as the CEO “whose achievements in the fields of development, governance (strategy and leadership) and financial performance marked the current affairs of the year”.

In his acceptance speech, Otudeko appreciated group for the award, saying: “I see the award as recognition of commitment and indeed confidence, that the future of Africa resides strongly in the patriotic African person.

“Our future is bright. We should not allow our challenges to diminish our confidence. Africa would prosper in cooperation with all our friends, who are within Africa and outside Africa.”

Receiving the award on behalf of Aliko Dangote, Anthony Chiejina, chief corporate communications officer of Dangote Group, appreciated African heads of stat for helping the company achieve its dream.

“On behalf of my boss, Aliko Dangote, who was here during the opening session, we would like to say a big thank you to the organisers of this event, Jeune Afrique.”

“Also, we thank you for your recognition, for the honour, and as well as bringing this event home to Africa for the first time.

“I am sure this is the right residence for this conference, thank you for that. We want to say thank you to all African heads of state and government, the ministers, who have in one way or the other, helped us to achieve our dream as the best company in Africa.

“We thank you so much and we continue to do Africa proud.”

Other nominess for company of the year award were Seplat Petroleum, Safaricom, Sanlam, NASPERS, Maroc Telecom, Sanlam, Ascendis and iSON.

Young CEO of the year award went Sebastien Kadio-Morokro, managing director of Petrol Ivoire, who beat Nigeria’s Jason Njoku, CEO and co-founder of Iroko Partners.

Ahead of Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Zenith Bank, and Standard, Gabonese BGFI bank was named Bank of the year.

Heineken won the award for the international cooperation of the year, while ECP Private Equity was named the private equity investor of the year.