Group managing director and chief executive officer of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc Kennedy Uzoka and the executive vice-chairman/CEO of 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 December 6, 2020 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
Announcing the programme of events for the day in a statement, Prof 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, Prof Pat Utomi, board member PPRAC, said Uzoka and Dambatta were voted as winners on account of their giant strides in their respective organisations.
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.”
The award presentation, which will also mark the 25th anniversary of the Zik Prize, will be chaired by Nobel Laureate Prof Wole Soyinka while the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe will be the royal father of the day.
Also to be conferred with other honours are Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha among others.
