Obaseki, Oramah, SIFAX Chair, Zambian President, Ex-Kebbi First Lady Emerge Winners of Zik Prize Award 

Peter Uzoho

Some African and Nigerian leaders including the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afrexim-bank), Prof. Benedict Oramah; Chairman of SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi; former First Lady of Kebbi State, Hajiya Aisha Atiku Baguda; and Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, have emerged winners of the prestigious Zik Prize Award.

The Head of the Selection Committee for Zik Prize Award, Prof. Pat Utomi, in a statement issued yesterday, announced the eminent Africans and Nigerians as the winners for the combined 2021/2022 Zik Prize Award in different categories.
According to the statement, while Obaseki won the Good Governance category, Hichilema emerged winners of the Political Leadership category, Oramah won in the Professional Leadership category, Afolabl won the Entrepreneurial Leadership Prize and the ex-Kebbi State first Lady emerged winner in the Humanitarian Leadership category.

Providing the details, Utomi said
Hichilema bagged the Zik Prize having, “distinguished himself as a great shining light, not only to his South African nation, Zambia, but the black race.”
As an example of sheer doggedness and perseverance, he said the 61-year-old Zambian farmer, businessman and now politician, contested five previous presidential elections between 2006 and 2016, before emerging victorious at the sixth time of asking in 2021.

Utomi pointed out that despite inheriting an economy dangerously spiralling out of control and prevailing global challenges, Hichilema had in two years remarkably halted the slide and ushered Zambia’s economy back to the path of growth, restored long-term debt sustainability and reinvigorated Zambia’s economy, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the continent.

“Zambia is ranked the 8th most competitive country in Africa on the Global Competitiveness Index and whilst in its recently released report, Forbes Magazine ranked Zambia the 7th best country with the ease of doing business among 54 African countries.
“Hichilema’s leadership construct and political sagacity has marked him out as an outstanding political leader,” the statement explained.
For the Year 2021/2022 Zik Prize in Professional Leadership, Oramah who has been the President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, was announced as the winner of the prize.

According to Utomi, the Afreximbank boss has remarkably piloted Africa’s premier multilateral financial institution to deliver on its mandate of boosting economic expansion in Africa by financing and promoting intra-and extra-African trade.  and accelerating industrialization.
A key promoter of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) as Africa’s pathway to industralisation, Utomi said Oramah championed the introduction of a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA.

 “He has also led the onboarding of 500 of the continent’s 600 regulated commercial banks into its Afreximbank Trade Finance Facility (AFTRAF) placing it in the vortex of the most extensive bank messaging network on the continent.
“The bank is also working with the AU and the AfCFTA Secretariat to develop an Adjustment Facility to support countries in effectively participating in the AfCFTA”, the statement noted.

He described Oramah as a global public speaker, prolific writer and subject matter expert on African Trade and finance, adding that he had authored chapters in several books and written over 40 professional/scholarly articles on African economic, trade and trade finance issues.
On the other hand, Obaseki was announced as the winner of the Year 2021/2022 Zik Prize in Good Governance.
A financial and administrative guru, Utomi explained that Obaseki has brought his wealth of experience in the private sector to bear in addressing the issues of governance in Edo State.

“Edo state is the most economic friendly state as Certificates-of-Occupancy are processed under 30 days for both individuals and businesses, a feat not yet replicated elsewhere
“H.E Godwin Obaseki has come out as one of the most accomplished governors in the federation today,” Utomi added.
For the Year 2021/22 Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership, Afolabi, who was described as an entrepreneur of note, was announced the winner.
Afolabl is the Chairman of SIFAX Group, a leading business behemoth with diversified interests in maritime, tourism and hospitality, energy, aviation, oil and gas, haulage and logistics.

“Notably, his massive investments in Nigeria’s terminal operations, especially its off-dock solutions, have positively affected the industry and catalysed economic growth.
“Dr Afolabi’s consistency in developing innovative business models and nurturing same to global acclaim has made him a leader in entrepreneurial endeavour”, Utomi pointed out.
Also, for Year 2021/2022 Zik Prize in Humanitarian Leadership, Atiku Baguda’s wife was announced the winner.
She was described as a consummate humanist and philanthropist who has over the last fourteen years been a ‘hope giver’’ to thousands of otherwise hopeless citizens of the country.

However, Utomi disclosed that the formal presentation ceremony of the Zik Prize Awards, usually a celebratory event, would hold on Sunday 19th November, 2023 at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos.