By Cynthia Ezekwe
Oliver Alawuba, the Group managing director/chief executive officer,United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has been conferred an honorary doctorate degree in banking and finance by Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri, in respect to his meritorious services, and immense contributions to the growth of banking and finance in Nigeria and across Africa.
The award was bestowed on Alawuba during the school’s eight convocation ceremony, which was witnessed by Hope Uzodinma, the executive governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo state; Ernest Nwapa, the university’s pro-chancellor; U.U. Chukwumaeze the vice-chancellor of IMSU; vice-chancellors from various tertiary institutions in Nigeria, captains of industries and a host of stakeholders.
Commenting on his contribution to the banking sector, the vice chancellor of IMSU disclosed that the conferment is in recognition of the CEO’s contribution to redefining public sector banking in Nigeria and across Africa.
“The honour is in recognition of your numerous contributions to the financial sector in Nigeria and Africa and as one of the major drivers who contributed to taking modern banking to all state capitals and major cities in Nigeria where hitherto most banks primarily concentrated on the major commercial centres of the country,” the vice chancellor said.
Alawuba expressed his delight to the leadership of the university for the honour conferred to him, while attributing his success to God and hard work. He further implored the students to stay focused and diligent whilst congratulating his fellow awardees.
Speaking on his honorary conferment, Alawuba said, “I am grateful to the management of IMSU for the honour and recognition, and I want to thank the amiable governor, the vice chancellor and other top executives of this great institution for the honour that you have shown me today. I promise that I will continue to do my best to make this school and indeed the indigenes of this great state proud. I also seize this opportunity to advise the young ones to be focused and put their best in their studies, so that one day they will also be recognised globally.”
Other awardees of the honorary doctorate degree include the former Governor of Anambra State, her excellency, Virgy Ngozi Etiaba; Chika Emenike, CEO of Tummy Tummy noodles, Chitec motors limited, and Kotec group of companies; and Simbi Wabote, executives, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Alawuba is a seasoned banking professional with over 25 years of work experience. He has a broad range of strategic and well-grounded experience in corporate and institutional banking, consumer banking, public sector, retail and commercial banking, project management, corporate governance, and overall bank management.
Prior to his appointment as the GMD/CEO of UBA Group, overseeing the group’s banking operations across its 20 subsidiaries in Africa and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates, Alawuba was at various times country CEO and Regional CEO of UBA’s rest of Africa operations.
The CEO also emerged the best graduating student in food and technology from the Abia State University, and the recipient of multiple awards from humanitarian organisations. He is also a member of several organisations and sports clubs. He is married to Nkeirula Oly-Alawuba, who is an associate professor and they are blessed with seven children.
Alawuba holds a Bachelor of Science(B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degrees in food science and technology and an (MBA) in Banking and Finance. He is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Programme (AMP), and Strategy Execution Programme (SEP) programmes of the prestigious INSEAD Business School, France and the London Business School respectively.
He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
