UBA GMD/CEO at US-Africa Business Leaders Summit tasks African banks on capacity

The Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc Mr. Phillips Oduoza was a key participant at the recently concluded US-Africa Business Leaders Summit  that took place from August 4 to 6, 2014 in Washington DC. 

Mr. Phillips Oduoza, The Group Managing Director/CEO, UBA Plc. 

While speaking on the sidelines of the event, he urged that financial institutions in Africa should seize the opportunity provided by the President Obama led US-Africa Business Leaders Summit and the enthusiasm about Africa to grow their capacity to meet the development needs of the continent.

He said that much of the challenges of financing growth and development on the continent lie in the hands of financial institutions, working in collaboration with international development finance institutions, investors, and private equity firms particularly from the US.

The three-day summit, he admitted, will impact positively on helping to change the information asymmetries about Africa in the US and the rest of the world.

Beyond the negative press about the continent in the western media, he said there are a lot of positive developments in Africa, with stable democracies in most countries, improved business climates and abundant investment opportunities in agriculture, power, transportation, telecommunications, energy and other sectors.

"As one of the largest banks on the continent, with operations in 19 African countries,  we have made huge investments in these countries and have continued to grow our business as well as contributing to the finance and developmental needs of these countries" he stated.

Describing the summit as the largest gathering of investors, financiers, businessmen and political leaders from Africa and the US, he commended President Obama, US, Commerce Secretary, Penny Pritzker  ) and Bloomberg for organising and making the conference a reality. "Though long overdue. It is better late than never" said Oduoza

Oduoza was the only Nigerian bank CEO invited by the US government to participate in the maiden US-Africa Business Forum held by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Bloomberg Philanthropies during the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington DC.

The Business Forum focused on strengthening trade and financial ties between the United States and Africa. President Obama, who also participated in the Business Forum along with Secretary Pritzker and Mayor Bloomberg, as well as other senior U.S. government officials, said Africa is a fundamental part of our interconnected world and partners with America, noting that the partnership between USA and Africa “must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect.”

He called on Africa leaders to strengthen their democracies and democratic institutions to encourage investment inflow into the continent.

Held at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, D.C., the U.S.-Africa Business Forum aimed to intensify efforts to strengthen trade and financial ties between the United States and Africa, and to create partnerships that will promote trade, accelerate job growth, and encourage investment. US companies and institutions announced $17 billion investment into Africa during the summit.

African leaders engaged with business executives from both sides of the Atlantic in conversations about successes and solutions to increase trade with and invest in Africa. President Obama also participated in the conversation with CEOs and government leaders from the United States and Africa.

Oduoza, who participated actively at the meeting, also used the opportunity to have one-on-one business meetings with top US company executives seeking investment opportunities in Africa. One of the meetings was with American business magnate, politician and philanthropist, Michael Bloomberg.

Other top Nigerian companies and government institutions at the event were; Heirs Holdings (Chaired by Mr. Tony Elumelu,  former GMD/CEO UBA Plc), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), A-Post, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dangote Industries, Global Infrastructure Partners, Main One Cable Company, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), and  SOLO Phone.