Utomi, Aganga, Ohuabunwa, Onyeka, Dakolo, Elenu, others shine at NEBA 2013

 Ohuabunwa, Aganga, Utomi & wife

It was indeed, the gathering of heavy weights at the maiden edition of Nigeria Elite Business Awards (NEBA) 2013.

The event, which held recently at the posh Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance leading Nigerians such as: Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investments, Prof. Pat Utomi, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Onyeka Onwenu, several corporate players as well as members of the diplomatic community.

NEBA Chairman, Mazi Ohuabunwa, while speaking at the hugely attended event that was anchored by Nneota Egbe, stated that the award recognizes the fact that leadership was a huge challenge in both the public and private sectors, hence the need to reward excellence, integrity and hard work.

In his words: “NEBA is rewarding outstanding companies and individuals that have shown great character. We are celebrating the very best of Nigerian business culture. We have so much to celebrate in this country, especially in the business community,” he stated amid applause.

Also speaking, Utomi who was the guest speaker and accompanied by his dear wife, admonished Nigerians to always pay attention to areas that they have competitive edge, adding that Nigeria’s future depends on the spirit of enterprise. Utomi, who made several allusions in his speech, also hailed the ingenuity of Nollywood and its teeming practitioners. “The rebirth of Nigeria will not come from those we are honouring today. We must look elsewhere to oil the value chain. Nollywood is a good example of the areas we must support. It is an industry we have paid little attention to.”

Aganga, who ably represented the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, in his address, aside commending the organizers of NEBA, also insisted that they were various areas the Jonathan administration had improved on in the value chain. He disclosed that government had been supporting private sector initiatives and will continue to do so until the economy fully stabilizes.

Interestingly, the winners in the keenly contested award categories were: Otunba Subomi Balogun, founder, FCMB (Life Time Achievement Award), Insurance Company of the Year (Mansard), Shipping and Maritime Company of the Year (Delmas), Food and Beverage Company of the Year (Nestle Nigeria Plc), Consumer Electronics Brand (Samsung), Telecoms Company of the Year (MTN), Bank of the Year (First Bank) and Oil and Gas Company of the Year (Total Plc).

Other awardees at the memorable night that was spiced up with music and comedy from Onyeka Onwenu, Timi Dakolo, African Image Dance Troupe and Elenu included: CEO and Entrepreneur of the Year, which went to Bisi Onasanya and Leo Stan Ekeh, respectively. While Dangote Cement won the Company of the Year, Governor Ibrahim Damkwambo of Gombe State smiled home with the Governor of the Year as well as the Enabling State of the Year awards.

NEBA is an annual award organized by the prestigious Elite Business Africa Network (EBAN), with the sole aim of rewarding excellence and integrity in the nation’s business environment.