By Dorcas Samson Achi

Illustrious Orlu Son, Oliver Alawuba has been appointed as the Chairman of the body of Banks' CEOs at the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Alawuba is the Group Managing Director (GMD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc. He  oversees the global Operations of UBA across Nigeria, 19 other African Countries, UBA America, UBA United Kingdom, UBA France and UBA United Arab Emirates.

He is an exceptional banking lord whose  leadership in UBA has delivered exceptional and Industry leading financial performance as the bank continues to support its Customers across various markets under its Customer First philos.

 In his over 25 years spanning career as a banking guru and financial maverick, Alawuba  has achieved major milestones and contributed to redefining the Banking trajectory across Africa.

He leveraged on his positions as CEO Designate for UBA Cote d Ivoire, CEO UBA Ghana, Regional CEO for West Africa, ED East Bank in Nigeria and later, DMD/CEO UBA Africa, at distinct times, to provide leadership for the entire 19 Country operations of UBA across Africa. 

He is renowned for his productive leadership roles excellently exhibited in his team's work  to structure landmark transactions and solutions that transformed most of the markets in Africa.

Alawuba is an alumnus of the Senior Executive Programme (SEP) of London Business School and the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) of INSEAD Business School in France.

He is a Humanitarian cum Philanthropist who has positively affected many lives especially in his hometown through his heavy investments in the education,  empowerment, skill acquisition and health care of the youths and aged people.

An industrialist and gospel crusader, Evangelist (Dr) Leo Obi Nwigwe, of Amawu, Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise LGA, Imo State, has reinstated his stance that the South East could only develop when Igbo businessmen, investors and entrepreneurs bring their businesses home. 

According to the chairman, chief executive officer of LEOSKY Services Nigeria Limited, an oil  servicing and consulting company, "South East can do better than China, Japan and most Eastern European countries combined if our wards invest home. I still remember that few years ago, when the Arewa Youth Movement threatened Ndigbo to quit northern Nigeria, it was officially estimated that South East's investments in the north alone was over N45trn. 

"If that huge amount of money about Ignoring investments could come from only northern Nigeria, imagine that of Lagos and sure it will be double. That of Port Harcourt will be about 75% bigger than that figure. Of course, that of West Africa and elsewhere in the Diaspora will be out of this world. 

"Just think of what the Igbo nation will  look like if all these businesses, investments and enterprises are located in our domain. Let us not even say all, let us approximate that 60% of what we configured here as Igbo investments outside our region  is located in the South East zone. I tell you we would have the capacity and capability of challenging China in technology and even over taking Japan in industrialization". 

Nwigwe who also doubles as the mayor of Mbutu, charged the South East Governors Forum to work assiduously towards making the zone attractive to Igbo investors in order for them to think home. 

He said, "I am an investor and my businesses are equally domiciled in the Igbo country. There are few of us who have toed this path of patriotism not minding all its risk and disadvantages. 

" However, I can tell you that some of our businessmen outside Igbo nation have continually pointed at unfriendly environment as the reason for their limiting their businesses outside the South East. On this note, I therefore call on the Igbo governors to use the South East Governors Forum to make the region attractive for businesses.

" They should work hard to eliminate insecurity by initiating people - oriented projects and establish programmes that are beneficial to the poor. When this is done, the youths will be meaningfully engaged and in the process discouraged from taking to crime. This way, criminality will be drastically curtailed and our people will bring their businesses home. When  this noble and lofty dream is realized, I tell you, Igbo nation will flourish and prosper". 

He lauded the Igbo spirit of industry, invention and ingenuity even never say die which he said is critical to the South East's survival  and struggles.