World leaders, policy-makers, industry captains and celebrities were last night hosted by the United Bank of Africa (UBA) PLC in New York City to celebrate the banking giant’s 40th and 75th anniversaries of its USA branch and Group, respectively.
Themed an Evening of influence and impact, the dinner which held at the The Pierre, A Taj Hotel in highbrow Manhattan on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 79, had the UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu as host.
The Nation reports that the cocktail preceded series of insightful conversations and meaningful connections on Africa’s economic growth; empowering the next generation of young entrepreneurs, and transforming energy for a more sustainable future.
It highlighted Africa’s growing influence on the global stage while celebrating the bank’s 75 years of driving financial inclusion globally.
The event headlined issues affecting the African continent and how to better shape its future especially on the global stage.
The bank earlier interfaced with global leaders and policy-makers on the need to collectively foster progress, invest in impactful change for Africa’s future and put the continent on the global stage at the ongoing UNGA79.
“There is a better way to invest in Africa for a sustainable future that creates value for all,” Elumelu told delegates, reiterating the same message during his meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, which focused on enhancing partnerships between the Caribbean and Africa.
“The young people in the Caribbean, just as those in Africa, need the same economic opportunity and hope as their peers elsewhere in the world. They are resilient, creative, hardworking and innovative. We must prioritise and empower our young entrepreneurs because they are the lifeblood of our regions,” he said.
The UBA Group chairman also joined former U.S. President, Bill Clinton on the Clinton Global Initiative Executive Roundtable lunch on “Speed and Scale: Achieving Climate Targets”, which emphasised on the urgent need for innovative solutions to climate goals while fostering sustainable development.
At the World Food Programme (WFP) reception, Elumelu joined WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, to call for urgent collaboration to tackle the global hunger crisis.
Emphasising shared responsibility to support the 733 million people facing food insecurity, Elumelu said success in business cannot be realized, if people are hungry.
According to Elumelu, the outings at UNGA79 were targetted at convening global leaders to talk about the three things that are important to him – “transformative economic growth for Africa so that we can eradicate poverty and create prosperity for all; making sure we create employment for our young ones.
“We need to stop wasting our talents on the continent; and thirdly, talk about equitable energy transition that is beneficial for Africa”.
The President of São Tomé and Principe, Carlos Vila Nova; President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio; President of Gabon, Brice Oligui Nguema; President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, the Queen Maxima of the Netherlands and Africa’s richest person, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, were among personalities at the cocktail.
Other high-profile attendees were the Governors of Niger and Plateau states, Mohammed Umaru Baggo and Caleb Mutfwang; Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye; President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Okey Benedict Oramah, and CEO All On, Wiebe Boer.
Veteran actress and Nollywood star, Genevieve Nnaji; Music star, David Adeleke alias Davido; Founder, Ebony Life Group, Mo Abudu; Chairman, MTN Nigeria Plc, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, and Chief Corporate Services Officer, MTN Nigeria Communications, Tobe Okigbo, were also at the event.
The UBA team had the likes of Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba; CEO UBA Africa, Biola Bawuah; CEO UBA International, Sola Yomi Ajayi; and UBA Group Director for Corporate Communications, Bola Atta, among others.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
