• Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Onuoha Ukeh (left) presenting letter of nomination as The Sun banker of the year to MD/CEO, Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni. PHOTO: DELE ONATADE
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Wema Plc, Mr Moruf Oseni, has dubbed The Sun Awards a huge reward for hard work and motivation to dismantle obstacles to attain greater heights.
He praised The Sun for building and sustaining a reputation of strong brand with credibility, transparency and professionalism.
Oseni will receive The Sun Banker of the Year award for 2023 along with 33 others, who will also receive other categories of awards on February 17, 2024 in Lagos.
The Wema bank boss, while receiving the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Publishing Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh, in his office in Lagos, during a formal presentation of his nomination letter, said the recognition remains a huge honour.
He said: “There are two types of awards; solicited and unsolicited. This one was unsolicited and that makes it credible and honourable.
“So, I feel honoured being recognised as the banker of the year.
“It has reinforced my commitment to keep doing my best and doing the right thing.
“I accept the award with humility and pride. I accept it on behalf of thousands of people I lead. Their work made me flourish. They’re part of the success story.
“We need to partner on many fronts to keep projecting the good things about our country.
“We should tell our own story. The USA is the biggest country in running PR about itself. They project the best of the country and I like what The Sun is doing in telling our story too.”
In his earlier remarks, The Sun MD said Wema Bank boss was selected via a rigorous process that considered his towering achievements in the nation’s banking sector.
He said Oseni’s appointment as MD/CEO of Wema Bank opened a new vista in the history of the establishment as he came with a wealth of experience, having acted in that capacity for three months earlier.
Ukeh noted that Oseni, as executive director in charge of commercial business in Abuja and the North, made tremendous impact, covering operational areas, like digital, retail, treasury and technology as well as compliance.
He said: “As CEO of Wema Bank, you have raised the bar for the bank. Financial results indicate that the bank surpassed its set targets in the first half of 2023. The bank has also emerged as a leading digital platform for financial services.
“In less than one year you have been CEO, Wema Bank has also witnessed transformation in staff welfare packages. The bank’s family-friendly work environment, with Purple Creche, provides succor to employees, particularly, parents of young kids. The introduction of improved monetary compensation and benefits for employees of the bank is also remarkable.
“You have sustained the Hackaholics Series, an annual youth empowerment programme targeted at Nigerian universities. The bank, under your watch, has continued to drive technology across sectors of the economy. Just a few months ago, Wema Bank’s health-tech startup programme that helps women to bridge the gap and manage breast cancer brought smiles on participants, with N15 million cash price. In that same context, many benefited from the fintech N7 million and N10 million start-up programme.
“Another dimension to Wema Bank’s youth empowerment is the ALAT Summer Internship, which is a platform for young talents to gain hands-on experience in the banking sector.
“Also, nobody will lose track of Wema Bank’s focus on impact investing aimed at providing a business unusual approach to solving socio-economic and ecological problems, especially as it affects global Green Energy and Gender Financing.”
Ukeh said it was for the aforementioned achievements and other sterling qualities of Oseni that the Board of Editors of The Sun Publishing Limited chose him as winner of The Sun Banker of the Year Award for 2023.
Other recipients of The Sun Awards 2023 are; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President, Dangote Groiup, Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman, Innoson Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Limited (Man of the Year); Governors Peter Mbah of Enugu State, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State (Governor of the Year); Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Prof Awa Kalu and Rev. Uma Ukpai (Lifetime Achievement Award); HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife and HRM OgiameAtuwatseIII, OluofWarri (Most Impactful Royal Father).
Others are Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of the Kwara State governor (First Lady of the Year); Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate, Labour Party (Political Icon of the Year); Dr. Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, Chairman/CEO, Richland Property and Homes Limited; Chief Kenneth Ifekudu (Agbalanze), Chairman, Diamond Leeds Ltd and Chief Peter Oge Obih, Chairman, Sea Map Group of Companies (Businessman of the Year); High Chief Christopher Ndubuisi, Chairman, Pinnatech Engineering Nigeria Limited; Dr. Oludare Akande, Chairman, Bellagio Air Limited and Dr. Jayne Onwumere, MD, Property World Africa Network (PWAN) Group (Investor of the Year); Dr. Uche Ogah, President, Masters Energy Group, Chief Celestine Ebubeogu, Chairman, Tiger Foods and Chief James Uzuh, Chairman, J_Jumac Industries Ltd (Industrialist of the Year); Chief Ikenna Okafor, Chairman, Keves Global Leasing Ltd; Lady Adaora Umeoji, DMD, Zenith Bank Plc and Archbishop Dr. Emeka Agwu, President, Voice of Evangelism International, Houston, Texas, USA (Humanitarian Service Icon); Chief Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), Chairman, Tantita Security (Courage in Leadership Award).
Other award winners are, Mr. Robert Azibaola, Founder; Zeetin Engineering Limited; Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, CEO, Nigerian Upstream Petroluem Regulatory Commission and Mr. Charles Odii, DG, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) (Public Service Award); Mr. Femi Bakre, Managing Director, Parallex Bank (Banker of the Year); Bukola Olopade, MD/CEO, Nilayo Sports Management Ltd. (Sport Personality of the Year); Lady Ngozi Ezeonu and Tobi Bakre (Nollywood Icon of the Year).