SIFAX Group Chairman, Taiwo Afolabi, Oramah, Others Bag Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, SIFAX Group, Dr Taiwo Afolabi has bagged the Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership from the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC).

The Head, Selection Committee, Prof. Pat Utomi, said that since the inception of Zik Prize In Leadership Award in 1995 by PPRAC in honour of the first President of Nigeria, the late Dr Nnamdi Azikwe, it has always recognised and encouraged outstanding leadership on the African continent and in the Diaspora.

Being held every year, Utomi said the award was put on hold last year as a mark of respect, following the passage of two members of the advisory board, former Executive Secretary, Prince Emeka Obasi, and Prof. George Obiozor, in March and December 2022. He said this is the reason this edition is a combination of winners for 2021 and 2022.

He announced the 2021/2022 recipients as follows: President, Republic of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, as winner of Zik Prize in Political Leadership; President of AFREXIM Bank, Prof. Benedict Okey Oramah (Zik Prize in Professional Leadership);  Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State (Zik Prize in Good Governance) and Chairman, SIFAX Group, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi (Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership).

The Award dinner and ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday 19th November, 2023 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The Zik Prize was set up in 1994 in honour of the first President of Nigeria, Commander of the Armed Forces,the late Rt. Honourable Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, to encourage and nurture leadership on the African Continent.

Some select recipients of the prize in the past include; President J.J Rawlings (1995), President Julius N. Nyerere (1997), Dr Nelson Mandela (1999), Professor Dora Akunyili (2005), Otunba Subomi Balogun (2010), Aare Afe Babalola (2013), Alh Ahmed Joda (2016) and Dr Akinwumi Adesina (2020).

The letter which was addressed to the business mogul reads in part “We are pleased to inform you that after an exhaustive appraisal of nominees by the Advisory Board of the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC), you have emerged as winner of the Year 2021/2022 Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

“Your choice is a recognition of your outstanding achievements as a foremost business leader and your immense contributions to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy.

“Your record of achievements in just over three decades of business enterprise marks you out as an accomplished entrepreneur.

“The Award dinner and ceremony is scheduled to hold on Sunday 19th November, 2023 at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos. It is usually a very colorful and high-profile social event which attracts the crème-de-la-creme of society and the international community”