Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Kayode Fayemi, has extolled the virtues of Umaru Abdul Mutallab on his 80th birthday.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications, Segun Dipe, the governor said he had known and appreciated the celebrant as a detribalised Nigerian, who was always willing to support a just cause with the fear of God.
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Fayemi further described Mutallab as a man of peace, industry and tolerance, “who is warmly disposed to whatever will bring unity and positive development to the country and humanity at large.”
Mutallab is a prominent business leader and former minister, chartered accountant and banker, former Executive Vice Chairman and Managing Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA) – the third largest bank in Nigeria and an affiliate of BNP Paribas. He is also a former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. He is a recipient of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award.
Abdul Mutallab has also been conferred with the Fellowship of both the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) of UK and the Institute of International Bankers Association (FIBA) of the United States of America.
The celebrant, who played a major role in introducing Islamic banking into Nigeria, has been described by The New York Times as “among Nigeria’s richest and most prominent men,” by The Telegraph as being “one of Nigeria’s most prominent bankers”, and by The Guardian as being “one of the country’s most respected businessmen.”
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Mutallab has also served on the boards of several companies including Arewa Textile Limited, NEPA, NACB, NCC, Nigeria Agip Oil, and Cement Company of Nigeria, and in 2009 was chairman of several companies, including Impresit Bakolori Plc, Incar Nigeria Plc, and Spring Waters Nigeria Limited (SWAN).
Fayemi prayed that as the business mogul joined the group of octogenarians, God would also grant him good health and longer life to continue making positive contributions to the growth of Nigeria without dimming in wit and foresight.
