Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Tony O. Elumelu, has hailed the African Finance Corporation (AFC) on its various initiatives and contributions targeted towards supporting African economies in the last few years noting that these initiatives have gone a long way in fostering growth and diversity on the continent.

Elumelu gave the commendation during AFC’s 10th Anniversary celebrations in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. He was also full of praises for the corporate governance culture exhibited and practised by AFC, noting that its impact has been felt not only in Africa, but the world over.

The UBA Group Chairman, who was honoured and recognised at the event as a long serving board member of AFC, said: “As a pioneer Chairman of Risk and Governance at the AFC, I interacted closely with management and the AFC has world class leadership and management. We have seen great seeds planted. This is indeed an African institution domiciled in Nigeria with world class standards.”

Elumelu referred to the Triple A rating of AFC and said: “Having served on the board of AFC for nine years, he shared his vision and hopes for the corporation in the next 10 years as he sat on a panel titled The foundation for growth, alongside the former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Former Central Bank governor of Nigeria, Professor Chuwuma Soludo.

“The commodity crisis has demonstrated that we need to attract more capital to Africa and I would like to see the AFC mobilising much needed capital to the continent as we engage with our political leaders to create the enabling environment for growth and development.”

Acting Nigerian President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, who had earlier opened the AFC’s summit on Infrastructure revolution, commended Obasanjo, for his clear vision in conceiving the idea of an African Development Finance Institution that would be birthed on the continent.

“The idea of developing a wholly African Finance Institution that was the will of African leaders, nations and institutions seemed far-fetched a decade ago,” Osinbajo said. He expressed confidence that Africa is on the right path, saying: “This coming decade is Africa’s time.”

Other African leaders who were in attendance at the summit include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele; Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Uganda’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Hon Kasija Matia; Gambian Minister of Trade, Isatou Touray; Nigeria’s former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili and many others.

•Photo shows, L-R; Ex-CBN Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Former Minister for Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili; Chairman, UBA Group Tony O. Elumelu; and Ex-Commissioner of Finance in Lagos State, Ayo Gbeleyi, at the gala in Abuja on Monday in celebration of Africa Finance Corporation’s 10th year Anniversary.

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