Okechukwu enelamah biography of martin
For many African countries now there is almost a kind of dichotomy in terms of the relationship, or the developing relationship, with China. On the one hand, governments are very happy that China offers them credit at very concessional rates. On the ground, however, Chinese entry has been accompanied by intrusive competition. In Onitsha Market a few years ago, for instance, I remember hearing the complaints of the traders there, especially the fabric traders, who were very bitter about the very intimate level at which Chinese traders were now competing with them.
So you have this sense almost of helplessness on the ground as a result of a relationship between one state and another. Your question is a wide-ranging one. Three things are pertinent : one, we have a good relationship with China, country to country. They are clearly interested in Africa, they understand the importance of infrastructure development, and have offered to work with us in all of the most critical parts of infrastructure, like railways, and road transport, aviation and so on and so forth, and all that is welcome.
Two, the Chinese are very aggressive. Related to that, I was very impressed a few years ago when I visited Nnewi, and saw the kind of industrial innovation being done by small-scale businesses and industrialists in very adverse conditions. What is your government doing today to encourage the industrial development of places like Nnewi? I was actually [in Nnewi] in December so I can completely corroborate your point that they will blow you away with their innovation, their creativity, their ingenuity, their entrepreneurship, and coming from the east myself I am aware of their story even before that.
The next thing is to develop the area where they have shown particular acumen. The automobile sector is an area Nnewi is renowned for throughout the country, so we are doing an auto industrial park there. Now the second point is that that fits into our wider policy of having special economic zones where you provide all the facilities and infrastructure so that businesses can focus on what they do best without having to carry the extra costs of infrastructure and of having to own their own ecosystem.
I wanted to discuss the practicalities of doing business in Nigeria today. When one sees the demise of a company like Arik — in part, if you listen to the outgoing CEO, due to foreign exchange issues and also a difficult trading environment — what does it tell us, if anything, about operating in Nigeria now? Let me answer two questions — one on Arik, the other on the broader question about business conditions.
In this interview, Enelamah explains that after working a few brief years in medicine, he was drawn towards business and finance. Inhe joined the local affiliate of Arthur Andersen where he retrained as an accountant, and inhe joined the MBA program at Harvard Business School. After graduating inEnelamah returned to Africa and began a career in private equity.
They formed a major regional private equity fund. Enelamah moved back to Nigeria where he founded African Capital Alliance in He is a okechukwu enelamah biography of martin partner and also supports the Investor Relations team. He started his career as an Engineer in the US for a manufacturing company and he held leadership roles in operations in Latin America.
Previously, she was the CEO of ReStraL Limited, a management consulting firm focused on research, strategy and leadership development services, where she worked with clients on strategy development, governance and organizational development, human resources consulting, culture change efforts and capacity development. Previously, Yemisi worked in the treasury and treasury risk management, banking operations and asset management divisions at First City Group, a leading financial services group in Nigeria.
Yemisi holds a B. She is also a graduate member of the Nigerian Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers. This will close in 0 seconds. Our Team. Working together to deliver value to your business. Bukola oversees legal, compliance and governance. Showing ethical leadership in business.
Okechukwu enelamah biography of martin
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Focusing more on team results than personal visibility. Being self-aware. Modelling courage by speaking the truth and talking straight with respect. Doing the right thing consistently, irrespective of what is popular or expedient.