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Dr. ALEX OTTI, Diamond Bank’sGroup Managing Director/CEO, wins USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA1st International Banker of the Year 2013 award.

Special to USAfrica multimedia networks, and CLASSmagazine, Houston.                                                                 @Twitter.com/Chido247, Facebook.com/USAfricaChido n Facebook.com/USAfrica247

USAfrica, Houston, Texas: One of the key bankers in Nigeria and Africa, Dr. ALEX OTTI (the Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank) has won the USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA 1st International Banker of the Year 2013 award.

The prestigious trophy was handed to Dr. Otti — on behalf of USAfrica — by the leading candidate for the Mayor of America’s 4th largest city Houston and former city attorney Ben Hall and witnessed by key captains of the oil and gas industry, business leaders, African American civil rights leaders and breakthrough creative professionals of our two continents, petroleum services delegates to OTC, financial services experts and hundreds of professionals. 

The Founder of USAfrica and the USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA annual awards Dr. Chido Nwangwu described the honoree Dr. Otti  as very deserving of the award for “meeting USAfrica’s criteria for someone who made an outstanding difference and empowers Nigerians/Africans and Americans in the banking sector and international business.  Secondly, as someone who through executive leadership and scholarship embodies the core goal of USAfrica in flying the distinctive flag of the African professional class in the diaspora and globally.” 

Dr. Nwangwu, former adviser on Africa business/issues to Houston’s ex-Mayor Lee Brown  noted that Dr. Otti is “a seasoned and distinguished banker and scholar who has advanced respect for Diamond Bank in the world’s banking community. Alex is being recognized especially for his vision, leadership, integrity, hardwork, varied skills, contributions as a role model and mentor to many bankers, business persons and financial products organizations in Nigeria, Africa, U.S and Europe — especially his support for community, professional and and national development.”

Dr. Otti thanked USAfrica for the award and for professionally and credibly uplifting Nigerians, Africans and Americans through its multimedia networks and special events. 

USAfrica established since 1993 in Houston is assessed by the CNN and The New York Times as the largest (and arguably, the most influential) African-owned, U.S-based multimedia and public policy networks, producing and publishing print, web, electronic content and international logistics services. 

The USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA awards is held every year in May in Houston, Texas. 

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Profile of Honoree:

Dr. Alex Otti graduated from the University of Port Harcourt with a First class honors degree in Economics in 1988 and an MBA from University of Lagos in 1994.

At the University of Port Harcourt, he was the best graduating student in the department of Economics and won the subject prize.  He was also the best graduating student in the faculty of Social Sciences and won the Dean’s Prize, as well as the overall best graduating student for the year and the valedictorian.

He started his banking career with Nigeria International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Citibank N.Y. in 1989. Towards the end of 1996, he moved to United Bank for Africa Plc as Principal Manager and Head, Corporate Banking Sector, South. His major responsibility was the development of the Oil and Gas business for the Bank.  In the year 2000, he was promoted Assistant General Manager.

In May 2001, he joined First Bank of Nigeria Plc as an Assistant General Manager with responsibility for the Bank’s Energy Group.  In April 2004, he was promoted to Deputy General Manager and in September 2005, he was appointed Executive Director Commercial Banking.  In October 2006, he was redesignated Executive Director (South), and given the responsibility to oversee the bank’s businesses in both South-South and South Eastern geo-political zones of Nigeria.

On March 1, 2011, he assumed duties as the Group Managing Director/CEO of Diamond Bank Plc. In less than 2 years of his leadership, Diamond Bank has more than doubled its customers deposit and total assets while profitability has grown by over 600%. Under his watch, shareholders confidence in the bank was restored as the stock price reached its highest level for 20 months, in January 2013.

Dr. Otti has served in the following capacities on the board of various institutions and companies amongst which are:

Director, Airtel Nigeria Limited (2005 – 2011);

Director, FBN Mortgages Limited;

Director, First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited;

Member, Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt (2007 – 2012);

Chairman, Economics & Statistics committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry;

Member, Governing Council of Babcock University;

Fellow, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria;

Member, Institute of Directors;

Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs, Chartered Institute of Banking.

He is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School (AMP 177), and has also trained at Graduate School of Business, Stanford University California, Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania and Columbia Business School, Columbia University New York. He has also been honored with a Doctor of Business Administration degree by Babcock University in 2009, a Doctor of Science degree by the University of Port Harcourt in 2012, and a Doctor of Public Administration degree by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in January 2013.

In recognition of his commitment and contributions to community development, he has been given several chieftaincy titles and honors, including:

Ugwu Aro of Arochukwu kingdom; Ikemba of Aba; Opia Egbe Imenyi of Nkwerre; and Ochudo of Udi Kingdom.

He loves playing squash, listening to music, reading, traveling and meeting people.  He is happily married and blessed with three lovely children.

The USAfrica Best of Africa 2013 event, Dr. Alex Otti’s and other honorees and guests photos are on the African diaspora events website www.PhotoWorks.TV

Follow USAfrica at Facebook.com/USAfrica247, Facebook.com/USAfricaChido, and Twitter.com/Chido247

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contact: Alverna Johnson

(Assistant to the Publisher)

Dr. CHIDO NWANGWU

Founder & Publisher, USAfrica multimedia networks, Houston

Former adviser on Africa issues/business to Houston’s ex-Mayor Lee Brown.

Wireless: 832-45-CHIDO (24436)

Office: 713-270-5500

E-mail: Chido@USAfricaonline.com

Chido247@Gmail.com

www.USAfricaonline.com/chido

www.ChidoNwangwu.com

ALEX OTTI, Diamond Bank’s Group Managing Director/CEO, wins USAfrica BEST OF AFRICA1st International Banker of the Year 2013 award

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