₦airaland Forum

The Group Managing Director/CEO, Zenith Bank PLC, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji OON, is President Tinubu's delegation.

Other members of the delegation that were at the opening of the Manchester branch of Zenith Bank included the minister for industry, trade and investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, the minister of finance, Mr Olawale Edun and the minister of state for finance, Professor Taiwo Oyedele.

Taiwo Oyedele @TaiwoOyedele

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐝

Congratulations to Zenith Bank on the grand opening of its new branch in Manchester. This significant event showcases the growing global influence of Nigerian banks and the strength of our financial sector.

It was an immense honour, in my capacity as minister, to undertake this as my first official assignment representing Mr. President at the branch opening ceremony. This expansion is much more than a corporate milestone; it reflects Nigeria's capability to be competitive, innovative, and lead on the international stage.

As we consistently work to strengthen our financial ecosystem and build deeper international partnerships, institutions like Zenith Bank are pivotal. They play a key role in positioning Nigeria globally by effectively connecting capital with opportunity.

I commend the Board, Management, and Staff of Zenith Bank for this remarkable achievement and extend my best wishes for their continued success.

Thanks to Zenith, Manchester is now truly Red.

https://x.com/i/status/2034388494773276859

I've told you that Nigerians always make strange comments when their leaders travel and this time is no exception. I have addressed most of the strange comments, but this time I'm going to address something that I have rarely written about.

Delegations

I noticed the composition of the US president's entourage when he travelled in the 1980s. There were usually businessmen in his delegations and they usually struck deals with their hosts. I wondered why Nigerian presidents didn't do the same thing.

President Ibrahim Babangida made me happy in the early 1990s. He travelled somewhere and took people like Chiefs Gabriel Igbinedion and Sonny Odogwu with him. I was happy.

You see, the private sector is the engine of the economy and it is the private sector that grows the economy, not the government. I wanted Nigerian businessmen and companies to go out and conquer the world.

Let's jump forward a few decades to another time that I was happy. President Goodluck Jonathan travelled to Kenya sometime around 2014 and his visit shook Africa. There were reports that Africa's richest men had descended on Nairobi, some reports were about the number of private jets that flew to Nairobi and the Kenyan finance minister also spoke about it.

And over time I realised that it's not just the private sector, but the president also needs to go with heads of ministries, departments and agencies and also with state governors. We have seen the impact of such trips in recent years.

Trips to China by President Muhammadu Buhari gave us the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line, the Railway University, the completion of the Warri-Itakpe Line, etc. He took the minister of transport with him.

Trips to the the Middle East (especially the UAE) by President Tinubu led to construction of free estates for victims of Boko Haram attacks and to programmes to render assistance to the victims.

So President Tinubu has travelled to the UK and in his delegation are state governors, ministers, business executives, etc.

Already funny Nigerians are saying that these people only went to the UK to "greet" President Tinubu. They don't know what they are talking about. There are very many events that are happening on the sidelines of the visit and they require the presence of these people (people are talking about Sanwo-Olu and General Musa, but a lot of these investments will be done in Lagos and of course Nigeria is in talks with the UK about training and equipment for our troops).

I would have created a mega thread about these events if I could still post as many pictures as I wanted.

Not only Zenith Bank.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-new-uk-jobs-as-nigerian-companies-confirm-millions-in-investment

budaatum:
Not only Zenith Bank.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-new-uk-jobs-as-nigerian-companies-confirm-millions-in-investment

I already created a thread about that and more.

New Investments And Jobs To Be Created As President Tinubu Visits The UK
https://www.nairaland.com/8637555/new-investments-jobs-created-president

budaatum:
Not only Zenith Bank.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hundreds-of-new-uk-jobs-as-nigerian-companies-confirm-millions-in-investment

Lemfi is not a Nigerian company. It’s a US company.

Congratulations to Zenith Bank ♥️🤝

This one no be original zenith

Zenith banks architecture most look like mirror factory, that’s how we get to know it’s zenith

So does it mean that, I don't need money changers to change my naira. I can leave it in my zenith bank Nigeria and operate it in UK if I want to travel?

What's the connection between Tinubu visiting the UK and Zenith Bank opening a new branch? The bank would've opened its new branch with or without his visit. These APC people like connecting mutually exclusive events.

BTW, Mr. Jim Ovia should retire from the bank because he's probably too sick and can barely even walk well now. He has done an excellent job with the bank.

Hope my money is safe there sha.

I have about 850M in the Zenit ACC 🤣

Update for working boys

[quote author=naptu2 post=138817763]I agree with your point about the importance of delegations and how strategic trips can drive investments and partnerships. No doubt, involving the private sector, governors, and key MDAs is how serious economies position themselves globally. That said, I think where many Nigerians are coming from is not ignorance of these processes, but past experience. We’ve seen several high-level trips and announced deals over the years, but the real question is: how much of these investments have translated into tangible impact on the average Nigerian?
For example, while projects like the Lagos-Ibadan rail are visible outcomes, many other agreements signed during such trips don’t always materialize fully, or their benefits don’t trickle down in a way people can feel jobs, stable power, lower cost of living, or improved security.

So the skepticism is less about the composition of the delegation and more about accountability and results. Nigerians want to see a clearer line between these international engagements and measurable economic improvement at home. In essence, the trips are good strategy, but the real success metric is impact, not announcements.

I hope their system security strong o bcoz int'l working boys go try hack things o

One of the reasons why US presidents take American business people on their trips is to open up avenues for them.

Business people face a lot of restrictions when they want to invest abroad and presidents can get their counterparts to remove such restrictions (remember what happened to Air Peace and the Heathrow slot? It took the intervention of the minister of aviation to resolve the issue).

Mark Smithson is from the UK Ministry of Business and Trade (DBT). He mentions Dr Jumoke Oduwole, who is the Nigerian minister of industry, trade and investment. Florence Eshalomi is a British-Nigerian who is a member of the British Parliament.

Mark Smithson @MarkSmithsonDBT

Great to accompany @FloEshalomi , @joduwole and many distinguished personalities to celebrate @ZenithBank opening of its Manchester branch- a great vote of confidence in this dynamic and vibrant city and 🇬🇧🇳🇬 Trade! @UKinNigeria

https://x.com/i/status/2033931777778012553

President Olusegun Obasanjo was another person that helped to open doors for Nigerian businesses.

In one of his books he wrote about the time that he started "taking him out". The him refers to Alhaji Aliko Dangote and President Obasanjo was referring to the times that he included Aliko Dangote in his official delegations and introduced him to other African leaders.

Pay your staffs well!!!

I hope you will pay the same way you pay in Manchester in nigeria.

That side them no Dey take nonsense o

There are so many of these things that I'm not sure that I'll be able to create threads about all of them.

State Visit: Coventry University To Establish Campus In Lagos
https://www.nairaland.com/8638131/state-visit-coventry-university-establish

SmartPolician:
What's the connection between Tinubu visiting the UK and Zenith Bank opening a new branch? The bank would've opened its new branch with or without his visit. These APC people like connecting mutually exclusive events.

BTW, Mr. Jim Ovia should retire from the bank because he's probably too sick and can barely even walk well now. He has done an excellent job with the bank.

Don't mind these people abeg, they think we are all st*pid

Obidients be like - why open a foreign branch when you don’t have branches in all 774 local governments of Nigeria? This is waste of public funds

Congratulations 🎉🙌
Five more characters needed

naptu2:
I've told you that Nigerians always make strange comments when their leaders travel and this time is no exception. I have addressed most of the strange comments, but this time I'm going to address something that I have rarely written about.

Delegations

I noticed the composition of the US president's entourage when he travelled in the 1980s. There were usually businessmen in his delegations and they usually struck deals with their hosts. I wondered why Nigerian presidents didn't do the same thing.

President Ibrahim Babangida made me happy in the early 1990s. He travelled somewhere and took people like Chiefs Gabriel Igbinedion and Sonny Odogwu with him. I was happy.

You see, the private sector is the engine of the economy and it is the private sector that grows the economy, not the government. I wanted Nigerian businessmen and companies to go out and conquer the world.

Let's jump forward a few decades to another time that I was happy. President Goodluck Jonathan travelled to Kenya sometime around 2014 and his visit shook Africa. There were reports that Africa's richest men had descended on Nairobi, some reports were about the number of private jets that flew to Nairobi and the Kenyan finance minister also spoke about it.

And over time I realised that it's not just the private sector, but the president also needs to go with heads of ministries, departments and agencies and also with state governors. We have seen the impact of such trips in recent years.

Trips to China by President Muhammadu Buhari gave us the Lagos-Ibadan Rail Line, the Railway University, the completion of the Warri-Itakpe Line, etc. He took the minister of transport with him.

Trips to the the Middle East (especially the UAE) by President Tinubu led to construction of free estates for victims of Boko Haram attacks and to programmes to render assistance to the victims.

So President Tinubu has travelled to the UK and in his delegation are state governors, ministers, business executives, etc.

Already funny Nigerians are saying that these people only went to the UK to "greet" President Tinubu. They don't know what they are talking about. There are very many events that are happening on the sidelines of the visit and they require the presence of these people (people are talking about Sanwo-Olu and General Musa, but a lot of these investments will be done in Lagos and of course Nigeria is in talks with the UK about training and equipment for our troops).
I would have created a mega thread about these events if I could still post as many pictures as I wanted.

Thanks bro,👍
The Second to your last Paragraphs is well Noted ' these People don't know what they are saying '
Indeed,many comments are abstract to the real situation on the ground.
For Example,when Uncle Donald Trump Travel - just like other Americans Past Presidents,they go on entourage and infact - President Trump is a Businessman per se and he goes with most American Business Mongol,but now that Tinubu is doing exactly same,some will Condemn him, because of hates but why?
You may not like the man,but try to Seperate issues - What Tinubu is doing right - let us acknowledge it and we rebuke the wrong ones,so that he can do better.
That Is How DEMOCRACY WORKS !

naptu2:
I already created a thread about that and more.

New Investments And Jobs To Be Created As President Tinubu Visits The UK
https://www.nairaland.com/8637555/new-investments-jobs-created-president

As much as I agree with you that deals will be made and struck.
Thing is the lay man will just think it is another foreign travelling jamboree for Government officials with Tax payers fund. The unnecessary photo ops by some officials receiving the president doesn't help matters either. The standing inline receiving the president in another country just seems absurd to be honest, and now posting it online like it's one achievement just sends the wrong message.

3seriez:
As much as I agree with you that deals will be made and struck.

Congratulations for agreeing with me.

Video of President Obasanjo talking about how he "took Dangote out".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTyJGyioXAU?si=YqaHgw3mHr81Sl3t

Codes151:
Pay your staffs well!!!

I hope you will pay the same way you pay in Manchester in nigeria.

That side them no Dey take nonsense o

Are the staff complaining?

Better don't let a contract staff in Zenith be banging your relatives anyhow with shirt and tie.

Make my wife go update her token and pay my money

Where iis the branch in manchester.