The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Access Bank were at the weekend honoured by Nigeria NewsDirect newspapers, a business publication during the 6th edition of its annual lecture/award ceremony in Lagos.
While AMCON was recognized as “Debt Recovery Agency of the Year 2016,” Dangote bagged two awards, Man of The Year and Entrepreneur of the Year, while Access Bank Plc was named Bank of the Year.
Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi, publisher Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper said AMCON in 2016 was the undisputed debt recovery agency in Nigeria given its huge contribution to the economy with the recovery of over N681.5 billion from chronic debtors that were hitherto recalcitrant before the arrival of the current management of AMCON.
While praising the management of AMCON led by Mr. Ahmed Kuru as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, he said it was no mean feat that AMCON oversees assets worth over N5 trillion in critical sectors of the economy. This he said was in addition to AMCON’s earlier intervention in the banking sector, which ensured that banks in Nigeria did not go under.
He said it was for these reasons and more that the Editorial Board of the newspaper unanimously agreed that AMCON, which he described as a ‘worthy government agency,’ needed to be singled out for commendation for the service they are doing to the nation.
It would be recalled that Kuru also emerged winner of CEO of The Year at the 13th edition of the Excellence Recognition Awards organized in Lagos annually by Global Excellence magazine. Again earlier in January, Kuru was also announced winner of African Best Rated CEO of The Year at the second edition of the National Development Forum (NDF)/award ceremony organized by African Development Magazine, an international news publication.
In his speech at the event, the AMCON boss commended the management and staff of Nigeria NewsDirect newspapers for initiating and sustaining the award in the last six years and for the recognition of AMCON. Kuru said, “Given the nature of the assignment of AMCON, awards such as this usually come to us as a surprise. It surprising that the publisher and members of the editorial Board of Nigeria NewsDirect newspapers recognize the challenging work AMCON was doing for the country. I thank you for this award and promise that we will continue to go about our assignment in the most professional and transparent manner for the good of our great country.” Kuru who was represented at the ceremony by Mr. Jude Nwauzor, Head of Corporate Communications at AMCON said the Corporation would continue to partner with the newspaper because of its penchant for developmental journalism practice, which is highly commendable.