30 | The Lion King
Barclays stresses
value of partner-
ship in visit to UBA
Headquarters
H
ansen Varawalla, Managing
Principal and Head of Corpo-
rate Finance, Barclays Africa has
expressed the intention of the British
multinational banking and financial
services company, headquartered in
London, to strengthen its partnership
with the UBA Group. Varawalla, said
this during a business visit to UBA House,
Marina in Lagos, Nigeria.
He said both institutions could do
more to expand their partnership. The
Barclays team held discussions with
Ugochukwu Nwaghodoh, Group Chief
Financial Officer (GCFO) and Kayode
Fadahunsi, Director, Investor Relations.
Seek credible local partners to invest in
Africa - GMD tells would be investors in
the US
B
usinesses and Investors from the
developed economies, who are
desirous of taking advantage of
the bourgeoning business and invest-
ment opportunities in Africa, should
seek credible local partners to help
them in the process.
Speaking at the panel on pan-African
businesses at a three-day Milken Global
conference in Los Angeles, California,
GMD, Mr. Phillips Oduoza said it is
imperative for the investors to partner
with local players like UBA "that under-
stand the business terrain to help them
navigate around some of the seeming
challenges of investing in Africa".
Understanding of the local culture,
customization of products and initiatives
were also identified as critical factors
to successfully invest in Africa by the
panel which was made up of the
GMD, Berand Petersen, Chairman De
Beers Consolidated Mines in South
Africa, Ahmed Heikal of Citadel
Group in Egpyt, Pade Durotoye, CEO
Oando Exploration and Production
Ltd and Jonathan Berman of Dalberg
Consulting.
The fulcrum of discussions bothered on
the questions that confront investors
and businesses when approaching the
African market, entry strategies as well
as obstacles that threaten growth.
L-R: GMD/CEO,
Phillips Oduoza
making a point at the
panel on Pan-African
businesses. Listen-
ing are: Jonathan
Berman, Senior
Adviser, Dalberg
Consulting; Barend
Petersen, Chairman,
De Beers Consoli-
dated Mines, South
Africa and Ahmed
Heikal, Chairman
and Founder, Citadel
Capital, Egypt
Barclays is a universal bank with opera-
tions in retail, wholesale and investment
banking, as well as wealth manage-
ment, mortgage lending and credit
cards. Other members of the Barclays
delegation include: Trent Wilkins,
Investment Banking; Tanja Gihr, Direc-
tor, Investment Banking; Feyi Olusanya,
Associate Principal, Investment Banking,
and Gustaf Winberg, Director, Invest-
ment Banking.
L-R: Trent Wilkins, Investment Banking, Barclays; Kayode Fadahunsi, Director,
Investor Relations, UBA; Ugochukwu Nwaghodoh, Group CFO, UBA; Tanja Gihr,
Director, Investment Banking, Barclays; Feyi Olusanya, Associate Principal,
Investment Banking, Barclays; Hansen Varawalla, Managing Director, Investment
Banking, Barclays and Gustaf Winberg, Director, Investment Banking, Barclays
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