Ulinfun/Azheme: An Allignment that will sure favour Labour Party and Edo People.
Benin City 29th August, 2023.
As the race to the Edo Governorship seat heats up with many prospective aspirants canvassing for acceptance by party leaders and delegates, it is evident to note that a political allignment between Mr Kingsley Ulinfun from Edo Central Senatorial District and Pastor Azemhe Azena from Edo North Senatorial District will sure bare good fruits that will favour the Labour Party and the generality of Edo people.
Going by the level of grassroot consultations and robust rapport of Mr Ulinfun with party leaders across the state and considering the fact that the right person to lead the state at this juncture should come from Edo Central Senatorial District, Mr Kingsley Ulinfun stand the brighter chance to clinch the ticket in collaboration with Pastor Azemhe Azena, the only Labour Party Governorship aspirant from the entire Edo North. We believe that such an alignment will surely clinch the LP governorship primaries. The EYLF strongly recommend the alignment/merger in order to win the primaries.
Recently a youth organization in Edo State under the aigies of Edo Young Leaders Forum (EYLF) with members drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state, made a strong case for Mr Kingsley Ulinfun’s and Pastor Azheme Azena’s allignment in preparation for the Labour Party primaries.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator Barrister Clifford Agbamu in Benin after a stakeholders meeting, the group said the duo Ulinfun and Azheme stand out from the pack of aspirants going by their passion for public service and their part of origin in the state.
According to the statement, the group said “even while we are not partisan per se, we support good governance in our state and will not shy away from taking the necessary step to sensitize party leaders and delegates of the right choice to make in the fast approaching Edo Guber election”, they said.
“We want the party leaders and delegates to look closely at the profiles of these trailblazers and well educated public figures who has been very relevant and renowned in nation building and therefore the right choice of persons that will take Edo State out of its current state of underdevelopment through a fruitful alignment/merger and collaboration”, they opined. Excerpt:
Mr Kingsley Ulinfun (Edo State Labour Party Gubernatorial Aspirant 2024)
Kingsley is An astute finance expert and banker with proven track record in Blue Chip Financial Institutions, spanning over 27 years.
In 1992 after his post graduate studies He commenced private business focusing on general commerce, project management and construction.
He was involved in the construction of markets in Ekpoma.
He began his professional career in 1996 with Agusto & Co Limited. A leading firm of industry analysts and financial consultants.
He worked in Ecobank as branch manager in Alaba, Apapa and Victoria Island Branches all in Lagos State.
He joined UBA in 2006. As the Chief Risk Officer (CRO), UBA Africa and had responsibilities for managing risk in UBA’s 18 African subsidiary countries. He was Chief Credit Officer (CCO) UBA Nigeria – responsibile for credit underwriting of corporates and public-sector entities across UBA Nigeria (with about 500 branches), among others.
He also worked in Union Bank Nigeria (from 2014) where he was General Manager and Head of Commercial Banking responsible for 331 branches across Nigeria.
In March 2022, he resigned as the Managing Director/CEO of UBA Tanzania.
At present, he is the Group Director/CRO, Enterprise Risk Management for Oakwood Green Africa Limited, a holding company for the Bloom Bank Africa Group and its other Financial Institutions across West Africa.
Some of the key financing projects Kingsley has handled include:
• N60bn financing for a state government projects
• N40bn financing for a state government projects
• N25bn financing for a large corporate company
• N33bn multi-facilities for a customer in food and beverage
• N12bn financing for a company in Agriculture
• N6bn financing facility for a company in the steel business
• $133mm funding for an African Country
• $650mm funding for an African Country/government project
• $500mm club deal for a marginal field operator
• $150mm financing for an E&P company
Kingsley, 55, whose parents are Chief (Dr) Francis E Ulinfun (father, from Uhiele) and late Mrs Margaret O Ulinfun, (nee Akhideno, mother from Ujolen) is from Uhiele-Ekpima, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.
He attended Ezomo Primary School (1978), Benin City, and Immaculate Conception College (1983) also in Benin City.
He has a degree in Chemical Engineering (B.Eng., 1988)
Master of Business Administration, (MBA, 1993), both from the University of Benin.
He is also an alumnus of the Executive Programme of Bain Academy, Johannesburg (2014).
Kingsley is a philanthropist and a great teacher. He has trained over 5000 bankers and SME entrepreneurs across industries in Nigeria.
Kingsley resigned from the employment of United Bank for Africa Group in March 2022, to pursue other career opportunities. Prior to this, he was the Managing Director/CEO United Bank for Africa (Tanzania) Limited, where he had the overall responsibility of managing a complex and often difficult business environment as the top stop for meeting the bank’s set goals, selecting the team to support its overall business objectives.
He is very experienced and comfortable in leading and managing globally diverse workforce in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environment to enhance business growth.
He is accustomed to dealing with senior executives of both public and private sector institutions in multicultural environments.
Pastor Azheme Azena on the other hand is an Auchi Polytechnic trained mass communicator with a decade and half of unblemish record in the vineyard of God under the tutelege of Apostle Johnson Suleiman of the Omega Fire Ministry.
Pst. Azemhe Azena is a multi-talented individual who has made significant contributions in various fields. He is widely known as the “son of the oracle” and is renowned for his exceptional skills as a character modeler, developmental juggernaut, international preacher, life coach, effacious goal getter, and dynamic motivational speaker.
Pst. Azena’s passion for ministry has driven him to pastor for over 15 years and to travel to over 65 countries, sharing his message of hope and inspiration with diverse audiences worldwide. He is also a prolific author who has written over 14 books, covering topics ranging from personal growth to leadership and business. In addition to his ministry and writing, Pst. Azena is an accomplished entrepreneur who manages several successful businesses. He has leveraged his expertise in economics to create opportunities for others, and his commitment to helping people achieve their goals is evident in his dedication to coaching and motivating others.
His ability to excel in multiple fields is a testament to his tenacity, commitment to personal growth, and his deep-seated desire to make a positive impact on the world. In summary, Pst. Azemhe Azena is a dynamic and inspiring individual who has made significant contributions in various areas of life. His dedication to ministry, entrepreneurship, writing, and coaching has earned him a reputation as a versatile and multifaceted leader who continues to impact and transform the lives of many.
The saying goes that when the righteous are in power the people rejoice. Edo people should consider these great icons and dedicated public figures in this coming dispensation. We will be glad we did.
