For pushing a vision that put Nigeria squarely at the heart of his sprawling and strategic business plan; for providing vast employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians, a product of his huge entrepreneurial energy – thereby positively impacting his community state, region and country, Engr. Gilbert Obiajulu Uzodike is The AUTHORITY Icon.
A far sighted entrepreneur - he is the foremost indigenous player in the electrical/communication wires and cable sector in Nigeria. Meet Engr. Gilbert Obiajulu Uzodike, founding Chairman/CEO of Cutix Plc. He was born on March 25, 1949, in Nnewi, Anambra State.
Founded in 1982 by Gilbert Obiajulu Uzodike, after returning from a stint with Raychem Corporation in the United States, Cutix has today grown in leaps and bounds, becoming a multi-award winning manufacturer of electric and telecoms cables, making it one of the best-performing indigenous companies quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
Uzodike, until recently, has been at the helm of affairs of the company as founder and chief executive officer. As the founder, he set his eyes on quality in the making of cables and wires of all sizes with a well-equipped quality control laboratory. Today, Uzodike has not regretted towing that line as Cutix cable is the cable of choice. Cutix power cable plant, in Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State is home to Nigeria’s fastest expanding cable manufacturing company. He also was Chairman of Adswitch PLC between 1982 and 2004.
A lingering cause for concern to the company is the influx of substandard, cheaper cables into the Nigerian market. In his words: “Actually, some business men who want to cut corners would go to China and ask them to produce cables to specifications that are below international standards, with the hope of making more profit. When these goods get into the country through the ports, customs officials at the ports turn a blind-eye, and allow the goods entry.”
Tracking back, for the unique pioneering task ahead, he got himself pretty well prepared when in 1975 he enrolled in Harvard Business School, Boston, United States of America, graduating with an MBA degree in June 1977.
Before then, he had between 1970 and 1974 attended the University of Lagos and graduated with a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering. Prior to his university education, he had attended the College of Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, from1962 to1966, where he passed the WASC examination in Division One.
Uzodike successfully completed the one year mandatory National Youth Corps Service from 1974 to1975 at Calabar Polytechnic, Calabar as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering before the journey to real manufacturing.
He is married, a union blessed with six children.
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