Yusuf Ali
Yusuf Ali: Corporate Reformer
Yusuf Garba Ali, managing director and chief executive officer, Unipetrol Nigeria Plc since 1988, made his mark by restoring the fortunes of the company, and directing its growth by diversifying into the importation and marketing of chemicals, tyres and other products. This has made Unipetrol a household name in the marketing of both fuel and non-fuel products. Ali brought an almost bankrupt company back to life and made it among the best. Yet he is still not satisfied with the state of affairs in Unipetrol. He believes that there is still a lot of room for improvement. This is especially so in recent times that fuel shortages has adversely affected the company's turnover and profit. This is the main challenge facing Ali today as Unipetrol's CEO along with other oil marketers.
Ali was a member of Vision 2010 Committee, a think tank set up by government to formulate a blueprint for the restructuring of the country's political, economic and social framework. In the area of community and social responsibility, Unipetrol invests in scholarships, sports, research into typhoid at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, and the development of vaccine in sickle cell and diabetes with a research institute in Abuja.
Ali thinks that guided privatisation of NITEL, NEPA and the refineries is essential and in the interest of the country. Similarly, he believes that the retention of the dual exchange rate in the autonomous foreign exchange market is to safeguard the national interest, but this policy will soon stop with privatisation in the wings.
Ali motivates the company's staff to give their best while making them realise that as Nigerians they can hold their own in any field of endeavour. He believes that the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund is doing well. But he also thinks that we can either increase or decrease the price of petroleum products based on the value of the naira relative to foreign currencies.
Ali is a sports enthusiast. He was chairman, Nigerian Football Association, NFA, between 1990 and 1991. He is of the opinion that Nigerian football should be developed right from the grassroots. This, he sees, as one of the best ways of development the game in the country.
Since government dissolved the company's board of directors in 1996, Ali and the executive directors have been performing the functions of the board. Ali had earlier worked in Total Nigeria Limited between 1963 and 1979. He rose to the rank of executive director and later head of sales division in 1983.
Newswatch June 29, 1998
" Newswatch 1998