NGX, capital market stakeholders pay tribute to late Chairman, Ogunbanjo
By Rukayat Adeyemi
The Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) and the Capital Market community on Tuesday paid tribute to the late former Chairman of the NGX Group, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and pledged to sustain his legacies.
They made the pledge while expressing their grief on the passing of late Ogunbanjo at an Afternoon of Tribute And Closing Gong Ceremony in his honour, held at the NGX on Tuesday in Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that late Ogunbanjo, late Dr Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO of Access Holdings, his wife and son died on Feb.9 in a helicopter crash in Southern California, USA.
In his tribute, the Chairman of the NGX Group, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, said that the Exchange and other capital market community members were pained by the loss of Ogunbanjo.
Kwairanga said his demise was a huge loss to the capital market, having lost his father, Pa Chris Ogunbanjo, who was a patriarch of the Exchange, barely four months ago.
He described the late NGX Group chairman as a transformative leader with impeccable character and prayed for the repose of his soul.
According to him, the NGX and capital market were already a part of the Ogunbanjo’s family and, as such, would ensure that the legacies of the late Group chairman was sustained and improved upon.
“To the Ogunbanjo’s family, no words can ease your pain, but be assured of the unwavering support of the capital market community.
“I believe that the late Bimbo is in a better place resting,” he said.
Also, Mr Temi Popoola, Chief Executive Officer of the NGX Group appreciated the late Ogunbanjo, describing him as an encourager.
Popoola stated that the late group chairman’s personal interest and commitment to his career brought him to the position he has attained on the Exchange.
“The late Ogunbanjo is a family man and I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me to be close to his family and also mentor his son, Rotimi.
“We pray God grant him eternal rest and we thank all the capital market stakeholders and Coronation Group for rallying around the Exchange and his family at this trying period,” he said.
Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Coronation Group/Former President, Nigerian Exchange Group, said that this was a difficult period for him, having lost closed family and friends in the unfortunate air crash.
Aig-Imoukhuede said that he shared intimate relationship with Ogunbanjo, who was his vice, during his tenure as the President of the Exchange.
According to him, late Ogunbanjo played a huge role to the demutualisation of the NGX when the process begun under his leadership.
He also said the process, however, materialised during Ogunbanjo’s tenure after he succeeded him.
Aig-Imoukhuede stated that late Ogunbanjo’s role as the first NGX Group Chairman after the demutualisation was a difficult one, but he was able to navigate through the challenges because of his intelligent and exceptional leadership attributes.
“This market has lost one of his most worthy founder.
“Bimbo; you served the world in a way only few could ever served. Good bye, May your soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.
Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, former chairman, NGX, said that paying tribute to late Ogunbanjo was not an easy task because of his tragic passing.
Mahmoud described the late group chairman as a dear brother and friend, as well as a courageous and decisive leader and a patriotic Nigerian.
“His death is a great loss to his family, but indeed the Exchange, corporate community and the nation at large, ” he said.
Ms Omowunmi Sanni, one of Ogunbanjo’s closest staff at Chris Ogunbanjo LP, described late Ogunbanjo as an incredible boss who was always willing to teach and also open to learn from the younger lawyers.
Sanni pledged on behalf of other staff of the law firm to hold on the legacy of late Ogunbanjo and continue to sustain the professional standard of the law firm in future years.
Mr Sam Onukwe, President, Association of Securities Dealings Houses of Nigeria, said that the capital market would continue to celebrate the immense contribution of late Ogunbanjo.
Onukwe stated that the late NGX group chairman left the legacy of a transformative and true leadership.
“He was able to manage the demutualisation of the Exchange and manage the affairs of the NGX perfectly as the first group chairman after the demutualisation.
“He left an Exchange that has continued to out-perform its peers and history would forever be kind to him and his family, ” he said.
Responding on behalf of Ogunbanjo’s family, Sen. Tokunbo Ogunbanjo, brother to late Ogunbanjo, thanked the NGX, capital market stakeholders and others for their condolences and support to the family at its trying period.
”I will borrow the likely words of our late father if he were to be alive, he would have said ; death is turn by turn and has no particular order, so late Bimbo has tried is best and gone to rest,” he said.
NAN reports that late Ogunbanjo was born on July 11, 1962, to Christopher and Hilda Ogunbanjo.
He attended Corona School Apapa, Claremont School in the UK and the University of Lagos Staff School for his primary education, spanning from 1967 to 1973.
The late NGX group chairman continued his secondary education at Igbobi College, Yaba, in 1974 and obtained his GCE “O” Levels at Milfield School, England, in 1977.
His parsuit of higher education led him to Switzerland in 1980, where he earned a BSc (Hons) in Business Administration from the American College of Switzerland in 1965.
Embarking on his professional journey, late Ogunbanjo started as a credit analyst with Chase Manhattan Bank (Nigeria) Ltd.
Subsequently, he ventured into law, qualifying as a solicitor after completing his studies at the University of Buckingham School of Law in 1987 and called to the Bar in 1990.
He joined Chris Ogunbanjo & C0, where he served as Managing Partner until his passing.
In September 2017, Abimbola was elected the 19th President of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, a position he held with distinction until his tenure ended in 2022. (NAN)
Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa
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