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DearAtedo,Itgivesmegreatpleasuretopaytributetomygoodfriend,AtedoPeterside,ashereachestheyoungageof70years!Acoupleofyearsbeforeourcloseassociationstartedin1989,Atedo'sreputationasoneofNigeria'sbrightnewbankershadprecededhim.Thoughrelativelyyoung,hewasdescribedasknowledgeable,welltrained,dedicated,andethical.Thesewereattributesdifficulttofindamongstotheryoungbankers,whoseactivitieshadledtotwowavesofbankfailuresinthecountryandmostcertainlydelayedthegrowthanddevelopmentofthebankingsysteminNigeria.In1989,whenAtedoapproachedmeforinvestmentandaboardpositioninhisprojectedbank(IBTC),IhadnodifficultyinacceptingtheofferbutsaidIwouldnotbeabletojoinhisboardbecauseBarclaysBankhadalreadyapproachedmewithasimilarrequestafewmonthsearlier.When,sixmonthslater,BarclaysBankwasstilldraggingitsfeetaboutstartingamerchantbankinNigeria,Atedoapproachedmeagain,andthistimeIwashappytoaccept,andthatwashowIjoinedtheboardofIBTCasanon-executivedirectorandbeganwhatwastobecomeaclosebusinessassociationand,ultimately,aclosefriendship.HereiswishingAtedoahappy70thbirthdayingoodhealthandmany,manymoreyearsofdedicatedandusefulservicetohisfamily,friends,community,andthenation.TRIBUTETOATEDOPETERSIDECONAT70CHIEFAKINKUGBE42
