Page 62 - Demo

MyfirstencounterwithAtedoPeterside,wasdistinctlylukewarm.Inlate1979,IhadjustarrivedinNigeriaformyNYSCyear,afteraverylengthytimeabroad.AmutualfriendandafellowstudentatSussexUniversityhadbeenaclassmateofAtedo'satLSEandgavemeawrittenintroductiontohim,onthebasisthatIwasinterestedinfinanceandAtedowasworkingatNigerianAcceptancesLimited(NAL)-aneliteandmarketleadingfinancialfirm.However,despitethelukewarmreception,youcouldeasilytellthatyouwereinthepresenceofsomeoneabitspecial;apersonacutabovetherest.Sixmonthsafterthatfirstmeeting,IfoundmyselfasaYouthCorperservingatNALandsittingatadeskacrossfromAtedo.IhadsomehowgotapostingtoNALforthesecondhalfofmyserviceyear.Needlesstosay,Ilearntalotfromhimandthroughhim;somuchsothatbytheendofmyNYSCyear,IfeltequippedenoughtoseegreenerpasturesintheformofthemouthwateringsalaryofferedbyNALscompetitorsChasemerchantbank.Thoseearlydaysinourrespectivecohortweremainlyfocusedonlearningourtradebyday,anddiscussingbankingindustryeventsinNigeriaandbeyond,overbeersatnight.Ourchiefconcernwastoreachthehighestlevelsofprofessionalcompetence.Nobodywastoobotheredabout'makingmoney'.Professionalstandingandtherespectofyourpeerswasmuchmoreimportant.WhatsetAtedoapartthen,wasthathehadthisknackofalmosteffortlesslyfindingwaystoearnextramoney.Beit,writingeconomicandfinancialstoriesfornationalandinternationalmagazines,puttingtogetherfeasibilitystudiesforwouldbebusinessmenwantingtoapproachtheirbanksandotherfinanciers;orsimplyskilfullymultiplyinghissavingsinthestockmarket.Somehow,Atedoalwaysfoundawaytomakeanextrapenny,anditwasalwayslegitimate!Thattraitofstayingwithintherules,regulationsandindeed,therightsideofmoralequationinhisbusinessdealingsandapproachtogovernmentisforme,perhaps,hismostdefiningcharacteristic.TRIBUTETOATEDOPETERSIDEOLAWALEANDADWOA62