Page 63 - Demo

Easilythemosttalentedbankerofhis/ourgeneration,Atedoglidedspeedilythroughanduptherankstoaseniorpositioninvirtuallynotimeatall.Whileverymuchmid-twentieshewasalreadyeffectivelyrunningtheentirecreditoperationatNAL.FromthereheestablishedIBTC,andtheresttheysayishistory.IhadbarelyarrivedandsettleddownatTheWorldBankinWashingtonD.C,whenIgotanearlymorningcallfromAtedoinMarch1987.HesaidtheGovernmentorCentralBankwaslicensingnewbanksandthathehaddecidedtoapplyandwasinvitingmetojoinhim.Forthiskindinvitation,Iremainindebtedtohimdecadesafter,notleastbecausealongthewayourtwoyoungfamilieslivedformonthsunderoneroofathisplaceinVictoriaIsland.Aswehaveallwitnessed,Atedonotonlyexcelledinbankingbuthassimultaneouslybeenanavidandboldlyoutspokencommentatorontheburningsocietalissuesofthedayfrom,politicsandelectoralreform,toeconomicpolicyandissuesofsocialjustice.Manyinpowerandauthorityhavebenefittedfromhiswisecouncilinprivate,whilethepublicingeneralhavebeenenlightenedandinformedbyhisinterventions-whichhaveoftencomebywayofexpensivedoublepagenewspaperadverts.Allinall,thejourneysofarhasbeenoneofimmenseachievement,and,nodoubt,fulfilment.Wewishyoumanymoreyears,andinrobusthealth,withthefamily.Happy70thbirthdayandGodbless.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ThatUncleAtedo(andAuntyDudun)isarecurringpresenceinourearliestmemoriesisatestamenttotherelationshipbetweenourparents,onewhichhasstoodthetestoftimeoveranyyears.Eventothisdaytherearefamiliarfixtureswhichremainakeypartofouryearlycalendar.Thesearethekindoflegacieswecanonlyaspiretoleaveforthenextgeneration.Happy70thbirthday!andmayyoucontinuetoprosperandenjoygoodhealth.OLAWALEANDTheEdunBoysADWOAEDUNOLAWALEANDADWOA63