Page 79 - Demo

HappybirthdayAnap!Afriendfromwayback...70yearsmightseemlikealongtime,butonlyiftherearenomemories.FromschoolexeatsattheWilliams%u2019todiscussionsanddebatesinthecafeteriaattheLSE.FrommealsinthediningroomatISHtoAllPartiesmeetingsatNAL,theearlyyearsofourfriendshipwerenothingshortofincredible.Itwasabondthatgrewstrongerwiththeyears,fromentrepreneurialendeavorssellingcarsandrentingDVDstothefoundingofIBTC.ThencamethebattlesonthepolofieldsofLagosandAbraka%u2014whereyousurprisedmanybytakingupasportsomecalled%u2018risky.%u2019Butyoualwaysunderstoodthatriskwasapartofanythingworthwhile.Thatunderstandingbecameyourstrength%u2014and,asyourcollectionoftrophiesproves,yoursuccess.You%u2019vebeenmorethanafriend%u2014you%u2019vebeenlikefamily,soit%u2019shearteningtoseeourchildrenandgrandchildrenbecomethekindoffriendswe%u2019vebeentoeachother.Alwaysdependable,alwaysstrong,theseattributes,alongsideyourintegrity,propelledyourachievementsandinspiredmany.Whenyougatherthewarmth,thelaughter,andthemomentsofjustbeingthere,70becomesjustanumber%u2014oneourfriendshipknowsaswellasitknew60,50,40,30...even20.Here%u2019stoyou,Anap,andtoalltheyearswe%u2019veknown.Asweraiseourglassesquietlyonthe12th,weshallsmileandthinkaboutthememoriesthecomingyearswillcreate.So,when80comesup,we%u2019lljustsay%u201cit%u2019sonlyanumber,%u201dbecauseourfriendshipwillknowthatonetoo%u2014justlikealltherest.Holdontothatsameboldspirit,andmaythelaughterneverstop.IFEOMAANDALBERTESIRIHAPPYBIRTHDAY,DEARESTFRIEND.79IFEOMAANDALBERT