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AtedoPetersideImethim60yearsagoandwesharedthesamedormitoryinKingsCollegeLagos.HisfatherwasaLondon-trainedophthalmologistandcomingfrommedicalfamilieswehadmoreincommon.Hewasaquietboy,buthadastrongvoicewhichmadepeoplestopandlistentohimwhenhespoke.HewasalwayswellturnedoutandIrememberhislockerandbedwasalwaystidy.TheBiafranwarbrokeoutandIleftfortheEastanddidnotseehimagainuntilwecompletedUniversity.HehadgonetotheUKandItotheUniversityofNigeria.Sincethenwehavemetmorefrequentlyandhaverekindledourfriendship.Hehasdonesomuchforsomanypeopleandhasachievedsomuch.IwillleaveotherstogivedetailsofhissuccessinfoundingoneofthebestbanksinNigeriaandmorerecentlyanairlineprovidingbadlyneededprivateservicestoNigeria.ThroughhisANAPfoundationhehasdevelopedtheconceptoftruephilanthropyandhasgivensomuchtotheartsandhelpedmanyNigerians,youngandoldstartuptheirbusinesses.Hehassteppedintohelppeopleinfinancialneedevenwhenhedidnotknowthem.HewasanadvisertoaPresidentofNigeriaconfirminghisexpertiseintheareaoffinanceandbanking.Manyofushaveurgedhimtogointopoliticstohelpgivebadlyneededdirectiontoourcountry.Hehasalwaysbeencourageousspeakingoutinsupportofgoodgovernance,competenceandprobity.Unlikehispeerswhoavoidcontroversyforfearofpoliticalreprisals,Atedofrequentlystickshisheadabovetheparapetatgreatpersonalrisktospeaktruthtopower.ForthisheiswidelyrespectedandlovedbymostlytheyoungandindeedallNigerians,HehassupportedmanycausesthroughhisANAPfoundationprovidingindependentpollingdataforseveralcampaigns.HeissoughtafterbyNigeriansofdifferentpoliticalpersuasionsforadviceandguidance.CHUKADespitehisachievementsandsuccesseshehasremainedhumble.Hehasastrongyetpragmaticfaiththathekeepsclosetohisheart.Thishasnotwavereddespitealltheadversityhehashadundoubtedlyencounteredinhisjourneythroughlife.Heishappilymarriedandasallgoodfatherslovesallhischildrenunconditionally.IwishhimmanymoreyearsofgoodhealthandhappinessthoughIhaveadvisedhimtoslowdownnowandspendmoretimedoingthethingshelovesincludinghangingoutwithhisoldfriends.CHUKANWOKOLO86
