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70THBIRTHDAYGREETINGSTOANAP!OLUWANDEMydearANAP,Happy70thbirthday!Notsolongagowewereallyoungprofessionalsstrugglingtomakeamarkinthemarketplace(ofcourseyouwillbequicktoremindmethatyouneverstruggledandthatyouaremucholderthanIam,butlet%u2019snotdwellonthat).YouwerealwaysinBankingwhileIstartedmyprofessionallifeasanexternalAuditorinPriceWaterhouse,IwasinchargeoftheauditofNALMerchantBank,whereyou%u201cheldsway%u201dasSeniorManager.YoulaterbecamemybosswhenIjoinedIBTCatitsinceptioninMarch1989.Nowallofasuddenoneissurroundedbypeopleintheir70s(orknockinghardonthedoorofthatfigure),itisreallytruethattimeflies.Theotherdaywhiledecluttering,IcameacrossaboxthatIhadlabelled%u201cIBTC%u201d.Itcontainedallkindsof%u201cmemorabilia%u201dfromtheearlydaysoflifeatIBTCingoodoldWesleyHouse.Someofthecontentswerethepublicationsthatyouusedtocirculate-excerptsfrommagazines,casestudiesfromHarvardBusinessSchool,circularsfromtheCBN,lessonsonwhatnottodoifyouwanttogetaheadinbanking,self-developmenttipsetc.Therewerejustafewnamesonthecirculationlistbackthen.IlookedatthecirculationlistsandthankedGodforHismercies.Otherthingsinthatboxwerethefirstadvert(handwrittenbyyourstruly)inviting%u2018HighNetworthIndividuals%u201dtoopenaccountswiththewhoppingsumofN50,000!Therewasalsothefirstself-designedbrochureonIBTC,ourfirstChristmascards,ourfirstAnnualReportsbeforeweenlistedtheservicesofprofessionals.IthoughtofthetraditionoforderingChinesefoodfortheentirebank(howmanywerewe)whenitwassomeone%u2019sbirthday,personalgiftsboughtforeverybodywhenyoutravelled(weallcopiedthisfromyou),ChristmaspartiesatSakaTinubu,nicknamesthatyoupersonallycoinedforpeopleatrandom,handwrittenmemos,etc.Onthebankingfront,theBankgrewinleapsandbounds,witharock-solidfoundation.WemovedfromWesleyHousetoWalterCarrington.Onemerger,thenanother,greaterandgreatersuccesses,allwellcelebrated.Youweredefinitelythethreadthatheldusalltogether.ToGodbetheglory.89
