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FromourdaysinLondonandlaterinLagos%u2014meetingoftenforlunchathisNigerianAcceptancesLtd(NAL)office%u2014Iwitnessedamanwhoseintellectualcuriosity,personaldiscipline,andmoralclaritysethimapart.AtLSE,hewasthemostbrilliantandinsightfuleconomicsstudentofourcohort:theloneFriedmaniteinaseaofNeo-Keynesians,wellbeforeneoliberaleconomicsgainedcurrencyunderMargaretThatcher.Hisindependentthinking,analyticalrigour,andquietdignitywereevidenteventhen.Itcameasnosurprisewhenheemergedinthe1980sasoneofNigeria%u2019smostrespectedeconomiccommentators%u2014fearlesslychallengingoutdatedorthodoxyandflawedpublicpolicy.FewNigerianshavestraddledtheworldsoffinance,governance,andcivicactivismwiththeconsistencyandintegrityAtedohasshownoverthedecades.FromfoundingIBTCandtransformingitintooneofNigeria%u2019smostrespectedfinancialinstitutions,tochampioningdemocraticaccountabilitythroughtheANAPFoundationandtheNigerianEconomicSummitGroup,hiscontributionshavebeendefinedbyvision,courage,andpurpose.MyfamilyandIhavehadtheprivilegeofstayingwithhimonnumerousoccasionsoverthepastfourdecades.Heisadevotedfamilyman%u2014deeplycommittedtohiswife,children,andsiblings%u2014andasteadfastfriendwhoalwayshasyourback.Inthelate1970sand1980s,IstayedwithhimwhenhewasayoungexecutiveatNAL.Hishomewasalwaysaplaceofthoughtfulconversationandwarmhospitality.In1984,mywifeandIstayedathisapartmentinSurulereenroutetoourhoneymooninEurope.Later,wewerehostedbyhim,hisgraciouswifeAuntieDudun,andtheirchildrenattheirresidenceonSakaTinubuStreetinVictoriaIsland.IrecallAlhajiAlikoDangotedroppingbyduringoneofourdinnerstodiscussanurgentmatter%u2014rightinthemiddleofourmeal.Thosevisitsofferednotjustfriendship,butalsolifelessons.Ionceaskedhimwhy,despitehisrisingsuccess,hewasstilllivinginrentedaccommodation,whilemanyofthe120+recipientsofcommercialandmerchantbanklicenceswerelivinglikepashas.DIKO97