Society Gists

It is with a heavy heart that I mourn the tragic demise of Otunba Abimbola Olurotimi Ogunbanjo, the former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), who was involved in a helicopter crash in the United States of America last Friday.

The devastating news of the death of Otunba Ogunbanjo, alongside Dr Herbert Wigwe, a former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, and others, still remains a bitter pill to swallow. I am yet to recover from the rude shock.

Ogunbanjo’s death was a personal loss to me as he was more like a family member. His father, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, who passed on last year at age 99, was one of my role models and a strong pillar of support in the Ogun East Senatorial District which I currently represent in the National Assembly.

The late Ogunbanjo was undoubtedly a leading corporate lawyer and renowned boardroom guru during his lifetime. He was an excellent business leader who helped to transform various business entities and was also instrumental to the development of Nigeria’s securities market. I also recall he dutifully served as Nigeria’s Special Counsel to the London and Paris clubs during the refinancing and rescheduling agreements made between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and international creditors.

Otunba Ogunbanjo, who also held the prestigious title of Baamofin, indeed, made lasting impact in the nation’s financial community and the void created by his death would be difficult to fill. I hope his life of service, dedication and philanthropy would continue to inspire the coming generations.

On behalf of my family, I heartily extend my deepest condolences to the family members of the deceased at this painful passage.

While taking solace in the fact that the late Otunba Ogunbanjo lived a fulfilled life and left good legacies, I pray God Almighty to bless his soul with eternal repose.

Signed:
His Exc, The Senator
Otunba Gbenga Daniel, FNSE, FAEng