Stakeholders honour Late Ogunbanjo at NGX closing gong ceremony

Stakeholders in the Nigerian capital market community continue to grieve as it held a closing gong ceremony at the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) to honour the late former Chairman of the NGX Group, Mr Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

The late Ogunbanjo alongside the late Dr Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO of Access Holdings, his wife and son died on Feb. 9 in a helicopter crash in Southern California, USA.

Speaking at the ceremony and afternoon of tributes on Tuesday,  the Chairman of the NGX Group, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, said that the Exchange and other capital market community members were pained by the loss of Ogunbanjo.

Kwairanga described the demise of Ogunbanjo as a huge loss to the capital market, having lost his father, Pa Chris Ogunbanjo, who was a patriarch of the Exchange, barely four months ago.

He described the late NGX Group chairman as a transformative leader with impeccable character and prayed for the repose of his soul.

According to him, the NGX and capital market were already a part of the Ogunbanjo’s family and, as such, would ensure that the legacies of the late Group chairman was sustained and improved upon.

“To the Ogunbanjo’s family, no words can ease your pain, but be assured of the unwavering support of the capital market community.

“I believe that the late Bimbo is in a better place resting,” he said.

In his remarks, Mr Temi Popoola, Chief Executive Officer of the NGX Group appreciated the late Ogunbanjo, describing him as an encourager.

Popoola stated that the late group chairman’s personal interest and commitment to his career brought him to the position he has attained on the Exchange.

“The late Ogunbanjo is a family man and I am grateful for the opportunity he gave me to be close to his family and also mentor his son, Rotimi.

“We pray God grant him eternal rest and we thank all the capital market stakeholders and Coronation Group for rallying around the Exchange and his family at this trying period,” he said.

In his tribute, Chairman Coronation Group/Former President, Nigerian Exchange Group,  Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede said that this was a difficult period for him, having lost close family and friends in the unfortunate air crash.

Aig-Imoukhuede said that he shared an intimate relationship with the late Ogunbanjo, who was his Vice, during his tenure as the President of the Exchange.

According to him, late Ogunbanjo played a huge role in the demutualisation of the NGX when the process began under his leadership.

He also said the process, however, materialised during Ogunbanjo’s tenure after he succeeded him.

Aig-Imoukhuede stated that the late Ogunbanjo role as the first NGX Group Chairman after the demutualisation was a difficult one, but he was able to navigate through the challenges because of his intelligent and exceptional leadership attributes.

“This market has lost one of its most worthy founders. Bimbo; you served the world in a way only few could ever serve. Goodbye, May your soul rest in perfect peace,” he said.