Yemisi Izuora
The immediate past group managing director of FBN Holdings Plc, Urum Eke, fondly called UK Eke, recently celebrated his 60th birthday in Lagos with a book launch.
It was a great time as family members, friends, and well-wishers poured praise on the man who has dedicated his life to impacting people around him and making a life-changing influence. All roads led to Ikoyi, Lagos, the venue of the event.
Welcoming him to the 6th floor, goodwill messages poured in, and the auditorium was full of praises and eulogies for a selfless man who made a remarkable difference in all spheres of his life—at work, family, friends, colleagues, and the less fortunate.
It was a twins event—the celebration of life and the launch of a book which revealed the applaudable journey of Eke. Reviewing the book ‘IMPACT – A Life of Urum Kalu Eke, the chief reviewer, Mr. Olufemi Awoyemi, expressed that the essence of the well-written non-fiction book is felt through its underlying message. He noted that the knowledge-embedded book encapsulates the last sixty years of the celebrant under four impact areas: personal life, professional journey, people/community, and practised faith.
“The book’s title is simple but intriguing and captures the essence of a man known for his professionalism, rigour, and ‘impact’ on matters he chooses to handle. “UK,” as he is popularly called, has fought many a battle in the trenches of Nigeria’s gripping financial service industry. Like his Abiribaforbearers, he has sumo-wrestled social prejudice, kickboxed professional incompetence, and shoulder-blocked organisational drift,’’ he said.
The grand-styled occasion played host to a fat number of dignitaries, which includes Former Gubernatorial Candidate of Edo State under the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata; former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Ernest Ebi; Prof. Emeritus Anya Anya; Founder and former Chairman, Seplat Energy, Dr ABC Orjiakor; Group Chairman, Chicason Industries Ltd., Chief Dr Alex Okafor; Ex-Partner Deloitte, Alh. Lateef Bakare; Chairman, Board of Development Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Kyari Abba Bukar, among others.