My Saturdays are often hectic, and March 8, 2014 wasn’t any different. So it was that while I was busy somewhere, I got a text message from Antonia, the daughter of a senior friend, saying: “You are cordially invited to the 29th anniversary of my mum’s 21st birthday on Sunday, March 9, 2014…” You got the drift? Let me help you out in case you didn’t get it. She meant her mother’s 50th birthday.
Her mum is someone I have so much respect for and whose tenacity I have always admired even while she was at her previous place of assignment as group company secretary and legal adviser, FinBank plc. Nechi Sylvia Ezeako is my Leading Woman for this week.
The venue was Southern Sun Hotel and the tables were put together and arranged for the purpose of celebrating Nechi’s birthday. As I walked into the hall, I could see her exchanging pleasantries with those on the table and I quietly crept behind her and gave her a brief shock and a hug from the rear. She turned around, excited to see me, and in a few minutes, in what looked like an impromptu ‘coup’, she immediately concluded with Antonia that I was going to be the emcee for the day. That was how I was roped into it. I dared not object, since I am not a lawyer. I was sure she would use her legal powers to overrule my objection, so I willingly submitted and swung into action.
It began with opening prayers and some words of admonition by Okey Onuzo, a veteran medical practitioner, who charged everyone present about the need to live a meaningful life and the importance of life after death, the options available and the choices to be made. He spoke well of the celebrant and when he was done, Adesola Oyedotun, who was Nechi’s school-mother, took over the stage. She was glad to share with all what she knew of Nechi and how their relationship has evolved.
Following subsequently were people who had worked with her, some of which included Rachel Onochie, Cynthia Odili, to mention a few. They spoke relentlessly of how firm yet loving Nechi is and how, above every other thing, she is known for her integrity and perseverance. Many of them testified to the tutelage they enjoyed from her and how it has helped them at their present places of work. Ernest Orji and his amiable wife, Tonye, mentioned how they had come a long way with Nechi and spoke about her resilience and positive disposition to life.
One of the most inspiring speeches of the day was the one given by her daughter, Antonia, when she said: “I am so grateful for having you as a mother. You have indeed brought joy to my life in so many ways and have always been there for me. I am grateful to you for all you are and all you will always be, but most of all, I am grateful for being my friend. I love you, mum.” It indeed made Nechi teary-eyed and by the time everyone was done with their speeches, Nechi gave her vote of thanks, and while that was on, her daughter signalled to all to start singing the happy birthday song. As we did, the enormous cake was brought in and after the toast, everyone gathered around her and the cake for group pictures. It was a buffet, so everyone got up at different times to serve themselves from various sumptuous meals available. Fifty surely looks good on Nechi, so if you call her the vivacious golden ‘girl’, you have spoken correctly. Looking forward to my 50th too – em, not anytime soon, though.
Nechi Ezeako is a lawyer, writer, corporate governance specialist and trainer as well as a chartered secretary and administrator. She has acquired over 28 years post-call to bar diversified and versatile experience in different roles including company secretarial, legal, business advisory, regulatory/statutory compliance, corporate governance, logistics, negotiations, HR management, general management and administration spanning banking, manufacturing, real estate, consulting, amongst other sectors.
Nechi is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, London and Nigeria, and holds a Master of Science (Distinction) degree in Corporate Governance from the Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. She also obtained Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Nigeria, BL from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, and is an authorised trainer on the global corporate governance.
Nechi’s work experience includes group company secretary and legal adviser, FinBank plc; company secretary/legal adviser, First Atlantic Bank plc; company secretary, head legal and HR, TNT-IAS International; purchasing manager and head, logistics department, CarnaudMetalbox plc; manager, customer/legal services, CarnaudMetalbox Toyo Glass plc; company secretary/legal adviser & head, admin/HR, Agbara Estates Limited, among others.
She is currently principal consultant/CEO, EL-Values Advisory. She serves in a number of professional roles including as member of the corporate governance working group and lead drafter in the Corporate Governance Code development for the Nigerian telecommunications sector (assignment was completed November 2013).
Nechi was secretary, International Bar Association (IBA) African Regional Forum; member, the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN) Roundtable on Corporate Governance Committee; examiner in Corporate Governance (Professional Programme Part II) of ICSAN, and so on. She was also previously council member of ICSAN and the governing council of the Nigerian-Britain Association, among other positions.
Nechi, an alumna of the Lagos Business School Senior Management Programme and the Executive Leadership High Achievement Certificate Course, has written several well-received articles on corporate governance including in her column, The Governance Platform, published in the LAWYER Section of ThisDay Newspapers. She is a recipient of various awards, locally and overseas, and has attended conferences, seminars and courses both as delegate and as speaker. She is a well-sought-after speaker and facilitator.
By: KEMI AJUMOBI
