Osaze’s family did not know what he would become when he was born. But the family had very high expectations for him. We are glad that he did not disappoint the family. He lived his life well.
Osaze was full of life when he was young. He was always bouncing all over the place and it was difficult to keep him down in one place. I know we who were his cousins couldn’t. And his parents also had a hard time keeping him in one place as well. He was so irrepressible and full of energy. He played hard but he worked even harder.
Osaze studied to be a mechanical engineer but yearned to do more. He had a talent for numbers but the numbers he found a passion for was not in engineering. It was in finance and investment banking.
Osaze made an outstanding success in using his talents. He was successful in HSBC, successful in helping to build Oando into what it is today, successful in setting up Travant, successful in changing the image of First Bank in the investment banking world and was succeeding in mobilizing financial institutions support for the Nigerian power sector reforms.
Osaze and his siblings relocated outside Nigeria after their university educations but they all stayed in touch with their roots. I recall many long discussions Osaze and I had while he was in the UK, talking about his work and my work, about his view on Nigeria and my view on Nigeria. He told me about his work on derivatives, what it meant to work as a trader, how time lost meaning as he was working in markets all across the globe and that it effectively meant his trades were round the clock. It all sounded very exciting and he tried to teach me over the phone. But I said I could not really understand high finance and all that he was doing but I was very happy for him. He however picked interest what I was doing, consulting in the power industry in Nigeria and was really enthusiastic about it. He even ran numbers and said what he thought private power developers should be looking for in terms of returns.
He was also mulling over moving back to Nigeria and wanted to know what I thought. I painted a picture of hope. A lot of bright minds had left Nigeria because of the failure of so many of our leaders. But the tide was changing and there was real possibility of making a difference. But that difference could only be made with boots on the ground, by staying in the country. It would however be a real advantage if those making the change had experience of knowing how things worked, working in economies or countries where things where better. But it would also make sense to be cautious about a relocation as many had made previous attempts and failed miserably as they could not re-acclimatize themselves to living in Nigeria. If he could commute for a while and set up something that would ensure he gets a soft landing, his relocation would be easier
Osaze actually did commute between Lagos and London for a while before he finally relocated his family. When he came back though, he came back with zest. After he returned, we talked about what he was structuring for Econet while at HSBC. He invited me over to meet with his friends in Ocean and Oil while they were dreaming big things. He told me about the audacious step he was taking in structuring the acquisition of Unipetrol. He had a knack for accomplishing what seemed to many to be impossible.
His interest in the power sector did not wane either. He wanted us to work together on developing a power solution in Nigeria though that did not eventually work out. He championed the development of a power business in Oando. He stayed close to the power sector reform managers in Nigeria and had FBN Capital sponsor a lunch at the last retreat organized by the Federal Ministry of Power in January. He wanted to make a difference and mobilise the finance sector to provide private capital. And he would have been successful using First Bank as a platform. He would again achieve what many would say is impossible.
But Osaze’s interest in relocating was not driven only because he wanted to make a difference in Nigeria. He also wanted to support his parents. His siblings have a tradition of a calling their parents every Saturday morning. But his parents are ageing. Uncle and Auntie are getting along in years. Just sending things over is not the same as seeing your parents face to face. Buying things for them is not the same as being with them. Egbe and Enoma and he could visit Ibadan when they are on holidays but he wanted to do more. He is the only son and he decided that he needed to do more. He chose to live in Ikoyi because he had always wanted to. But he visited Ibadan a lot. He had even visited Ibadan on the Tuesday before the Tuesday he slept and did not wake up. He had driven over to spend time with Uncle and Auntie even though he did not know it would be the last time he would do so. He was a very busy professional but he made his parents a priority in his life. Relocating back to Nigeria was also a way for him to provide for his parents and do more.
But his real heroes were his wife, Ibukun, and his children, Adesuwa and Ehioze. He thought the world of them and would do anything for them and to protect them. They were his priority and his family would not have had it any other way. He was close to his siblings and his sisters’ children were all very close to his children as well. It is a tradition he got from his parents. It is one that he has kept well.
The outpouring of grief from his friends, his colleagues, his peers in the industry and even people that say they met him only briefly, is a source of comfort and encouragement to his family. Osaze was a son, a brother, a cousin who will be sorely missed. But there is a sense of comfort in knowing that he had done the family proud and that he will also missed by many for whom he was a friend, a professional colleague or an industry expert.
Osaze was very busy and always in some kind of meeting or the other but you always knew he was there. He may not always take calls when he is busy but you knew he would never forget you. If he could not pick up his calls, he would return the call as soon as he could. His family will also not forget him. He may no longer be able to take our calls but we will all be there for his family – his wife, Ibukun, his children, Adesuwa and Ehioze, his sisters Egbe and Enoma and his parents.
Osaze has done his best. We believe there will be a resurrection. It is our hope and fervent prayer that Jehovah, our Heavenly Father, will remember Osaze for the good he has done and will keep him in His favor. Our faith is that Osaze will be resurrected in the Last Day and that we will meet again, to live in a new Paradise on earth where death will be no more.
From an egbon to an aburo, you did well. Your people are proud of you.