Hundreds were gathered in the jubilee hall of St. Gregory’s College in Lagos for an evening of tributes in honour of the late Dr. Christopher Ebhodaghe Abebe, who died in March at the age of 99.

Among the dignitaries present was the former interim president of the country, Dr. Ernest Shonekan, who was his immediate successor as chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the United Africa Company (UAC) in 1980.

Shonekan described Pa Abebe, as he was fondly called, as a mentor who led an exemplified life as an executive across the corporate world throughout his time. “He mentored and groomed most of the leading corporate managers of my time, as he taught clear standard of professionalism,” he said.

The event was organised by firms like UAC, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Nigerian Breweries (NB), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association and Vitaform Nigeria, where Pa Abebe sat as pioneer chairman or CEO.

Chairman of UAC, Mr. Dan Agbor, in his tribute said the company would always remember him for his incorruptible integrity, which was what he symbolised. He said Pa Abebe was a touch bearer who by his conduct showed generations of Nigerians how companies should be led and governed.

Describing him as a trailblazer, president and chairman of council for NIM, Prof. Olakunle Iyanda, recalled Abebe’s role in the founding of the largest multi-disciplinary not for profit professional organisation in the country. He said his immense contribution to the founding, operation, development and growth of the institute qualified him as the first fellow of the institute in 1966.