” It was indeed a great honour and privilege to make a remark at the 95th birthday of Elder Dr. Uma Eleazu, the Ezie Gburugburu of Asafa-Ukwu, Ohafia. “
Segun Ajayi-Kadir, the Director General of MAN, wrote on his official FB.”
Elder Uma Eleazu is a statesman, one who has traversed the political, economic and social landscape of Nigeria as an intellectual colossus, astute administrator and a likeable gentleman.
He is the Fourth Chief Executive Officer of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and therefore one of my professional “ancestors”.
He was also Director/Co-coordinator of the National Policy Development Centre (Think Tank), Supreme Headquarters, Lagos, a post he held until May 1979 when the Think Tank Centre was transformed into the present-day National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Nigeria, of which he became the first Director of Research.
Again, I am a beneficiary of his profound contribution to the birth and growth of NIPSS!
During his tenure, MAN grew in membership and relevance, and was a force to be reckoned with in the organised private sector, especially for its impact on public policy analysis and advocacy.
I would make bold to say that Dr. Eleazu mainstreamed the fact-based advocacy orientation of MAN.
He equally facilitated the creation of the manufacturers’ associations in Kenya and Uganda. We have since moved the needle in the continent of Africa, as the initiator and leader of the African Union Commission backed Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) .
In my remarks, I confessed that immediately I was confirmed as the Director- General of MAN, I set out to carefully discern his sterling qualities and to intentionally cultivate his legendary keenness of insight and strength of character.
I thanked him immensely for being my compass in that score.
One of his earnest desires is to see a United Tribes of Nigeria as one country where there is peace, order and good governance.
I join other well-meaning Nigerians to pray that God should allow him to stay longer to savour the joy of that moment in our history.”