TRIBUTE TO AN INSURANCE COLOSSUS, REMI OLOWUDE BY GBOYEGA OKEGBENRO

Today, almost 36 hours after the sad , irreversible demise of one of the most influential persons in my life story, I found the strength, to mourn the passing on, of a great son of Africa, the Insurance and entrepreneurship colossus, Mr. Andrew Oluremi Olowude
Uncle Remi, as most of his younger colleagues, friends and aburos worldwide called him, just can't be described in words. He was of many parts; faces; and bends to hundreds of his younger friends and associates including my humble self.
My path crossed Uncle Remi's early in 1992 after I decided on a short break from journalism which had been my mainstay for the preceding 10 years. Within days of joining IGI as the founding Manager in charge of Corporate Affairs and his Personal Assistant; my life and Uncle Remi's became so intricately conjoined.
We worked very closely together for upwards of 15 hours every day and I, deep in my heart, was the greater beneficiary in spite of the tasking schedule; as those remained the most indelible post- graduation and Enterpreneurship-Mentorship years of my life!
He was a boss beyond comparison.....studious, focused, tireless, laborious, passionate and extremely creative. His middle name was unmistakably Work, Work and more Work. Like we always joked behind him, my Oga wore his wrist watch as mere jewellery; not some tool of timing start or end of work hours !
Working with Uncle Remi was an incredible internship in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Team Building and an uncanny unbundling of your hitherto undiscovered inner strengths and abilities. 
He took himself and his businesses so seriously ....and infected all around him with the twin virtues of hardwork and infinite possibilities. 
We learnt and learnt and learnt so much from this boss, friend, brother and man of many parts. His family became our family and vice versa. He infected all with his ever-positive personal aura; can do spirit; awesome bravura and, an overdose of never-say-never mentality in work and personal motivation.
I left IGI after just two years with Uncle Remi; but it is a testimony of Uncle Remi's personal convivial spirit that we had remained even much stronger in each other's lives and families. Such was uncle Remi's candour; sense of brotherhood, commitment and open heart.
Without doubt, Egbon will be deeply missed by his innumerable aburos and IGI alumni scattered all over the globe and accross all sectors of the economy.
Sleep on my dear Egbon, Oga and motivator. You have sure left great footprints on the sands of time, especially on our nation's Insurance industry which was your passion. Our prayer is that God in His infinite mercies shall uphold and strengthen our beloved IGI and other institutions you tirelessly built and nurtured so passionately even as your health waned and waned.
Like Christ, you taught us to love and love our neighbour and be our brother's keeper.
Uncle Remi, to live in the hearts of those who love you is not to die. So, in our hearts you live