Remembering the specific details of how we met has been a Herculean task; but certainly not the numerous ways he has impacted and touched my life. The latter, simply put, is a piece of cake. Or even a walk in the park.
Egbon Kunle Onime’s kindness and goodness dot my life. And the evidence is all around me.
I had known the tall, handsome and dark father of four initially from a distance. This was when he was still working for Mr. Dapo Adelegan’s DP Lekki Limited, organisers of the humongously successful and unforgettable Lekki Sunsplash.
Even years later when he left DP Lekki Limited to set up Siomatr Ventures, I still followed his work. We, however, became close when he started running Marketing and Promotions Concept (MPC), an experiential marketing company whose office used to be sited on Regina Omolara Street, behind TFC, in Ikeja, Lagos.
One distinguishing thing about Egbon, like I joyously call him, is that even if I visit him one million times, he will always stuff my boot with takeaways. His line is usually: “Give me your car key”, which he passes on to one of his boys who then proceeds to do the “needful”.
But more than those acts of generosity, two incidents positioned him on a special dais in my life. The first was that not long after I started publishing YES INTERNATIONAL! magazine, I stopped by his office one day and after discussing for about an hour, he wanted to know whether I knew anything about having a website. I responded in the negative and immediately, he picked up his phone, asked one Dipo Ajayi, a website designer and owner of Inventrium to join us and after agreeing on the terms and conditions with him, commissioned him to build a website for us.
Before that, however, he had even done something greater, something that I can never, never forget and something that I will continue to be grateful to him for.
Like I have said earlier on, my last three months in Encomium Weekly were not the best of my time at the magazine. During one of the occasions that I was almost going insane and needed someone to talk to, he came through for me. Yes, Egbon abandoned his family and weekend relaxation just to come and talk to me. In fact, it was as if I was looking for someone to cry to, because as soon as he arrived, the shutters in my eyes burst.
But very calmly and maturely, he encouraged, advised and counselled me, reminding me of his own not-too-sweet exits from DP Lekki Limited and Group Africa.
Always creating time for me, Egbon also regularly bounces ideas off me. I was among the earliest people to know about his relocation of MPC to their own property in the Oko-Oba area of Lagos; same with his radio station, Roots FM, in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Lest I forget, weeks after getting us a website, the Edo State-born gentle giant and pioneer of experiential marketing in Nigeria sent for me. His reason this time was to gift me a laptop as well as to tutor me on the imperatives of being IT compliant.
I am indeed grateful to him, especially for showing me love when I needed it most and again for standing by me in what is unarguably one of my most difficult moments.
Egbon has also continued to be there for me, especially now in my sweeter moments. From the launch of YES INTERNATIONAL! magazine to our annual lectures and even my book presentation and church programmes, he’s always been present. I have never looked back without seeing him giving me thumbs up. And above all, always saying to me: “I am proud of you, Azuh!”
Thanks so much, Egbon, and God bless you!
– Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and bestselling author excerpted this from his new book, ENCOUNTERS – LESSONS FROM MY JOURNALISM CAREER.