“He was a living encyclopedia” – Colleague pays tribute to Idoko Negedu, GTBank’s Deputy Head of Communication
A former colleague of Idoko Negedu, the Deputy Head of Corporate Communications of Guaranty Trust Bank who died recently, has penned a touching tribute to the late communication expert, describing him as a perfect gentleman and a living encyclopedia.
Negedu passed on aged 40 on June 14, 2020, just a few weeks to his 41st birthday on July 25, 1979. Ajumoke Nwaeze in her tribute described Negudu as “an easy going fellow; free-spirited, kindhearted, overly intellectual and versatile.”
Recalling their first encounter in April 2018, Nwaeze said they hit it off easily, “I remember the first day I met you, April 2018. I had just resumed work from Leave and walked up to your desk, “So you are the new guy?” I had said, “the one with the grey hair,” I added with my usual tease,” she wrote. “‘Yes, and I believe you are AJ, the one they said would keep me company.’”
According to Nwaeze, Negedu was widely read and vast in topics ranging from Sports, Politics, History, Journalism, Photography, Geography. This earned him the moniker as “A Living Encyclopedia.”
Negedu was preparing for his 41st birthday when he died, Nwaeze revealed that he had a birthday shoot at his home on May 16, 2020, the last day the duo saw, but he never got to use the pictures.
She, however, wondered why he left at 40, “Single. No mini-you left behind. No hint of your demise. Nothing!”
Sharing a list of their fond memories which include having lunch together, taking pictures, buying her random gifts, among many others, Nwaeze said Negedu was “such a good man and a perfect gentleman” whose sound of laughter and his non-official personality will be greatly missed.
Some of Negedu’s Instagram followers have also taken to the platform to mourn his demise and pay tribute to him. In his last post on Instagram on June 2, 2020, he was condemning “rape, racism, injustice, all forms of bigotry and the senseless killings across Nigeria.”
