“She was an exemplary professional” – Tributes pour in for late Oando Chief Legal Officer, Ngozi Okonkwo

Shortly after the death of one of Nigeria’s remarkable corporate lawyers and Chief Legal Officer of Oando PLC, Ngozi Okonkwo was announced, many tributes have been pouring in for the legal officer who died after battling with cancer.

Oando PLC had announced her passing in a statement shared on Twitter on June 5, 2020, where she was eulogized as an “exemplary professional and astute lawyer who commanded respect from all who knew her”.

Before her death, Ngozi had risen from serving as the company’s Head of Legal Services since joining in 2009 before emerging as the Chief Legal Officer.

In a tribute to the deceased, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando PLC, Adewale Tinubu, described her as “someone you wanted by your side when winning was the goal”.

“For 11 years she toiled in ensuring our dreams became reality and did so with a full dose of infectious optimism everyday, despite the odds,” Tinubu wrote.

Many colleagues and acquaintances who were shocked and saddened by the news also highlighted many of her great qualities and personality.

“It is a sad and painful loss. Ngozi was a true leader, very passionate and dedicated to professionalism. We’ll miss her dearly. May God almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Isah Yusuf Aruwa shared.

“May your soul rest in peace, Ngozi Okonkwo. I share in your grief, Oando PLC. Accept my sympathy,” Olatunde Okelana wrote.

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Another acquaintance on Twitter, Chinny (@kilonpop) referred to her as, “A true leader in every sense,” while a colleague Oyindrop (@oyin_dropp) added that, “CLO was an excellent woman and she was a great person to work with.”

Born on April 25, 1975, Ngozi Okonkwo graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka LL.B (Hons) 1997, and Nigerian Law School, Lagos B.L 1999. She was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association; an honorary fellow of the Association of Fellows and Legal Scholars of the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria, an associate member of Chartered Institute of Taxation, Nigeria, and associate member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom.

Before joining Oando, Ngozi also worked with F. O Akinrele & Co. as Junior Legal Counsel, and also as Manager, Tax, Regulatory, and People Services Unit in KPMG.