THE passage of Mr. Ola Vincent, quintessential banker, economist and former Central Bank governor is a great national loss; but it is also an occasion for the country to celebrate a truly great life and a man of virtue. Vincent, by wide consensus, was a hallmark of integrity in service and post-service life. He would be remembered for the leadership his generation provided at critical times in the nation's history. Such are the memories of outstanding men in history.The death of Vincent, being one of Nigeria's finest, at a time the country is contending with a sharp decline in stock of men of excellent disposition, is a strong decimation of role models. That he would be sorely missed even at his advanced age has been captured in the outpouring of eulogies paid to his glowing life by Nigerians across the divides.Vincent's distinguished life has been painted in tributes across the country, among others by President Goodluck Jonathan who described him as 'successful and fulfilled', recalling his days in the Ministry of Finance through the Africa Development Bank in Abidjan and the Central Bank of Nigeria. These and other worthy contributions to the development of the country earned him the prestigious national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic in 1982, at a time the awards commanded more respect. His life is worthy of emulation by the younger generation who long for positive engagement in life.He was a meticulous banker who stood to be counted when it mattered. The apex bank under his watch came across as a revered institution because he promoted professional ideals. His private life was devoted to mentoring the younger ones, fairness, generosity and philanthropy. His family, friends and the entire nation should be proud of his acclaimed virtues.Vincent, by natural inclination, had time for everybody who came his way, status notwithstanding. In a society where craze for titles is order of the day, he remained simply Mr. until his last days. That was a mark of his modesty and simplicity. He was non-tribal in disposition.Despite its lucrative position, partisan politics was never an attraction to him, though he could be equated with the patriots who spearheaded nation building. He was nonetheless outspoken on critical national issues as highlighted in the crucial role he played during the post-1993 election annulment crisis in the country instigated by the ruling military government at the time. Blunt to a fault, he would always criticize the missteps of governments as he once did with his observation of a 'severely flawed 'unitary' constitution' that the military introduced in 1999, calling for changes to 'arrest the cancerous growth of corruption and corrupt practices.'A promoter of good governance and best practices, he exhibited urbane, civil and ethical dispositions ' never found wanting in his public life. He loathed corruption.A fine technocrat and astute administrator, he remained one of the finest financial regulators whose policies grew the economy then. His signature on the Nigerian currency notes was synonymous with CBN, literally. Some of the key achievements at the head of the institution included the opening of 10 branches of the bank between 1978 and 1981, introduction of the N20 note with the portrait of Gen. Murtala Mohammed in 1977 and those of other eminent citizens two years later. He was also credited with the conceptualization and launching of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme and the computerization of the bank's operations.His post-retirement days further proved his utility value ' serving in various boards where he had the opportunity to propagate Institute of Directors' principle of corporate governance. At age 87, before he died, he was on the board of IGI, an insurance giant. To his credit too is the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the establishment of which he recommended.He was an apostle of trust in the banking industry, just as he called for caution in the sweeping condemnation of debtors who, he argued, deserve fair hearing because 'there is no financial system which is based on credit'where banking crises do not happen'.Born on May 16, 1925, Vincent attended schools in Lagos, Manchester (England). He was a part time lecturer in Economics at the University of Ibadan from 1957-1960 before he moved on to greater heights, recording an outstanding career achievement capped by his appointment as CBN helmsman in 1977.A life member of the Nigerian Economic Society and the Society for International Development, he was honoured with a prestigious lifetime achievement award in 2008. Ola Vincent represents a high value system difficult to re-establish. His life is the lesson for contemporary public servants and all those eyeing excellence.
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