The loss of a great practitioner

News of CYRIL NKEM EKWERE’s death; one of our ardent and proficient contributors, has left us in profound sadness.

Cyril, who died on Tuesday October 15, 2013, was until his demise, an Associate Partner at Alliance Law Firm, where he headed the Corporate & Commercial practice of the Firm.

While alive, he had written and contributed extensively to our LEGAL BUSINESS section and also published and co-published several scholarly practice-based articles on contemporary Nigerian capital market issues, corporate restructuring, structured products, banking, project finance, structured finance and energy commodity financing.

He co-authored the publication, ‘Oil and Gas Asset- Based Financing: An Appraisal of Security Structures for RBL Transactions Under Nigerian Law” published in the February 2013 edition of Emerging Markets Africa.

He also co-authored with Asue Ighodalo the publication, “An overview of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Regulated Rate Regime”, the 2009 edition of the International Financial Law Review published by Euro money.

Between 2009-2012, he facilitated the module on, “Legal Issues in Project Finance” at the First Bank Plc Training School, Lagos.

In addition to a 2007 stint in Citibank Nigeria Limited as a secondee, Cyril had previously practiced at some of Nigeria’s most prestigious law firms including Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie and Banwo & Ighodalo.

Nkem, as we know him at BusinessDay, was an experienced practitioner and we count ourselves lucky to have shared in the contributions of his uncommon expertise, which he was only too willing to share with our esteemed readers.

As is said, “We measure a man not by how he died, but by how he lived; not by what he gained, but by what he gave. These are the units to measure the worth of a man, regardless of birth.”

We all know the day will come, but death always leaves us with grief, and right now, our hearts are heavy with sympathy. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time and we pray that the memories of Cyril will help them find peace.

Here in our hearts, a memory will be kept, of our dear friend and colleague – CYRIL NKEM EKWERE

Adieu…

THEODORA KIO-LAWSON

FOR BUSINESSDAY

Please watch this space for updates on funeral arrangements.