The Accomplish Magazine February Edition

ACCOMPLISH MOURNS
Dr. Austin Nweze
appeared, with
just 24 hours
prio notice,
to mark my
birthday on the
21st of October 2023. He came
in his usual simple self, wearing
a fez cap. ‘Your Excellency’
as I always addressed
him, following his two-time
governorship contest in Ebonyi
State, was his usual calm, soft
spoken self.
There was no sign of pain or
any underlying ailment. We
ate and shared some bottles
of wine, and spent time talking
far into the night that it literally
became too late for him to go
back to his lodging. He spent
the night at my abode, forever
his cheerful, well measured self.
Beneath his calm, peaceful
exterior, I never knew things
were getting out of hand;
that Dr. Nweze’s health was
rapidly failing. After a surgery
in early 2023, I believed he
had recovered remarkably,
not knowing that the ugly
hand of death was stubbornly
stretching towards him. Of
course, Austin was never one
to complain much about the
challenges of everyday life!
His Excellency was a
remarkable person in many
ways. His long profile with
a retinue of immeasurable
contributions in academia,
corporate development,
public discourse, research
and publications will serve to
increase the grief, the sense
of loss, of those who knew him
closely. To others, it may bring
consolation on the grounds
that, it is not how long one lives
but what impact one made.
For impact, Dr. Austin Nweze
definitely gave a very good
account of himself. Many
of his Masters and Ph.D.
students have called to
lament his sudden demise. As
a facilitator and a trainer, he
shared knowledge locally and
internationally that changed
lives for good, including mine.
As a public analyst on current
economic and political affairs,
he was, indeed, a familiar face
on Nigeria television screens.
And, on those occasions, he
spoke the minds of many with
such insight and precision
of delivery that delighted
his viewers and listeners.
As an author, the quality of
knowledge he loaded in his
books was for posterity to gain
understanding from and for his
readers to find their way in the
labyrinth of life. Surely, Austin
cannot be forgotten any time
soon.
Dr. Austin Nweze was
internationally exposed and
globally aware, well trained
and educated in different parts
of the world. He was credited to
have authored several books
including "Taking the Bull by the
Horn"; "Enterprise Champions:
Entrepreneurshi p in Ascent
in Nigeria"; "Destination
Africa: Strategic Business
Outsourcing"; "Entrepreneurship
and the Economic
Development of Nigeria"; "The
Economics of Leadership";
"Fortune Hunters: A Discourse
on Nigeria's Political Economy";
"The Knowledge Economy";
and "Business Etc: A General
Management Handbook'.
He also wrote over 50
newspaper and progressive
magazine articles particularly
on leadership development
, good governance, virile
economy, media practice,
entrepreneurship promotion
and progressive electoral
practices.
For over 15 years, he consulted
for organisations on
organisational transformation/
revitalisation. He developed
and delivered training
programmes for corporate
organisations and government
establishments in the areas of
entrepreneurship development,
venture management,
leadership, six sigma, media
relations, finance, financial
planning, retirement planning,
marketing, strategy and soft
skills .
He also worked with the
Institute of Financial Planning
as the Director of Programmes
and Publication, and Director
of Learning and Management
Education before joining the
Lagos Business School (LBS),
Pan African University as Head
(Administrator), Centre for
Applied Economics, and later
in the Executive Education Unit.
Accomplish Magazine
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