Club Members Extol Virtues Of Lagos Businessman, Anthony Onwumere As He Becomes Patron

By Frank Oshanugor

An industrialist and Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of RichyGold Group of Companies, Chief Richard Agbapuru led the pack of other members of Ugomba Diamond Club on Saturday in extolling the virtues of a Lagos based business man, Mr. Anthony Onwumere as he was officially instituted a Life Patron of the Club.

Chief Agbapuru, who is the grand patron of Ugomba, a social club in Lagos; while making a brief character sketch of Onwuemere described him as a committed member of the Club whose dynamism and other sterling qualities have remained outstanding.

Also speaking about Onwumere, who is the Chief Executive Officer of LifeBack Pharmaceutical company, Lagos, President of Ugomba Diamond Club, Mr. Samuel Uche Okoroji noted that prior to Onwumere’s membership of the club some years ago, he had taken interest in the scrupulous way and manner he usually conducted himself on issues of public interest. According to him, Onwumere had always shown commitment in anything he believed in, hence he was encouraged to join the Club. 

The President noted that since Onwumere became member of Ugomba, he has lived up to expectation as his bold initiatives and active participation in the Club’s activities had helped to move the Club forward, hence he was considered for the uncommon position of Patron.

While presenting him with the plaque indicating his new status at the event which was held in Hazie Masters International event centre, Okota Lagos, Agbapuru charged Onwumere to do more for the Club and humanity in line with the saying that “to whom much is given, much is expected.”

Other members of the Club who were present at the event which also marked the Club’s end of year party, eulogized the LifeBack boss for his exemplary commitment to issues of the group. They included Vice President of the Club Chief Vincent Odidika, another Patron of the Club Mayor Edwin Maduka and others.               

In his brief acceptance speech after receiving the investiture plaque, Onwumere told the teaming audience that he was dedicating the honour to Chief Agbapuru who over the years had guided him like a father.

Mr. Anthony Onwumere is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. He later enrolled at the University of Lagos where he obtained a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA). Over the years, he had attended several courses in various disciplines and acquired several other certificates.

Currently, he is a business man dealing mainly in pharmaceuticals with LifeBack as his company’s name. It started as a chain of supermarkets but now into distribution of health care and pharmaceutical products.

Ugomba as a social club, began over two decades ago. The journey has been quite challenging but members have continued to give vibe to the Club’s existence such that what it is in contemporary time is far better than what it was, some years ago. The Club’s membership currently is largely formidable and can be described as fortified.

The main objective of the Club is for members to socialize and share in the life of one another by giving helping hands in times of need. The socialisation process also creates a networking ambience that further enables members to maintain some high profile relationship with people that matter in the society, particularly with respect to connecting members to the right businesses.

One of the main objectives of the Club is to use their resources in helping to uplift the less privileged ones in the society since all fingers are not equal.

To become a member of Ugomba Diamond Club is not a pedestrian venture as any prospective member must not have any criminal record attached to his name anywhere in the society. Moreso, the intending member must be economically viable in other to meet up with the Club’s objectives and activities.

Speaking with ATLANTICNEWSONLINE on the sideline of the occasion with respect to his nomination as a Patron of the Club, Onwumere said “I got a call intimating me that I have been nominated for the patronship of Ugomba. I was surprised to hear this and my first reaction was to tell the caller that I found myself unworthy.

“The only Grand Patron of the Club who is Chief Richard Agbapuru had been the only Patron. So for them to come to me among many others, particularly when I am not among the first ten when it comes to economic viability, was a surprise.

“I was made to understand that my being nominated was predicated on my ideas, contributions,  projections to the club within the five years of my membership so far. They also said the exposure I had brought to the Club, my regular interaction with members in terms of advisory matters and many other things they looked into, without me knowing it, informed my being chosen as a Patron. I was just living my normal life.

“I must emphasize here that being a patron of a club like Ugomba means more work. In this circumstance, the reward of good work is more work. So when one is given patron like in my case, they are simply telling me that they need more commitment from me. It also means that one’s life would now be a mirror to other people to emulate.”