By Ononye VC
It was a joyful and emotional moment for the management and staff of the Oluchukwu Microfinance Bank,Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity,Onitsha as they gathered on Saturday to appreciate and bid farewell to one of their longest serving and pioneer staff,Mrs Nkechi Okpalaeze.
Mrs Okpalaeze who served the bank diligently since it’s inception as a Community Bank to it’s present envious status as a Microfinance Bank was leaving the bank for greener pastures,literally.
Mrs Nkechi Okpalaeze shed tears of joy as encomiums were rained on her by the management and staff of the bank for her long years of untainted hardwork,diligence and loyalty to the bank.Those who spoke included the former Managing Director,Rev Fr Dr Anthony Obumse,the incumbent Managing Director, Mrs Chinwe Iheanacho,one of the Board members,Sir Victor Ibemesi and a host of other staff who gave testaments on the humility,passion, resilience, commitment,resourcefulness and honesty of Mrs Okpalaeze.
In her response,Mrs Okpalaeze paid tribute to the Board and management of the bank for giving her the opportunity to serve.She gave special thanks to the proprietor of the bank,the Archbishop of Onitsha,Most Rev Valerian Okeke,the chairman of the Board of Directors Sir Ikem Osanakpo,Sir John Odike and others for taking the bank to enviable height of becoming a leading Microfinance in the country.She also thanked her guarantors namely,Prof Mrs Ethel Dim and Lady Ndidi Ononye for their unwavering trust on her,as well as Sir Tony Uko Akpulu for affecting her life positively while serving the bank.
Husband to Mrs Okpalaeze,Mr Onyeka,was full of gratitude to the Board and management of the bank saying that the experience garnered by her wife in the bank would ever remain useful to her in her future endeavors.
Highlight on the ocassion were,presentation of gifts to Mrs Okpalaeze,cultural dance and a drama sketch.
