Victor EzejaAs Publisher of Prime Business Africa, Dr Marcel Mbamalu, marks his 52nd birthday today, January 12, associates in and outside the media have taken time to offer their thoughts on who he is both at personal and professional levels.
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Chairman of Prime Business Africa (PBA) Editorial Board and Founder of Centre for Value in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, while wishing Dr Mbamalu a happy birthday said he is an epitome of a great professional who rose to where he is today by dint of hard work and dedication to set goals.
Utomi, a Professor of Political Economy, described Mbamalu as one who consistently demonstrates an uncommon passion for what he does, especially in the media profession.
He said: “I want to say a very happy birthday to Dr Marcel Mbamalu. People talk about luck, nothing like that. Luck smiles only on the prepared. Professional achieves when they understand the values and ethics of their profession; when they are passionate about the work that they do and are continuously improving and updating themselves; learning as they go, and getting a return on experience.”
Former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dakuku Peterside, described Mbamalu as an intellectual role model for many persons and a hard-working man.
His words: “I am proud to associate with him (Mbamalu); he is a man who values relationships. He is an intellectual role model for a lot of persons, very hard working; a man, who thinks outside the box, creative, analytical and very patriotic.”
On her part, founder of the African Media Agency (AMA) and deputy chairman of PBA Editorial Board, Eloine Barry, remarked that Mbamalu is one with a dogged disposition, who has a deep understanding of the media profession and does the work with passion.
Barry said that with Mbamalu setting up Prime Business Africa, an independent online platform, she has no doubt that he will make huge success in the venture.
“It is my absolute pleasure and honour to join Prime Business Africa in celebrating Dr Marcel Mbamalu, who has been a dear friend of mine for many years. He has a good work ethic, and an understanding of good reporting and what excellent journalism is; all driven by his passion and hard work.
“To me, Prime Business Africa is a publication that we need, certainly in Nigeria and most importantly moving forward, on a pan-African scale, we need investigative journalism, good in-depth pieces. This is the tool and the media that will help favour the communication infrastructure that has been raving for quite some time now. I can’t wait to see where this venture takes you. I have no doubt you will be very successful,” Barry said to Mbamalu.
Pharmacist Simon Uchenna Kwochas Mbamalu, the CEO of Anambra State-based Kwochas Pharmacy and retired Chief Pharmacist at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, said the doggedness with which Dr Mbamalu pursued his second and third degrees and excelled as Editor at The Guardian was a pointer to his deep commitment to hard work and professionalism in media practice. “I call him my Cronkite of Africa, because that’s the closest word to describe his passion and authoritative work at The Guardian and now at Prime Business Africa.
“I spent over 35 years in the United States. Cronkite was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening news and was named “the most trusted man in America” in an opinion poll. He reported many events from 1937 to 1981, including bombings in the World War II.
“I pray for divine health for Dr Mbamalu so that he can continue to positively impact his generation and the ones coming behind,” the Pharmacist,who is fondly known as ‘Kwochas’ in Anambra State, said.
His Royal Highness, Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, the Eze Ojoto III, on his part, described Dr Mbamalu as a ‘gifted one’ given “the way he rose to where he is today.” He noted that the publisher of Prime Business Africa is one with a great entrepreneurial spirit who always excels in all he does, thanks to his deep commitment to work.
In the same vein, ExxonMobil’s Ozemoya Okordion, who was in Dr Mbamalu’s 1997/98 graduate class of ‘Jacksonites’ (Department of Mass Communication, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN)), described him as an intellectual with the great leadership talents.
For Barrister Dennis Mbamalu, a Chartered Accountant and elder brother to Dr Mbamalu, said that the Publisher has from the cradle been a symbol of hard work and excellence. “i wish him very many returns of this day,” the lawyer and Chartered account prayed.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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