Prime Business AfricaThe Board and Management of Newstide Publications Limited, publishers of Prime Business Africa, regrets to announce the death of Ambassador Ejeviome Eloho Otobo, 70, who, was a director of the multimedia company.
Ambassador Otobo, a Nigerian-born diplomat was found dead on Thursday afternoon, according to police sources in Tuckahoe, in Westchester County, New York, United States, where he has been residing for many years.
Ambassador Otobo was also a member of the Editorial Board of Prime Business Africa where he made invaluable contributions in editorial matters of the online business newspaper.
In the past one year, Otobo actively participated in Prime Business Africa’s monthly webinar tagged, ‘Socio-Economic and Entrepreneurship Development Series’ (SEEDS), a flagship programme of the multimedia company that provides discourse on Africa’s socio-economic development.
Otobo, together with other experts, brought his rich global and diplomatic experiences to bear on the SEEDS organised by PBA to ventilate ideas on practical tips for driving development for African economies, especially in the post-COVID pandemic era.
CEO of Newstide Publications and Publisher of Prime Business Africa, Dr Marcel Mbamalu said, “the Board and Management of the company are in deep sorrow over the passing of Ambassador Eloho Otobo, a renowned diplomat, who made tremendous contributions to the success of this company, especially with regards to his participation in company Board meetings and those of the Editorial Board. We will miss him greatly.”
According to Dr Mbamalu, the late Ambassador Otobo had an interaction with the him three weeks before his passing and made some intellectual inputs to what he had thought would be the best way to officially celebrate the Anniversary of Prime Business Africa in July. PBA, which effectively began operations in May 2021, was officially launched on June 22, 2021.
Dr Mbamalu revealed that until Otobo’s sudden death, he had been planning to host the Prime Business Africa team in his New York home, an idea the late ambassador had seriously nursed since June 2021.
“The intellectual bent Ambassador Otobo brings to bear on debates during Board meetings and in my personal discussions with him was unparalleled. He had often insisted on doing the right things at the right time. Otobo came across as not just a diplomat and prolific author but a great teacher and journalist, the traits that drew and endeared him to me, hence our strong professional bond since my days as News Editor at The Guardian.
“He featured on Prime Business Africa’s monthly SEEDS webinar as a strong voice and willing driver of change in Africa. We pray that his youthful wife and hardworking children will find solace in the great legacy which Ambassador Otobo left behind,” Dr. Mbamalu stated.
Chairman of Newstide Publications Limited, Dr Bongo Adi , an Economist with the Lagos Business School (LBS), described the late Otobo as ”a positive force on both the the Company Board and the Editorial Board.”
According to Dr Adi, ” Ambassador Otobo was one of a passionate kind; his sense of purpose and commitment to details make my working with him at Newstide Publications Limited a learning experience indeed.”
As prolific writer and an expert in economic and corporate governance, Otobo was widely published with his areas of research and writing including governance, public service reforms, institutional development, regulatory policy and management, peace building and international trade. He authored Consolidating Peace in Africa: The Role of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission (2015), and Africa in Transition: A New Way of Looking at Progress in the Region (2017). This was nominated for the Grand prix of Literary Associations Award, 2018 in the Research category. He equally co-edited African Development in the 21st Century: Adebayo Adedeji’s Theories and Contributions (2015). He equally published in the stable of Prime Business Africa, blockbuster articles on political economy and governance relations in the continent.
Otobo joined the United Nations after a distinguished career in the diplomatic service of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. During the course of his diplomatic career, he served as a policy planning Staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he represented Nigeria in several countries and participated in various bilateral political and multilateral economic negotiations.
Between 2014 and 2016, he also served as a member of the External Experts Advisory Board of the Informing Conflict Prevention, Resolution and Response: The Role of Media in Violent Conflict (INFOCORE) Project funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration.
He has also consulted for the African Union Mission to the United Nations in New York on issues of Peace-building.
Details of his burial will be made available, according to the family.
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