...says she lit his life in many ways
By Olivia Obijiaku
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of National Research Institute for Chemical Research, (NARICT), Zaria Kaduna State Professor Jeffrey T. Barminas has paid a tearful tribute to his Chief Procurement Officer, Late Ms. Adaora Ifeoma Umunna who died on Tuesday, 1st February, 2022.
At the wake keep which was held in her honour at the Chapel of Redemption, Ahmadu Bello University, Samaru Zaria Kaduna State on Tuesday, 22nd February, 2022, the DG detailed the outstanding performances of the deceased saying that he was specially pained by her demise because she stretched beyond the call of duty lines to get things done and that she contributed immensely to the positive transformation the institute now enjoys.
“Adaora gave me the best.” The CEO testified. “As a leader, you must go for people who are dedicated, diligent and committed and those with ideas to make an organization to be outstanding, even when the environment has a problem – you must look at your environment and fish out people with those kinds of qualities.
When I came to Zaria to head NARICT, I sought for such people and luckily, I found Adaora. That was why I had to bring her closer. The first thing I did was to task her by giving her a very acting position. I gave her a very critical position and she gave me the best. I found in Adaora one of the greatest managerial skills I needed.
She lit my world personally because she was one of my prayer partners. I found in her a willing lady who can pick up your issue and say, ‘God, this is what I want for this person. This is what I want for this organization. I want your will for this person.’ She did that for me. She did that for my organization. Adaora was a heavy stone plunged in the pool of NARICT that brought an avalanche of positive energy that catalyzed the unprecedented transformation of NARICT in terms of infrastructural development.
Adaora, you engraved in us, hearts that are blazing like sunshine because you raised your candle and lit our sky and became a beacon in the darkest times of NARICT, Zaria and our lives as workers in this institution too.
To me, she was a personal loss, but who am I to resist the will of God? She made an impact which brought light to my life and to NARICT. I love my beloved Adaora but God loves her the most.”
The daughter of Late Prof. Nnanyelum Nwabufo from Onitsha, Anambra State joined the services of NARICT in January, 2006 as a Planning Officer II and was finally promoted to the rank of Chief Procurement Officer in January, 2020. As the Chief Procurement Officer of NARICT, she played a significant role in the institute in terms of infrastructural development, creativity, environmental sustainability as well as the swift modification of activities for Research, Development and Innovation (RDI).
Some important administrative responsibilities she held in the institute include Acting Head, Department of Procurement, (2017-2020); Head, Department of Procurement (2020-2022); Member, NARICT Budget Committee (2021-2022); Member/Secretary, Management Tenders board (2018-2022); Member/Secretary, Planning Procurement Committee (2020 till death); Member, Research Innovation & Development Committee (2019 till death); and Member, Project Commissioning Committee (2022 till death). She also held membership of professional bodies which include Associate Member, Institute of Corporate Administration (ICA) and Member, Association of Public Procurement Practitioners of Nigeria (APPPN).
