Dr.  Ike Abugu, Former NASME President

By Francis Ugwoke

Professionals  drawn from all sectors of the economy have set up a Trust Fund for the   former President of  Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME),  late Dr. Ike Abugu,  who died  in the Dana aircraft   that crashed in Lagos recently.

The Trust Fund, known as  Dr. Ike Abugu Trust Fund,  was specifically set up to cater for the  future needs of his very young  family.
In a statement ,  Dr. Nick Idoko and  Bishop E.Ossai,  explained that  the Trust Fund had become necessary considering the circumstances of  the late NASME president’s death.

According to Idoko, who is the coordinator  of the  burial committee for Dr. Ike Abugu, the  Trust Fund would serve as a special purpose vehicle to cater for the needs of the children.

He said  Dr. Abugu  died at a time he did not  prepare for the future of his family.
He added that the trust fund, which was an idea of personal friends, professional colleagues and well wishers,  was targeting    N30million  as its face value  to be operated for 15 years, during which his children  would have come of age  and out of school.

He appealed to   individuals and corporate  organisations  to contribute  to the  trust fund  so that the  young family   left behind would  have a better future.

“ As his relative, friend, associate, professional colleague or as an agency, commission, institute, group or company with which he had a working relationship, therefore, we appeal for a kind-hearted and generous donation into this fund. Without a doubt, your positive response to this appeal will go a long way towards securing a future for Dr. Abugu’s young, obviously traumatised, family. For all of us his friends, business associates, professional colleagues, let it be a call to service, a must-do obligation”.

Members of the  board of trustees  of the  Trust Fund include   Mr. Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Ambassador Chinade, Idoko, Ossai, Mr. Eke Ubiji, Mr. Emmanuel Abugu, Mrs. Franca Okolo, and Dr. Obiora Okonkwo.

The  late NASME President    left behind a very young family,  the wife,  who is  still in her third year of a five-year programme in the university, and three bright little children, the oldest of whom is only 7.