A Nigerian Showbiz Guru exits the world
GIDEON NWAOMU one of Nigeria’s showbiz gurus will be buried today in his hometown near Asaba in Delta state.He was a committed advocate for the professional growth of Nigeria’s creative industry, an active member and believer in the vision of Artiste Managers Association in Nigeria (AMAN).
Anyone who have encountered Gideon in his life time will surely be endeared to him and his personality for which he will be sadly missed. I am very proud to call Gideon my dear friend, colleague and a brother in whom I am well pleased. I will not forget in a hurry my last video call conversation with him just about two hours before the sad news of his passing on reached me. If I am not mistaken, my video call with him may have been his last phone call before he became non responsive to his treatment.
Our relationship dates back to over forty years and such decades of knowing a man at very close proximity speaks volumes about the beautiful memories we have made and shared in our life time. It is with profound heavy heart and a deep feeling of loss that I pen this tribute. I recall some of the unforgettable moments we have spent together.
As colleagues in the pioneering days of Artiste Managers Association in Nigeria (AMAN) it is on record that when I moved the motion for the association to be formed following our dissolution of the then existing platform known as Artiste Managers and Music Promoters of Nigeria (AMMP) Gideon Nwaomu was the first member of the defunct platform to support the motion and that gesture provided a band wagon effect that swayed majority of our members at the time to lend their support for the formation of AMAN and Gideon Nwaomu was unanimously agreed to be appointed as the first provost of the association while I was appointed as the first vice president of the association in the maiden board of AMAN executives.
Gideon is a firm believer in truth, fairness and justice with respect for rule of law and order. He was manager to the duo of Junior and Pretty Okafor who is the current president of PMAN and they were pioneer artists of the Nigerian new wave popular music which they described as Afrohiphop at the time which is now adulterated with genre identity crisis in controversial circumstance and named as Afrobeats by some individuals with an agenda best known to them. Gideon Nwaomu also managed Chris Hanem the Ozigizaga exponent among several other artists of that era who he provided intermediary services for their career. He doubled as provost for AMAN and for Lagos state chapter of PMAN at the time when Onyeka Onwenu was chairperson of the chapter.
Gideon while he lived had always been a man whose aura attracted entertainment industry stakeholders where ever he is and he was always very hospitable and this attribute may have accounted for why he had always operated booming hospitality service businesses such as his Cocktail Village Restaurant and lounge in Ogundana street off Allen Avenue Ikeja Lagos, Sleek Restaurant and lounge ikeja beside then PMAN Oremeji street headquarters in Ikeja Lagos, Giddy’s Place in Asaba just to mention a few of which these venues were all reputable meeting rendezvous and hubs for showbiz personalities and various creatives. Everyone who knew Giddy’s know that he is a very jolly good fellow that is a dependable friend and ally that will stand for the truth and justice anyday. at anytime.
I will forever cherish his memories and have cause to thank God for his life because God know the best. He even made sure that his daughter Kobindi Nwaomu chased her dream as a gospel artiste and encouraged her to belong to AMAN which he was one of the founders. This is a way to ensure that his legacy as a creative and a player in that space lives on. I will not forget in a hurry my last video call conversation with him just about two hours before he passed.
He fought a good fight and if we could bring him back, we could have done so but we are rest assured that God loves him more and that he knew God before being called to rest. I believe that he is in a better place now. On behalf of AMAN, my heart goes out to his family, wife, children, friends, associates and well wishers for them to take heart and pray for his soul to rest in perfect peace until we meet again in the resurrection morning. Adieu my dear brother, colleague and bosom friend. Sleep on Giddy Baba 💔.
BY : Collins Ifeanyi Onwuneme Ajereh Enebeli ( AMAN President)
