SUNU Group, the parent company of SUNU Assurances Nigeria, has attributed its performance on the Nigeria Exchange Limited in 2024 to its late founder, Mr. Pathé Dione’s impact and legacy.
The Managing Director of SUNU Assurances Nigeria PLC, Mr Samuel Ogbodu, made this known on Wednesday in Lagos during the second anniversary of the demise of the group’s founder, who died in 2023.
The PUNCH reports that SUNU Assurance emerged as one of the best-performing stocks on the NGX with an impressive 581 per cent year-to-date gain as of December 20. The company emerged as the top performer in the insurance sector as well as the second-best-performing stock on the local bourse.
To honour the late founder, the group held religious ceremonies in the 17 countries where it operates, including the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon, amongst others, to “serve as a poignant reminder of Mr. Dione’s enduring legacy and his unwavering commitment to the development of Africa.”
“Mr. Dione’s legacy is deeply ingrained in the DNA of SUNU Group. We are committed to honouring his memory by continuing to build on the strong foundation he laid and by striving to achieve the ambitious goals he envisioned for the Group,” Ogbudu remarked.
He continued, “You know the founder was a person of governance, so he put all the structures in place before his death. There is a governance structure on the ground, and (his absence) is not affecting the performance of the group. For instance, we did better last year than when he was around. We’re the highest growing on the stock exchange. So it has not impacted negatively but positively the performance of the group.
“The group did better last year because everybody believes in the man’s vision. The commitment and dedication to ensure that we make the man proud wherever he is. It is a motivation; the founder gave all of us the opportunity for career growth, so we must not disappoint him.”
In Nigeria, a Koranic reading was held at the NTA mosque, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos, while a Mass was held at the Divine Physician and St. Luke’s Catholic Chaplaincy, LUTH, Idi-Araba, Lagos.
The group revealed that the events provided an opportunity for the SUNU Group family, employees, partners, and the general public to come together and remember the life and achievements of this remarkable individual.
While paying tribute to him at the commemorative service, the Managing Director of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited, Dr Patrick Korie, eulogised the late founder, saying, “Mr Dione was not just a founder; he was a mentor and an inspiration to all of us at SUNU Group. His unwavering belief in the power of African entrepreneurship and his commitment to social responsibility continue to guide our actions and inspire us to strive for excellence in all that we do.”