Chief Christopher Abebe, father to Stella, the late wife of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, is dead.

A statement from the deceased’s family confirmed he died on Thursday at the age of 99.

The statement, signed by John Abebe, the deceased’s son, said he was survived by Theresa Abebe, his wife of nearly 75 years; children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

It said: “In his lifetime, he joined the United African Company Nigeria Limited as a young clerk and rose through the ranks to become the first Nigerian chairman/managing director of the company. He was also the first Nigerian personnel director of UAC in 1959.

“He was at various times the pro-chancellor and chairman of council of three Nigerian universities: the University of Benin, the University of Nsukka and the University of Calabar.

“On his retirement from the UAC, he became the first Nigerian Chairman of the Nigerian Breweries. A devout Catholic, he was a Papal Knight of the St. Gregory’s and Supreme Knight of St. Mulumba.”

The deceased was a recipient of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).