Ethics, entrepreneurship, leadership. Ashesi and Patrick Nutor shared these traits. As one of Ashesi’s first Board Directors and one of only two lifetime Directors, all of us serving today got the pleasure of being welcomed by him – and through his leadership, we learned more about Ashesi.
Patrick’s calm and collected demeanour set the leadership standard for all of us. An enduring voice across time; a generous coach when we Ashesi’s teams needed guidance; a connector who was happy to advocate for Ashesi’s mission within his network of friends and colleagues; a colleague like no other.
Over the last few years, Patrick opened up his home for our annual Board receptions. Together with our colleagues in the United States, we would convene and share stories and experiences from the last year over drinks and food, with Patrick being an ever-gracious host.
Patrick was the glue that held generations of Ashesi Board members together, and we recognised his reassuring presence whenever we gathered. Whenever he spoke, everyone stopped to listen. His sage advice led to good decisions. His measured approach meant we never acted in haste. He was the one we believed would always be there. It is difficult to know that he will no longer be around the Board table, but his legacy will remain with us and with the university he helped steward over the last two decades.