On Sunday, 10 May, 2015, Managing Director of Alrange Limited, Mr Ekom Henry Itauma and his wife, Imo, held a colourful party at his Isolo residence to celebrate his 50thbirthday anniversary.
In attendance, aside from his families and close friends, were doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals.
The preparation for the event, according to the celebrant, started way back in February when the management of Alrange Limited, a professional books and library consultant, donated books on literature and languages to his former department in the University of Calabar (Department of English and Literary Studies) from where he graduated in 1986.
“We went there and were able to equip their literary library with some language and literature books, a gesture which even the vice chancellor of the school has acknowledged,” he said.
Born on 10 May, 1965, Itauma started his dream business, Alrange, in 1999. Although Alrange was incorporated in 1999, it did not commence operations until 2000.
Aside from providing specialised library support services to universities, polytechnics, research and regulatory agencies, as well as institutes such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the company also partners with medical schools and professional health associations to source quality, evidence-based reference books for the entire industry.
“This partnership has given us the needed edge in the selection and sale of key books to both students and practitioners,” Itauma said.”We also partner with resident doctors, consultants/lecturers and offer credit facilities for books to aid their research needs and timely qualification.”
Itauma further hinted that Alrange professional books support services are tailored towards meeting the needs of scientific and professional associations in their bid to train, upgrade their practice and accredit new members.
“For instance we provide book support services for the Nigerian Institute of Safety Professionals (NISP), Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria (ICCON), NAFDAC, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSON), Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN),” he stressed.
On how he combines business and family life, Itauma said that having been married for 12 years, he and his wife had succeeded in overcoming their differences and challenges together.
“We don’t know whatever might come in future, but we know that God, who did it for us in the past, will see us through again. So far, the journey has been good. My wife has been supportive and quite humble. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. I have no regret whatsoever,” the Alrange boss said.
He added that “we travel a lot for programmes especially exhibitions. But my wife is quite supportive. She knows the kind of job I do and helps to patch up for me in the office. She receives calls on my behalf and does other things for me as well.”
Advising young people hoping to start a library and books consultancy dream like Alrange’s, Itauma admonished that the fear of God is paramount in not just relationships but also in business.
“This is why I will also advise those who are just coming into business to be patient. Go under somebody and get trained, study and improve yourself so that you don’t become frustrated later,” Itauma urged.
