Obituary of our founder

We regret to announce the death of our founder member, Mr. Romeo Barberopoulos of Nigeria Foundries Limited and NFL Group of Companies who passed away at the age of 79.

His death was around 11:15pm, on the 19th of April 2012. For all those who knew him, he remained very active till the last moment of his life working on his computer and skyping with friends. Some people who were close to him in the last few months said that he had in vague ways expressed his premonition of his death by arranging meetings and making structural changes in organisations he belonged to, making the comment “...I don’t know how long I will be around...“.

In 1958 he came to Nigeria and commenced his career as an electrical engineer at the Leventis Group of Companies.

In 1969 together with his brother John Barberopoulos they set up Nigerian Foundries Limited which today has become one of the biggest foundry groups in Africa producing a broad range of castings out of alloyed steel and iron and aluminium.

His contribution to the foundry industry in Nigeria has been immense by being on committees in support of the foundry industry and offering practical experience to students of metallurgy in the higher learning institutions of the country. In 1994 he became founder member of the Foundry Association of Nigeria, an association with the objective to push for the development of the foundry industry in Nigeria.
In 1978 he became a Naturalised Nigerian.

Romeo however was foremost a humanist who was actively involved in socio-cultural, ecological, environmental and industrial aspects of Nigeria Citizen. 

• One of the founding fathers of Nigerian Conservation Foundation and an active conservationist.
• Founder member of the Pastoral Resolve Organisation to improve and maintain the livelihood of pastoralist
• Program adviser of the Nigerian Field Society
• Chairman of the Export Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
• Chairman and one of the founders of Nexportrade Houses Limited, an organisation whose objective is to promote trade between African countries.

In 2009 he was appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Director of the National Metallurgical Development Center in JOS Plateau State.

In 2003, he was honored by the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the manufacturing sector, his considerable initiatives on human resources development and his efforts in conservation and preservation of the nation’s cultural heritage.
In 2006, he was further awarded the cross of Apostle Mark by the Late Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Petros VII for his voluntary humanistic efforts to Nigeria.

Romeo is survived by his wife Mrs. Irene Barberopoulos and his son Mr. Vassily Barberopoulos.
Romeo’s life touched a great many of people and he lived a fulfilled life till the last minute.
May his soul rest in peace.