The Nation Newspaper

Category: Life – The Midweek Magazine

  • Expert calls for laws to protect children in schools

    The founder of Safe Schools, Prof Ike has called on the National Assembly to pass relevant laws that will ensure the health and safety of children in schools and other public spaces across the country

    Ike said this at the third edition of the Safetagious, organised by Safe Schools in Lagos. The event, tagged Get Your Thrive On, brought together schools owners, environmentalists, teachers, and parents. It featured a seminar, interactive session, and exhibition.

    According to her, the burden of providing safety for children in schools and other public spaces rest largely on government, parents and school owners.

    She said Nigeria need laws that will not only cater for the health and safety need of the child but teachers, parents and everyone that has encounter with the schools.

    Ike noted that providing safety infrastructure in schools will provide an opportunity for children to learn and achieve their dreams and enhance learning outcomes within a safe environment.

    “We urgently need relevant laws that will propel schools to put in place safety measuraes as it will help to benchmark school investment toward the safety of children in schools”, she said.

    Ike lamented that many schools owners are indifference and do not take the safety of the children and other personnel with almost importance.

    Read Also: ‘Our children trek miles to school’

    She said that there is an undeniable and increasing prevalence of emergency situations in schools which calls for more proactive measures from schools to safety of their students and wards.

    She said that there is no arrival with safety but how prepare is the school when emergencies arise is key

    She charged schools owners to come up with their health and safety management structures in their schools that will keep children safe in schools.

    According to her the need for schools to have safety policy is centred on the children and other staffs working in the school is very germane.

    She stressed that schools should self-regulate themselves and ensure that best practices that will ensure the safety of the children in schools should be adopted.

    “We want to implore schools to champion the right safety measures as it is beneficial to them”, she said.

    Also speaking at the event, the Director of Family Health at Lead Nurse Africa International Foundation, Julie Mogbo, appealed to parents to leverage on the relationship they have with their children to keep their children safe and well as the family is the training ground and its prepare the child to be safety conscious.

    “The child keep safe when there is proper training and mentorship given to the child on how to keep safe in the midst of insecurity around them”, she said.

    She asked how convince are we that we have filled up our children emotional bank account?

    She lamented that many children only answer their parent’s last name but do not have their heart. When things happen, they call someone else other than their parents.

    She posited that parents must not relegate their primary responsibility to other care givers because some day we will give account of how much training and support we have given to our children.

  • Monarch urges govt to explore tourism potential

    The traditional ruler of Isanlu-Isin in Isin Local Government of Kwara, State, Oba Solomon Oluwagbemiga Oloyede, has called on the Federal Government to explore the rich historical heritage sites and tourism potentials in the town.

    Oba Oloyede, who spoke in Isin during the annual New Yam festival, said Isin is blessed with numerous heritage sites and three water falls. The monarch said Isanlu-Isin has over 50 sites of historical, natural, cultural and geological signficance.

    According to the Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, if the historical sites were explored by the Federal Government and exposed to the outside world, they may attract the attention of UNESCO and be declared ‘UNESCO Heritage Sites’.

    The royal father listed the historical sites to include a mysterious tree called “Atori tree” that has the power to catch a thief or anybody that does something criminal or against the custom or culture of the town.

    He added that the historical sites include Ancient Ash mountain (Oke Eleru), Ancient trench, Oloke Hill Shrine, Geological Museum at Igbo-Odo, Geological Museum Ogba Irobi and Stone pillars at Oke Ara.

    “Today is a day for us in Isanlu-Isin community to the listening ears of Kwara State government, and by extension the Federal Government to shine their eyes on the various tourism and historical sites potentials in Isanlu-Isin.

    “In particular is the existence of three large water falls within our community is practically an evidence to develop the sites into tourist centers,” Oba Oloyede said.

    He also called on the state government to construct asphalt road from Oke-Onignin and Omu-Aran to the three water falls at Aishe, Ijoko and Owu.

    The Olusin of Isanlu-Isin said the New Yam festival was symbolic as it was the re-enactment of the ancient festival known as ‘Oorun’ during the time of their fore fathers.

    He said the annual celebration of the New Yam Festival in the community has no idolatry undertone.

    Oba Oloyede said many ancient festivals in the town have been swept away by the advent of Christianity.

    He, however, said many ancient festivals in the town like Sango, Egungun, Orisa Oko and Osanyin had been swept away by the advent of new religions,.

    “The advent of modern religions and civilisation is gradually sweeping away whatever remains of many festivals in Isanlu-Isin.

    “It is worthy to mention that my three predecessors on the throne contributed immensely to the spread of Christianity and Islam and to a large extent a considerable relegation of idolatry activities,” he said.

    He said that when he ascended the throne, the task of uniting the people for religious activities was made easier with the cooperation of his chiefs.

    “The declaration of Isanlu-Isin for Christ was gladly embraced by all and sundry as I received the cooperation of my chiefs, clergymen and the people of the town.

    “I proposed to my chiefs that Christmas carol should replace the annual Egungun Festival and without any fuss, they agreed and cooperated with me, and Isanlu-Isin Christmas carol has been attracting huge attendance.

    “It is my hope that in the future, we will be able to reinvent the Agba Festival to be in conformity with the modern tourism devoid of idolatry,” Oloyede said. The festival was attended by over 20 traditional rulers from Kwara and neighboring Osun State.

  • BUAF stages Jagagba at MUSON

    BEETA Universal Arts Foundation (BUAF) will stage its 2018 award winning play Jagagba at Agip Recital Hall, MUSON Centre from July 19 to July 21.

    The play stars Kunle Coker; Mawuyon Ogun; Bamike Olawunmi (Bam Bam); Ese Lami George; Olarotimi Fakunle; Eden Attai and Kelvin Mary Ndukwe.

    Jagagba, written by Abdul-Qudus Ibrahim, won the second edition of the innovative playwright contest that seeks to discover young talents in creative writing in drama.

    Last year, BUAF organised the Beeta Playwrights Competition and received 348 entries from 30 states. A panel of six judges, led by former General Manager, National Theatre, Prof. Ahmed Yerima, selected 10 finalists, who attended a one-day playwriting workshop, also led by Prof. Yerima. This was followed by the grand finale, which produced Ibrahim’s play that emerged the winner. Ibrahim’s win fetched N1 million in prize money and a publishing deal. The competition deal includes staging the winning play, which will see Jagagba coming alive on stage.

    According to BUAF’s founder and award-winning actress and producer, Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Jagagba captures the conflicts that characterise traditional society with interplays of political metaphors and social contradictions. “The play explores the quandary of familial ties, the complexity of policy iteration and the perceived gap between evolving cultures, including relevant social issues such as the societal value of women, female inclusion, security, and co-existence,” she said.

    Ibrahim hails from Kogi State and has a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from Covenant University. He has a passion and flair for writing and expressed excitement that his play emerged winner. “I can’t believe this is happening for me,” he expressed.

    Graham-Douglas, who is also producing the play, said she created the foundation because of her love for the performing arts and as an avenue to create opportunities for young people to develop their talents and tell original Nigerian stories. In the first edition, “Our Son the Minister” written by Paul Ugbede won in 2018 and enjoyed massive stage presence.

    At the three-day theatre fiesta, the play will go on stage at 7pm on Friday, July 19, 3pm and 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.

  • Total holds reading for leadership

    NO fewer than 100 students drawn from 10 public and private schools in Lagos State were inspired to be patriotic Nigerians by readings from Emeka Onwusorom’s book, “Smile My Beloved Country”. The forum also exposed the students to the gains of reading books, which will lead to determination and change that will make Nigeria smile again. The purpose of the session is to promote reading habit as a way of life.

    The event was the fifth Book Reading and Open Day forum organised by Deep Water District, Total E&P Nigeria Limited, which held penultimate Saturday at Eko Tower, Victoria, Island Lagos.

    Tagged: “Read to lead”, the reading session was led by some top management staff of Total E & P Nigeria Limited and Lagos State Ministry of Education. They included Executive Director, Deep Water-Total E & P Nigeria Ltd, Mr Joel Hervochon, ED/CFO, Total E& P Nigeria Ltd,  Mrs Tai Oshisanya, (EGM, Deep water Administration, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd Mrs Chinyere  Amanchukwu,  EGM, Total Country Services, Mrs Bunmi Popoola-Mordi, Director Co-curricular Services,  Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Abiodun Bello, Chief Education Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Mr Bolaji Olaleye and NAPIMS Supervisor Public Affairs, PSC Mrs Bunmi Lawson.

    Onwusorom’s message via video drew the students’ attention to the thrust of his book- a story of determination, a story of change that will someday make Nigeria smile again. This, of course, set the tone for the session.

    Apart from the reading, the walls of the spacious hall provided the students with additional boost as posters with motivating quotes were pasted at strategic points.

    But in her remark, Mrs Popoola-Mordi, who was impressed by the turn out of students from public schools said the event was about readers and leaders. She noted: “I am a possibility of what you can be tomorrow.”

    For Mrs Oshisanya, the session was a way of getting the students to be more imbibed in reading because when you read you gain knowledge. “And so, we are trying to encourage the younger generation to read more, not just the textbooks, but also novels from different writers.

    Read Also: Total Nigeria to drive growth with solar business

    “You can stay in your room and read. So, it’s not about spending money.  It is about searching the inner self and be who you could be through the role models you see in novels. Reading is very important, not just schooling, but also to keep the students focused,” she said.

    She disclosed that as part of mechanism to get feedback from the students, Total stays in touch with the schools to see what their children do afterwards and to gain feedbacks from the teachers that followed them because, the teachers are the ones that listen to the students.

    On the exploration of petroleum products while campaigning for safety of the environment, she said Total as an organisation takes safety of the environment seriously, which is why it is constantly being talked about. “It would appear contradictory but, that’s why we talk about it. Yes, it’s true that we work in an environment that is unsafe, in terms of the environment, and we are actually watching the climate change, climate impacts of the industry as the climate change. We talk about climate safety, which comes first. So, we have a slogan that says, ‘safety for me, safety for you, safety for all,’ which means, we must watch out for the safety of one another,” she added.

    According to her, Total investment in renewable energy is the next phase of activities, noting that there are projects taking off in different parts of the country and one of their stations (filling stations) in Ikeja, Lagos runs solely on solar energy. “We are making waves in that area and trying to generate more energies through solar power and enable sustainable energy… But as long as there is a demand for petroleum products, there will be a need to supply. But, we are looking at better ways of producing cleaner and better energy. And, that’s one of our slogans,” Mrs Oshisanya  said.

  • Ogidi New Yam fiesta: Envoy canvasses more women chiefs

    Ogidi community came alive with activities as it marked this year’s New Yam celebration. The event drew guests from across the country and abroad, such as the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria Ms. Marion Kappeyne, reports Janefrances Chibuzor.

    Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria Ms. Marion Kappeyne has said her country and Nigeria are working on the need to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries with emphasis on agriculture, food security and sustainable economy and employment, focusing on women.

    Kappeyne, who spoke at the Ogidi Day and New Yam Celebration, stressed the importance of Nigeria getting everybody to go to school, as education will help in its development.

    According to her, “it is very important to work with the regional people, who know exactly what the region is doing and what the regional strengths and dynamics are”. “I think the dynamics and possibilities are different from state to state, so the ways to move forward differ, while the Federal Government works in a more transcending way,” she said.

    Kappeyne recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari visited the Netherlands last year and a bilateral memorandum of understanding was signed with a view to strengthen Nigeria-Netherlands ties.

    “At the end of last year my Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Nigeria and a first round of consultations was held, to implement the Memorandums’ intentions. One of the areas where we will work more closely together is agriculture,” she said.

    The Ambassador emphasised that Nike Arts Gallery Curator, Chief Nike Okundaye, is playing an immense role in helping to develop her people, commending her immeasurable support to the development of the Ogidi community.

    “I know that 50 per cent of the people living here are women. So, why do we not see more women chiefs? For better insight and better political decision-making, for better governance, all statistics all around the globe indicate results get much better, and economies will grow strongly, if women are empowered and equally involved in decision making.  That also holds true for Nigeria. So, my piece of advice is also to appoint more women chiefs, and to get more women into decision making positions in all regions. And that brings me back to education, and the importance of equal opportunities and more girls in schools!

    “And in Ogidi, in Kogi State, I see a lot of fertile land around here that could be used for farm area. Agriculture being one of the focus areas in the bilateral relations between my country and Nigeria, I will mention this region to the agricultural expert in our Embassy. It may not be one of the regions especially envisaged now, but who knows what may still be possible.

    “I don’t want to get your hopes too high though; we are only a small country (although second worldwide in Agri-business and also in innovation) and we cannot work everywhere.  I think all people of Kogi should join hands to improve farming that is already going on in Ogidi. I am very happy to be here and seeing the rich culture and great people here. And the colours! You have so much to be proud of. And finally, I believe agriculture has a great future in this region, let’s all work for that,” she added.

  • ‘Our corporate governance mandate is a stabiliser’

    The Institute of Chartered Secretary and Administration (ICSAN) insists it will not shirk its responsibility as the frontline advocate of the entrenchment of corporate governance. Outgoing President of the Institute Mr Simon Kolawole says ICSAN puts members on their toes towards ensuring compliance with corporate governance which, according to him, helps stabilise investments, and the nation’s economy. Kolawole speaks with ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA as he signs off as ICSAN’s 25th President.

    What were the challenges you inherited upon assumption?

    Well, I wouldn’t’ call them challenges, rather these where the things I’d set out to do within the period that I would be president of the institute. I believe that in past years the past presidents and Council had done their own beat. We had issues though, but they were not things I would actually call challenges.

    Could you mention one or two examples?

    When I came in as President, one of the issues was the visibility of the institute. We want to increase awareness and let Nigerians know what the institute is all about.

    Second, the secretariat was not too comfortable for workers and we had to make it more befitting. Of course we had to rebuild the secretariat. We have improved its aesthetics and functionality. Those familiar with this institute would agree with me that things have improved. A lot of renovation has taken place. I said during my investiture that we should be able to ensure that workers operate under a very conducive environment.

    Third, I’m also of the belief that since ICSAN is knowledge-based, we should be able to disseminate and enrich the body of knowledge in the society. I have a background in publishing and on the strength of that I wanted to leave behind a legacy of publishing. I’m of the view that our ideas and knowledge should be put out there in a form that people can have access to them. So publishing books and journals were one of the things I set out to do.

     Considering the level of corruption and fraud in government and corporate circles, don’t you think those in corporate governance have let Nigerian down?

    What I would say is that when people see bad things happen, they wonder what the good people are doing. However, you should also look at the fact that it could have been worse if you didn’t have good people there to stem the tide.

    It’s almost impossible to eliminate bad actions totally. Sometimes, when we see a lot of report about bad things being detected in an organisation, we fail to realise that it took some (good) people to get that information out through whistle blowing. So the fact that you don’t hear that some things are not happening in certain territories does not mean bad things are not happening there. So corporate governance practitioners have been doing their own beat and I believe we can do a lot more. It’s not something that will happen overnight, it’s gradual.

    What is ICSAN’s view on the National Code of Corporate Governance recently introduced by the Federal Government?

    ICSAN is in full support of this initiative! Corporate governance is responsible for the success of any organisation. In ICSAN, we pride ourselves as the front runner and as professionals trained in this area. So we support the national code of corporate governance and its applications to ensure organisations are run and managed properly in the interest of stakeholders. When organisation applies the corporate governance issues, they will automatically thrive; and once organisations thrive, the economy and the nation will thrive.

    It’s a continuous process. Of course we will have teething problems with regards to its applications. However, just like any law, there will be controversy as to what (corporate governance) the contents will be. People will have diverse opinions on how it is to be executed. The good thing is that a step has been taken (by government) and we believe that this will help improve the corporate governance landscape. Good enough, the steering committee that put together this code has as participants three of our members. That tells you about the experience our members have to handle things such as this.

    Beyond governments, what role is ICSAN playing to ensure this is more entrenched within corporate bodies?

    One of the things we are doing is our Corporate Governance Platform, a radio programme through which we are educating people about corporate governance principles and how this particular national code can be applied.  We are making Nigerians understand that it is not a code meant to stifle operations in any organisation, but rather, enhance their values.

    How would you appraise your administration over the last two years?

    First, let me say the administration I’ve been privileged to chair over the last two years is not the administration of the president alone but also members of the Council. Overall, I think we have tried our best to take the institute further from the level we met it especially in the facets of publication and knowledge dissemination.

    For the first time, we had the institute’s journal which is professional in nature. The first edition is already out and we hope it would be continuous. We’ve also improved on the institute’s magazine so as to make it more professional.

    Before our administration took off, the institute had signed two linkage programmes with two universities-Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo Ogun State and Leeds City University in Ibadan, Oyo State. In the last two years, we’ve been able to sign three others- International University Seme-Podji in the Republic of Benin; Caleb University in Imota, Lagos and Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti.  There are also two others in the pipeline. I therefore believe that my successor and the Council will do much better than what we have done. We were also able to introduce the insurance scheme as well as issuance of identity cards to our members.

  • Eventful decade of cultural exchanges for Kongi at 85

    Inspired by Prof Wole Soyinka’s humanist principles, Open Door Series ten years ago initiated the annual Wole Soyinka International Cultural Exchange, (WSICE) to mark the Nobel laureate’s 75th birthday anniversary. This year, to mark a decade of these celebrations and the 85th birthday of Soyinka (July 13), WSICE programmes will be flagged off on Friday July 12.  It will run till July 15. Since its maiden edition ten years ago, the exchange has featured over 10,000 secondary students and more than 200 local and international resource persons.

    The WSICE is anchored around Soyinka’s humanist principles as enunciated in his body of works and his consistent patriotic engagement with the socio-political and cultural affairs of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

    July 2019 is, indeed, a landmark for the WSICE project primarily motivated by the life and career of the quintessential artiste – dramatist, poet, theatre director, teacher, culture scholar and public intellectual.  Clocking 85 is as well a milestone in the life of the illustrious son of Africa; distinguished father of Nigerian and African arts and cultural heritage, who is also an iconic global citizen.

    Co-Executive Producer of the WSICE, Teju Kareem, said “the OpenDoorSeries/WSICE is not to be misconstrued as a mere celebration of Wole Soyinka’s date of birth — the man is not, in anyway, really interested in such vanities as staging a party to celebrate his yearly birthday — but the project is designed to celebrate the quintessential artiste as an eminent promoter of the good of humanity.

    And especially to set his exemplary philosophies and visionary ideals as promoted in his works and lifestyle as veritable examples for peoples across race, gender, age, religious and political persuasions, especially the young ones, who need models they can relate to.”

    This year’s edition will also mark a grand return of the OpenDoorSeries/WSICE to Lagos, where its maiden edition was staged at the MUSON Centre, Onikan Lagos. Also, as was the design at its birth, the project will extend its programming beyond its traditional base in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    While the mostly students/youth-focused programmes like essay writing, workshop, youth creative expressions (Do Your Own Thing, (DYOT) etc. would still take place in Abeokuta, which had served as traditional base of the programme in the past eight years; the mentoring session will hold in Akure, Ondo State. The adult session – advocacy session, drama, dance and poetry performances, film screening, book presentations etc. would hold at the Freedom Park in Lagos.

    Kareem stated: “The resolve to take the 10th anniversary celebration to the Freedom Park, which remains the topmost hub for artistic productions and creative expressions in the country, is partly in recognition of Wole Soyinka’s status as the patron saint of the Park, and of creativity in Nigeria and Africa.”

    The renowned theatre designer, scenographer, and Chief Executive Officer ZMirage Multimedia Company, promised that this year’s edition will unveil the future characteristics and direction of the project, which he co-founded with theatre director, Prof Segun Ojewuyi, of the United States-based GlobalNewHaven.

  • Ekiti eyes Nigeria’s art, culture hub status

    Director-General, Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture, Wale Ojo-Lanre, has reiterated Governor Kayode Fayemi’s determination and vision to make the state the arts and culture hub of Nigeria

    Ojo-Lanre stated that Governor Fayemi and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, are conscious of the importance of arts, promotion of cultural heritage and value re-orientation through development and promotion of pristine culture and tradition.

    He spoke while receiving a delegation of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Producers Association of Nigeria, (TAMPPAN), Oyo State chapter, led by Chief Rose Odika at his office in Ado Ekiti.

    According to him, ‘’It is in that view that the governor deemed  it fit to establish Ekiti State  Council for Arts and Culture with the mandate to rejuvenate, promote and develop arts and the cultural sector for empowerment and economic development of the state .’

    Ojo-Lanre disclosed that ‘at the council level, we have embarked on series of sensitisation programmes, participated in cultural events and we are also working on training of younger ones in the creative industry in order to make them  vessels of rebranding and promoting our culture.’

    He added that the council is open to ideas from corporate bodies, individuals and organisations in moving the state forward through arts and culture.

    “Our door is widely opened to welcome people with ideas and our template is large enough to accommodate, nourish and enhance packages from that can add value of note to the arts and cultural vision of Dr John Kayode Fayemi,’’he said.

    Chief Odika praised Dr Fayemi for appointing Wale Ojo Lanre, who she described as a  ‘super cultural and tourism enthusiast’ as Director-General and expressed  optimism about the performance of the D-G.

    She said her visit was to intimate the state of her plan to collaborate with Ekiti State Council for Arts and Culture in empowering the youth through intensive training in acting, cinematography, catering, pedicure and manicure among others.

    Chief Odika who said the programme is part of activities lined up to mark her 30th anniversary in the movie industry adding that participants  would feature in the shooting and acting of a movie.   She said that Ekiti is a state specially created by God for creative exploits and “we are here to explore these creative blessings for human development” .

  • The other side of the table

    Have you ever wondered why two people tend not to have the same point of view? Have you ever wondered how two people can look at the same thing and yet have such divergent opinions? Have you ever listened to people argue on something “stupid” and yet they are so vehement on their positions? A wise person once said, “Walk a mile in my shoes, see what I see, hear what I hear, feel what I feel, THEN maybe you’ll understand why I do what I do; ’till then don’t judge me”.

    I think one of the major challenges we have as humans is that we overestimate what we know and what we can do. Somehow, we have come to believe that our way is the only way a thing can be done and we believe our views are the only reasonable ones. That is okay in as much as we don’t feel compelled to impose our views on others, which unfortunately a lot of us do. Just as we have a right to our views, others do too.

    I love the quote above because it is not absolute. Take a look at the it again; did you notice the word “maybe”? The author is saying the fact that you walk in my shoes, see through my eyes and hear through my ears doesn’t guarantee that you will understand me. That is because those actions are nothing but actions. What makes the difference is not the action but the attitude. What you look at is not as important as how you look at it.

    Dale Carnegie says you can’t win an argument because when you lose you lose and when you win you lose; what is the gain of winning and feeling self-important while you have lost the other person? According to Dale, when you convince someone against his will, not only will he remain of the same opinion, he will also seek an opportunity to get even. That is because his pride has been hurt. Think about it, what is more important to you- to win an argument or to achieve your purpose? It is easier to resolve conflicts when you focus on the issues rather than on persons. An American quote reads, “The more arguments you win, the less friends you will have”.  Another valuable quote reads, “Discussions are always better than arguments because an argument is to find out who is right, and a discussion is to find out what is right”. When you respect the perspective of other people, you leave room for agreement to be reached. Here are a few challenges of not being willing to entertain the opinion or perspectives of others:

    • Ego sets in: when you focus entirely on your own position and you oppose the perspective of others, you are actually engaging your emotions. By the time you get thoroughly emotional about the point you are arguing, and you start to make authoritative and categorical claims, you would have staked too much of your reputation and integrity that you cannot afford to lose. At that time, you become desperate to win. It becomes entirely about you and what you want and no one will else matter.
    • Willful errors: the emotion and desire to win drives you to the point of no-return. The situation becomes so complex that if by any chance you discover that you were wrong all along, it becomes impossible for you to admit because you have said too much. To save face, you will maintain your stand and keep arguing the wrong position. You may start to look for a way out but whether you find one or not will depend on how gracious your opponents are.
    • Miss opportunities to learn: the beautiful thing about diversity is the variety of ideas. I may enter a discussion with a certain notion and come out of it with an entirely new idea. Openness to other views apart from yours is what enriches a conversation. When you speak, you express what you know but when you listen, you learn what others know. Don’t be too obsessed with your own voice to ventilate your mind with fresh ideas.

    Thanks for reading my article today. I would really love to hear from you. So, do share your views with me by sending SMS to 07034737394, visiting www.olanreamodu.com and following me on twitter @lanreamodu. Remember, you are currently nothing compared to what you can become. This can be your year if you want it to be!

  • Celebrating centenary of the birth of former leader of teachers

    But for his death, Chief David Opeyemi Adetunmbi, a renowned teacher and community leader, would have clocked 100 years this year. In celebrating the posthumous centenary of his birth, his son, Seye Adetunmbi writes on his life and time.

    Chief David Opeyemi Adetunmbi attended the national congress of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Port Harcourt as the head of delegates of the old Ondo-State. The position of 1st Vice-President was zoned to the Western Nigeria and the two candidates from Oyo and Ogun could not agree. There was crisis at the national convention; he intervened in his usual leadership character. He appealed to the warring contestants and advised them on how imperative for them to be able to reach a common understanding, after all they were fellow Yoruba brothers and he quietly went back to his seat. Thereafter, the delegates said that the “apostle of harmony” who resolved the differences was the person they wanted to occupy the leadership position. After several persuasions he humbly accepted their request and was elected the 1st National Vice-President of NUT in 1976.

    Also after executing a project for the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Benin-Owena River Basing Development Authority at the instance of his community, his payment was protracted which involved travelling from Ekiti to Benin-City several times. The project brought him more headaches than gain; when the balance due to him was paid, it came with an over-payment. Naturally, he returned the excess of an over payment to the purse of Federal Government of Nigeria. The accountant said to him: “Baba why didn’t you go home with your cheque? “I won’t be able to sleep”; Baba responded. After the Benin-Owena River Basin Authority official got to know that the old man who returned the cheque was an Ekiti man, he said; “no wonder”.

    Ekiti Anglican Diocese saw him as someone who did the nation and indeed Ekiti people proud for his rare exhibition of honesty. It was a special commendation, with gifts of one Holy Bible and a wrist watch from Ekiti Diocese at the synod held in Aisegba-Ekiti in 1981 which was presented to him by the then Diocesan, Most Reverend Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye. His virtues were extolled as honesty and integrity personified. To him, his action was the norm; though considered unusual in an environment where the custodians of the national treasury are the ones stealing from the commonwealth with impunity and get away with it because no proper records are kept in a terribly corrupt system.

    This is about a man who stood out by doing the simplest things which anybody could achieve if only the person applies his/her mind to it conscientiously. When someone we love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. Certainly, Chief David Opeyemi Adetunmbi a.k.a. Baba; left behind treasures for his family, honourable associates, colleagues and other ranks of loved ones. Apparently, Chief D.O. Adetunmbi (DOA) sought to please God in the conduct of his life by doing well before man and God through the grace of His lord and Saviour. His major tool for achieving this was grounded in the guided principles of a good sense of justice and expression of love to those he came across with an arresting humility. “Mo ri o i yo” (delighted seeing you) was his signature greeting in Ekiti dialect with an infectious deep sincere smile.

    The state of Baba in his elements often warmed the soul of the encountered person such that one may have no choice than to melt on the inside. That was vintage and venerable him for you. His lifetime was a kind of golden moments of an unending story. His transition then, hurt his loved ones understandably because they wanted to enjoy his presence with them for as long as possible. Indeed his memory had turned out to evoke joys for his children and many who appreciated him. This is consequent to the buried seed of awesomeness of his exemplary character covered with freshly turned earth in 1990 which had sprung up luxuriant vegetation that is boisterous, to God is the glory. Certainly, no matter the odds, it pays to serve God, for truth always triumphs.

    Chief David Opeyemi Adetunmbi was a native of Ifaki-Ekiti and was born on July 12, 1919. He lost his mother as a toddler and was brought up by his grandmother. His father was one of the early persecuted Christians in Ifaki-Ekiti. He was baptized at St. Michael Anglican Church Ifaki-Ekiti on the 8th of March 1931. He had his primary education at St Michael’s Anglican Infantry School, Ifaki-Ekiti in 1931 to 1935 and was among the early set of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti in 1936 to 1937.

    The chief attended Ondo Boys High School, Ondo in 1944 to 1945 and through correspondence, he passed Cambridge School Certificate. He obtained Diploma in Education from University of Ibadan in 1960. DOA started his working career as a pupil teacher in 1937 at Igbara Odo-Ekiti. He later worked at Ilorin, Offa and became Headmaster of Central Primary School, Oke-Opin in 1954. He was one of the pioneer teachers of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti in 1955. On invitation of his kinsmen, he co-started Ifaki Grammar School where he served meritoriously from 1957 to 1975 as the Senior Tutor. He retired at All Saints Teachers College, Usi-Ekiti in 1979 as a Head of Department.

    Activities of Chief Adetunmbi as a keen church man included being a member of the old Ondo Anglican Diocesan Synod. He served in the old Ekiti Archdeaconry under Archdeacon M. A. Osanyin who was later consecrated as the first Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese. He worked with other notable laity for the establishment of Ekiti Anglican Diocese in 1966. The sole internal auditor for the old Ekiti Anglican Diocese for about 15 years in gratis, going round the churches where there were problems on church finances and other irregularities in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. He served as a Bishop’s nominee to the Ekiti Anglican Diocesan Synod until his transition. The Baba Ijo of St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Ifaki-Ekiti, 1978 to 1990 and choirmaster/organist free-of-charge of St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Ifaki from early 1960s till his transition in March 1990.

    He joined Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in 1942 and 2557 was his registration number. He served as a member of the Executive Council of NUT of the old Western State of Nigeria in 1971. He rose to become a national leader of the respected union and acted as the National President of NUT, in 1978 to 1979. He represented Nigeria in December 1978 at the International Federation of Free-Teachers Union, 12th World Congress held in Manila, Philippines. His tenure as the leader of NUT was yet to be completed when he retired as a teacher in 1979. He called the attention of his NUT colleagues to it at an executive council meeting that the constitution says it is only a teacher still in service that can occupy the office of the president. His co-unionists venerated him.

    He served as a councillor in the old Ifaki/Ido/Osi District Council in the 1960s and elected chairman of Ifaki Town Council on the 15th of May, 1970. Chief Adetunmbi worked relentlessly with others to attract social amenities and development to the community which include post office, electricity, pipe borne water, police post, Ifaki Grammar School, and Ifaki General Hospital etc. He was installed the Asiwaju of Ifaki-Ekiti on the 13th of April 1974, by the suave and respected Olufaki of Ifaki, His Royal Highness, Oba Josiah Ojo Akanle III. The renowned school administrator and educationist served on the board of governors of many institutions as either chairman or treasurer. Some of these schools include Divisional Teacher Training College, Oye-Ekiti; All Saints Teacher Training College, Usi-Ekiti etc. He authored a detailed and well researched historical and documentary book titled, Typical Yoruba Community: Ifaki-Ekiti.

    Baba got married on August 10, 1952 to Miss Comfort Modupe Adelusi a.k.a. Mama. Baba and Mama kept faith with the holy matrimony until death did part them and the marriage was blessed with children. Chief D.O. Adetunmbi was a disciplinarian, a devoted family man, a very generous character and outstandingly upright. He was a lover of concord, a votary of peace, an advocate of truth and an apostle of harmony in every human endeavour. He appreciated his root and served his community selflessly and in turn his people revered him. He worshiped God through Christ with every means at his disposal and earned unequivocally the exalted position of a highly respected opinion leader in his domain.

    Baba was a front-line subsistence farmer. He loved organ music, it was his forte while photography was a hobby and enjoyed pounded yam with his favourite bush meat etu (antelope), akika (porcupine) and okuru (grass cutter). He enjoyed company of his people and honourable men generally.

    During 1989 Christmas holiday, I asked him how far he had gone with the historical book he was writing on Ifaki community. In response, he said: “After all, if I couldn’t finish it, you (Seye) will complete it for me…” Three months after, on the 21st of March 1990, my beloved father passed-on.  On March 20th 1990, he left choir practice around 6 pm, played his 1917 pedal organ at home till after 10 p.m. and passed on at about 2.30 a.m. of March 21st, 1990. “Such is a Christian parting hour, so peacefully, he rested in the lord”. At the time of his transition, he was survived by his wife, Chief Mrs C.M. Adetunmbi (1931-2017), the Iya-Ijo of St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Ifaki and his children: Chief Kayode Adetunmbi, Mrs Yetunde Makinde, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, Engineer Adedayo Adetunmbi, Mrs Adenike Ogunyemi, Okan Oluseye Adetunmbi and Mrs Abimbola Afolabi with many grandchildren.

    Posthumous awards received included 1991 Ekiti Anglican Diocesan Merit Award and Ekiti State 2004 Merit Award.

    Subsequent to editing, updating with relevant vintage pictures and structuring the manuscript of his research work appropriately, in line with the way he would have wanted it done, I got the book published 28 years after his transition. It had been rather unsettling for me each time the project came to my consciousness all these years until I saw through the assignment he gave me. Consequent to seeing the depth of his research, his uncommon sense of record keeping and the huge materials he had been gathering since 1961 till 1990: digging deep into facts of history, geography, culture and tradition of his community, I was inspired to write the biography of the man with such a foresight and deep sense of selflessness. It was published as a separate book for posterity. Bulk of the two pictorial historical books that were initially produced has been donated to the libraries of Nigerian Universities and secondary schools. To facilitate access of more people to his research work and his inspiring published biography, the two books are now available online to mark the centenary of his birth and to the glory God.