The Nation Newspaper

Category: Arts & Life

  • Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature

    Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature

    Born on March 10, 1952, the late Mallam Abubakar Gimba hailed from Nasarawa State. He was an economist and author, who emphasised the importance of education in raising a child. His early days were spent in a cultural environment somewhere in Nasarawa State where, as he once put it, he learnt from “the singing of birds, the footsteps and prints of everybody – since, then, we were not wearing shoes – even dogs had a lot to teach”.

    Gimba started writingduring his days as a National Youth Service Corps member in the 70s. He published diverse works such as Trail of Sacrifice (1985); Witnesses to Tears (Aug 1987); Sunset for a Manderin (30 Aug 1996); This land of ours (2001); Golden Apples (Mar 1996); Innocent victims: A novel (Sep 1998) and Footprints (1998), among others.

    He brought his witty and in-depth understanding of life to bear in his writings.

    His humility, wit and cheerful disposition endeared him to all, especially those in the writing fold. Little wonder then that he later becamea former national president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He would be remembered for his witty, poetic and metaphoric works.

    Gimba was an executive director of Union Bank of Nigeria and a permanent secretary in nation’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. He had master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cincinnati, and traveled extensively throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. He took part in the IWP on a grant from the U.S. Department of State.

    Although dead, the world would always remember him for his forthrightness. The literati received the news of his death with heavy hearts. Two weeks after his departure, people are still mourning the loss of a comrade, father and friend. They bore their thoughts in their tributes to the late author.

     

    Former Minister of State for Education and ex-President of ANA, Dr Jerry Agada

     

    “It pains to bid farewell to this pioneer writer and fine gentleman of great repute. I had known Gimba through the pages of some of his novels before we eventually met at the 1997 ANA Convention in Abuja, when he was elected ANA President and I too, as Assistant General Secretary. Since then it has been a symbiotic relationship built on mutual respect for one another. As ANA National President, Gimba, who wore simplicity like his usual white kaftan, carried us all along without minding his status.

    “During my tenure as ANA President, Gimba availed me full compliments of honour, respect, advise and support, which propelled me through and which I will ever cherish. Gimba was Special Adviser (Political) to the Senate President at the time I served as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and we combined perfectly to offer the best we could to the democratic governance of our great nation, using our creative talents as writers. As Gimba takes the final bow today, I take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life as a great author of our time. I send my condolences to millions of writers all over the world and particularly, the President, EXCO and members of the Association of Nigerian Authors and also to all members of his immediate family and well-wishers.”

     

    Former Member, House of Representatives and ex-president of ANA, Dr Wale Okediran

     

    “However, beyond all these tangible achievements, Gimba’s greatest legacies were the legion of writers and personalities whose lives he enriched through his selfless and often self-effacing attitude; his rich repository of knowledge and his uncanny affinity to give and serve even when he had little left for himself. He was to me not just a writing colleague, he was a brother, a confidant with whom I could discuss virtually anything and still be sure I was walking on safe grounds.

    “This was why when sometimes in 2011 Gimba informed me that after a medical trip to India he had been diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis, I was crestfallen, but nevertheless upbeat about his chances of winning the battle against the predator. As a way of monitoring his progress, I, therefore, made it mandatory to visit him at least twice a year in his No 10 Gado Nasco Street residence, Zarumai Quarters in Minna, Niger State. For some inexcusable reasons, I missed visiting him this year and was on the verge of planning a visit when I learnt of his demise. Despite being privy to his ailment, which I knew could be terminal, I still took his death very badly. It was as if a part of me had been violently yanked off. And despite my determination not to betray any emotions when I later visited the family a few days after his death in Minna, it was difficult sitting without the “lord of the manor” in attendance in the same sitting room where we had for close to two decades supped, joked and strategised together. And so the tears fell… Good bye my brother, good night our knight in shining armour, farewell the Mandarin.”

     

    ANA Vice President, Abdullahi Denja

     

     

    “Mallam Gimba was a trail blazer in literary fiction up the Niger. He was a colossal figure in writing in English up North the way Abubakar Imam was in Hausa in Northern Nigeria. Gimba’s literary efforts crossed the borders to create understanding among people. Gimba was a pacifist and quintessential gentleman, who nurtured creativity in the young and the old with his God-given resources and strength of character. His life was a shining example to us all.”

     

    Dr Bukar Usman

     

    “Mallam Gimba a quiet, brilliant and amiable personality has been a beacon of light in literary development in the country in general and the northern part of the country in particular. It was a fitting recognition of his literary achievements that he was elected the President of the Association of Nigerian Authors. I, for one, has benefitted greatly from his editorial comments and guidance in my literary works. I surely miss him. May his soul rest in perfect peace!”

     

    Director-General,Niger State

    Development Agency, BM Dzukogi

     

    “The loss of Gimba creates a deep gorge in our lives having been with us for close to three decades as a mentor, leader, father and friend during which we have learnt his simple approach to life. Similarly, his desire for people to regenerate the self as a potent strategy for societal re-ordering was well noted by us. He was totally harmless and full of concern for mankind to the point of despair because men were not changing for good and we saw occasional state of despair in him.

    “This had made him extremely reserved much later in life. Of course, outside his writings, Gimba, whom everyone accepts is a good man, will remain a tall figure of goodwill and happiness to Nigerlites and those who encountered him through life. Indeed, we had our point of departure as to how to fix society: he wants individuals to regenerate themselves for good to get a wholesome society. We agree but with the condition that leaders must provide the way. Anything short of that is a nullity. Well, this is the beauty of discourse. I hear people proposing to the Niger State Government to name the state’s University of Education after him that will be nice. The rest is up to us to carry further. Gimba has gone! One common royalty that all mortals enjoy on earth whether rich or poor, young or old is to be carried to the grave, lifeless. That’s what just happened to our gentleman Oga.”

     

    Novelist, Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo

     

    “Gimba was a role model and a cultured man, who wrote powerful novels including classics such as Witness to Tears and Trail of Sacrifice. He performed effectively as Association of Nigerian Authors’ (ANA) President between 1997 and 2001. His tenure as president was one of the most stable and uplifting and he was able to build up the association as a formidable literary force. We, especially those that knew him well, will miss his amiable and gentle personality. I’ll always remember him as a man of character, who made a difference in Nigeria’s literary landscape. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

     

    Ace playwright, Prof Femi Osofisan

     

    “Once again, we are called out to mourn one of the elders of the tribe!Alhadji Gimba as I knew him was soft-spoken, but had an iron will; self-effacing but never afraid of shouldering great responsibilities. He never found the style or theme to make his talent soar; but whatever limitations one might find were more than compensated by his passion, by the zeal he gave to art and to artists. It is certain we will miss him.”

     

    SONTA President, Prof Sunday E. Ododo

     

    “Gimba was perhaps the arrowhead of modern Nigerian literature from the Northern Nigeria. His contributions to the development of literature in the north shall remain evergreen because of the robust literary activities that now exist there, which are by products of Gimba’s visionary inspiration for young writers. The literary world shall surely miss his physical presence, but his creative and political imprints shall remain with us for a long time. Adieu patriot of Nigerian literature.”

     

    Association of Nigerian

    Authors executives

     

    “It is with great sadness that the Association of Nigerian Authors announces the death of Alhaji Gimba, distinguished author, administrator and public intellectual, who served as President of our Association from 1997 to 2001. He died yesterday in Minna after a long battle against ill health. Mallam Gimba, an indigene of Lapai in Niger State, was born in 1953. He authored several books in the course of his writing career, prominent amongst which are Witness to Tears, Trail of Sacrifice, Innocent Victims, Sunset for a Mandarin and Golden Apples.

    Mallam Gimba held a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Cincinnati and was once Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance. He was also a former Chairman of the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association. He will be buried today in accordance with Islamic rites.”

     

  • ‘Fela would not have been cool with Jonathan’

    ‘Fela would not have been cool with Jonathan’

    Nigerian-born anthropologist and soulful singer Nneka Lucia Egbuna, who has just released her new album, My Fairy Tales, talks about music, memories and the prevailing situation in Nigeria with Teo Kermeliotis (CNN).

    rapped up in a long brightly-coloured scarf, which does little to contain her free-flowing curly hair, Nneka sits back quietly as she tries to bring to mind her very first memory of music. “I was a kid,” the Nigerian singer finally says, her thoughts traveling back to Warri, the Niger Delta city where she grew up. “While I was doing my domestic work in the house, sweeping, waking up at 5am in the morning, there was this bird (singing) — and I never forgot the melody,” she continues, breaking a warm smile. “Funny wise, like 25 years later I was in Lagos and I heard the same melody — it was amazing!”

    Nneka’s first musical recollection might be firmly rooted in her birthplace, but the award-winning singer’s career was destined to begin thousands of miles away from home — the daughter of a Nigerian father and a German mother, Nneka moved to Hamburg at the of 19 to study anthropology. Whilst attending university, she also started exploring her musical talents, and soon found herself performing in various clubs opening up for top reggae and hip-hop names.

    In 2005, she released Victim of Truth, a much-lauded debut that fused soulful beats, tasty hip-hop-and reflective ballads with politically-charged lyrics and black consciousness. Since then, she went on to enjoy further chart success, tour extensively and collaborate with global stars like Lenny Kravitz and Damian Marley.

    And now, the soulful singer is back with a brand new, self-released album — My Fairy Tales is a formidable collection of rich afrobeat grooves, reggae-tinged beats and uplifting rhythms that reaffirm her place as one of the continent’s most exciting — and relevant — artists.

    CNN’sAfrican Voices caught up with Nneka in London to talk about music, memories and the current situation in Nigeria.

    In the past, you’ve dealt with issues ranging from the environment and politics, to religion and love — what are the themes that you’re emphasizing at this moment?

    What is happening in Africa at present concerns me a lot. Boko Haram has always been an issue obviously for the past five, six years — funny wise, there’s a track in the album called “Pray For You” which I recorded when not too many people knew what was going with Boko Haram in the West.

    I’m talking about the problems and possible solutions, and what are the reasons for the problems that we have. We as Nigerians, we’re not united, that has always been the issue… that’s our problem, tribalism, and what belongs to whom.

    I also talk about children and the future, bringing children into this world… Everyone’s living in a cage and then you bring your child into that kind of society, where your child is forced to live in fear.

    People are afraid to express themselves politically, and even in their home — I remember the way we grew up, I didn’t look my father in the eye until I was 22; you call your father “Sir, Sir, Sir” — apparently it’s a form of respect, OK, but respect should not be mistaken with fear. I was afraid and that’s the thing, that’s the colonial mentality: we mistake fear for respect.

     

    Nneka on the postponement of Nigerian elections

    He (Goodluck Jonathan) says he wants to tackle Boko Haram, obviously every Nigerian is asking why now, he could had done it a long time ago…but I’m not good at the whole blaming game, I don’t want to blame anybody but I pray that he comes up with a good idea for us if he is an honest and genuine guy. But I know that Fela Kuti would definitely not be cool with him, Seun Kuti is not cool with him, and many other musicians who are very outspoken are not cool with him.

     

    What is the power of music and how can it influence things to bring positive change?

    Music is very powerful, music is big; music is even more powerful than politics at present. Beyonce would definitely draw more crowd than [Nigerian president] Goodluck Jonathan if she was going to hold a speech — if Beyonce is going to talk about Boko Haram, many people are going to listen, and if she had something to tell Nigerians about love or whatever, many people are going to listen.

     

    How do you see the political and security situation now in Nigeria?

    All I can say is that we do need proper leadership. Yes, that’s just easier said than done, but we also need ourselves to take more things into our own hands — so if we want change, we have to show that we want change, peacefully — I love Malcolm X but I’d rather go for Martin Luther King — peacefully. And be part of it, not just blame our leaders and making sure that you, yourself, contribute to the change that you want to see.

     

  • MMIA: Not yet corruption free

    MMIA: Not yet corruption free

    Last December, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Federal Ministry of Aviation (FMA) launched what was labeled a cleansing exercise in the aviation sector. It was specifically designed to minimise, if not totally stamp out corrupt practices at our international airports. On December 16, 2014, I jetted out aboard United Airline through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Lagos to George Bush International Airport in Houston, United States of America (USA).

    I arrived at MMA in good time to check in. For the first time in the many years that I have been passing through border point, I witnessed a 60percent free flow of travellers through different immigration desks. It was a remarkable improvement on what used to be. Though the menace of touts was still there, as I could smell and feel them right from the entrance up to the departure lounge; I was welcomed by two urchins begging to assist me with my light luggage. I quietly declined. Even at that, they still pursued me to the security checking point begging for a token from me.

    Walking through immigration after my luggage was okayed without any official pestering me with the usual plea: ‘Sir, anything for the boys?’ That kept me wondering   whether the ICPC/FMA partnership to sanitise our international airports had started yielding dividends.

    My curiosity made me ask one of the officials at the final departure point why I was not pestered with demands for tip. He smiled and said: “Our Director-General met us yesterday and told us about the ICPC/FMA war against corruption at the airports and that whoever is caught demanding bribe or tip risks going to jail.” He then added a caveat: “I hope this is not just a one-off thing. It happened like this before during Madam Chikwe’s era as the Minister of Aviation, and that order never lasted than three months.

    However, whatever sense of pride I was feeling at those points vanished with an encounter I had at the United Airlines’ final check point leading to boarding gate where an officer without a name tag frisked me. As he began, he looked at me and started a conversation in a low tone.

    “I saw you when you came into the airport; a lady was carrying your bag,” he began. I had to look back to be sure I was the one he was talking to because only my driver came with me to the airport. I told him sharply that I was not the person. But he was not deterred. He said: “Baba, we are at your service O! Anything for me?’ I just looked at him, smiled, and then, walked briskly into the bowel of the brand new Dreamliner.

    Moments later, the big bird slid out of the hangar, and hit the tarmac, to begin the 13-hour non-stop flight to George Bush International Airport, Houston. It was the smoothest flight I have ever had. We landed in the wee hours of December 17, and walked into the calm and cool bosom of the magnificent airport. There was no noise. There was ethereal peace as travelers passed through Immigration points without molestation. It took me only 10 minutes to complete the arrival procedures. There were no touts nor any official pestering you with “wetin you carry”.

    After spending a week in Houston, I moved to Silicon Valley in San Jose. Again, like in Houston, there were no delays. Everything was done with computerised precision. The little delay we experienced, and which everybody understood came through the strict security checks travelers were subjected to. It was understandable. The fear of terrorists has become the beginning of wisdom for all countries all over the world.

    My return journey from Silicon Valley, through San Jose Airport, was less stressful as my luggage was checked and routed straight to Lagos through George Bush International Airport in Houston. The three-hour flight to San Jose to connect my flight in Houston for my journey back home was flawless. There was no security check again at George Bush Airport, as this had been done at San Jose Airport. I took notice of how Internet Technology had taken over virtually all transactions for air travels. You cannot see anyone loitering around you, pretending to want to assist you in whatever name. There were free trolleys to move my luggage.

    Coming back home, I had expected things to be better. Sadly, it was the same confusion. As I disembarked from the bowel of United Airline Dreamliner that ferried over 200 passengers to Lagos, a gust of harmattan haze blew me in the face. How I wished the harmattan would have saturated the Murtala International Airport terminal building because most of the air conditioners had either packed up or were working far below their optimum capacity.

    But I noticed a remarkable improvement in the immigration formalities for passengers. My clearance formalities were done in less than ten minutes. But to foul my mood, I had to wait endlessly to collect my luggage at baggage claim. First, most of us were forced to pay N200 per trolley that had a price tag of N150.00. The lady issuing the ticket feigned not havingN50 change. I understand it is worse in Abuja airport where passengers have to pay N400 for a trolley. United Aircraft landed 4.45p.m., Nigerian time, but most passengers, including myself, did not get their luggage until two and a half hours later. This delay should earn Nigeria a place in the Guinness Book of Records as one destination where a passenger spends the longest time waiting for his luggage.

    Whatever one went through at the arrival hall was nothing compared to the hell outside. As soon as you stepped out of the terminal building, touts swooped on you like ants do over honey. A cacophony of voices welcomed you, offering one service or another. “Oga, we are registered. You can trust us with luggage is safe,” one solicited. “I have taxi at affordable price,” another said. “My car is good. It is a Camry.”

    Money changers became serious pests as they thrust wads of naira notes at your face, begging you to come and change “Dollars. Pounds Sterling.” I asked one of them whether the ban on touts and touting imposed by the Minister of Aviation few weeks ago had been repealed. He replied with a wry smile: “Even if heaven falls, nothing can remove touts from this airport. This is where we get our daily bread. Nobody can remove us.” I couldn’t help but wonder whether sanity would ever prevail at this very important gateway to Nigeria.

    United Airline is in business in Nigeria. The way Nigerians are migrating to the United States is making the airline to bloom. It now operates two flights one to Houston and the other to Atlanta. This is not to talk of other airlines like Delta and our own Arik ferrying passengers to the USA on a regular basis. You may wonder why this rush out of the country and why most of these Nigerians are taking American citizenship. My guess is that they are running away from Nigeria for greener pasture in the USA because of the worsening state of the economy. However, not all that glisters that is gold! The economy in the USA is even worse than what most Nigerians would have imagined. It’s even worse for those migrating without sound education. Such people would simply be moving into second slavery. My prayers are for the leadership of our country to improve the welfare of the downtrodden so they could stay at home and enjoy the opportunities offered by their fatherland.

    A word for United Airline cabin crew

    They should show some respect for their passengers. A situation where cabin crew members spill water and drinks on passengers is horrifying. I was a victim. And I think that is not dignifying. However, I enjoyed flying in their brand new Dreamliner. The big bird could tempt you to always burn the kilometres. The brand new aircraft has one simple alluring feature. It has no window blinds. Instead, it has a blue screen that keeps the inside serene.

    On December 22, 2014, my in-law, Pastor Gbenga Oso, who resides in Houston, drove me and my cousin, Gbolabo, his wife, and their two lovely daughters to the National Aeronautics and Space Centre in the city. The Centre, established 56 years ago, is an aerospace research and development facility for missions to space.

    The Centre, open to the public, is one of the money-spinning tourist centres dotting America. In 2014, the centre won the Best Tourist Centre of the year. People’s curiosity about why and how the USA ventured into space is answered by a number of questions, namely: how does the universe work? How did we get here? Are we alone? It takes about one hour for tourists to move around the complex in an arranged motorised cabin. Intermittently, tourists are allowed to visit some of the laboratories where astronauts are prepared for space travels, and conduct research into what they found in space. The visit was an eye opener as to how the US has navigated a total of 168 missions into space.

    NASA, according to Wikipedia, has conducted many manned and unmanned space flight programmes throughout its history. The unmanned programme launched the first American artificial satellites into earth orbit for scientific and communication purposes. The United States won the space race with the Soviet Union by landing 12 men on the moon between1969 and 1972 in the Apollo programmes. To date, NASA has launched a total of 166 manned space missions. One could not but recall some of the accidents that nearly scuttled the programmes. The two space exploration shuttle orbiters had14 astronauts that lost their lives – the Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.

    The Space shuttle, according to Wikipedia had 135 missions before it was suspended on July 21,2011, with the successful landing in space of Shuttle Atlantis. In all, the programmes spanned 30 years with over 300 astronauts sent into space.

     

  • Reward for givers

    Reward for givers

    Sponsor A Child, a Nigerian charity organisation for children, gave awards to some of its own last Friday at Terra Kulture. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    Last Friday, guests dressed in classic and beautiful outfits gathered at terra Kulture on Victoria Island, Lagos State for an award ceremony.

    The hall was decorated with white, blue and red fabric. Chairs were set around tables.

    It was a gathering where ‘Good Home’, a quality service advocacy scheme; a project under Sponsor A Child Organisation recognised some child friendly institutions in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states for their improved child welfare services.

    Sponsor a Child is a charity group for children.

    Among those recognised were the University of Lagos Social Work students; SOS children’s Village Isolo, Lagos State; Compassionate Orphanage Lagos State, Heritage Homes Lagos State; Nigerian Red Cross Society Lagos  State; Children ps Homes Idi Araba Lagos State; Motherless Babies Homes Lekki Lagos State and Samuel Francis Private School Lagos State, among others.

    Temitope Denton was the Master of the Ceremony.

    A documentary on ‘Good home’ was shown for about 20 minutes to guests payed attention.

    A Child Rights Lawyer, Mrs Folashade Adetiba spoke on: “Protection of the  rights/welfare of the child and the family court”.

    She congratulated the coordinator of the programme, describing the initiative as fantastic.

    She said the child right law defines a new child protective system and allows opportunity for the particitipation of children in matters that concern their rights and welfare.

    “The law covers every subject that involves the welfare of a child, including adoption, fostering, taking into protective custody and creation of special units within the police force to take care of welfare of children among others.

    She said a  child has unfettered opportunity to approach  the family court to enforce his rights under the Child Rigths Law adnf the court is empowered to appoint a legal practitioner to represent the best interest of the child where it deems it fit to do so.

    Presentation of awards and certificate followed.

    Secretary, Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Dr Gabriel Oyediji lamented that lack of grants is a major challenge to Orphanage Homes. He therefore called on the government to look into this so that Homes would not close down in the nearest future.

    Coordinator, Spomsor a Child, Olatoun Williams, said the institutions were awarded and recognised for their compliance to guidelines and also the quality of their care services as verified by our evaluators.

    “Sponsor a Child is a child right based institution that support institutions, through training. We teach them what to do to improve their services, develop libraries, playground and donate sanitation facilities to them among others.”

    She said Good Home scheme is about reaching the institutions on how to implement their right, measuring the quality of their services,writing reports and also know how to formulate recommendations.

    “We also encourage institutions to reward their staff when they do well because it motivates them and that is why we are having this award ceremony to motivate institutions doing well and to motivate the others so that they can get recognition for performance reward,” she said.

     

  • Honours for the legend

    Honours for the legend

    Nigeria’s image takes a leap today as the University of London bestow the Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) on legal luminary, educationist and philanthropist, Chief Afe Babalola  during its 2015 graduation ceremony at the Barbican Centre, London.

    Chief Babalola, arguably this country’s most erudite legal practitioner, is the first African to be so honored by the university with a doctorate degree in Law after the iconic Nelson Mandela (Doctor of Science, Economics) in 1996 and Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Doctor of Divinity) 2008. Predictably, eminent Nigerians have reacted profusely on what they regard as a silver lining in the country’s cloud of adversities and contradictions.

    Chief Wole Olanipekun, a senior advocate, described the award as recognition of Aare Babalola’s “contributions and undiminished input to humanity, particularly the legal profession in Nigeria”. In his estimation, the honor is “a departure from the depressing and discomforting news oozing out of Nigeria in very recent times; the proverbial sweetness that emerges at the dusk of the bitter leaf.”

    The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, a senior advocate, regards the award as the recognition of Chief Babalola’s “outstanding achievements and meritorious service to humanity”, even as he promised to attend the conferment ceremony today.

    Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko believes that the university was persuaded by “those sterling qualities – those strides on the sands of time and those impactful contributions to legal education and the world of knowledge” recorded by the Octogenarian.

    Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola, said the award is an honor long deserved by reason of the recipient’s contribution to the development of the Law. “The input has no match not only in Nigeria but also anywhere in the world. It is a merit well deserved in view of the outstanding achievements which admittedly is an unparalleled and exceptional service to Nigeria and mankind,” he wrote in a letter.

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, who is attending the London event, described the award as recognition of Chief Babalola’s ‘eminence and distinction’. In an effusive oration, the royal father wrote: “Aare, you remain an African of honor and distinction, a rare breed and a first class achiever. Your long list of achievements and philanthropy is legendary, quite commendable and worthy of emulation by all well meaning African leaders.”

    The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, eulogized Chief Babalola’s erudition as a lawyer, and described the award as a “prestigious honor”. The retired jurist wrote: “I am in a position to adjudge you as a very outstanding legal luminary and a colossus in legal matters. Your over-half a century legal practice has been very eventful, noteworthy and commendable.”

    Ohinoyi Ebira, Dr.  Ado Ibrahim Atta 111, described Chief Babalola as a Nigerian who has been laboring selflessly for social, educational and economic well being of today, and has planted a growing institutional Iroko for Nigeria’s tomorrow, thereby establishing fame and virtue universally.”

    For more than five decades, Aare Afe Babalola has dedicated himself to hard work; more hard work with a determination to succeed and excel. Now a grand old man at 84, he personifies a rare role model deep in self- discipline; one who brims with passion, the pursuit of excellence and a commitment to give back to humanity.

    The legal luminary, unarguably one of the finest in this clime, has left an indelible mark on legal education and practice. He has made huge fortunes legitimately, but he has chosen to stake all his earnings and work himself to near frenzy, striving to leave a legacy for humanity. And when many expect his energy to wane, the legendary Afe seems unwilling to slow down.

    The Vice Chancellor, University of London, Sir Adrian Smith, responding to a mail said: “We are indeed delighted that Chief Afe Babalola will be accepting the honorary degree from the University of London because he has an exceptional record in both his personal achievements and in the difference he has made to others, particularly in the legal profession in Nigeria.”

    Undoubtedly, Aare Babalola made his name and fortune from legal practice; but visit Ado-Ekiti to see the breath-taking strides of one individual who by sheer determination has become a colossus recognised at home and abroad. A fitting testimony to his industry and diligence is the sprawling university built on 130 hectares.

    The Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, was constructed within eight months. It admitted its pioneer students, 240 of them, in January 2010. Now there are 6,200 students.

    Quite imposing, fully air-conditioned with state-of-art facilities, the university has residence for all students and teachers. Presently, there are five college buildings equipped with modern teaching facilities including e-learning platform, electronic boards, virtual library and ICT centre with 3,000 desktop computers, all connected to the internet. ABUAD recently commenced post-graduate programmes.

    What is the secret for this fast pace of development? The answer is deeply rooted in the persona and vision of its founder.

    After obtaining the primary six school certificate, Aare Afe Babalola never had the benefit of attending an institution of higher learning. By private study he went ahead to earn two degrees in Economics and Law, both from the University of London. At various times he was a pupil teacher, a secondary school teacher, vice principal, university lecturer and administrator. His record at the University of Lagos will remain indelible. As pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council between 2002 and 2007, Chief Babalola returned UNILAG to the part of sanity.

    Aare Babalola is a man with a passion for excellence, humanitarian services, generosity and dedication to service. He is a philanthropist and a revered legal icon; a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Doctor of Letters, Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Commander of the Order of Niger, former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos, former Chairman of the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Winner of the best Pro-Chancellor award in 2005 and 2006, Winner of Queen Victoria Commemorative Award, Socrates Award of European Business Assembly in Oxford, UK and member of Rector of Europe.

    In his autobiography, Impossibility Made Possible, Aare Babalola describes himself as a self-made man who “is proud of the qualitative primary education” he had.

    He is convinced that it was the high quality of instructions he received at the primary school that laid the foundation for his educational achievements. He is unhappy that such quality of education is rare in most Nigerian schools today.

    To quote the legal icon, “this development and my experience of dwindling qualities on standard of education in University of Lagos provided the urgent need to establish a first class university to serve as a benchmark for other universities.”

    In fulfillment of the humanitarian philosophy of its founder, no fewer than 250 students of ABUAD are presently enjoying some form of bursary at the institution. All indigent and very brilliant students are eligible for this rare gesture from a man who appreciates the value of education. Besides awarding full scholarship to brilliant students, loans and bursaries are available for the less-privileged and physically challenged students.

    For seven years from 2000, Aare Babalola was pro-chancellor at the University of Lagos. In 2005 and 2006 he was named the best pro-chancellor by the Federal Government, which, in a white paper issued in 2003 on the Visitation Panel to UNILAG, said, inter alia: “His leadership style was exemplary. The leadership style of his council was characterized by optimum time and resources utilization and a good team system”.

    Throughout his tenure at UNILAG, Chief Babalola paid his hotel bills and donated his sitting allowances to the university endowment fund. He donated a 500-seater lecture theater to the institution and established a robust endowment scholarship system for indigent students.

    In the words of Chief Olanipekun, Aare Afe Babalola is indeed “a prophet inundated with honors at home and showered with encomiums and recognition abroad.” The  rare Man for All Seasons.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Harvest of honours for Aare Afe Babalola

    Harvest of honours for Aare Afe Babalola

    The University of London will today confer on Aare Afe Babalola the L.L.D degree (Honoris Causa). In this tribute AYO FAJANA writes on the legal icon’s contributions to the profession

    The erudite Nigerian Lawyer, Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti; Aare Afe Babalola OFR, CON, LLD, SAN ,FNIALS, FCIArb and recipient of several other Awards, Garlands, Chieftaincies and Accolades including Queen Victoria Commemorative Medal Award, Oxford UK, 2007 shall again at Barbican Centre in London be conferred the LL.D Degree Honoris Causa of the prestigious University of London in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and numerous humanitarian programs on Education.

    Camera Laye’s L’Enfant Noir once paraphrased; – “The song of the harvesters transforms the atmosphere of work into an organized ritual ceremony marking the end of one season and the beginning of another.” The 11th of March, 2015 begins another season of harvest of Awards for the self-made Babalola, indeed the proposed academic ceremony, unique in the 179 years history of the University of London as the recipient will be the first African to be conferred with LL.D degree of the University. Reacting to the letter of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adrian Smith of the London University expressing the interest of the university to confer Doctorate degree, the elated Senior Advocate of Nigeria whose law practice span over fifty two years said ;”He believes that the award was in large measures due to the unprecedented and monumental educational landmarks achieved by his five years old University”.

    There is an imprint of the invisible creator in the affairs of the Octogenarian Chief Emmanuel Afe Babalola. At every opportunity I decipher his wit, grace and candour and particularly his unerring grit that encouraged the best impulse of all. His faith in Christ, wisdom of age, courage of hope, blend of fantasy, and nobility of spirit has made him One man special Olympics towering above his contemporary elders statesmen and to the unique affection kindled in the heart of millions admirers across the globe. Spit- and -polish product of the old Emmanuel School Ado-Ekiti, neither smokes nor involve in hard drinks as he continually keeps his 5 ft. plus frame, trim at about 70kg. Indeed he is bewitchingly strong, healthy with zero tolerance to indiscipline.

    Law remains the source of Afe Babalola’s fame; the reason largely for his alienation by some political class. He is a man of complex locution tainted with the philosophy of the late American President J.F Kennedy on Nigerian politics; “men who create power make an indispensable contribution of the Nation’s greatness but those men who question power make contributions just as indispensable, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us”. Babalola believes that unless those who govern the nation are imbued with the spirit of service and honesty of purpose, there could be little hope of surmounting the difficulties of this nation. Hence, his democratic rhetoric was not a mere verbiage aimed as an outer façade for deep seated partisanship as once described in certain quarters.

    Besides his legal forays, the density and immensity of his vision for the fastest growing private University in Africa; Afe Babalola University is perhaps the major thing that trade – marks him beyond silk and gown. His rich experience as the best Pro-chancellor of Nigerian Universities in 2003 & 2005 and thereafter the Chairman committee of Pro-chancellors of Nigerian Universities 2005 to 2007 brought to bear with ruthless efficiency in the management of his new University. Professor M.L Goodheer of the European Business Assembly found Afe Babalola University as ‘a model which have not been seen anywhere”. True to this the University was established in 2008 at a pristine forest in Ado-Ekiti and today ranks as a world class Educational Centre of Excellence with a philosophy to lead by example.

    Prof. Adrian Smith obtained exoneration from the fell swoop indictment that “could anything good come out of Nazareth?. Ostensibly, it is an unsavory propensity of human to often brush off accomplishments. The University of London confers honorary degrees on individuals irrespective of race and color, those that had met some identified requirements of being persons of conspicuous merits and outstanding in their fields, command international recognitions by given exceptional services to their communities and those that have made important contributions to the London University. Indeed Babalola met those prerequisites and has brought honors’ to Africa.

    Tanto Nomini Nullum Par Elogium; of this great man, no praise is adequate. Nigerians at home and abroad amplified the thunderous encomium been deservedly showered on Chief Afe Babalola and proudly enthused that he is a visionary Nigerian, un-spoilt with pelf of slivery heritage but taught to toil in a world disillusioned with hazy views from slippery stage. He transforms the sands of time , firmly stand and stir while he plan far and near. He is a champion of the cause of Ekiti people and has never relented in that direction, in fact he becomes a rallying point and an enviable reference for the past three decades. He actually facilitated the establishment of the Federal polytechnic Ado Ekiti in 1981 and worked tirelessly for the creation of Ekiti State in 1996.

    Chief Afe Babalola was an alumnus and a beneficiary of the opportunity offered by the University of London as external candidate. He obtained Bachelors degree of the University in Economics in September 1959 and the inter-LL.B in 1960 through private studies. Indeed he is today a maker of history and worthy ambassador of this institution and I say floreat collegiums.

    Considering his brilliance and unprecedented achievements in the Bar the Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR once found him in his letter dated June 17, 2008. He wrote; “indeed the legendary battles you had fought in the court room have led to the creation of many Judicial Precedents and landmark decisions, in addition, you are greatly admired and respected for your strong, compassionate spirit and philanthropist activities in this nation. Babalola is unprecedentedly the 1st African to receive the honorary LL.D degree of London University, although in humanities were the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, honored with doctorate degree in Economics in 1996, and Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu who was also conferred with honorary degree in Divinity on 2nd Dec. 2008.Others among the list of famous honoris of the university were the celebrated statesman, war hero, distinguished Author and politician; Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill as well as the famous poets and writers. T.S Elliot and Henry Moore.

    With his long years of reputation and allurement in all spheres of life, Aare still persistently work hard, as a farmer he has the largest tree crop holdings in Nigeria, he keep straight, believing that when wealth is lost nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost, and when character is lost all is lost. He probably took his strength from one of the planks of Ecclesiastes 9 verse 5 “for the living knows they shall die, but the dead knows not anything neither have they anymore a reward”. Age is a matter of mind to Chief as he does not mind, it doesn’t matter. His door is always ajar to all and sundry for good and ill requests and no matter the ingenuity, such attention would attract a take home stipend. while extended family became extended to infinity as it is almost impossible to differentiate between the biological members and those who suddenly became one. Indeed Aare has achieved a Tripos tripus as a man of erudition indisputably. He is a committed patriot with testimony of eternal essence of a good character and criteria of an eventful existence. Congratulations to a frontline legal icon, intellectual avatar and educationist for yet another harvest of honours.

     

  • Abugu offers double for the law

    Former Foreign Affairs Minister Chief Odein Ajumogobia has described two books by Prof Joseph Abugu as very important and timely additions to collections of books on corporate laws in the country. He said the books will help Nigerians navigate the complex subject as Nigeria enters an important stage of political development.

    He spoke at the public presentation of the two books: Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria and Company Securities: Law and Practice written by Prof Abugu at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos last week. Ajumogobia commended Prof Abugu for the efforts saying: “I don’t know how he combines teaching at the university with writing books.”

    Lagos State Attorney-General Mr. Ade Ipaye, who represented Lagos State governor, Babtunde Raji Fashola presented the books describing them as additional contributions to critical area of the nation’s economy. “These are giant strides that culminated into two books, which we are today presenting to the public. This is also the essence of a university-teaching and research,” Ipaye said.

    Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria is designed to provide in-depth theoretical and practical insight of the subject to the law researcher either as a student or practitioner. To judicial officers, it offers a rich resource material expounding the subject and providing an analytical perspective from an academic.

    For Company Securities: Law and Practice, which is a second edition it is designed to further deepen available literature on securities law and strengthen the case for its inclusion in the course curricula of the universities.

    Among guests in attendance were Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics and Research) University of Lagos, Prof Jide Alo; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services) University of Lagos, Prof Duro Oni; Prof Akinola Ibidapo-Obe; Prof Aghomon; Matthew Karienren and the reviewers of the books, Dr. A.A Olawoyin and Mr. Val Uche Obi.

     

  • Title: River people (Short story)

    Written in first person narrative, the short story was set in a village called Obir in Port Harcourt, South-South of Nigeria. (The writer’s maternal village).

    The writer focuses on the time of his life from the early 90’s to the year 2000; during this period the British had built gigantic oil refineries in the Niger Delta but the people were impoverished and their youths were not employed in the companies, yet the community suffered oil spill.

    He described his mother’s village as more civilised than his father’s. According to the writer, just like his father’s village he imagined his mother’s village to be characterised by “rustic setting where children played hide and seek with relish; where they frolicked in the sand and listened to moonlight tales of Tortoise, the antagonist of lore. I dreamt of a place where elderly men made merry with companions as palm wine flowed from calabashes to enthusiastic throats in front of huts roofed with bamboo and raffia. And I envisioned maidens with lithe limbs returning from the farm or marked with trays of ukwa and ogiri balanced on their heads.”

    But when he got there to spend his holidays as his father had travelled to England to study, he discovered his mother’s village had big structures of oil refinery and a maze of oil pipelines.

    In irony, the writer showed that even with the difference, appearance of the villages, the people of his father’s village were happier as they didn’t suffer oil spill or lived in abject poverty.

    Ogochukwukamma (The writer) soon settled in his mother’s village and had a friend called Sangha who showed and took him everywhere.

    The writer showed he was an intelligent child when he mentioned that he was only nine and read Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart from his mama’s library, and Ngugi Wa Thiongo’s Weep Not Child and many other African books even though they were just to overcome the sultry tiring days.

    He expressed this when he stated that his mama was surprised that he could read the books at that age.

    In the beginning of the story he said ‘Tuesday died on Thursday’ but didn’t explain who Tuesday was until he and Sangha were coming from the River Pama, they arrived at a field crossed by an oil pipeline, Sangha asked him to wait then went to defecate. A man materialised from nowhere and Ogochukwukamma froze.

    He described the man as looking grim, “his eyes were jaundiced, the colour of sunset. Fear gripped me and my heart beat faster. The man was huge and dark in complexion. When he said, ‘how are you?’ his voice appeared to come through a loud speaker. A lump in my throat stifled the reply forming in my mouth. ‘What are you doing here, he said with greater, if intended menace.”

    He continued: “Trembling I let go of the fish. ‘Are u waiting for somebody?’ No, yes, I said as I stopped to pick the sand-ridden fish. When he walked past me with a cutlass in his hand onto the path we had just left, I watched him from the corner of my eyes to make sure he didn’t swing at my neck with the double-edged machete that looked more like a sword.”

    Sangha revealed the man’s identity to be Tuesday, popularly called old soldier because he was a former soldier.

    Sangha further explained that Tuesday owned the fish pond near where he defecated, how many people are afraid of him and how he is fearless of even the British. “He told us that one day he would chase all those oil companies away if they were not willing to employ our youths in their companies, Sangha told Ogochukwukamma.”

    When he got home he was told by his mama that his holiday has been extended due to an indefinite strike by teachers.

    Ogochukwukamma didn’t bother about the strike or any other thing but instead in his child’s mind, he imagined how strong old soldier is and how he can single-handedly chase all the company owners away if they refuse to employ their youths. He imagined that old soldier would go to them and say: “Come I am sick and tired of all your troubles in our land. Now, pack your things and go!”

    He also imagined that old soldier would gather all the companies and their machinery into one gigantic wheel-barrow, the size of an ocean liner, and, with muscles bulging and veins bursting, push them off the land.

    The next morning, news of an oil rupture and fast spreading oil spill went round the community. Mama’s cassava farmland was covered in oil and many others experienced worst in their farms and fish ponds including old soldier. The writer described the surface of the river as glistered with greasy liquid.

    Old soldier reacted by leaving the village for days, he only returned back with a group of young men who had gone to get guns to confront soldiers guarding an oil company called Schell and its workers. The soldiers overpowered them, the boys escaped into the river and fled in a boat. Tuesday didn’t, he stayed back and fired until he ran out of ammunition and he was killed in the process.

    The federal government placed a curfew and fear gripped the people. The fear only dissipated when a young man Mark who returned from Michigan State University, United States of America came home and started holding meetings with the elders and youth.

    Mark told them that there are other ways of letting their voices heard apart armed resistance. He taught them to protest instead which they used to let the government hear their voices. He did not just inspire and lead them, he also presented the case before the United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat, African Commission on Human and People’s Rights and the European Community.

    They soon gave attention to the community and provided scholarship for the children including Sangha.

    The writer ends the story on the morning of January 1, 2000 with everyone happy including Sangha.

    End

  • Advocating for peace through performance

    Advocating for peace through performance

    Jelili Atiku, an international renowned Nigerian multimedia artist organised a performance titled Kill Not this Country (Manifesto II) against the actions of Boko Haram. It was held recently in Ejigbo, Lagos state.

    The performance was based on the activities of Boko Haram.  Since 2009, Boko Haram, a terrorist group that has been creating horror, terror and amplified-pervasive fears of protracted violence by bombing, maiming, killing and abducting ordinary citizens of the country.

    This terrifying group which have claimed  numerous lives and injuries, paralysis and chronic pains, emotional distress and acute stress, fright and dread, horror and panic, anxiety, anger, and have created so much panicking in the act of Nigerian citizens.

    The event was pungent in a way as Jelili queried the rationale behind the Boko Haram insurgency. By using imageries such as gas-mask, compilation of letters to Boko Haram, cart filled with skulls and others visual forms Jelili created “body image accounts” of the ugly experience which Nigerians are currently undergoing.

    Through drawing, installation sculpture, photography, video and performance (live art); he strives to help viewers understand the world and expanding their understanding and experiences, so that they can activate and renew their lives and environments.

    Prior to the enactment of the performance, Jelili Atiku requested for participation of the public all over the world through sending a personal letter address to the members of Boko Haram imploring them to stop the killings, the maiming and the terrorization of the people.  He also asked people for plastic skulls in order to indicate lives that have lost for no reasons, which real make the performance look more realistic to the audience.

    One of the outstanding achievements of the performance was the pushing of the skull-cart with inscription Show Me Boko Haram on the streets of Ejigbo and distributing the letters to Boko Haram booklet.

    There was no doubt that the performance was a campaign against the obnoxious actions of Boko Haram; and it became ‘bodily knowledge’ by which the people (audience)” become aware and possess an immediate knowledge of the realities of Boko Haram. Thus, there was a kind of involuntary and receptive anticipatory mobilisation of the body in relation to the action of Boko Haram.

     

  • How to make marriage work 

    The 21-chapter book by Olayinka Ogunmekan is a well researched work on wedding and marriages. It addresses among others fundamental issues in marriage such as life during marriage, meaning and types of marriage, weddings dos and don’ts and how to keep a marriage. It also includes illustrations on sexual positions and many other things that one must know about marriages and weddings.

    In Chapter one, the writer defines marriage, and types of marriage where he mentioned marriage because of children, for pregnancy, based on material gain, arranged marriage, unconditional marriage. In all these he said the best is unconditional because others end drastically except unconditional.

    According to him, unconditional marriage is the one ordained by God, based on genuine love, understanding and fairness, but all the marriages have their advantages and disadvantages.

    “There is none that is full of proof as any of them could break up if the couple do not know how to handle bad situations. A successful marriage is not the one where the couple is happy with themselves when things are good, but when things are not very normal and when things are down,” it stated.

    Chapter two talks about the road to marriage, which starts with introduction and ends with actual wedding. In this chapter he tried to point out changes and inventions that have been made and introduced to the African wedding of today and advised that people go back to the old ways of doing things.

    Chapter four explains that God and not the husband, is the head of the family while the husband and wife are students in the college of marriage. “If couples have this at the back of their minds they will tolerate themselves more and have less friction,” the writer said.

    He advised that the foundation of marriage is very important and before a couple ties the knot one of them must ensure that one of the spouses has somebody he or she looks up to in case all internal entreaties fail as nobody is perfect and people can change.

    He explained problems that can come up in marriages and ways to correct them. He also advised that people should not allow infatuations becloud their sense of judgment on who to marry.

    Still in chapter four the writer stated that people have a choice of who to marry. “Black or light complexioned, tall, average or short, an introvert or extrovert, well-kept or carefree, flashy, reserved or just calm, number of children, where and how to live, the type of work to do and whether both of you should work.”

    According to the writer these are very important things to ponder before marriage.

    On how to keep a marriage, the writer suggested that one should be able to manage conflicts that may crop up occasionally. “Talk to your spouse with some respect, and always be willing to look at the ugly situations very well before you pass comments and judgments. Do not continue to give excuses when you are accused or a wrong is pointed out to you. Never be ashamed to admit your fault. Talk courteously and try to look for ways and means to resolve issues instead of looking for how to punish or set trap for your spouse.”

    The book mentioned that spouses should try to look good always and call themselves pet names. Chapter seven focuses on tolerance where it described tolerance is one major thing in a successful marriage. It stated though there is always a limit to the tolerance level of any human being, in marriage there should not be any limit. If people want their marriages to stand the test of time and last forever, there are some secrets that should remain secrets.

    “This is not to encourage deceit, but to advise that there are some past mistakes that were innocently done and would never be repeated as they could damage the trust between the couple.

    “For example, does it make sense for a lady to start counting the number of boyfriends she had before the marriage in the name of honesty. Another mistake ladies make is getting home to tell their husbands who and who made advances at them while at work of when they go to parties with friends,” it stated.

    Chapter 10 is on security feeling, while 11 dwells on sexual life. The writer identified sexual life as one major reasons for the success or failure of a marriage. He said sex is very important in marriage and disagreed with people who say there have substitute for sex in marriage.

    According to the book, the usual position is for the man to do all the work in a ‘deem-light’ or no-light at all in the room, but now it is bare and in some cases the wife does more of the job than the ‘lazy man.’ It gives other reasons why sex is good for couples, the dos and don’ts of sex life of a couple and gave an illustration of sex positions on page 63 of the book.

    The writer advises in chapter 12 that couples should show love to each other. The chapter focuses more on men as the writer tells them not to beat up their wives, take them out more often, buy them gifts during their birthdays while the next chapter advises that couple should make it a point of duty to sleep on the same bed every night even though they have different rooms.

    Chapter 14 is on relationship with in-laws. It states that women are very poor when it comes to relating with in-laws. It explains that: “In the Nigerian environment, a wife is always wrongly looked upon as being junior or at times inferior to members of the husband’s family. “To get their support, you have to play along with them. As the wife, you must persevere and win them to your side.”

    Chapter 15 talks about polygamy, reasons for polygamy, influence on the children and advises that a lot of wisdom is needed to succeed in a polygamous home in modern times. The next chapter is on polyandry. Chapter 17 is on the children. It explains that children can make or mar a marriage. “Do not over pamper your children and do not give then their future too soon,” it stated. In the next chapter we are made to understand that our housemaid, driver or artisan can play a major role in our marital life. “I must tell you they play a lot and might even wreck the marriage and take over if you underrate them,” the writer stated.

    Chapter 19 is on divorce, which the writer says is the worst situation in any marriage. The next is on Wills where the writer says people should not create a problem for others after their death through their will by sharing their property unjustly.

    The last chapter is on family prayers where the writer says the husband and wife should pray together on non-working days so that they will have enough time to pray together.

    The remaining 40 pages contain prayer messages. The book is ideal for those preparing for marriage and those already married who need to understand some things in their marriage life.  In chapter nine, “mistake done” was used instead of made. Another is “number of boyfriends she had gone out with,” instead of dated. Also in the same chapter “who and who made advances “to,” instead of at were few of the errors in the book.