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Category: People & Politics

  • ‘My people stopped producing rice because they thought witches were turning into birds to eat up their farms’

    ‘My people stopped producing rice because they thought witches were turning into birds to eat up their farms’

    The Elerinmo of Erinmoland, Osun State, Oba Michael Odunayo Ajayi, a widely travelled man before he ascended the throne about 10 years ago. The former expatriate Executive Vice President of US-owned Pharmaceutical manufacturing giant, Phyto Riker Pharmaceuticals, overseeing the export of high-quality generic pharmaceutical products to over 20 African countries among other high-flying jobs, spoke with GBENGA ADERANTI about the strange circumstances that heralded his ascendance of the Erinmo stool, the challenges that have attended his 10-year-reign and his thoughts on government’s handling of the traditional institution, among other issues.

    In a couple of weeks from now, you will be celebrating your tenth anniversary on the throne of your forefathers. How has the journey been?

    Long before I was born, there was a prophecy that I would be king, even long before my mother got married to my father. Incidentally, there was another prophecy at my mother’s place, which is a different community and different state from my father’s. I remember my mother telling me that she was a student at Mary Immaculate College, which was a Catholic School, and my great-grandmother was upset because she believed that attending the Catholic school meant she would not be getting married or having children. And she said you are the one that they said would bear us a king. That was going on.

    Again, in my community, Erinmo, there was the vision of a king that would come in my own time, and my father was one of the first university graduates in the community and its environs at that time.  When my mother got pregnant for my father, she came back to live with my grandmother. My grandmother told my mother that she should say that the baby she was carrying in her womb was a girl, but my mum said, “He is a boy.”

    Eventually, she gave birth to me at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, and it was a boy. My mother then told my grandmother, “Mama, didn’t I tell you it would be a boy?” 

    Apparently, she knew about the prophecy and she was hiding my identity, so they dressed me up like a girl and plaited my hair like a girl’s. I learnt that when it was time to give me a name, I was named at about 1 a.m. with all my names, which included Adeagbo, Adebowale, and so on. This continued, but I understand that after some months, some people came to greet my grandmother and they said “Why are you deceiving us? This child is a boy. Is he not the one we have been talking about?” They realised that the secret was out. They evacuated me from the town, and I never came back until many, many years later.

    When the time came for us to occupy the throne, of course, it was the turn of Arowotawaya royal lineage. They had thought that my father would come and do it. Unfortunately, he died. They made up their minds that nobody else would take the throne unless his first son, which was me. That was how I ended up finding myself on the throne as ordained.

    Did you face any challenges in the process of becoming the traditional ruler of the town?

    Naturally. In Erinmo, there are other ruling houses. Some people had thought they would be able to take it over by one means or the other, but the general percentage of the community knew that it was the turn of Arowotawaya, and they knew who the king would be. Naturally, there were some challenges. Even in my own family and within the other ruling houses, there were litigations that all failed, because they realised that they were fighting a lost cause. Yes, there was. I don’t think there is anywhere in the whole of Nigeria these days that a king would just emerge without one opposition or the other. It is a normal procedure.

    I remember my most important mentor, Ooni Sijuwade, said ote lo man mu oye dun, meaning that such challenges are part of kingship.

    Considering the drama that is currently going on in Kano, what is your take on this policy of a local government chairman or a governor determining the fate of a traditional ruler?

    It is unfortunate, very unfortunate. In an ideal situation, at least in our own situation, according to the Yoruba tradition, a king cannot emerge unless God has approved or ordained the king to emerge. And so in Yoruba tradition, a consultation had to have been made long ago to determine who is capable among those who are contesting. That is a normal procedure. But under the circumstances we have found ourselves, we now find that even after that choice had been made, with full consultations by the kingmakers in the presence of all other people including the local government authorities and so on, there is still a need for the governor to accent to the selection. More or less it is the governor that gives the final accent to say so and so person has been approved to be king. And this is the case in every part of Nigeria today.

    However, because this is political authority and will supervise traditional authority, there is a problem. That problem is what is obviously happening in Kano, where a governor deposed an emir and appointed another emir, and another governor came to depose the emir and bring back the former emir. It is going to continue like this until the traditional institution gets its rightful place. And would it ever get its rightful place? They need to be part of the constitution. A constitutional role has to be given to traditional rulers in Nigeria. In other words, there are three arms of government, the fourth must be the traditional ruler, so that they can exist independently, have assigned roles, and work within that ambit.

    You lived in the city before you became the traditional ruler of Erinmo. Is there anything you are missing in the village?

    After 10 years, I have gotten accustomed to my position. The position of a king is a lifetime one. It is not like a political position that you are there for about four or eight years, after which you have to leave the position. Because it is a position that makes me in constant contact with my people, it means that I recognise the fact that I see this as an assignment. The king is like a servant. The job of a king is to look after the welfare of his people and to develop his community. It is not about the symbolic grandeur of glamour. No, it is not about that. The whole focus essentially is on the welfare of your people, because whatever it is being done will have an effect on generations to come.

    I live in Lagos. I have lived outside Nigeria. So, moving down to a rural area was a total change of lifestyle. I have accepted my situation because this is what I was ordained to do even before I was born. You know in our case we have to go through a period of isolation called ipebi. In that period, it is like sending your phone or computer to an engineer to wipe off old memory and reset and download other things. Right now, my thinking, my behaviour, essentially aligned with the traditional expectations of my position as against when I was a prince on my own to operate the way I wanted to.

    You just mentioned ipebi (isolation). Many would-be kings are shunning it or would not follow or perform the rite because they believe it is evil. What is your take on this?

    The question you should ask is what do they know about ipebi? People who are talking about ipebi are probably talking about what they watch on the African movies. How is it possible to wear a uniform as a policeman or soldier without going to police college or the Nigerian Defence Academy?

    Ipebi is a period where you are isolated, seeking discipline, knowledge, training, and preparations ahead of the time of ruling over your people. You cannot just jump from your private life and wear a crown. Wearing a crown does not make you a king; it is the knowledge, attitude, and behavior that make one a king, not just wearing the crown. There is nothing evil about ipebi; it is a period of discipline, a period where you get to learn about your culture, customs, dos and don’ts from physical human beings and the God Almighty who is the one that has put you on the throne.

    I think those who talk about ipebi have never been there or do not know what operates there and just assume. You know it is common for people to make such assumptions when they don’t really have an understanding of what really goes on there. If the people are having a meeting, they just assume something evil is going on there. That is not true at all. Jesus excused himself and went to the mountain. And when he was going, he asked his disciples to wait. There is always that period of seclusion.

    Even in normal life, people would say they want to reminisce, to think about what to do, and then excuse or isolate themselves. You can’t jump from private life and become a king without knowing what it is all about. Why I said it is both physical and spiritual is that as much as people teach you, the chiefs teach you various aspects of your culture, the expectations, what you should do, and what you shouldn’t do. God still needs to pass some lessons to you. Remember, there is no succession plan in kingship. In other words, one king has to die before another king takes over. It is unlike leaving an office and handing over; you are coming into the office on your own. That is why we say Oba mewa, igba mewa. It is a different ball game.

    There have been cases where some Yoruba Oba had to do away with the traditional religion, culture, and tradition. How have you been able to manage these?

    I think it is a wrong perception to say this or what everybody has been saying, everybody who becomes king must have religion or whatever they were practicing. People were born Christian, Muslim or born into traditional religion. But the moment you accept to be a king, you are a king over the people. You call me a traditional ruler. I’m not a Christian ruler or a Muslim ruler. That does not becloud the fact that there is only one God Almighty. This God Almighty is neither a Christian God nor a Muslim God; we are only adopting different ways to reach out to him.

    There is only one God Almighty. What is evil is known to us. It is known to Christians and known to every other religion. We all know when we are doing good. We also know when we are doing evil.

    I am a traditional ruler, yes. It does not stop me from being a Christian. But I have to understand the fact that I cannot accept to be a soldier and refuse to wear khaki. That would mean that I’m in the wrong profession. Those traditional rulers who say they want to abandon tradition are doing so because of a lack of understanding of their role. You cannot say you are a traditional ruler and say no to tradition. Nobody made you a king with anointing oil, neither was anybody made a king with tesbiy or something.

    People were made king over their people. That does not mean that the moment you become king, you have become evil and you are now working with the devil. There is only one God, and it is that same God that has made us kings. That is why even in the Christian world, we say God is king of Kings. It doesn’t change anything about who I am, and I believe in God Almighty. I have no doubt about the fact that I’m here doing His assignment as king over His own people.

    When you hear things like I don’t want to be associated with tradition, Yoruba gods are small gods, and things like that, how does it make you feel?

    As I said, everything will answer to its situation when the time comes. I’m not in a position to query anybody’s behavior. Everybody cannot be the same, and there is nothing like the Yoruba god. God is one God Almighty. The mistake people make is to assume that certain things, certain people are being referred to as God. No, there is no competition for God. There is only one God, and people have only devised different means of reaching out to God. People put the image of Jesus Christ on the cross, and Muslims put inscriptions that represent Islam. People do different things. The Hindus have their own.

    Everybody knows God is Almighty. Muslims say Allah Akbar, that is God is Almighty. When you say Jesus Christ is Lord, we know God is Almighty. I think it is a wrong perception to have to think that the moment you say you are king, you are worshipping something. Nobody can worship anything other than God Almighty. However, the manner and the mode of worship differ. Before Christianity came, before Islam came to the world, we were reaching out to God, we were talking to God, and He was answering our prayers. It is the same God we have now, even though Christianity and Islam are with us, remember that these two are imported religions.

    It is a wrong perception when people say it is Yoruba God. There is nothing like Yoruba God. God is God Almighty. Things we refer to as gods are people with different supernatural powers that we Yorubas call akanda, eni ti ori sa da. That is what the Yoruba call orisa. Even a king is an orisa, because God has differentiated kings from every other person whereby people who are older than his father will prostrate and kneel for him. That is why a king is like an orisa. Eni ori sa o da, somebody who is able to perform more than an ordinary person. That person is subjected to the God Almighty.

     When I became king in 2014, I realised that the essential purpose of my kingship stool is to bring development to my people and cater for their welfare. Over time, Erinmo has been known to be a spiritual town because of the potency of various spiritual mountains that we have. And people troop there for pilgrimage and they get answers to their prayers. At a time too, Erinmo was producing rice. Our rice was one of the best in the area available. Along the line, people stopped producing rice, saying that witches were turning into birds and eating their things. We are in the process of revitalising that, because I had to convince them that everywhere there is fruit, birds will always go there to eat, and this has nothing to do with witches and wizards. They have accepted that.

    Erinmo land is fertile for so many things like cocoa and so on. We built a cocoa house where our farmers can produce and send forth, and then we can move on to the next stage of finding an export market or making useful use of them. Of course, we have arable land for farming and so on. We first of all have to provide the infrastructure needed. The electricity was there fading but we had to renew the transformer or whatever and focus on education to people who just thought they just go to school partially, but now everybody understands that education is the key. So I had to introduce various scholarship schemes for students to do more so that they can do well in their exams.

    We have plans for youth development. We have one for women’s empowerment, we have one for the adult. So, every time we have an activity, we cater for welfare. We provide food for those who are in need. We cater for the youth by helping them to support their businesses, and we cater for farmers and women by providing the tools they need as farm implements.

    We are moving on to stage three now. We are looking to having a full-fledged higher institution in Erinmo and, of course, we want to have real estate where people can own houses in a special part of Erinmo. Thank God, Erinmo is in the eye of everywhere. We are  the border town to Ekiti. If you are going to Abuja, there is a federal road that goes through Erinmo. We share the express road coming from Lagos, Ibadan, Ilesha to Akure. We are on that road. This is the whole concept.

    Talking about praying mountains in Erinmo, I read somewhere that your people had a problem with one of the owners of the prayer mountains. How did you resolve this?

    We didn’t have any problem with them. Erinmo is the owner of Orioke (Prayer Mountain). There are different ‘Baba Aladuras’ on the ‘ori oke’. The last one was the one from Efon Alaye, and the issue was simply the fact that there was an attempt upon his death to convert the ‘ori oke’ to another town by calling it Ori Oke Erinmo via Efon Alaye, which was not correct.

    There was an attempt to bury the corpse on the mountain, which was not allowed. Essentially, the matter was taken up. It has been resolved. The Orioke is open and it is being used now. We are expanding the construction of the road to make it comfortable for people to sleep over. We are planning to expand the road to make it easier for people to get to the mountain, because it a powerful mountain and we only needed to assert our authority as the owners of Orioke. The Orioke belongs to Erinmo as a town, not to any individual.

    Ijeshaland has been attractive to rampaging herders and Erinmo is not an exception. What are you doing to prevent them from attacking the town?

    Erinmo is not different. Every part of Yorubaland is attractive because of the arable land and so on. What we have done in the past was to engage their leaders to explain to them the need to avoid open grazing in and around Erinmo, and when crops are destroyed over time, people have arranged compensation for the farmers.  That has been the case. But it requires legislation to make it easier.

    Of course, we work hand in hand with security agencies including the police, Amotekun, and so on, to ensure that when a situation is beyond our control, they take charge. But regular engagement is the best way of handling some of these problems.

    Culturally, Yoruba monarchs are expected to have many wives. What is your take on polygamy?

    Polygamy isn’t about Yoruba monarchs; it is about Africa as a whole. I was at the coronation of the king of Zulu. He is polygamous. Even people who are not kings are polygamous.  It is an African thing. It is unfortunate that the white people came and told us that it has to be one man, and one wife. These are the same people engaging in other forms of it. I don’t think that is an issue.

    I don’t think God has any issue against polygamy, because reading the Bible, all the people who could talk to God, people like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and  David, who God called a king after my own heart,’ Solomon and co, it is not about polygamy; it is more about the ability to achieve the assignment God has given you. It is not about the number of wives. There is nothing wrong with being polygamous; it is a personal choice about whatever you think you can handle it. If you can handle more than one wife, fine. If you can take care of two or three and they are happy with one another or you can maintain them, fine. I don’t think it is a real issue.

    It was because of the monarchs in the olden days, even now, kings get women. Women are given out to kings either from a fellow kingdom or from a kingdom that they had war with, and use that to settle their differences. A king can just say I’m giving you my daughter to marry because we want to have a relationship. It is like forming a bond or an alliance. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. They can’t give you a wife and you say you don’t want a wife. I don’t think it is an issue. I don’t think polygamy is an issue people should bother themselves about. It is not about kingship. People who are not kings are polygamous.

    How would you rate the performance of the Amotekun corps in Osun?

    Generally speaking, Amotekun has done very well. I think Amotekun needs to be supported financially. There is a need to get more funding for the scheme. The concept itself is very okay, and we can expand it to all our hunters who are suitable. They don’t have to wear uniforms. We need to train them because they are always in the forest, they see more than other people see.

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    Within the limits of the funds available to them, they have done very well. All the governors have done very well with Amotekun. But there is a need for more interfaces with the traditional rulers. There should be a security committee that should involve traditional rulers. There should be security funds available to the traditional rulers because most of the problems are handled at that level even before they are transferred to the government level.

    You will be celebrating your 10th anniversary in August. What are the things you have done in the last 10 years and what are your future plans for the town?

    I give God Almighty the glory for the opportunity to ascend the throne and for keeping me up to this time because one year in the life of a king is like 10 years. So my 10th coronation anniversary is like being on the throne for 100 years. It is a lot of work; very tasking. And I am glad that in the last 10 years, I’ve not left my people the way they had been.  I have improved their lifestyle. We managed several crises including COVID-19, which ravaged everywhere but somehow it never got to Erinmo because people were taken care of. And when they could not go to work, we made arrangements for palliatives for them constantly and they were very well taken care of.

    We have improved the electricity situation in Erinmo. It is much better than it was before. Education has been given priority. We have rebuilt schools because we got so many grants from the World Bank to build one of our schools. We have increased the number of primary schools and new schools are opened up in the town. There is a tertiary institution that will be opening very shortly. That has expanded the scope of education in Erinmo to a large extent.

    We have supported the farmers too with a lot of implements over some time; almost an annual thing. We have looked after the welfare of our people through medical outreaches.

    I believe 10 years is a milestone and, it is an opportunity for me to give God Almighty the glory, thank Him for the opportunity, for being with me, and to rejoice with my people. The programme starts on 6th of August and closes on 11th. Of course,  we will celebrate one of our major festivals which is Agidanyin Festival, that is erinmo Founder’s Day, Agidanyin, is the first king in Erinmo, the son of Obalufon Alayemore, who was twice the Ooni of Ife, and the founder of Erinmo. We will celebrate his festival. We will go to the mosque, we will go to the church. We will have a carnival for the youth. We will have something for educational purposes for the school children where they will have a debate and inter-school challenges.

    We will award scholarships for various categories of people. We will have a day for praise and worship where we will invite people, notable songstress and ministers to minister to the people. It is a way of giving thanks to the Almighty.  And then we have the grand royal reception on the 10th of August where several dignitaries have been invited. We will use the opportunity to felicitate with one another. So many things to do.

    You must have had your challenges. How did you surmount them?

    The first challenge for me was how to acclimatize to living in Erinmo, considering that I had never lived there before. Everytime I woke up, I wondered if I was really here or I was daydreaming. But I came to the realization that there was no point complaining because it is a point of no return. So I had to organise myself to be free.

    The second issue I had was the fact that I was now in the midst of illiterates and semi-literate people yet I have to communicate with them and they have to communicate with me. I quickly had to get used to that, be able to speak their own language, come down to their level, and be able to relate with them.

    Thirdly, you are planning something big, but you need to know what your people want. I think this is also important for the government to know. You assume that once you give everybody money, they will be fine. No, there will be other important things they need.

    When we started, we empowered a lot of people, and we realised that most of the men were getting married to more wives, getting drunk, getting home late, increasing domestic violence, and so on because they had excess money. The moment we shifted focus to women we realised that no matter how irresponsible a woman may want to be, she will look after the family.

    We had issues with certain people or areas who were at war with one another. We were able to reach some kind of reconciliation and that has brought peace to the community.

    I have gone through a lot in the sense that as a king, I’m serving my people and I’m serving them 24 hours. There is no time for myself. The door of the palace is open to visitors. Sometimes you find it difficult to get into the entrance of the palace quarter to six in the morning. And on Sundays, they are there with me till 8pm. There is no time. It is not like civil service where you work Monday to Friday 8am-5pm. No, you are always at service.

    Even when you are not in town for one reason, my phone has to be on, because I need to be available to receive calls and be able to give directives as to what to do. We have a fortnight community ‘ajo’, which is a community town hall. We meet with chiefs, and when there are cases, such as disputes on lands, we bring them up.

    You know in the olden days, the king was the judge, the king was the Inspector General of Police, he was the president, he was the governor, he was everything. We still enact this because we have had several instances where people take cases to court but have to return home to resolve the issue because the truth of the matter is that when it comes to land issues, you can’t resolve them in law courts

    We in the town or the palace know the truth because there must be somebody who can give us the testimony and whereas people go to court swear with Bible or Quran and still tell lies, nobody will dare do that inside the palace. So, there is a need again to work out some kind of jurisprudence that allows the king to reach judgment, document this judgment, so that if there is any other case they can pick the sample and take the judgment to court. They need to register and accept the magistrate or customary court as a part of the judicial system legally and formally .

    Considering what you go through every day, do you sometimes regret taking this kingship role?

    Initially, I felt like that, but God Almighty made me realise that this is an exalted position. You see, God has a plan for everybody. If you were meant to be a tailor and you found yourself as a carpenter, you won’t succeed. But if you go into tailoring, somehow the door is going to open. I’m no longer regretting it. How can I regret being a king? I see the stress; there are lot of stress. There is a lot of white hair on my body which I never had before. I have had to attend to people’s problems more than my own. Sometimes my family suffers because I’m unable to give them as much attention as they would desire. But I try to make it up to them.

    Yes, there are instances when I feel I’m overwhelmed. But that is why a king is different. A king is supposed to be superhuman. A king is supposed to be twice wise enough to people who are more than his age, and it is only God who can put you in that position. Yes, I have times that I feel challenged, but I have learnt not to query God.

  • ‘One needs not be rich to become philanthropist’

    ‘One needs not be rich to become philanthropist’

    Managing Director of Zyetechcom Integrated Services Olayinka Ajao recently built a lecture theatre for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). The institution later awarded him the honourary degree of Doctor of Technology (D.Tech). Ajao, who will soon turn 50, talks about his professional achievements and journey from Ogbomosho to the heights. Excerpts:

    HAT inspired your philanthropic gesture?

    Well, I can say this started from my parents, my late mum and dad. It was not that my dad was extremely rich. But from the little he had, we knew how he gave money to all his siblings and family members. So we grew up to know that it is good to give.

    So, it is in-built. We were born into giving. It doesn’t mean that we have a lot. Many people think Olayinka is a multi-billionaire and that is why he is doing this. No, I can tell you that the money we will use to build the lecture theatre for the use of LAUTECH students is not even available but I know I will do it one way or the other.

     I remember that shortly after I got married in 2006, we adopted three churches that we give two bags each for their vulnerable members. Today, the six bags then have turned into 30 bags. There is no year we don’t give up to 100 bags of rice both in Lagos and Ogbomosho, among many other things we do.

    So, in 2021 as a way of formalising our giving, we registered Jolade and Adeyi Foundation (JAF). Jolade is my late mother’s name while Adeyi is my late father-in-law’s name.

    I am just a guy that loves people feeling comfortable around him. I don’t like people suffering. People don’t even ask me before I act. It comes naturally and I am lucky to have a wife that shares that heart of giving as well.

    Every year at her birthday, the foundation selects a number of people equal to her age and give them N50,000 each. She was 43 on May 26. That means 43 people benefited from that gesture. When I see some pictures of what people do with the money, I marvel.

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    The pastor of the church in Ogbomosho where my father attends will follow up with every single individual that benefitted from the gesture and send pictures of what the women are doing with the money. It made me understand that despite the value of the naira today, N50,000 still means a lot to many people in the country.

    What trajectory has your professional life taken?

    I started my life as a child that loved Mathematics. I remember being called Baba Maths back in secondary school. All the gifts and prizes for the subject always came to me. So from there, I moved to Federal Government College.

    In the previous school, I was like a champion in the midst of dullards. So when I moved to Federal Government College, my first result was 39th position out of 43. That was very disappointing. It was not that I failed. I didn’t fail any of the subjects. But where I would score 70 and thought I had done well, some other guys would score 80, 90. So that helped me to start reading more.

    From there, I moved to read Electrical/Electronics at the Federal Polytechnic Offa. That’s my journey into the professional life now as I continued with Electrical/ Electronics at LAUTECH. I was more into IT until I got a job with MTN.

    Getting into MTN, I was a technical support engineer. In the bid to challenge myself, I hustled to change my department to radio frequency, planning and optimisation, and that was when the real career began.

    I was one of the team of guys that planned all the telecom sites in the North between 2001 and 2004. Any tower that was built in Abuja, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, anywhere in the North, I was involved in planning those sites. We determined where they should be built, the height, the direction of each of the antennas, and we activated other sites.

    From MTN, because I wanted more, I moved to Motorola. Motorola is a vendor environment, not operator like MTN. Not long later, I left to join Helios Towers. That’s where I had a kind of a bit of change in career, because instead of going to radio frequency planning and the rest, I moved into infrastructure planning, because Helios Tower is a colocation company; they just house equipment for all the operators.

    I was the head of network planning there. I spent five years with them before I formed my own company, which is in line with what Helios was doing. We build our own towers, though not on a scale as big as Helios.

    Starting out on your own must have been challenging…

    In this life, when you start some business based on partnership, there are always challenges in that you can’t know how truthful a partner may be until he is caught or until you are able to pick some stuff. I noticed my partner then was stealing money. When we wanted to build towers, he would connive with some other guys and start collecting money from the contractor. In the process, they built a couple of substandard towers and those towers eventually fell.

    It was a big crisis then which was a big challenge for a young company to have their towers falling. That slowed us down a bit. So the only thing I can do for such a partner is to part my ways with them if he can’t be trustworthy.

    Those who know me know I’m not the type that would get involved in any shady deal. I have never done it, and that’s why I preach to people, you don’t need to steal to make money. Even if you are in government, you just do the right things. As long as you are in your chosen field, try to excel there and be outstanding, then money will come, because as you are getting better in the field, you are creating value. You can’t create value without money coming in return. It may not be immediate, but sooner or later it will come.

    On the philanthropic side, some people will tell you they want to do something, they will submit business plan but when they get a support grant, they will divert the money. That could be very disappointing when they come back to ask for more. I let them know that they can’t get it twice because I am not a politician or Father Christmas. The little one that I have is what I share and there are several people on the queue, so you may have to go back to the queue again.

    It’s been very challenging doing charity work. Some people will probably when they hear that you gave assistance to someone now feel entitled that I should have given them instead. I have tried to solve that problem by creating a welfare unit so that people and requests will stop coming to me directly. I also involve some like minds that may contribute to the purse as well for the use of the foundation.

    How do you balance professional commitments with your philanthropic pursuits?

    People that know me understand my stand on issues. I separate my business from family members and friends because I don’t want to disappoint my clients. The houses we are building are for sale. If there’s any issue on those houses, it will be difficult for anybody to buy. It could be too hard on family members because they will start calling parents, aunties and uncles. So, it’s better if they need money and I can afford it, I will give you the money to go and sort yourself out and leave my business.

    What does the recent honorary degree you were bestowed with mean to you?

    LAUTECH was the school that gave me an honorary degree and I will be the second alumnus to be so recognised in the university’s 35-year history. As you know, honorary award is given to people that have made an impact in their chosen field and in the community where they live. For me, all I have been doing is living a life of impact through some of my philanthropic gestures. I never one day thought that this could become a story that would be read on a stage.

    I never did all I have been doing because of an award; it never crossed my mind until I was called early this year. The Vice Chancellor and some management staff came to my office to check what we are doing and how we got to where we are.

    Did you ever imagine you would come this far?

    I started life from Ogbomosho in Oyo State, had my primary and secondary education there before proceeding to Federal Polytechnic, Offa. We were the pioneer set then. From there I went to LAUTECH, after which I served in Abuja and I was one of the lucky ones that joined MTN as pioneer staff. But as a young man, I was a bit restless. I spent just three years and resigned to join Motorola. I spent four years as well in Motorola and I got married.

    The money I was earning was not enough and then I moved to Helios. From Helios I started a company. Though the company has been in existence, it was not active until 2013. The company grew until few years ago when we decided to sell some of the assets and I moved into real estate.

    Talking about your experience at LAUTECH, how has it influenced who you are today?

    I passed through the school studying Electrical/Electronics. There’s no way we can remove God’s blessing and grace from our life. Even though we struggled in school, looking back now, the only way we can thank God is by giving back to the society that made us. The job I got in MTN, I can tell you it was a course that was taught in 500 level that helped me to answer one of the questions during the interview.

    Imagine leaving NYSC camp and within one week you are getting a job in MTN that was just starting out then. LAUTECH impacted so much on us and the little we can do to repay the gesture is to do whatever we can to add more value to the institution and sustain the legacy.

  • ‘Why I gave out my kidney’

    ‘Why I gave out my kidney’

    •Living donor narrates story of selfless sacrifice

    •Says it’s inhuman to monetise organ donation

    In a world where the demand for organ transplants far outweighs supply, the story of Evelyn Abrakson stands as a shining example of human compassion and the power of living donation. Abrakson recently shared her remarkable experience as a living kidney donor, shedding light on the realities and misconceptions surrounding this life-saving act. DELE ANOFI was there.

    According to global statistics, the number of solid organ transplants performed worldwide in 2022 reached 144,302, marking an 11.3% increase from 2020. Kidney transplants accounted for the majority of these procedures.

    However, the availability of deceased donors varies significantly across countries and regions, with the African region having the lowest deceased donation rates per million population.

    In the United States alone, there were 39,850 organ transplants from deceased donors in 2022, with a total of 41,887 transplants, including living donor transplants. As of January 2023, over 107,000 people in the U.S. were on the national transplant waiting list, underscoring the critical need for more donors.

    Abrakson’s Inspiring Story

    Abrakson’s journey as a living donor began nine years ago when she made the selfless decision to donate one of her kidneys to her ailing mother.

    “My motivation was my mum. She was an awesome human being, and if I were the one who was sick, my mum wouldn’t think twice about donating to me. And seeing her going through all those pains before my eyes, it was just easy to donate to her,” she said.

    Since her donation, Abrakson has not encountered any significant health issues or stigma from her loved ones, saying, “No, not at all. I’ve been very okay, never fallen sick because I donated a kidney, and I’ve never experienced any life-threatening illnesses since then.

    “I’ve long learnt that research has shown that living kidney donors of all ethnicities have the same life expectancies or live just as long as people who do not donate. So, I wasn’t placed on or needed to take medicine for the rest of my life just because I donated a kidney.

    “And financially, my time of payment was decided between me and the transplant team. Besides, paid medicine is only needed for a short time after surgery.

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    “Also, just like all living donors, I wasn’t given a special diet to follow after donating but a healthy balanced diet is recommended for me, just like for other donors.

    “I don’t take alcohol, but I was told that donors can still drink alcohol in moderation.

    “Most importantly, I was advised by the medical team to take special care of the kidneys I have left, including protecting them during contact sports.

    “Even a female donor only needs to wait between six months to one year after a donation to become pregnant because the body needs time to recover from the surgery and to adjust to living with one kidney before pregnancy.

    “But proper antenatal care should not be taken for granted. Experts have made us to know that.

    “And I have never encountered any stigma. Instead, I would say people are really proud of my actions.”

    Addressing the common misconceptions surrounding organ donation, Abrakson emphasised the importance of understanding the process and the impact it can have on someone’s life.

    “People are afraid because they don’t understand. And then maybe they are afraid because they are not donating from a place of love.

    “Love motivates you. When you have love, you care for humanity. You don’t think about it; you just do it.

    “Except one is without a heart, there’s no way you’ll see anyone going through the pains of kidney failure that you won’t be moved to do something.

    “Humanity alone is enough to motivate us into donating an organ for someone else to live, and it is so fulfilling. I mean personal fulfillment when you donate an organ, knowing that you contributed your part to giving life to someone.

    “This brings me to the issue of commercialization of organ donation, which I believe borders on cruelty regardless of the global economic situation.

    “My own belief is that it is inhuman to monetise organ donation, and that is why it is called donation. It should be a selfless act because you are aware of what you want to do, which is an act of humanity.

    “Money should not be a reason for donating. If you put yourself in others’ shoes, you’ll see that giving hope to someone is invaluable.

    “In my view, I also see it as criminal and inhuman to coerce or trick someone without his or her consent, to donate a kidney.

    “It should be a free will gesture without the motivation of money but of love.”

    Considering her experience, Abrakson also believed that greater government support and intervention in the field of organ transplantation has become imperative.

    According to her, the government needs to step up to assist kidney disease patients who often face significant financial burdens due to the high costs of dialysis and other treatments.

    With the prevailing Nigeria’s near non-existent organ transplant landscape, Abrakson’s admonition comes in handy, considering that in Nigeria, chronic kidney disease affects a significant portion of the population.

    According to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate during the commemoration of the 2024 Living Kidney Donor Day organised by Nisa Medical Group held in Abuja recently, high blood pressure, diabetes and other health issues are leading causes.

    The lack of awareness and early intervention further compounds the problem, leading to advanced stages of the disease where more complex and costly treatments are required, he noted.

    At the same event, Prof. Aliyu Abdu, a Consultant Physician/Nephrologist, Head of the Nephrology Unit at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, who is also the Vice President of the Transplant Association of Nigeria (TAN), highlighted the gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that most kidney transplants are performed in private hospitals, with only a few public hospitals actively participating.

    “The number done in private hospitals is much higher than the number in the three active public hospitals,” he said, emphasising the need for greater public investment in this area.

    Drawing from her experience as a living donor, Abrakson reiterated the urgent need for government intervention, saying: “To the government, I would say that they need to support kidney disease patients because they go through a lot before they even think about transplant.

    “They spend a lot of money on dialysis and kidney care.

    “For instance, in my own case, I had my transplant in India. For the past nine years, I do kidney tests and check-ups every six months.

    “I feel no different from anyone else. Life goes on as usual. But for a struggling family, wouldn’t all of these become very burdensome?

    “For a struggling family that has to contend with the high cost of managing the disease, don’t you think such a case is now dependent on God?

    “First, for a struggling family, the little they have would definitely collapse if financial help is not coming from anywhere. Somebody’s job or business must definitely suffer on the account of caring for the patient, and if external assistance still refuses to come, the disease will progress, and the end would just be a matter of time for the patient who would eventually leave behind a family very prone to poverty if he or she is the breadwinner of the family.

    “The consequences would be that the nation’s economy would have lost a lot of manpower hours, and the socioeconomic contribution of the deceased while poverty is deepened on that end.

    “So, if the government can step up to influence assistance for kidney failure patients by bringing down the cost of diagnosis and care through in-country strengthening of our health care delivery system with adequate personnel, equipment and manufacturing capacity, it would be nice.”

    Evelyn Abrakson’s story is a testament to the power of human compassion and the transformative impact of living organ donation. Her selfless act has not only saved a life but has also inspired others to consider the possibility of becoming living donors themselves.

    As the global community continues to grapple with the challenges of organ transplantation, stories like Abrakson’s serve as a reminder of the profound difference that one person can make.

    “By raising awareness, addressing misconceptions and advocating for greater government support, we can work towards a future where more lives are saved through the gift of life.

    “The government needs to support kidney disease patients financially and provide better healthcare facilities.

    “To potential donors, I say don’t be afraid. Donating a kidney is not something to fear; it’s a way of saving a life.”

  • How Nigeria can raise immunisation bar, by vaccine expert

    How Nigeria can raise immunisation bar, by vaccine expert

    Nigeria is still playing catch-up with the rest of the world in its immunization programme, says Christiana Fashola, a global vaccine expert with extensive experience in designing and implementing effective vaccine delivery strategies across Africa, Central Asia and Latin America. Fashola, who has provided technical support to governments, public agencies and National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) to evaluate evidence, guide vaccine recommendations, and design interventions to improve health outcomes and build resilient health systems, outlines several strategies to bridge the gaps hindering an effective immunization programme and achieve the nation’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030 target. She spoke with DELE ANOFI.

    Is the current immunization approach sufficient to cover the entire country, including hard-to-reach and underserved areas, considering the precarious security situation and the fast-approaching 2030 Universal Health Coverage target?

    The current immunization strategy in Nigeria, which relies heavily on scheduled immunization days, mass vaccination campaigns, outreach programmes and immunization intensification activities, is likely insufficient to achieve rapid and comprehensive coverage across the entire country. The precarious security situation further complicates these efforts. To accelerate progress and meet the 2030 Universal Health Coverage target, exploring and implementing alternative strategies is essential.

    One of the key challenges in healthcare is the insufficiency of Human Resources for Health (HRH), which has impacted the immunization workforce. An alternative approach that could be explored by the government is the establishment of a greater healthcare delivery workforce by leveraging the full potential of community pharmacies and pharmacists in routine immunization activities.

    This could potentially increase immunization coverage and improve the life-course approach to vaccination, including adult vaccination. While an intersectoral approach has been utilised for the introduction of some vaccines such as the COVID-19 and HPV vaccines, strong consideration should be given to including pharmacies and pharmacists, as they have a crucial role to play in expanding immunization access and coverage for millions of Nigerians.

    Additionally, Nigeria accounts for 20% of all out-of-school children in sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly 20 million out-of-school children. Utilization of community pharmacies and pharmacists will provide a solid platform to reach out-of-school adolescent girls in various regions. A survey carried out by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) in 2016 revealed that community pharmacies in a sample of 45 countries and territories, representing over 940 million people, including Nigeria, can potentially offer increased access to vaccination services with safe and highly accessible vaccination centres. Hence, there is a compelling need for the Nigerian government to strongly consider involving community pharmacies and pharmacists in the conduct of routine immunization services. This will contribute to the development and increased access to health services, enhancing the implementation of immunization services, especially adult vaccination, thereby improving the health system and reducing vaccine-preventable diseases.

    Having successfully immunised approximately five million adolescents in 15 states during the first phase of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine programme, do you think we have done enough addressing resistance to vaccinations even among people that were supposedly educated enough to appreciate the development? If not, what do you think is the way forward?

    The successful roll-out of HPV vaccine in 15 states during the first phase of the HPV vaccine programme is a significant achievement. This success indicates that the programme has effectively addressed some aspects of resistance to vaccinations. However, challenges such as misinformation and misconceptions, cultural beliefs, and mistrust in the healthcare system still persist, even among educated populations.

    By implementing targeted communication strategies, including grassroots advocacy efforts and risk communications tailored to various target groups, as well as engaging educational institutions, and continuously monitoring and evaluation of implemented strategies, Nigeria can further reduce resistance to the HPV vaccine and enhance overall immunization coverage.

    Other advocacy efforts to consider include the continued organisation of intergenerational dialogues. These dialogues provide opportunities for adolescents within the target age group, parents/caregivers, and community leaders to discuss their fears and concerns regarding the vaccine, offering a platform to address these challenges.

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    Intergenerational dialogues bring together community members of various age groups to exchange views and opinions in an open and safe environment. The aim is to create awareness about the benefits of the vaccine, and change the community’s negative perceptions, attitudes, myths and beliefs.

    Do you have any concerns or optimism about the upcoming second phase of the HPV vaccination programme, given that the first phase achieved an 80% success rate?

    Given that Nigeria contributes 12,075 new cases of cervical cancer globally every year, which makes cervical cancer the second leading cause of female cancer deaths in Nigeria, the successful first phase of the HPV vaccine roll-out provides a solid foundation for optimism in reducing this burden. By leveraging the lessons learned and best practices from the first phase, addressing resource and logistical challenges, and implementing targeted communication and outreach strategies, Nigeria can achieve high coverage in the ongoing second phase of the vaccine roll-out. The success of the first phase will likely increase awareness and trust in the HPV vaccine among the population in other states, further enhancing the programme’s overall effectiveness

    With the global acknowledgement of Nigeria’s efforts in its immunization programme, is there any need for her to change her winning formula?

    To improve immunization coverage in Nigeria, increased financing and political commitment at both national and sub-national levels are crucial. To provide context, Nigeria is among the 73 Gavi-implementing nations that have received support for delivering immunization-related services, including the introduction of new vaccines. The country began transitioning to self-financing after exceeding Gavi’s support threshold from 2016 to 2018. Progress towards self-financing vaccines by the Nigerian government has been made through the development of the Nigeria Strategy for Immunization and PHC System Strengthening (NSIPSS), which aims to boost investment in immunization and primary healthcare. This effort is supported by an Accountability Framework (AF) to track commitments. Additionally, domestic vaccine financing has increased by 34.2% rise from 2019 to 2023, with high-level discussions to make vaccine financing a statutory budget item to avoid bureaucratic delays.

    Since 2019, the government has created a budget line for vaccine financing and continues to make annual incremental provisions. Future plans include making vaccine financing a first-line charge item in the national budget, ensuring it is a statutory allocation from consolidated revenue.

    Despite the progress made in immunization financing, financial stability for sustaining and expanding immunization efforts remains uncertain due to fiscal constraints and the imminent need to introduce new vaccines such as Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Varicella Zoster Vaccines.

    To sustain and enhance the gains in immunization and the introduction of newer vaccines, the Nigerian government needs timely stakeholder engagement; accurate vaccine forecasting using advanced predictive modeling techniques to reduce the discrepancies between projected and actual vaccine needs; robust advocacy efforts; sustainable financing, particularly at sub-national levels; and continuous accountability tracking to assess progress and identify areas needing improvement.

    By focusing on these areas, Nigeria can better ensure the sustainability of its immunization programmes and the successful introduction of new vaccines, thereby protecting more of its population against preventable diseases.

  • Ekiti high chief Atere: I walk erect, read without glasses at 100 

    Ekiti high chief Atere: I walk erect, read without glasses at 100 

    • Says I’m as healthy as most young men today
    • He’s the Supreme Court when there’s an argument about events and dates – Protégé

    Chief Atere Dada Timothy is a high chief of Isalu quarters of Omuooke Ekiti, and one of the oldest in the kingdom. He recently hit the century mark, yet he remains physically and mentally fit: he walks unaided and has a vision so good he reads without glasses. His memory and remarkably accurate recollection of past events have earned him the moniker ‘Mobile Calendar’. Amidst the pomp and ceremony surrounding his 100th birthday celebration, he had a chat with South-South Regional Manager, SHOLA O’NEIL.

    The peaceful rustic agrarian community of Omuooke, Ekiti State stood still for a revered centenarian on the beautiful morning of Sunday, May 5. As the celebrant, Chief Atere Dada Timothy, the Elerinsalu of Isalu Quarters, Omuooke Ekiti, took to the floor of St. Silas Anglican Church that morning, his gait and graceful mien as he glided through the weathered floor of the holy assembly, defied his 100-year existence. Erect, spry and as fit as a fiddle, he could easily pass for a 70-year-old.

    The cane in the firm grip of his right arm was a matching part of his agbada, buba and sokoto traditional outfit; not to provide any lumber support or correction of his walking asymmetry. The golden wand barely touched the floor as he ‘ko mole’ (bent down) to the rhythm of the drums heralding him to the rostrum.

    He was nimble and agile as he swayed to the rhythmic drums and sound of the trumpets and acoustic instruments. Guests who didn’t know him well were in awe of how he carried and comported himself; while others wondered if Elerinsalu was indeed 100 years old.

    Born on March 24, 1924, the Elerinsalu’s journey reads like a fairy tale.

    Reminiscing on his long and fruitful journey through life, he said his triumphs in the face of awing odds owed to determination and hard work. He said beyond earthly wealth, it was the legacy he aimed to pass to his children and lineage.

    Fatherless before even fully knowing his father – he was three years old when his father died – he had no formal elemen tary education because he had to start catering for himself at a tender age. Yet he refused to give up on his dreams. He vowed to ensure that all his children went to school and achieved the highest standard in their educational pursuits.

    He rose to become a responsible and prominent member of his clan, who raised and trained his children (biological and adopted) through various levels of education – tertiary and beyond- through hard work and determination. Amidst all that, he enrolled into adult school, where he took lessons and learnt to read and write, thereby fulfilling one of his lifelong ambitions.

    Like most people blessed with longevity, he is also contending with losing loved ones and most of his age mates. A notable polygamist like most men of his generation, Pa Atere had two wives, whom he had to bury – the first, Rachel Talabi in 1991, and the second, Ajekingbe, just a couple of years ago.

    He told our reporter that he was shaken by those and other tragic incidents, but he didn’t let them define him. “Anybody who wants to succeed must learn to face challenges of life and not use them as excuses for failure,” he declared.

    “I am blessed to still be able to walk erect without aid, even after falling off the palm tree I had climbed to get my usual palm wine. Every morning, I exercise by walking to visit my friends and relatives in nearby quarters.”

    “Walking is an everyday exercise for me. Even when I broke my arm and limbs, I didn’t let it stop me. I continued to farm and do all that I love doing.

    “There is the saying that if you want to succeed you will find a reason, but if you don’t want to succeed you will find an excuse.”

    “I still read without glasses. My age has failed to slow me down. I am as healthy as most young men of today. The only thing I would say I am losing is my appetite for food, but not my love for life.

    “I eat miserly because life has taught me that too much of everything, including food, is bad and unhealthy.”

    ‘Losing my father at age 3 made me strong, independent’

    Weaving his thoughts effortlessly between English and Yoruba languages, the centenarian attributed his agility at the ‘young age’ of 100 to personal discipline and the hand of faith. He recalled how having to take responsibility at a young age prepared him for the life he lived.

    “My father died when I was just three and a half years old. Life is hard, especially for a child growing up without his father’s support and guidance.

    “I took to farming at an early age, because I was taught that a dry and hungry mouth awaits a man whose hands cannot work and fend for himself.”

    The agility of the centenarian transcends his physique; residents of his quarters and other parts of Omuooke said his recollection of decades-old occurrences earned him the sobriquet ‘Mobile Calendar’.

    One of his younger protégés, Mr Ajibola Akinyemi, told our reporter that despite being the oldest in the clan, “he is a “Think Tank” and the “Mobile Calendar” in his neighbourhood, with his retentive memory and vivid recollection of events and dates with unimpeachable accuracy.

    “When there is an argument about events and dates, Baba is the Supreme Court.

    “He is a forthright, disciplined and strident individual who always wants the best for his children, the people around him and his community in general.

    “Hence he is always ready and determined to fight for and defend anything that would promote the advancement of his ecosystem,” Akinyemi, who is popularly called Admiral, said.

    Recalling his early years as the eldest child of Chief Atere, Pastor Adebayo, a Delta State-based pastor and businessman, recalled how his father taught him to take responsibility for the family as the eldest son.

    “It was one of the few times I saw him incapacitated. He had fallen from a palm tree where he was collecting palm wine. He was on his sickbed, and I was preparing for my promotion examination.

    “He drew me near and whispered: ‘No matter what profession you choose in life, you must learn a trade – that is how to be the master of your destiny.’

    “He urged me to ensure peace and harmony among my siblings. That was many decades ago, and I am happy he made it out alive. What he told me that day became a guide to whatever I do,” Adebayo said.

    Lawrence ‘Femi Atere, a US-based chemical engineer, and son of the Elerinsalu, said: “Honesty and integrity are the hallmarks of my father’s existence. He takes them seriously and does not compromise. His admonition is to fail honourably with your head high rather than to succeed by cutting corners, fraud, and shortchanging others.”

    “He is a father like no other,” enthused Abiodun Atere, another of his sons. “I call him the Arekemase (the forthright one) of Omuooke, because he is never involved in eke (dubious or ignominious acts).

    “He always tells us ‘All that glitters is not gold’, and I am happy he is my father.”

    Olanrewaju, Baba’s Tamworth, UK-based son, who spoke via the telephone with our reporter, described his father’s honesty, morals and insistence on the dignity of labour goes with him wherever he goes.

     “I learnt from him that I can be a strong personality and yet be humble, considerate of others and diligent in what I do. 

    “He is a disciplinarian and no-nonsense father, who tells it as it is; a caring heart and principled figure.”

    Mrs. Dorcas Mosunmola Kayode, one of his daughters, said “Baba is a hardworking and generous father, whose “generosity attracts children from far and within to his compound.”

     Advice to younger people who wish for fulfilled life Basking in his deserved moment of honour, the Elerinsalu told our reporter: “Whatever kindness a man shows to others, especially to children, finds its way back to him,” adding that a man who is kind to his fellow beings and treats them as himself sleeps better and have more reward than the one that is wealthy and unkind.

    On keeping fit, he said: “Exercise is the key. Every morning, I walk to see my friends and have small chats with them. I am sure that this is what has kept my legs strong.

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    “We also need the Grace of God, because without it, a man will always labour in vain; this is biblical and empirical. I am nothing without the special love of God.”

    He lamented the growing lack of humanity in the world, saying: “In our time, there was also moral decay, but the difference is that the community shuns them and does not glory and worship people with questionable wealth and lifestyles. They were seen as an aberration. But today, we see parents encouraging their children to do whatever it takes to be financially successful, even if they have to steal.”

    Preaching a healthy lifestyle as a means to enhancing the quality of life, he recalled: “I picked up some habits too, but when I saw that they were not good for me I dropped them. For instance, I smoked and drank. I was lucky to discover early that they were not good for me.  They were reducing my strength, so I refrained. That is probably why I am here today,” he added.

    He urged Nigerians to go back to local and natural foods instead of imported and refined ones. “I stopped drinking alcoholic drinks while sticking to a measured intake of natural palm wine, which is the reason for the strength of my eyes and great eyesight. The natural yeast in palm wine is good for the eyes

    “No matter what science produces, they cannot replace the good of natural herbs and God-made roots. Apart from palm wine, I chew on a special root regularly to clean my teeth and help my teeth to remain strong.

    “I eat sparingly. Even my favourite food – yam and garden egg sauce – is taken in measured quantities. Eating too much is not a sign of wealth but of gluttony.”

    Beyond what men eat or drink, the Elerinsalu admonished that without morals, honesty and contentment, all the steps he enumerated above would be fruitless.

    “Even if you stay away from cigarettes, alcohol and other harmful habits, you still might not end well if you are not morally strong. Discipline is the yardstick for measuring success.”

    “I do not covet others’ properties, and I am careful about what I need and what I eat. Why take more than you need when it will come back to haunt you?

    “This is what is wrong with our society today: one man wants to acquire what is enough to sustain the entire society.

    “Ijekuje (gluttony) is the first sign of a failed man and a child who lacks a proper upbringing. Take what is enough for you and let the community be at peace.”

    “All of my life, I have always stood for the truth no matter what it costs. I can assure you that the joy of doing the right thing and defending the truth is much more refreshing than the gains or illicit benefits.

    “But my greatest joy is that I have eight graduate children and all of them are doing well, disciplined, have good names and are not bringing my name to disrepute. That is a thing of joy.”

    Earlier during the service, the presiding Bishop, Reverend Ajao Mathew Ayotunde, and other members of the congregation commended the centenarian’s dedication to the things of God.

    Some of those who spoke remarked on his regular attendance and participation in the church’s activities.

    “He is very involved in church’s activities. His active role and forthrightness were recognised with an ‘Elders’ Devotee’ award from the Anglican Church in 2022.”

  • How family associates celebrated late Alhaji Jimoh, Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi

    How family associates celebrated late Alhaji Jimoh, Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi

    • Flood of encomiums at one year, 10th year anniversaries
    • By Bola Ojo

    The best way to find yourself, is to lose yourself in the service of others” – Mahatma Gandhi and “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’-Winston Churchhill.

    All these inspirational quotes by these renowned leaders suit the renowned educationist, the Late Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi, who died a year ago, because he was indeed a leader, who ticked all the boxes in his humanitarian trajectories. So was his wife, Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, who had passed away 10 years before him.

    Alhaji Gbadamosi was referred to as an icon, a quintessential paragon of human virtues. As an educationist, he led an indelible mark on the sands of time. As family and friends remember this remarkable man on his one-year anniversary and 10 years anniversary of his wife, the late Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi, a parent’s light may dim, but their impact never fades.

    As a man of wisdom, whose knowledge and exposure transcend the ordinary, the sweet memory of Alhaji Gbadamosi  remains uneasy to be wished away in a hurry despite being a year now that he breathed his last, precisely on Monday May 15, 2023. This is as his children, associates and the Nigerian communities still feel like they have just lost one of the best Nigerians that Nigeria has ever produced. But before he made his last ‘submission’ to the final arbiter, he had already been ‘discharged’ and ‘acquitted’ as one that lived life to the fullest. He gave his all. He achieved the best.

    The renowned educationist shone as one of the brightest of his generation. His intellectual prowess in his field of profession was equal to none. Teaching was his life: he breathed it, he lived it and he ate it. The late Alhaji Gbadamosi made a success out of teaching, impacting knowledge and nurturing talents.

    Born  March 18, 1927 in Lagos Island to parents who were traders, he began his early education at Holy Cross Primary School, Lagos Island in the mid-30s and St. Gregory College, Obalende, Lagos for his post-primary education. He later proceeded to Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland where he bagged a Bachelor’s degree in Geography Education. His quest for further education to equip himself for his future career took him to Oxford University where he bagged a Master’s degree also in Geography Education.

    A brilliant and exceptional man, the late educationist started his career as a pioneer principal of the then Ahmaddiyah High School, Eleyele, Ibadan in the then Western Region. In 1957, he moved to Lagos as principal of Anwar-Ul Islam, Agege (formerly Ahmaddiyah College, Agege) from there he went to Jubril Martins Secondary School where he served until his voluntary retirement in 1977 at the early age of 50.

    Over the past 46 years on earth,  Gbadamosi was involved in various activities both in sports and education at both state and national levels. He was Chairman, Lagos State Scholarship Board, Chairman, Lagos Amateur Football Association, Member, National Judo Association and Chairman, Principals’ Cup Committee. He also served as Commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Commission, Chairman, Anwar-Ul Islam Movement. His selfless service in his field at both state and national levels had npt gone unnoticed. On December 13, 2002, the Federal  Government conferred on him the National Honour of Order of the Niger (OON).

    An event organised to mark the one year and 10 years  remembrance of both educational icons was held at the Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos on Wednesday May 15, 2024.

    The event, which also witnessed reading of the whole Qur’an, special prayers for deceased, offering of special tributes and lecture, was attended by eminent Nigerians who were mostly his students including Chairman of Caverton Offshore Support Group PLC, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola accompanied by his wife, Mrs Yoyinsola Makanjuola and sons, Olabode , Niyi, Rotimi and their spouses.

    The late educationists offspring were also in attendance: Mr. Biodun, Gbadamosi, Mrs. Bimbola Adedun and Kunle Gbadamosi.

    Other eminent persons present included former Minister of Communications and General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3 Armoured Division Nigerian Army, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (RTD); for me Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro; among several others some of who poured encomiums on the late educational hero and his wife, who had preceeded him in the journey of no return.

    Delivering his lecture at the memorial, the lecturer whose paper prepared in English was circulated at the event, Associate Professor Noah Lawal Jinadu of the Foreign Languages Department, Arabic Unit, Lagos State University, said the lecture in its intent and purpose was a reflection of what Alhaji Jimoh Adisa Gbadamosi and his wife Alhaja Azeezat Adebisi Gbadamosi stood for and expended their entire quality lives upon.

    The university don said, “They lived a fulfilled life, full of great, laudable and outstanding achievements, exemplary for a would-be parents, a young father or mother who is having some challenges in rearing his (or her) ogoweere.

    “Anyone who has the opportunity to look into their wonderful biographies, or listen to narratives on their life styles and parenting methodology would certainly view today’s lecture as a mere theoretical construct and subtle addendum.

    “I have read their biographies and had the rare opportunity of listening to detailed narrations on their life styles, I have come to the conclusion that they were a paragon of adminirabke qualities/virtues, an epitome of erudition, and of course, an embodiment of good parenting,” the lecturer said.

    Jinadu, speaking on the lecture titled ‘Role of Young Muslim Parenrs in Early Chid Upbringing and Its Challenges in Modern Society’, looked at the serving children and said, “Today’s programme which is organised by you (the pious children) in cof our late commemoration of our late father and mother is a clear indication and a proof of positive parenting.”

    Associate Professor Lawal Jinadu added that, “They both raised you well and inculcated in you tge religious values of Islam, and today they are now reaping tge fruits of their labour as you gather people to join you in this special memorial prayer,” he said.

    “And if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”- John Quincy Adams.

    This applies to one of his students and Caverton boss, Mr. Aderemi Makanjuola. Until his final appearance in the court of life, Makanjuola was a living witness to Alhaji Gbadamosi’s good and benevolent life. He didn’t only mentor Makanjuola, he also became a father figure to him.

    Makanjuola had an encounter with the late renowned educationist as a teenager in 1962 at age 13. This later resulted in a robust father-and-son relationship. He remained a father figure and a reliable confidant to the successful businessman until he died last year, 2023.

    Talking glowingly about him Makanjuola said, “Alhaji Gbadamosi had a relationship with my father and my path crossed with him in 1962 when I wanted to enter  secondary school and my father sent me to his household. I became one of his own. Him and his  late wife were both  two inseparable duo who embraced  and impacted education not for  their children but for other people’s children. And they were both principal of schools. The husband was teaching at Ahmadiyya College Agege,  and the wife was at the  Ahmadiyya Girls’ High School. He later moved to Jubril Martins when it started.

    “They  both really dedicated their lives to educating people.  And all the people they have  helped to educate have become greater people in the country and doing very well.”

    That Makanjuola blossomed under their tutelage would be an understatement: “They took me as their child and proudly call me their first son to anybody that cares to know. And I always live to that expectation for them. And they have been very nice, decent and all of that to me.”

    The impact of the Gbadamosi on the Caverton boss was enormous. From his secondary school days to his foray in England, they were there all the way.

    “After my studies in England, I came back to Nigeria they already had a place for me in their house with my wife and first born Bode. And then when I started work, Alhaji Gbadamosi was one of those who influenced my getting work at Backlays Bank. They were always with me all the time. Whatever I did, they were there. Whatever they did, I was there. And I ensured that I treated their children as my junior brothers and sister.”

    It has been one year since his demise, Makanjuola said he missed his counsel. “Papa was a man of wisdom. I go to his house every Sunday. He would tell me his life history all over and all over again. He would tell me about Lagos. He would tell me about what he had done. His wife was also a very pleasant lady. She took care of the husband when he was sick. They were always  together.

    “The late Alhaji Gbadamosi  was an awesome person, who believed in giving. A detribalized Nigerian who would teach you and monitor your progress. Even if your parents didn’t have money to send you to university, he would look for scholarships for you. He was a great person and everybody that met him knew that they met somebody along with his wife.

    “I pray to Almighty Allah to forgive him his sins and give him a pleasant abode in Al Janna, and also for us to keep on remembering him, possibly doing a foundation, naming of streets after him, and maybe very soon collating and writing a book about his life so that people will know better.”

    Corroborating her husband, Mrs. Yoyinsola Makanjuola said the late Alhaji Jimoh and Alhaja Gbadamosi fondly called ‘Mummy and Daddy’ were epitome of great morals and finesse. They lived a life full of great achievement in nurturing all students that passed through their tutelage as principal of Muslim colleges.

    “They were pillars of success to all the students that they taught including my Husband. He reminisced so many good things they did in his life along with so many other students which now yielded great successes in their lives. Mummy and Daddy can never be forgotten as the saying goes: ‘To live in the heart of those you love is not to Die’.

    “They took over my husband as their biological child with total care and love which smoothly extended to me and our children. We owe them everlasting gratitude for being there always to see that all is well. Daddy till he passed on always looked out for us, making sure we were comfortable and he spoilt us rotten with gifts,” Mrs Makanjuola said.

    In his tribute, General Olanrewaju said, “As distinguished educators and well-known elders in the Lagis community, they understood the transformative power of learning for young people, recognising how education could serve as the cornerstone upon which their careers could be built to enhance their futures,” said the former Minister. Reminiscing on his life and time, a retired jurist, Justice  Isola Adekunle Olorunnibe also praised Alhaji Gbadamosi, whose life resonates with Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy that says: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

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    According to the 94-year-old judiciary icon, his path crossed with him in 1948 when Ahmadiyya High School was established. “He was one of our teachers and I was one of his early students. We maintained a cordial relationship because of the conduct of Papa Alhaji Jimoh Gbadamosi, OON. All of us were tiny young boys then. Then we left school in 1952. But before we left, he  had gone to Trinity College in Dublin, Republic of Ireland for further studies. By the time he returned I was already a lawyer.

    “He stuck to the ethics of his profession as a teacher. He later proceeded abroad for post graduate in Oxford University. He maintained an excellent relationship with all his students. Both the new ones and old ones. We kept on going to him for advice.”

    Commenting on his influence in his life, Justice Olorunnibe said it was enormous. “Late Pa Gbadamosi was an epitome of integrity; he was very accommodating and a man full of wisdom. I think he was ordained to be a teacher.

    “I miss him. I have missed his Friday lectures, but you can call it sermon. On Fridays, he would tell me the history of Lagos, prominent personalities and he would tell me how to behave. So I miss his prayers. He would pray for me, my family and all our friends who are his former pupils. Mama was a wonderful mother. She too was a teacher. She  would listen to you carefully. We miss her motherly care. As we celebrate these wonderful people, my wish for the children is that they should keep up the tradition of Papa and Mama’s legacies of togetherness and friendship.”

    In her words, Mrs. Oyinda Aiyepola, a younger sister to the late Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi, said the wonderful couple were like her biological parents. She called the sister her ‘younger mother’

    “It was a wonderful experience passing through the tutelage of this amazing couple. My sister, Alhaja Azeezat Gbadamosi, was 10 years older than me. Although I lived with them, I am literally their first daughter while Remi (the Caverton boss) is referred to the first son. I learned a lot from her. She taught me about life, and home management.  I didn’t usually go out. We had a time that we usually returned home when we went out. She also taught me that promptness. Cleanliness is part of us. We used to do gardening, she taught me so much about gardening which I am still doing up till now.

    “I lived with them when I was very young until I got married.  I went to England and came back in 1968.  I still stayed with them because my husband was still abroad.

    “They were very kind. Both of them were special people created by God for manifestation. But then they have something for mankind, maybe because they were teachers. They accommodated everybody.  They were both disciplinarians who did not spare the rod that when you have passed the age of being caned, they will speak with or scold you with words. So, they had a way of giving you a wisdom or teaching about wisdom.

    “Grandpa liked jazz music and we usually listened to music together both with granny. God will grant them Al Janna and we will keep their legacies of togetherness.”

  • Day Ijebuland stood still for famous industrialist Adegunwa

    Day Ijebuland stood still for famous industrialist Adegunwa

    •Tinubu, Obasanjo, Abiodun, others grace installation as Asiwaju

    Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf captures the sights and sounds of the official installation ceremony of Dr. Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa and his wife, Fatima, as the Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju/Arobake of Ijebuland, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

    In a manner of speaking, penultimate Saturday will go down in the annals of Ijebuland’s history as a memorable day. It was the day the famous town and ancestral homestead of one of the most revered monarchs in Nigeria, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, hosted a global audience in celebration of one of the illustrious sons of the kingdom, a famous industrialist and philanthropist, Chief (Dr.) Sulaiman Adebola Adegunwa, and his adorable wife, Fatima.

    The occasion was the official installation ceremony of the couple who were being decorated with one of the most coveted traditional titles in the land: the Asiwaju of Ijebuland and Yeye Asiwaju/Arobake of Ijebuland respectively, at a ceremony held at the Oba Adetona Golden Jubilee Centre, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

    To say the occasion was a showstopper is to state the obvious. It was a mixture of glitz, glam, revelry and fanfare!

    Signs that the occasion was going to be a talk-of-the-town were so apparent that a first-time visitor to Ijebu-Ode, located on the highway between Sagamu and Benin City, would be mesmerised by the ecstatic mood of the otherwise quiet neighbourhood.

    Our correspondent observed that the town was not just in a festive mood; a cursory view of the different neighbourhoods right from the Ijebu-Ode motor-park showed the obvious: the entire landscape was dotted by billboards and signage announcing the august event with inscriptions written in English and the local Ijebu dialect all welcoming kith and kin, visitors and strangers to savour the town in its full glory!

    Drummers, horse-riders, dances, flutists, among other performers, added to the pomp and glamour for the five hours the programme lasted with intermittent interludes to allow organisers carry out some salient tasks in keeping with the schedule.

    The event, which began a little after midday, was heralded by the national Awujale anthem, a sort of cognomen and panegyrics of the royal deified as a god, as chants of “Orisha Ijebu, Orisha Ijebu” rent the air with many sons and daughters of the Ijebuland throwing banter and exchanging random banalities

    Thereafter the Adegunwas were turbaned in a ceremony witnessed by the Awujale himself and his wife, Olori Kemi Adetona, among other guests.

    The highpoint of the occasion was the admission of the oath of office on the Adegunwas amid cheers and acknowledgements by well-wishers. Shortly after the administration of the oath of office on the couple, there were fireworks and callisthenic displays in different hues and colours that added flavour to the feisty occasion.

    Expectedly, the Adegunwas were not just the cynosure of all eyes, they were also described in affectionate and superlative terms.

    Top on the list of admirers who praised the Adegunwas to high heavens was President Bola Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who arrived in the company of Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, acknowledging cheers from a packed audience.

    In his glowing tribute to the Ijebu-Ode born entrepreneur, Shettima described him in superlative adjectives, even as he acknowledged his diligence, resilience and resourcefulness.

    While noting that Chief Adegunwa is a legend and one of the greatest sons of Africa, Ijebuland and Nigeria as a whole, Shettima recalled that their paths crossed two years ago when he was hosted to a dinner at the country home of the Adegunwas in Ososa.

    According to him, one of the testaments to the celebrator’s love for humanity are his corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives that dot the landscape across the country.

    “Chief Adegunwa is a man worthy of emulation and certainly deserving of the title being bestowed on him and his wife, Mrs Fatima Adegunwa. On this joyous occasion, may your leadership bring peace, love and progress to Ijebuland,” he said.

    The President, who spoke shortly after the installation of the business mogul, described him as a striking personality of immense humility despite his invaluable contributions to business enterprise and creations of jobs for thousands of Nigerians.

    He said: “As we celebrate the conferment of Asiwaju of Ijebuland on Pa Sulaiman Adegunwa and Yeye Asiwaju Arobake of Ijebuland on his wife, we have to recognise that he is a legend of his time.

    “He is one of the greatest sons of Ijebuland and Africa, who has actively contributed to the advancement of industry and enterprise in Nigeria.”

    Speaking earlier, Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who heaped encomiums on the Adegunwas, said the couple was most deserving of the title of Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju/Arobake of Ijebuland.

    He said: “It is indisputably correct that Dr. Adegunwa and his wife duly deserve this honour from all indications going by what they have contributed to humanity and enduring legacies.

    “The main contributions of the Adegunwas to the real sector of Nigeria’s economy are indeed unquantifiable and worthy of commendation. Baba Adegunwa’s business and philanthropic activities span over six decades.”

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    Expatiating, Governor Abiodun, who said Baba Adegunwa was a forward-thinking person, recalled that the latter was able to easily diversify into other areas including banking, real estate, agriculture and education, because he moved with the times.

    “Baba knew that it was time to move beyond the photo laboratory and soon went into food business, and today he is the Chairman of Rite Foods. The seed of growth and degree of Rite foods across the country is unbelievable. Baba’s slogan is I can.”

    Abiodun, who expressed optimism that the new Asiwaju would bring his immense wealth of experience to bear on his role to the admiration of the people of Ijebuland, thanked the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona II, for the well-deserved honour to the Adegunwas.

    Earlier in his address, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, represented by the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, Dr Sunny Kuku, stated that the invaluable contributions of Adegunwa and his wife to enhancing the socio-economic development of Ijebuland and Nigeria as a whole, as well as their support and loyalty to the Awujale’s throne, made them worthy of the befitting honour.

    Kuku, who recalled the great exploits of the Adegunwas over the years, noted matter-of-factly that his association with the honouree dates back to over 50 years, stressing that the latter have continued to promote the ideas and ideals of socio-economic development to the admiration of all.

    While responding to the well-wishes, the host, who was effusive with praises for the royal father and the council of chiefs, assured that he would live up to their expectations.

    The industrialist pledged to remain committed to serving humanity and enhancing socio-economic development across Ijebuland and Nigeria.

    The title of Asiwaju of Ijebuland was first held by the late Chief Samuel Sonibare, a property merchant and notable politician.

    He was succeeded by a former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the late Prof Adebayo Adedeji, who died in April 2018.

    Guests at the elaborate event included the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele and her husband, Bode Oyedele; former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his wife, Bola; former governors of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, Segun Osoba, and Gbenga Daniel, who is currently representing Ogun East at the Senate.

    Others were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN; Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa; the Secretary to Ogun State Government, Tokunbo Talabi; onetime deputy governor Gbenga Kaka, other members’ of the Ogun State Council, Hon. Femi Ogunbanwo, representing Ijebu Central, paramount rulers of Yewa and Egbaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and Oba Adedotun Gbadebo respectively, among others.

    As the dignitaries filled out from the pavilion, the unspoken words in the minds of many others, especially indigenes of the town who also witnessed the august occasion, was that the momentous occasion would last in the memory.

  • I secured admission into UNILAG as married woman, left my three-day-old baby at home to resume classes- Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf

    I secured admission into UNILAG as married woman, left my three-day-old baby at home to resume classes- Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf

    Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf is the immediate past Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State. She served as Commissioner in charge of four different ministries between 2015 and 2023. The trained pharmacist cum industrialist, who will clock 50 later this month, spoke with KUNLE AKINRINADE about how growing up as a teenager among older male siblings and her disciplinarian mother’s grooming helped her to navigate politics and public office.

    Looking back to the beginning and seeing what you have achieved so far, would you say you are fulfilled?

    Looking back and seeing how far one has gone in life and the place where one started, it is all glory to God for what He has done in my life for over 49 years. It is marvelous. I came from a very humble background; from a royal lineage and a disciplined background. I always tell people that when you come from a humble background and you are disciplined, you have got the best to start off your life with.

    My late mother of blessed memory was a very tough woman.  I happened to be the first daughter with five senior guys. You can imagine when you now have a tough woman with five senior brothers. It was not fun. That is just it. The man who would have showered all that love and given me the best of childhood, death cut his life short. He died so early. I was about 12 years old when I lost my father. So, life became another thing because my mother would not mind me.

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    But to the glory of God, I appreciate the two of them. My mother made me to be the strong, independent woman which I am enjoying today because of the kind of training she gave to me. May her gentle soul continue to rest in peace. That has enabled me to train my children in the same manner. 

    I realise now that the way my father pampered me, if had grown up that way, I might not have been who I am today. My father showed me love; he pampered me, which I cherish. I would have become a spoilt child if the man had not passed away, because he saw me as his own mother, and he transferred that love to me that nobody could touch, pinch, or do anything to me. He addressed me like his own personal princess. So, I had a special place in my father’s heart. That made my mum to be so jealous of me thinking that it is this girl who owned everything.

    I shared everything at home before my father passed on. If I didn’t give you, then it was your ‘wahala’. But my mother was able to bring the best

    out of my life. She shaped me, unlike my father who tried to pamper me.

    How about your foray into business?

    The business aspect of my life is from my mother. She was a trader, and she taught me how to be an independent woman. She encouraged me not to get any paid job in my life; to work and work and depend on my own strength. That was what my mother used to tell all of us.

    I came from a polygamous home and I do not see anything wrong with polygamy, maybe because I loved my father. I think I enjoyed the life we used to live together with my step-siblings. I didn’t see anything wrong with each other. We love ourselves. I can’t remember any time my father or my mother, or my stepmother had issues that concerned us. So, we lived in a very large family. We lived in our own house and everybody lived together. I enjoyed my growing up days. I lived with my family, all of us sleeping in the sitting room. We played together, forgot everything and slept there while playing. So, I grew up in a very large family.

    At the same time, when it comes to religion, we don’t discriminate in my house. Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, it is none of anybody’s problem. My mother was a Christian, my father was a Muslim. We never forced anybody to go to the mosque. Whichever religion you chose was your own decision. Just be true to yourself and be kind to people in the community. So, religion was not a problem.  My mother was Christian until later in her life when she chose to become a Muslim. In fact by the time she chose to become a Muslim, her husband had passed on.  So, it is not as if the man made her to become a Muslim. 

    We all chose the way we wanted to live our lives. I chose to be a Muslim. In fact, when I was with her, we were going to church together. Even when I was in the University of Ibadan for my first degree, I was going to church until later in life when I decided that I would not go to church again; I wanted to understand more about Islam. It was willingly that I became a conscious Muslim.

    How many are you in the family?

    My father had 13 of us, and to the glory of God, we are all together. We love ourselves. Even when I was in office, you see them come and I will say, ‘I don’t have time for you. The person will say, ‘Okay, I will see you later.’ None of them said she was doing that because she was a commissioner. They didn’t see me as a commissioner then; they just see me as their sister, which I appreciate and enjoy so very much. We respect each other’s decision and value each other, my mother’s family too.

    My mother is from the large Omisore family in Ile Ife. She was a very tough woman. That family, many of them are very tough, both from my mother’s and father’s side. On my father’s side too, we are from the ruling house in Ijebu Ode. I enjoy the royalty in me, and I give God the glory. And that spur me

    into so many other things in life. So, growing up, I think I will appreciate God that I got the best from my family, and I thank God for that.

    What were the thorns in the course of your journey so far?

    There have been so many thorns, especially when I lost my father. It was like the walls wanted to crumble on me. He was my pillar of support in life. I could not imagine life without my loving father;  the world turned against me because I used to get everything from him. The man passed away when I was still in secondary school.  We were eight from my mother to take care of, and it became very tough. I should have dropped out of school when the man passed on, but because I promised my father that I would make sure that I graduated from the university, I think I was the first daughter of my father that actually went to the university.

    There was a time when there was an issue in my school, and my teacher called him. He came to visit me in school. My teacher reported me to him that I was not serious. He felt disappointed, but I promised him that I would graduate from the university. So, that was echoing in my head, that I promised my father that I was going to be a university graduate. I decided that whatever it was going to cost me to be a university graduate, I must achieve it. Yet, it was very tough. Nobody to pay your school fees, you needed to be running from one

    place to another to get your school fees, and so on.

    When I sat my first WAEC and I did not pass, my mother told me there was no need to go to school if I was not serious. I just packed my things, left the house and came to Ibadan to stay with a friend. I started looking for opportunities to enroll for WAEC and JAMB. So, I left the house, came to Ibadan, and I was able to pass WAEC and JAMB before I returned to my mother. It was when I was admitted into the university, because I said I was not going to be that trader she wanted to force me to become. 

    She wanted me to be a trader; not that she had anything against going to school but because of the finance, so that I could, through trading, assist in training others. I said I was not going to be the sacrificial lamb for others to excel; I would rather find my own feet. So, I just left to pursue my own dream and aspiration. And what was my dream? I just wanted to be a graduate.

    So, I left the house at a very young age. I got admitted into the University of Ibadan, but I was first given Biochemistry which was not the course of my choice. I tried JAMB again and again. I just wanted to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a biochemist. That is just who I am. Whatever I want to get, I don’t look at the challenges. I need to make sure that I get what I want, unless I am not interested in that particular thing. I don’t believe that there is a challenge you cannot overcome, unless you don’t have the strength to go further. I always tell my young people that nothing good comes easy. So, I love to struggle to get whatever I want.

    So, you finished your course as a biochemist?

    I did not finish as a biochemist. I left when I got married. I needed to relocate, and at that time, I had got admission into the University of Lagos to study Pharmacy. There was no need for me to stay back. The same year I got

    married was the same year I got admission to study Pharmacy.

    How did you cope with being newly married and your study as a new student?

    It was a tough one, I can tell you. But when you are determined, you will succeed. I was able to combine both, and here I am today as a proud pharmacist, and a proud mother.

    Was there any memorable incident as a married woman that almost stopped you from achieving your goal?

    Well, I can’t remember any, because my drive then was that I would be a pharmacist, so anything that would… I could remember when I had my second child. The third day, I left the hospital and I went straight to school. My mother was crying at home that I had to leave a baby and go to school, and I said the baby would not die; I am already out of the hospital.  So, I pursued my dream passionately. Whatever that wanted to stop my dream, I don’t always allow it. I love my son, not that I did not love him, and I knew nothing would happen to him between the time that I would go to school and return. So, instead of me sitting down at home to breastfeed the baby, I pressed the breasts inside the bottle, and I would leave it inside the cooler for him to have. I still make sure that the only thing was for me to wake up early enough to press enough breasts milk for him so that he would have sufficient breast milk between when I would go for lecture and by the time I would return. I practised exclusive breastfeeding despite my schedule.

    At a time that I had to stay in school, I had people living with me that would bring my child to the school with the car later in the afternoon to sleep over, and early in the morning, they would return my child home and I would continue my classes. I was able to manage the situation, though it was not easy.

    I got married in 1997, got admitted in 1998 and also had my first child in 1998 when I also resumed school. I had to like find a way. I could not finish Biochemistry, so I would now be a dropout from school of Pharmacy again, that I had been nursing to study? No, it was not going to be possible. I had to give it whatever it would take. To the glory of God, I was able to achieve that.

    You said you had five male siblings ahead of you. How did that prepare you to play in the political scene?

    I was born to be a guy, because I was nurtured by guys. I was in their midst, so I know how tough it was growing up with them. That prepared my journey to face anybody in life because my brothers were very tough. That prepared me. If I could face these lions in my house and survive, I can face anybody. I have never been to anywhere a man would now be a threat to my life or ambition. No, I believe that we are all human beings and equals.

    If I could survive the tyranny of my family then, there is no way any man can come and say because you’re a lady or because you are a woman…No, I don’t tolerate that. I don’t feel threatened at all. That actually prepared me for the journey in politics.

  • I secured admission into UNILAG as married woman, left my three-day-old baby at home to resume classes-Uzamat Akinbile – Yusuf

    I secured admission into UNILAG as married woman, left my three-day-old baby at home to resume classes-Uzamat Akinbile – Yusuf

    Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf is the immediate past Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture in Lagos State. She served as Commissioner in charge of four different ministries between 2015 and 2023. The trained pharmacist cum industrialist, who will clock 50 later this month, spoke with KUNLE AKINRINADE about how growing up as a teenager among older male siblings and her disciplinarian mother’s grooming helped her to navigate politics and public office.

    Looking back to the beginning and seeing what you have achieved so far, would you say you are fulfilled?

    Looking back and seeing how far one has gone in life and the place where one started, it is all glory to God for what He has done in my life for over 49 years. It is marvelous. I came from a very humble background; from a royal lineage and a disciplined background. I always tell people that when you come from a humble background and you are disciplined, you have got the best to start off your life with.

    My late mother of blessed memory was a very tough woman.  I happened to be the first daughter with five senior guys. You can imagine when you now have a tough woman with five senior brothers. It was not fun. That is just it. The man who would have showered all that love and given me the best of childhood, death cut his life short. He died so early. I was about 12 years old when I lost my father. So, life became another thing because my mother would not mind me.

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    But to the glory of God, I appreciate the two of them. My mother made me to be the strong, independent woman which I am enjoying today because of the kind of training she gave to me. May her gentle soul continue to rest in peace. That has enabled me to train my children in the same manner. 

    I realise now that the way my father pampered me, if had grown up that way, I might not have been who I am today. My father showed me love; he pampered me, which I cherish. I would have become a spoilt child if the man had not passed away, because he saw me as his own mother, and he transferred that love to me that nobody could touch, pinch, or do anything to me. He addressed me like his own personal princess. So, I had a special place in my father’s heart. That made my mum to be so jealous of me thinking that it is this girl who owned everything.

    I shared everything at home before my father passed on. If I didn’t give you, then it was your ‘wahala’. But my mother was able to bring the best out of my life. She shaped me, unlike my father who tried to pamper me.

    How about your foray into business?

    The business aspect of my life is from my mother. She was a trader, and she taught me how to be an independent woman. She encouraged me not to get any paid job in my life; to work and work anddepend on my own strength. That was what my mother used to tell all of us.

    I came from a polygamous home and I do not see anything wrong with polygamy, maybe because I loved my father. I think I enjoyed the life we used to live together with my step-siblings. I didn’t see anything wrong with each other. We love ourselves. I can’t remember any time my father or my mother, or my stepmother had issues that concerned us. So, we lived in a very large family. We lived in our own house and everybody lived together. I enjoyed my growing up days. I lived with my family, all of us sleeping in the sitting room. We played together, forgot everything and slept there while playing. So, I grew up in a very large family.

    At the same time, when it comes to religion, we don’t discriminate in my house. Whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, it is none of anybody’s problem. My mother was a Christian, my father was a Muslim. We never forced anybody to go to the mosque. Whichever religion you chose was your own decision. Just be true to yourself and be kind to people in the community. So, religion was not a problem.  My mother was Christian until later in her life when she chose to become a Muslim. In fact by the time she chose to become a Muslim, her husband had passed on.  So, it is not as if the man made her to become a Muslim. 

    We all chose the way we wanted to live our lives. I chose to be a Muslim. In fact, when I was with her, we were going to church together. Even when I was in the University of Ibadan for my first degree, I was going to church until later in life when I decided that I would not go to church again; I wanted to understand more about Islam. It was willingly that I became a conscious Muslim.

    How many are you in the family?

    My father had 13 of us, and to the glory of God, we are all together. We love ourselves. Even when I was in office, you see them come and I will say, ‘I don’t have time for you. The person will say, ‘Okay, I will see you later.’ None of them said she was doing that because she was a commissioner. They didn’t see me as a commissioner then; they just see me as their sister, which I appreciate and enjoy so very much. We respect each other’s decision and value each other, my mother’s family too.

    My mother is from the large Omisore family in Ile Ife. She was a very tough woman. That family, many of them are very tough, both from my mother’s and father’s side. On my father’s side too, we are from the ruling house in Ijebu Ode. I enjoy the royalty in me, and I give God the glory. And that spur me into so many other things in life. So, growing up, I think I will appreciate God that I got the best from my family, and I thank God for that.

    What were the thorns in the course of your journey so far?

    There have been so many thorns, especially when I lost my father. It was like the walls wanted to crumble on me. He was my pillar of support in life. I could not imagine life without my loving father;  the world turned against me because I used to get everything from him. The man passed away when I was still in secondary school.  We were eight from my mother to take care of, and it became very tough. I should have dropped out of school when the man passed on, but because I promised my father that I would make sure that I graduated from the university, I think I was the first daughter of my father that actually went to the university.

    There was a time when there was an issue in my school, and my teacher called him. He came to visit me in school. My teacher reported me to him that I was not serious. He felt disappointed, but I promised him that I would graduate from the university. So, that was echoing in my head, that I promised my father that I was going to be a university graduate. I decided that whatever it was going to cost me to be a university graduate, I must achieve it. Yet, it was very tough. Nobody to pay your school fees, you needed to be running from one place to another to get your school fees, and so on.

    When I sat my first WAEC and I did not pass, my mother told me there was no need to go to school if I was not serious. I just packed my things, left the house and came to Ibadan to stay with a friend. I started looking for opportunities to enroll for WAEC and JAMB. So, I left the house, came to Ibadan, and I was able to pass WAEC and JAMB before I returned to my mother. It was when I was admitted into the university, because I said I was not going to be that trader she wanted to force me to become. 

    She wanted me to be a trader; not that she had anything against going to school but because of the finance, so that I could, through trading, assist in training others. I said I was not going to be the sacrificial lamb for others to excel; I would rather find my own feet. So, I just left to pursue my own dream and aspiration. And what was my dream? I just wanted to be a graduate.

    So, I left the house at a very young age. I got admitted into the University of Ibadan, but I was first given Biochemistry which was not the course of my choice. I tried JAMB again and again. I just wanted to be a pharmacist. I never wanted to be a biochemist. That is just who I am. Whatever I want to get, I don’t look at the challenges. I need to make sure that I get what I want, unless I am not interested in that particular thing. I don’t believe that there is a challenge you cannot overcome, unless you don’t have the strength to go further. I always tell my young people that nothing good comes easy. So, I love to struggle to get whatever I want.

    So, you finished your course as a biochemist?

    I did not finish as a biochemist. I left when I got married. I needed to relocate, and at that time, I had got admission into the University of Lagos to study Pharmacy. There was no need for me to stay back. The same year I got  married was the same year I got admission to study Pharmacy.

    How did you cope with being newly married and your study as a new student?

    It was a tough one, I can tell you. But when you are determined, you will succeed. I was able to combine both, and here I am today as a proud pharmacist, and a proud mother.

    Was there any memorable incident as a married woman that almost stopped you from achieving your goal?

    Well, I can’t remember any, because my drive then was that I would be a pharmacist, so anything that would… I could remember when I had my second child. The third day, I left the hospital and I went straight to school. My mother was crying at home that I had to leave a baby and go to school, and I said the baby would not die; I am already out of the hospital.  So, I pursued my dream passionately. Whatever that wanted to stop my dream, I don’t always allow it. I love my son, not that I did not love him, and I knew nothing would happen to him between the time that I would go to school and return. So, instead of me sitting down at home to breastfeed the baby, I pressed the breasts inside the bottle, and I would leave it inside the cooler for him to have. I still make sure that the only thing was for me to wake up early enough to press enough breasts milk for him so that he would have sufficient breast milk between when I would go for lecture and by the time I would return. I practised exclusive breastfeeding despite my schedule.

    At a time that I had to stay in school, I had people living with me that would bring my child to the school with the car later in the afternoon to sleep over, and early in the morning, they would return my child home and I would continue my classes. I was able to manage the situation, though it was not easy.

    I got married in 1997, got admitted in 1998 and also had my first child in 1998 when I also resumed school. I had to like find a way. I could not finish Biochemistry, so I would now be a dropout from school of Pharmacy again, that I had been nursing to study? No, it was not going to be possible. I had to give it whatever it would take. To the glory of God, I was able to achieve that.

    You said you had five male siblings ahead of you. How did that prepare you to play in the political scene?

    I was born to be a guy, because I was nurtured by guys. I was in their midst, so I know how tough it was growing up with them. That prepared my journey to face anybody in life because my brothers were very tough. That prepared me. If I could face these lions in my house and survive, I can face anybody. I have never been to anywhere a man would now be a threat to my life or ambition. No, I believe that we are all human beings and equals.

    If I could survive the tyranny of my family then, there is no way any man can come and say because you’re a lady or because you are a woman…No, I don’t tolerate that. I don’t feel threatened at all. That actually prepared me for the journey in politics.

  • Kogbagidi loves for street talents

    Kogbagidi loves for street talents

    In a bid to uplift street talents, talent manager Olasunkanmi Quadri Taoreed aka Kogbagidi has initiated a remarkable mission through the Kogbagidi Recording Academy.

    This endeavour seeks to empower aspiring artists from underprivileged backgrounds, offering them invaluable support and guidance to flourish in the music industry.

    “I’ve been in the industry for decades, and I’ve always supported talented artists by giving them money to record their songs. But then I decided to create the Kogbagidi Recording Academy. It’s going to be easier for them, and they can learn more about music because most young and talented artists out there don’t know much about music. The Academy is to pave the way and support their vision and help them go global,” said Kogbagidi.

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    Emphasising his deep connection to the streets, Kogbagidi elaborated on his personal approach in reaching out to budding talents. “I do tell people that I am a street boy, and most guys making waves now are also from the streets. I message those young boys myself and sometimes pay for their transport to come to my studio. I’ve signed two of them, but I’ve not announced it because I want organic love for them. I don’t want them to be loved because of me,” he expressed.

    Reflecting on the hardships faced by emerging artists, Kogbagidi shed light on the harsh realities many endure. “There are a lot of challenges, especially because of our current economic situation right now. Some of them don’t even have a phone. Some of them don’t even have accommodation. They can’t think very well if there’s no accommodation,” he explained.

    Through the Kogbagidi Recording Academy, he aims to empower these individuals, providing them with the tools and resources necessary to pursue their dreams and make a lasting impact in the music industry.