Seasoned diplomat and scholar, Oladapo Olusola Fafowora joined the prestigious Nigerian Academy of Letters in a ceremony that also threw questions on the Ethical Dimensions of Citizenship. SEUN AKIOYE reports.
When it was first suggested to Oladapo Olusola Fafowora, a seasoned diplomat, erudite scholar and newspaper columnist that he was being considered for a fellowship of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), he felt a deep sense of pride. The first thing he did thereafter was to call his grandchildren in England to break the good news.
Naturally his grandchildren were elated but they also felt a sense of sadness. “So you will be writing letters now, you have never written any letters to us before,” they queried Fafowora.
The Diplomat who was a former Nigerian ambassador to Turkey and Iran was justified to feel privileged to be nominated a fellow of the NAL; the academy is not one of those run-off-the –mill organizations designed mainly for pecuniary purposes. The NAL also has nothing to do with writing letters as Fafowora’s grandchildren erroneously believed. It is one of the most prestigious academies in the country, comprising some of the most erudite thinkers who have excelled in scholarships and academic endeavors. Founded at the University of Ibadan on 14 November, 1991, it was designed as an apex organization of Nigerian academics and scholars in the Humanities to promote, maintain and encourage excellence in all branches of humanistic studies.
There are the Emeritus professors, the philosophers and social thinkers, the NAL is so prestigious and so conservative, its membership at any point is usually lower than 100 fellows. It is this rare and privileged egg heads that Fafowora and six others were asked to join on Thursday 14th August 2014 at the main auditorium of the University of Lagos.
The Question of citizenship
The 16th convocation and the investiture of the new fellows of the NAL was also a rallying point to address or as some would say “tackle” the dominant socio political and cultural issues confronting the Nigerian state. And it was the turn of Prof. Francis Egbokhare, to address the issues of “Ethical Dimensions of Citizenship.”
Egbokhare, himself a fellow of the NAL is a Professor of Linguistics, poet, critic, and human rights activist. He is author of several scholarly publications, books and journal articles. He is currently the Director, University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre.
Egbokhare began his intellectual discuss in a most unusual way choosing to take the subject through the lens of historical perspectives while at the same time juxtaposing it with the relevant perspectives of modern realities.
“Mr. President Sir,” Egbokhare began. “ I have been asked to address the theme:” Ethical Dimensions of Citizenship,” in the context of Nigeria’s history, this is the best of times to do that, in terms of the prevailing national environment, it is the worst of times.”
Drawing inspiration of history, Egbokhare submitted that the problems of Nigeria as erroneously canvassed by many is not ethnicity -as the different ethnic nationalities have been living together and found a way to cohabit peacefully- but the elites who though educated have abandoned scholarship and successfully captured the political stage thereby limiting resources for the masses.
He therefore averred that the indigene and settlers question should not arise. “ Historically, we are all settlers in Nigeria and many of the ruling houses that serves as rallying point for indigenes/settlers clause are all settlers themselves,” he said. He also lampooned the tradition even in the academic where certain quotas are reserved for indigenes or where non indigenes cannot rise to a particular position in the academic environment.
The solution according to Egbokhare is education where history plays a big part. “Education is key, nationalism is enhanced when the citizens are familiar with their own history because history is the center of self discovery,” he said. The erudite scholar also had harsh words for the decision to stop the teaching of History in Nigerian schools describing it as “foolish” and a “ celebration of congenital ignorance.”
The President of NAL, Prof. Munzali Jibril also threw his weight into the current insecurity in the country urging President Goodluck Jonathan to empower the Service Chiefs with the tools to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
Putting the blame on the Federal Government, Jibril said the Nigerian people are tired of the excuses made by government as it is its responsibility to make Nigeria work. He also averred that the intervention of the NAL at the National Conference made a difference in the outcome of its final dialogue but regretted the subject of good governance was not given adequate prominence. “It is the most important thing we should have tackled,” he regretted.
The ritual of investiture
The NAL has a conservative but interesting ritual in the conduct of investiture of its new fellows and this occasion was no different. The Public Orator, Prof. Olu Obafemi and the Master of Ceremonies Prof. Dele Layiwola played prominent roles in it.
The new fellows were called to the podium one after another and the public orator read out a citation which also served as justification for the award of the fellowship. The new fellows are giants in the field of humanities and the Arts where they have maintained dominance of scholarship.
The new Fellows are: Prof. Agboola Adesanoye, described as a focused scholar and one of the earliest to carry out researches on varieties of English language. He is also a UNESCO expert on book publishing. Also admitted was Prof. Philip Ogundeji, a professor of Yoruba studies at the University of Ibadan who specialized in Yoruba drama.
There was Prof. Olabiyi Yai, who earned his place as an Overseas Fellow. He is of Republic of Benin origin and was dressed in a Danshiki, he became a Prof. of African Languages in 1983. He was described as a man of universal academic exposure having studied and taught all over the world in Brazil, Benin, USA, Nigeria and others. He is also a polyglot speaking, Portuguese, Fon, Spanish, French, English and Yoruba. The orator said Yai is a great pride to Africa, a global intellectual and bridge builder. Yai is also a humble man; he bowed to everyone way too often.
There were the Honorary Fellows. Those who though not in the academic but had contributed in no small measure to the spirit of scholarship and intellectualism in every way conceivable. There was Amb. Oladapo Fafowora. He was described as a seasoned diplomat, public servant and consistent newspaper columnist which “make him a prime candidate for the NAL.”
Fafowora had his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1964 followed by a Distinction in Master of Art in London. He had his Doctorate at Oxford in 1972. Fafowora was Nigeria’s ambassador to Turkey and Iran in 1985, he was a veritable think tank for the foreign service. He was Nigeria’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations and had numerous high profile public appointments. He has also published many important books and journals.
The audience appreciated notable landmarks in the citation with an applause which stopped the reading momentarily. At the end of it all, the Orator presented the distinguished diplomat to the President of NAL and craved his permission that he be admitted into the fellowship as a honorary fellow.
Olori Olatokunbo Gbadebo, the wife of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo 111, was also admitted as an honorary fellow. She was recorded to have an “impressive record of achievements”. She had a first class honors in French, did her Masters in French in Paris and a Doctorate still in French in 1978 at the University of Ibadan.
She had served in various capacities as a teacher, organizer and public intellectual. Being a royal, a trumpet accompanied her graceful climb to the podium while a court servant sat at the back of the hall yelling at precise intervals “ Oba nki o,” (The Kings extends his greetings.) Her husband, the Alake of Egbaland, sat in the front rows lapping in the proud moments.
The investiture was more than mere reading of citation; it was a slow and deliberate ritual. Nothing is taken for granted and the President was “called upon,” many times to allow the presentation of the justification of a new fellow. Ambassador Fafowora responded on behalf of the new fellows, thanking the President and others for thinking them worthy of the honor. He pledged the fellow’s commitment to the ideals and ethics of the academy.
The programme ended at exactly the time it was scheduled to end. Everything had been done to time and every frame of the programme fitted perfectly. So much for the meticulousness of the distinguished intellectuals.
