•Three ex-principals get honorary degrees
We are de-emphasising the mercantilist and cash-and-carry mentality of giving honorary degrees to the rich and powerful. There are many people contributing to the development of this country but nobody is recognising them.
At six, the Federal University of Oye- Ekiti (FUOYE) in Ekiti State needs all the cash it can get for its development. Like other universities, it could have sourced such funds through the award of honorary degrees to the rich. But it did not do that. During its maiden convocation last weekend, it conferred honorary degrees on three retired principals. Explaining its action, the university said it wanted to create a society which rewards those who have contributed values and moulded lives and not one that worships money.
“There is a need to break away from the norm of giving undue recognition to moneybags, said FUOYE Vice CVC Prof Kayode Soremekun.
He stated:”There have been some eminent Nigerians who have contributed greatly to the nation’s development but who, over time, have been neglected because they didn’t have the money to buy the honour.
“We are de-emphasising the mercantilist and cash-and-carry mentality of giving honorary degrees to the rich and powerful. There are many people contributing to the development of this country but nobody is recognising them.
“This university has been receiving commendations here and there for ignoring the moneybags. Everything is not about silver and gold, we should remember the people on the other side of the divide.
“The gesture is to remember these great Nigerians who had in their own ways contributed to scholarship. It is sad that we are all suffering from amnesia which makes us forget so easily. The people we remember are only politicians; but with this, we will be setting a new moral standard for the Nigerian society.”
The awardees got honorary doctorate degrees in Educational Management. They are: a centenarian and former principal of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido Ekiti Chief Adepoju Akomolafe; 89-year-old former principal of Christ School, Ado-Ekiti Chief Francis Adebayo Daramola and 92-year-old first indigenous and longest-serving principal of Queen’s College, Lagos (1963-1977), Madam Efunjoke Coker. The fourth honoree, a 43-year-old Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expert, Dr. Babatope Agbeyo, was awarded a honorary doctorate in Business Administration.
Agbeyo is the chairman of Cornfield Group. FUOYE described him as a young and vibrant ICT expert who, despite having his first degree in Dramatic Arts, from the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1994, ventured into the ICT world, excelled and became an employer.
“Agbeyo is an example to the younger generation in creating employment and contributing positively to the economy. FUOYE is, therefore, honouring him for his ingenuity and reinventing himself by excelling in another field other than what he read in the university,” Soremekun said of the recipient.
Except Chief Daramola, the other two former principlas were not present to receive their awards because of old age. Agbeyo too was absent. Akomolafe and Agbeyo were represented by their sons, Oluwole and Tolulope. A former student of Madam Coker and Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Omolara Orafidiya, stood in for her.
Before the event, The Nation visited the former principals in their Lagos, Ibadan and Ado-Ekiti homes, where they spoke on the awards.
At the ceremony, 504 graduands cutting across 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions got their certificates, with 18 of them bagging a First Class.
‘My honour a big surprise’
Chief Daramola described his honorary degree as a “big surprise”
Daramola said having retired from public service over 30 years ago, the honour indicated that teachers’ reward was no longer in heaven.
The octogenarian said he was shocked because such honour was always reserved for statesmen, politicians, captains of industry and wealthy and powerful individuals.
Chief Daramola said: “It (award) came to me as a big surprise because there are many retired principals who could have been said to have done better than me when I had the opportunity to serve at my time.
“These honours often go to rich and influential people in the society. I look back in my entire career, it was only one principal-Chief Oyewole Jegede-who was given the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Federal Government.
“When I read the motive (by FUOYE) behind it that nobody becomes somebody without going through a teacher, it gladdened my heart,”he said.
What motivated you into teaching?
“I had two senior brothers, Samson Akomolafe and Ezekiel Fagbemigun, who were privileged to teach at Christs School. I was impressed with their dressing and profession,” said the octogenarian at his Ado-Ekiti home.”
He went on: “As a pupil in Ikole, I Chief Daramola described his honorary degree as a “big surprise”
Daramola said having retired from public service over 30 years ago, the honour indicated that teachers’ reward was no longer in heaven.
The octogenarian said he was shocked because such honour was always reserved for statesmen, politicians, captains of industry and wealthy and powerful individuals.
Chief Daramola said: “It (award) came to me as a big surprise because there are many retired principals who could have been said to have done better than me when I had the opportunity to serve at my time.
“These honours often go to rich and influential people in the society. I look back in my entire career, it was only one principal-Chief Oyewole Jegede-who was given the national honour of the Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) by the Federal Government.
“When I read the motive (by FUOYE) behind it that nobody becomes somebody without going through a teacher, it gladdened my heart,”he said.
What motivated you into teaching?
“I had two senior brothers, Samson Akomolafe and Ezekiel Fagbemigun, who were privileged to teach at Christs School. I was impressed with their dressing and profession,” said the octogenarian at his Ado-Ekiti home.”
He went on: “As a pupil in Ikole, I was taught by Mr Augustus Adebayo; he was always neat and a role model to many of us. Our teachers at Christ’s School were all well-dressed and we looked up to them as role models.
“One of my teachers was Mr Odetoyinbo from Osogbo and Mr Odumosu, both of them ended up being judges. They inspired us to the teaching profession. I went for teacher education instead of Cambridge direct studies.
“When I graduated from Fourah Bay College in 1964, I came back directly to Christ’s School as a senior member of staff and I taught continuously till December 1972. Within that period, I came under two very good principals in the persons of Reverend Cannon Donald Mason and Chief Rufus Akinloye Ogunlade.
“They were very efficient principals who were really involved in the development of children and I was really inspired by them and at the time I left Christ’s School to become Principal at Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School (ADICO), I was inspired to be involved in moulding future generations.
“My experience as a principal was exciting; I never had difficulty because I had been assistant under two good principals. I had been Head of Department, taught HSC (Higher School Certificate) students, I was in charge of games, staff socials, class teachers, among others.”
“Outside Nigeria, people on wheelchair are honoured. Usain Bolt was honoured for being the fastest man in the world. Limiting honors to rich and influential people made my nomination to surprise me; and I want to say a big thanks to the management of FUOYE led by Prof Soremekun.
“Some people may call him (Soremekun) a rebel or a revolutionary for departing from the normal practice. I am not saying this because I am a beneficiary but for counting people like us worthy for the honour,” Chief Daramola said.
The patriarch said he was fulfilled to have contributed to moulding future generations and the nation’s manpower.
According to him, some of his former students at Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School include the Vice Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, Osun State; former Head of Service in Ekiti State, Mr. Olufemi Adewumi; former Acting Governor of Ekiti State, Tope Ademiluyi and Auditor General in Local Governments of Ekiti State, Mr. Richard Adeojo, renowned literary icon, Prof. Niyi Osundare (during his HSC years); among others.
The retired principal said he had benefited immensely from many of his old students, some of who bankroll his medical treatment.
Chief Daramola advocated a return to full boarding system as a panacea to indiscipline and other vices afflicting students of nowadays. As boarders, Daramola said students were under strict supervision and never had time for cultism as prevalent in some secondary schools today. He also advised governments to take a holistic look into the problems confronting the education sector, in addition to improved teachers’ welfare. Daramola also advocated better funding for sporting activities in schools to positively engage students and prevent them from going into societal vices.
‘I would love to come back as a teacher’
Congratulations Ma! How do you feel being conferred with an honorary doctorate in a society which considers wealthy individuals for such honour?
It is encouraging to see that deserving people in our society are being honoured, irrespective of how wealthy they are. If I had another wish, I would love to come back as a teacher.
As a retired teacher and principal, what would you consider the greatest injustice by the authorities to the teaching profession?
I would plead with the authorities to pay the salaries and pension benefits of teachers, and indeed everyone, on time, as we want our children to be taught by people whose minds are on their work, and who can look forward to living their retirement in comfort. The success of our children is in their hands.
Would you recall one or two specific but unforgettable experiences during your service years?
One incident particularly stands out. I recall when Casino Cinema, so close to Queen’s College in Yaba, was bombed during the Civil War. I ran out of my house in my dressing gown and had the girls assembled to speak to them and calm their fears.
What new challenges would this award propel in you?
At my advanced age of 92, I seldom set myself any challenges. However, I am honoured and humbled to be receiving this award, and I will continue to advise teachers to love their students, give their best, and teach their students to be ambitious, hardworking, and honest, as the students are the new generation of Nigerians and future leaders.
What advice would you give your colleagues who are still in service?
I would say to them that they will reap, abundantly, the rewards of good teaching, as their students will always remember them with gratitude. Almost 40 years after retiring as a principal and teacher, my old students still visit me for which I am enormously grateful. We relive their student days and have a great deal of fun reminiscing.
‘I was not expecting this honour’
Can you give us a brief background of yourself?
I was born in 1917 to illiterate parents in Ekiti. I have an uncle who was educated, his name was Mr Samuel Kayode Fanimoni. He was a trained teacher from St Andrews College, Oyo and so he allowed me to stay with him and sent me to primary school. I was also sent to St Andrews College, Oyo which was run by missionaries, where I studied to become a teacher for four years — from 1936 to 1939.
“In my home at Ado-Ekiti where I started work with the influence of my people, I founded a secondary school called Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti. It was owned by the Ekiti people. I ran the school from 1954 to 1968 because politics came into being and I was made chairman of several civil committees until eventually by 1982 when I had a serious auto accident in which the bones of my left leg got broken. I travelled abroad and they couldn’t do anything to correct it; so I resorted to using a walking stick as I grew older.
How do you feel to be conferred with this honour?
Although I have made a lot of contributions to the development of Ekiti State, I was not expecting this honour. It is a surprise to me because I was not working then to be rewarded; I was working as a duty, so honouring me is God’s grace and will for my life.
‘’I love teaching and I will always be a teacher over and over again, because it is a noble profession that contributes to the development of humanity.
Unfortunately, people do not recognise or honour teachers. They don’t see any good thing coming out of them and they don’t show them respect, even including the masses.
Can you share with us some experiences you had during your career?
If not that my brains are weak now I would have remembered a lot of things I have done for people during my teaching profession. My life has been of great use to several people and God has produced great people through me.
In my career I have been able to assist so many people and find lasting solutions to their problems. It was my duty to teach and provide needs of the people.
Can you compare your teaching skills and ways with the present ones?
Things have changed now and the environment is not conducive for teachers again. Circumstances that surround them then and now are different. The teachers of now are not duly compelled to work, the feelings of the people are just for personal needs alone. There is no integrity again and all we have today are personal gains.
What advice would you offer teachers still in service?
They should try and give selfless service to humanity. They should do all they can to improve the condition of their environment. They should be sincere and change their lifestyle and they will be surely rewarded.
