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Tag: memories

  • Memories of FCT Minister Bello as Corper

    SIR: Understandably, one of the goals of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is to make Nigerian youths, leaders of tomorrow – to know more of their country, its cultures, its people and its diversities.

    For this reason, the Nigerian youths upon graduation are sent out to serve their fatherland for one year outside their states of origin. So it was when skinny, slightly built Muhammadu Musa Bello graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1977, the NYSC authorities found he was from Adamawa State and chose to post him to Lagos State.

    The Lagos NYSC handlers, when Walter Oyatogun ‘Wakie –Wakie’ was their spokesman, also decided to post Bello to Holy Saviour’s College, Isolo. That was when corps members T. Ayuba, M.M Bello and O. Amupitan became flat mates in Isolo -three young Nigerian graduates from Plateau, Adamawa and Kwara states were brought to Lagos to face a little southernisation, designed to weld Nigeria into a better whole.

    Did I hear somebody say the morning shows the day? This axiom is very true of Muhammadu Musa Bello. It was in the era when if you were a Nigerian varsity graduate, you would have been trained to be as good as anyone else from any other university across the globe.

    There were only five universities graduating students in Nigeria as at that date. They admitted the best leaving the rest to seek admission abroad. That was the era that produced Musa, as we simply called him then, and he was very good and diligent. He taught two streams of Form Five with 50 students each, and many students again in Form Three.

    Believe me, it was a herculean task, because in truth, those pupils had neither seen much of good tutoring nor imbibed the culture of determined self-scholarship. The long free time from Friday to Monday, when yours truly would have been whisked away to Palmgrove to rock whatever Owambe that Lagos could offer, Musa would stay back in that backwater environment forming lesson notes and marking some 200 scripts, as if he was a true staff, not a mere corps member.

    In those roaring years of the 70’s, when Nigeria’s problem reputedly was not money but how to spend it because of its abundance, when not many people placed much premium on matters of faith, Musa was different. He would get us to lower our booming stereophonic system and chatters that he could knock his forehead repeatedly to the ground on five separate occasions per day.

    Much later on, when I learnt Musa had become chairman, National Hajj Commission, I heaved a sigh of relief that people were beginning to put right pegs in right holes. Now again after many meritorious years’ service to the Muslim ummah, Musa has mounted to this place of greatness as Minister of the Federal Republic, in a government of progressive tendency. Now it is clear; those big big books on socialism that Musa was always pumping down his gumption were not in vain after all. He has finally helped the berth of a government that plans to put premium on the needs of the Nigerian people as a whole, not on only a few thereof, that Musa has been propounding since his youth, even as a Lagos corper. Congratulations Honourable Minister, FCT

     

    • Ola Amupitan,

    Lagos. 

  • Memories of FCT Minister Bello as Corper

    SIR: Obile community is an oil bearing community in Ohaji, Imo State. It is reputed to have the largest deposit of gas in Nigeria presently.

    Obile road which was closed in 1976 by Imo State government is the old Douglas road constructed by the colonial government and named after late Mr. Douglas, a Briton. The road was the major link to what we have now as Imo and Rivers states, all in the defunct Eastern Region then.

    It was when Late Dr. M.I. Okpara became premier of the defunct Eastern Region that the vast land was acquired for the establishment of the then, Ohaji farm settlement, now Imo palm, from our benevolent fathers free of charge with unfulfilled promises that their community would be supplied with electricity, provided with potable water and their children given scholarship to university level.

    After acquiring the vast land, Dr. Okpara decided to plant rubber trees on the entire land. The rubber trees were planted by the two sides of the road according to the master plan of the farm, leaving the existing major road open from Obile down to Control Post, Owerri via World Bank Housing Estate Owerri.

    It was in 1976, when Imo State was created that the rubber trees were up-rooted and replaced with palm trees. This was when Obile road was closed from the boundary between Obile and Imo palm down to Control Post Owerri through Amafor, Obogwe, Okwuku and Umugwuma via  World Bank Housing Estate Owerri.

    Imo State government did not follow the master plan of the farm by giving some meters gap away from the two sides of the major road before planting the palm trees as was the case when rubber trees were planted. They planted the palm trees right on the middle of the existing ancient road of the community, leaving the people in perpetual suffering and in an economic quagmire till date.

    After the closure of the road, Imo State government decided to construct a new road from Owerri down to Egbema through Imo palm, cutting Obile off without considering the fate of the people whose only out-let to the outside world they had closed.

    Since the closure of the road, life has been very difficult for the people from Obile community due to absence of accessible road to Owerri market, the only major market for the sale of their farm produce.

    The people of Obile are making this clarion call to Imo State government as law-abiding community to re-open their closed road by up-rooting all the palm trees planted on the middle of the road that makes it inaccessible for them for over four decades now.

    The re-opening of this road will go a long way to mitigate the untold hardship, save lives and property, and will also give them the richly deserved sense of belonging as people from Imo State and as an oil bearing community.

    Another harrowing experience of the Obile community is the award of the contract for one of their rural roads by NDDC to an incapable contractor for over five years now. All road contracts awarded the same year with that of Obile have been completed and commissioned; we want to know what is holding the completion of that of Obile road.

    Let NDDC send their inspection team to Obile in Ohaji to see the sorry state of Obile road for which the commission has made full payment to the erring contractor.  The management of NDDC should, for the sake of peace, get the contractor back to site at Obile, or re-award the contract to a capable contractor.

     

    • Daniel Oparah,

     Ohaji, Imo State.

  • Onibokun: Fond memories of a town planner

    Onibokun: Fond memories of a town planner

    It was an emotional event as members of family and friends of the late Prof. Adepoju Onibokun remembered the town planner who was credited with the design of the Federal Capital Territory.

    At an event which took place at the International Conference Centre of the University of Ibadan, an engineer and town planner, who contributed to the development of some of the highways in the country, Prof. John Falade, said many developing areas manifest features of slum settlements because the government has failed to play its role of planning the urban areas.

    ýProf. Falade, who was the guest lecturer on the occasion, observed that it was easier for the government to work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to achieve success in all areas, adding that “government, through the planning agency, is supposed to have plans for our communities. What we find in Nigeria at the moment is abnormality, as people do not see town planners as their friends.ý”

    Continuing, he said: “The case of Ibadan is a quite interesting one. I grew up in Ibadan to some extent. I was here from 1969 to 1974, when I travelled abroad.

    “The problem was that the planning was truncated, following the Agbekoya incident. That was the time of Maj-Gen Adeyinka Adebayo (rtd).

    “Residents protested that town planners were extorting money from them, some people were killed. The protesters went to Agodi Prisons to set some people free. “Then the governor went on television to say that there was no town planning again. It was a law. So, all the development you see towards and around were as a result of how people began to build without government’s approval.

    “This is the genesis of narrow roads in Ibadan today. You see a lot of people building their houses without approval.

    “Town planning came as a preventive arm of medical service. We have to make sure that town planning works. We need to obey town planning rules. It is for our own good. In England where I practise, they don’t joke with it. So, we must learn to obey it for our own health.”

    He linked poor planning of the developing areas with government’s lack of political will to enforce town planning rules, warning that poor living conditions in the areas could lead to outbreak of diseases and other disasters.

    He said: “Government should have planned the developing areas through the planning agencies ahead of the population explosion that is now being witnessed in those communities. By so doing, a planning standard would have been established. People should also stop tampering with the size of the roads in developing areas.

    “Developing areas in Nigeria are in a bad shape and people no longer regard town planners as their friends.”  He acknowledged that low income earners and poor people might never have the financial power to stay in well-planned communities such as Government Reservation Areas, but urged the government to commit itself more to planning the developing areas.

    He also said government could help low income earners own their houses by allocating plots of land to them for free instead of selling to the rich.

    He said: “We have many housing estates coming up but not for the low income earners. The easiest way for low income earners to build houses in Nigeria is through co-operative housing scheme. In Nigeria these days, mortgage does not help the poor because the loan provider will ask for collateral that a poor man cannot afford.

    “By the provision of the Land Use Decree, government owns the land. So, it can help the poor by giving them lands to build their houses instead of profiting from selling them to the rich. It’s the best subsidy to help the poor.”

    The chairman on the occasion, emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo described the late don, who died at the age of 63, as one of Nigeria’s bravest scholars.

    According to the don who said the invitation was what he could not possibly refuse “because of the personalities involved” recalled that “as far back as 1990, the late Prof. Onibokun established the Centre for African Settlement Studies and Development (CASSAD).

    “Then in 1990, he took the brave and far-reaching decision of establishing CASSAD. The centre is situated in the same area of Bodija as where I live and I never ventured from my house into the town without seeing the centre’s sign board which, indeed, is still there.

    “My first impression of Prof. Onibokuný was that of a man bursting with physical and mental energy. There was something about his look and bearing which conveyed a sense of resoluteness and urgency. It appeared as if he was being driven by a great idea. Then one heard that he was involved with the big Abuja project under the supervision of Prof. Akin Mabogunje.

    “But when he took early retirement and unfolded his plans for CASSAD, one concluded that this must have been the big idea which had been going through a period of gestation in his mind. It seemed an ambitious idea, but Prof. Onibokun seemed to have what it takes to launch such a seemingly elaborate project which, one hoped, would bring some understanding and, ultimately, order to the African habitat. Ibadan would appear to be the ideal place to site such a project.”

    Describing the late Onibokun’s legacies as unforgettable, Banjo called for massive overhauling of universities.

    He said: “Our universities need massive overhauling to make them a veritable engine of development, producing scholars working within and outside the university system, who will ensure a consistent rise in the level of development in the country.

    “Prof Onibokun has bequeathed a legacy, which should challenge generations after him to be in the vanguard of efforts to develop the country and enhance the well-being and happiness of its inhabitants.”

    ýAkin Mabogunje, another erudite Prof., described the late Prof. Onibokun as an enterprising Nigerian, who was concerned with the problem in the country.

    “He paid attention to ways in which we really don’t pay attention to our cities. And he wanted to come and see what can be done to improve the conditions in the cities.

    “Although he worked for many years in the public sector, he used his money to start what is currently known as CASSAD. And so, he gave examples to people that you don’t wait for government to solve a problem.

    “Ten years after, some things have changed; some are just as bad as when he left. This celebration is to show that we have not forgotten him and his contribution and to use it as an example which people can copy and improve upon,” he said.

    A book was launched in commemoration of the late scholar and town planner of repute.

  • Which of these do you remember as a Nigerian student?

    Which of these do you remember as a Nigerian student?

          
    Twitter in the Nigerian space is in a state of high with the number one trending hashtag #secschoolinnigeria. Many tweeps are sharing their secondary school memories with meme, pictures, videos and tweets. Hilarious and shocking as they may seem, these tales are true. Take a look at some interesting memories.

    Interesting stuff right? Were you able to relate to any of the memories above? If yes, join the conversation by following us on twitter to share your memories. Mention @thenationnews for a retweet and include the hashtag #secschoolinnigeria.

  • Fond memories of a mother

    Fond memories of a mother

    It is often  said that “sweet are the memories of the righteous”. So it was when  prayers and a reception were held in honour of the late wife of a renowned Engineer, Afolabi Salami. Mrs Kaarina Salami died on May 29. She was 67.

    Her remains were buried on June 24, at Sundskajen. Limhamn, Malmo, Sweden. She was an inspiration to many, home and abroad.

    The Marina, on Osborne Road, Foreshore Estate in Osborne Phase 2, Ikoyi, Lagos, venue of the reception was filled to the brim.

    There were personalities from both the private and public sectors. Many foreigners also attended the ceremony.

    Solar Entertainment Disc Jockey supplied jazz music–in the spirit of the ceremony, obviously.

    Mr Salami in a white native dress, sat  among his friends and family members. His daughter, Minna, sat with her friends and relations on another table. Mr Salami and Minna went round to exchange pleasantries with their guests.

    To Minna, her mother’s death has left her in pains.

    The widower described his wife of 40 years as a “admirable”.

    Other guests and family members spoke about the deceased.

    Managing Director, Lotus Capital, Ikoyi, Mrs Tayo Ogbebor, who is a relation of the deceased, described the late Mrs Salami as “precious” and “one in a million”, saying she was someone who you looked forward to seeing. “You can never be around her and not feel her love,” she said.

    She she would miss her presence, Mrs Ogbebor said, praying that God would give her the strength to bear the loss.

    Another relation and Managing Director, Bola Frances Enterprising Limited, Mrs Aderonke Sanyaolu, said the deceased was not only an aunt but also a source of inspiration to her.

    Mrs Sanyaolu, who could not hold back her tears, wiped her face with a white handkerchief, describing her as an amazing person who encouraged others.

    “She was always there for you to talk to, she was good and easy going.

    A lot of times you could say you want to see her for 30 minutes, but you would find yourself there still discussing comfortably with her hours later. She was an adult that we could always run to; she was a fun to be with and she was a best friend that would be greatly missed”.

    Principal, Unique Architects, Debo Aina said the late Mrs Salami adapted herself as if she was a Nigerian.

    The Group Managing Director, Hoten Engineering Limited, Biodun Osodi, described the late Mrs Salami as a good wife of a dear friend, whose friendly disposition and care would be missed.

    Chief Pius Akinyelure described her as one with a homely disposition. Chief Jibowu Owoade, who has known the late Mrs Salami for about 40 years, said she was humble, generous and loveable.”

  • Memories of college days

    Memories of college days

    If memories are what life is made of, then for alumni of Ilesa Grammar School, a part of their life has be immortally recognised in a book. The book titled, The Story and Memoirs of Ilesa Grammar School, is written by Olaleye Falore, who ironically, did not even attend the school.

    Based on heavy research, the book traces how the founding fathers of the Ilesa Grammar School – Egbe Atuluse Ile Ijesa (Ijesa Improvement Society) – made sure the school was established in 1934 with 21 boys who passed an examination conducted on January 18, 1934. Though, Ilesha had its first primary school, St. John’s Primary School, Iloro, in 1888, for 45 years, schools in Ilesha did not go beyond primary level. The Egbe saw the need to establish a secondary school, to among other things, cater to Ijesa indigenes furthering their education without the additional expense of going too far from home.

    Titbits such as choice of location of the school, the appellation of whether it should be ‘High School,’ ‘Grammar School,’ or ‘College’ and how Rev. M.S. Cole, who was supposed to have been the first principal, was ‘hijacked’ and convinced to be principal of Oduduwa College, Ife, on his return of a reconnaissance trip to Ilesha. With facilitates that would be considered crude by modern day standards, Falore tells the story of the humble beginnings of the school. Some pictures of early school buildings also promise to evoke memories in those familiar with the school.

    While, it set out to cater for Ijesa indigenes, the school later metamorphosed into a boarding in its early years, attracting students from diverse ethnic backgrounds and regions. Falore notes that at that period, tribalism and ethnicity were not  decimal on the Nigerian fabric. Most likely, the regimented lifestyle provided discipline and ensured camaraderie – the sort, usually noticeable amongst people who spend a lot of quality time together.

    In telling the story, Falore deploys copious interviews he had with 68 alumni, former teachers and administrators of the school, many of whom are in their twilight years.  And these interviews provide lucid recollections of college days both from the students’ perspectives as well as from those of the administrators. The mood is felt from these interviews such as that with Phillip Umeadi, SAN, (Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria), who attended the school between 1945 and 1950.

    ‘It was very exciting,’ said Umeadi, an easterner, crossed the River Niger for the first time to attend Ilesa Grammar School.

    ‘It was more of fun to me; meeting people from different background. The boarding house was full of some miscreants from Lagos who were handed over to Rev Lahanmi by their parents or guardians for inculcation of discipline into their psyche.’

    The author also captures pranks of students in a chapter titled, Students Were No Angels.

    A particular incident tells of a student of the 1965/69 set, O.A, sighted in town by the vice-principal during school hours. The principal made a note of checking on the boy immediately he got to school, only to meet the boy already in the school by the time he got back. The trick was that he had entered the boot of the vice-principal’s Peugeot 404 car and hitched a ride back to school.

    Alighting unnoticed, O.A. quickly removed the red cardigan he was wearing and keeping a straight countenance, walked in sight of a visibly perplexed vice-principal.

    The vice-principal asked: ‘Were you not the boy I saw in town just now?’

    ‘I, Sir. No Sir,’ replied O.A.

    ‘But, I saw you just now?’

    ‘Not I, Sir. It couldn’t have been me,’ asserted O.A as he walked away from the vice-principal and headed for his classroom to join his mates.’

    The chapter contains various hilarious recollections of jokes, anecdotes and pranks which are the stuff school reunions for old students are made of.

    The book also gets the views of staff – both academic and non-academic. And the modifications each of the 17 principals to have steered affairs made to shape Ilesha Grammar School to its current shape is detailed in chronological order in a chapter titled The Principals of Old. One gets to know, for instance that the pioneer Principal Rev Canon E. C. Doherty (1934 – 1936), who was famed for wearing academic gowns to assemblies on Wednesday mornings, took the school from a rented apartment to its permanent site by its second year of existence and that the second principal Rev N. O. A. Lahanmi (1939 – 1953) exhibited kindness to indigent students, allowing them to continue at school without paying the fees.

    That Falore has documented moments of Ilesa Grammar School will no doubt be appreciated by a large number of old students, many like Alhaji Lateef Jakande (former Lagos State governor), Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe (former University of Lagos vice-chancellor and present vice-chancellor of Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo), Chief Sonny Odogwu (Ide Ahaba of Asaba and an insurance magnate), Dr. Dimeji Alo (Director General Chief Executive of Financial Institutions Training Centre, Lagos) who later became prominent members of the society.

    This is captured in the glowing testimonies of some of the interviewed old students.

    ‘What I’m today is due to the Spartan discipline which I got from my parents and which was continued at Ilesa Grammar School,’ said Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (1940 – 1944), a retired Justice of the Supreme Court.

    Former Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Hon Justice S. M. Alfa Belgore (1951 – 1956), an old student who wrote the foreword of the book, said, ‘If I were to come to this world again, I would certainly want to be a student of Ilesa Grammar School. It is the best school in the world, you know. No regret.’

    While many non-alumni may not agree with such assertions, the author, with presentation of fluid prose based studious research and interviews, has managed to evoke a sense of nostalgia of how Ilesa Grammar School became a cherished memory for those who walked through it.

  • Memories from the past

    For Cecilia, the past few months have been chaotic indeed. The lady in her mid thirties has had to work on so many projects and family engagements that could not be shelved. Personally, her philosophy in life is that what must be done must be done well. So, she put all her resources and energy into the activities and made sure everything was in order.

    By the time she was sure that everything was okay, Cecilia realised that the stress had taken a toll on her health. She decided that it was better to take a break for two weeks. Naturally, travelling came to her mind and she made arrangements to go out of town for a while.

    It was fun and Cecilia met new friends. Fortunately or unfortunately, two days before the end of this memorable holiday, Cecilia slipped and got a dislocation in the right arm. What a pity! The pain was simply unbearable and the trauma made her forget the sweet memories she had just experienced. She then had to ask for an extension of her leave to sort out this silly arm that now became the centre of attention.

    Her boss granted the leave extension and advised her to take things calmly. The first few days and weeks were very traumatic for her. The arm ached so badly and she wondered why it chose to happen at this point. As a matter of fact, the strain reminded her about the bitter memories from her last relationship. “Emeka was an ungrateful idiot. When I met him, he had no job, no house and was nothing except his degree. At that point, he looked very humble and appeared to be righteous.” She strongly believed in impacting people’s lives and she began to help him open doors that had been closed for so long. “I had some savings in the cooperative society of the organisation that I was working for and I was allowed to borrow twice as much. I gave the money to Emeka to start a business and he was very happy at that point.”

    Was that a smart thing to do? Well, we can’t really blame her because love is about giving and sharing. “He used the money to start a business and things went right. I also introduced him to a number of friends and acquaintances and he got a number of contracts in the process.”

    Two years down the lane, Emeka’s fortune changed, and for his sweetheart, this was the best time to show gratitude. She was wrong! Just before she realised that she had made a mistake, he began to tell her that she was not fit to be his better half. “Suddenly, he began to complain about my dress sense and a number of other things. I told him that I would change and he agreed to give me another chance.”

    Was this lover boy truly going to give our friend a second chance? “About six months after, I got a letter from Emeka, saying that he had travelled to the United States and that he had married someone else.” Poor Cecilia, she was devastated and her heart sank. She promised never to fall in love again. Thinking about this grand betrayal now made her health deteriorate. Interestingly, the doctor on duty took a keen interest in her. It turned out that he was another victim of love and somehow they got closer and closer. He turned out to be the man she had been waiting for all this while.

    The big question here, is how do you find your bearing when you are at an emotional crossroads? First, it is important not to play the blame game. Assigning blame will cause the other person to either get defensive or feel worthless. Neither of those feelings promotes peace in a relationship. When blame enters into the conversation, then one person becomes the victim and the other becomes the reason why bad things are happening. Does that sound like a platform for a loving and peaceful relationship? You are in this relationship together and assigning blame just creates a separation in your partnership.  Resist the temptation to assign blame, band together, and work through the situation like partners.

    One other thing that you need to do is to remember why you fell in love with them in the first place. When we are upset with our partner, it is easy to focus on what we think they did wrong, or even what we think is wrong with them. How productive is that mindset? What we focus on expands and becomes more noticeable. Wouldn’t it be better to remind yourself what you love about this person and why you fell in love with them in the first place? If you want a happy and peaceful relationship, apply the life skills of positive thinking and positive focus.

    If you find yourself feeling moody and argumentative, focus on the blessings in your life. Focus on the deep value that your partner has added to your life. By shifting your focus, you shift your state away from the negative and toward the positive.

  • Sweet memories of the just

    Sweet memories of the just

    A remembrance prayer for a former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Muqadat Bello, has been held at his Ijegun, Lagos home, writes NNEKA NWANERI  

    It was not a gathering for dancing and merriment, but one to reflect on the life and times of a patriot. Guests sat quietly on white plastic chairs arranged under three to four sets of canopies. There was soft, soulful music from a standby record player.

    It was a remembrance and prayer session for the former Lagos State Commissioner for Education, the late Alhaji Muqadat Bello, organised by the family at his residence in Ijegun, a suburb of Lagos.

    Some of the guests were dressed in native attires with matching caps and head gears, while the clerics were easily identified in their flowing white robes and turbans. It was a low-key event.

    Although he died five years ago, on March 7, 2010, the attendance by family members, friends, associates and neighbours was an affirmation of a man whose legacies are commendable.

    Tributes paid to him in turns by the guests reinforced the fact that the late Alhaji touched and influenced many who met him.

    The late Bello was a commissioner during Alhaji  Lateef Jakande’s regime and Secretary of the Awori Resource Group. He died at 79.

    One of his cousins, Muhammed Buhari, an engineer, said of him: “Issues that would not benefit him materially stole his attention more than those that made clear economic sense. I have not met a better community leader like him.”

    About 15 clerics were in attendance. They came in groups and later took turns to admonish the gathering on the essence of life and the necessity of spiritual uprightness.

    They urged the gathering to emulate the good deeds of the late Bello, who they said devoted his life time to serving God the way he served humanity.

    The late Bello’s 69-year-old widow, Alhaja Taibat Titilayo, was joined by her siblings including, Alhaja Idiat Buhari; Mrs Kafilat Shodeinde; Mrs. Musili Folawiyo and Mrs. Serifat Folawiyo

    Others were the Baba Oba of Ijegun, Alhaji Mustapha Obalagbe, the Eletu Afobaje of Ijegunland, Chief Mutairu Alli and Alhaji Abdur-Rasak Afolabi.

    Members of Nasrullahil-Fathi (NASFAT) society, which the widow belongs, were led to the event by their Chairman, Ijegun branch, Alhaji Wasiu Salaudeen; Alhaji Mahmoud Matase, and Alhaji Najeemdeen Abdul-Azeez.

    Also in attendance were Nasfat’s Council of Elders Chair Alhaji Adekunle Lukman; Women Leader, Alhaja Kudrat Ariyayo; Alhaji Bashiru Sanni and Alhaji Bakare Moshood. They were joined by Alhaji Olayiwola Omodudu, a socialite and businessman.

    Talking about the event, Alhaja Bello said it was to honour her husband, who she described as a friend, brother and confidante.

    Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Zubair urged the gathering to emulate the deceased’s great qualities, adding: “This is the only way we all can live well and have something to show when we are eventually called forth to a higher service.”

  • Memories of people’s VC

    Memories of people’s VC

    Prof Osayuki Oshodin has bowed out as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), after a five-year tenure. But he left enduring legacies, write EDDY UWOGHIREN (300-Level Medicine and Surgery) and EZEKIEL EFEOBHOKHAN (400-Level Pharmacy).

    His tenure ended on November 29, but Prof Osayuki Oshodin’s achievements  as  Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) will never be forgotten by staff and students.

    Oshodin, a professor of Health Education, succeeded Prof Eddy Nwanze in 2009. Aware of the taking cognizance task ahead of him, Oshodin rolled up his sleeves and went to work immediately.

    In order to restore the university’s glory, the former VC stepped on to.

    Prof Oshodin presented programmes that changed the face of the university. He introduced a high-level disciplinary code for staff and students. During his administration, the campaign against students’ harassment by lecturers was strengthened; indecent dressing and immoral act among staff and students were prohibited. For many, the fear of Oshodin was the beginning of wisdom.

    Prof Oshodin initiated the renovation and building of facilities, including Pharmacy Office Complex, New Auditorium Complex, Central Research Laboratories, Faculty of Education Laboratories, Centre for Entrepreneurial Development (CED) Building, X-Ray House, School of Basic Medical Sciences office complex, construction of road within the campus, office block for Students’ Affairs’ Unit, among others.

    He introduced and got accreditation for Physiotherapy, Radiography, and Library and Information Sciences, among other. He also secured accreditation for the Nursing Sciences Department. The medical college’s accreditation was restored.

    His forthrightness led to the building of an indoor Sports Hall, equipped with modern facilities.  Oshodin renovated the basketball, volleyball and lawn tennis courts and the swimming pool in the Samuel Ogbemudia Sports Centre.

    He introduced a yearly marathon, where students win cash prizes. The university hosted the 23rd Nigeria Universities Games (NUGA) in 2011 and the 11th edition of the Nigeria Universities Staff Sports Games (NUSSA), which the chairman of NUSSA, Prof Michael Mgbor, described as the best ever.

    Oshodin is credited for the establishment of a Work-Study Programme, where indigent students earn money to finance their staff and education.  students remember his tenure with hostalgia.

    Etinosa Osayande, a 300-Level Medicine and Surgery student, said: “Prof Oshodin’s achievements have made him the best administrator the school has had. He instituted a platform that makes applicants, within and outside the country, choose UNIBEN as first-choice school. In my class, there are international students, who came to study because of the quality.”

    Janet Ighodaro, a graduate, said Oshodin restored sanity to the school’s admission process, which used to be “man-know-man”. She said Oshodin emphasised on merit, which gave many brilliant indigent students to opportunities to acquire university education.

    Augustine Aigbayenode, a 400-Level Pharmacy student, Oshodin brought innovation to administration. He said: “As I speak, the era of lecturers harassing students is gone. Our results are released as at when due. All these point to his astuteness and sagacity. Issues of fake students are not common again. You can be a fake student elsewhere but not in UNIBEN. You will be embarrassed and caught even after paying school fees. This was achieved through strong online portal, where students’ records are checked instantly.”

    Dr Isreal Aikpitanze , an alumnus, hailed the former VC for improving medical teaching. “Oshodin has been able to put things in place and corrected the overpopulation in the medical school,” he said.

    Some students took to social media to congratulate Prof Oshodin for successful tenure. One of them, Timothy Osaigbovo, wrote on his Facebook age: “I almost forfeited my admission to study English Education, because I applied for Law. But, after a session, I had a change of mind, because of how Faculty of Education was being run. He renovated the faculty and we are proud of his achievement because he is from our faculty. He is indeed an academic giant and a worthy educationist.”

     

     

  • Sweet memories of the just

    Sweet memories of the just

    The remains of the Chief Executive Officer of Awe Medical Centre on Willouby Street, Ebute Metta and former President of Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA), Olumide Olugbolahan Awe, were interred in England. A service was held on the same day at the College Chapel in Yaba, Lagos, report NNEKA NWANERI and OMOLARA OGUNWALE.

    The death of the former President of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association, Olumide Olugbolahan Awe, came as a rude shock to many. He died after a terminal illness in the United Kingdom (UK) on September 21. He would have turned 60 next year.

    The late Awe was a student of the Igbobi College, Yaba of the 1967/1973 set, and Chairman of ICOBA UK/Europe from 2009 to 2013.

    His classmates and members of the Old Boys Association of Igbobi College organised a funeral service  in his honour. While they held theirs at the Canon Reginald Parker Memorial Chapel, inside the school, his family members were at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Jesus House) Bent Cross, London.

    Many of the ‘boys’ came with their spouses. Others, who attended the service were his extended family members who could not make it to the UK and decided to pay him their last respects. Most old boys were dressed in their yellow and navy blue  colours.

    The service was anchored by the Rev Bola Oyeladun of the Methodist Church, Wesley Cathedral, Tinubu, Lagos Island, where the late Awe worshiped as a child.  Other clergies were in company of Rev Oyeladun, they were dressed in white and purple robes. The purple signifies mourning.

    After Rev Omobola Akerele announced to the guests the purpose of their gathering, the opening was led by Revd. Dapo Daramola.

    The first lesson taken from Sirach 38:16-23 was read by Mrs Kemi Awe. The second, read by Rev Kayode Gbelee, was taken from John 11:1-26.

    The Old Boys  all rose and rendered Alma Mater’s Anthem.

    There was a session of  tributes and testimonies on the life of the late Awe. Most of them remembered how they first came in contact with him. They described him in the superlatives as a selfless man, highly disciplined and hugely principled. To them, the late Awe gave his all for the good of others. His size, they said, was no match for his wisdom.

    ICOBA President, Murphy Ipaye, said the event was about celebrating the late Awe’s life and how he brought the UK branch of ICOBA into limelight.

    To others, he transformed ICOBA UK and Europe to what it can be boasted of today.

    Demola Adewakun, a member of ICOBA UK said when the late Awe took over as their president, the association’s account swelled  from from 50 pounds to 1500 pounds.

    “He was our soul and machine in Europe.” Adewakun said.

    The late Awe was one of the youngest staff teachers of Igbobi College in the late 70s after his first degree, a job he held before he went to study medicine.

    Doctor Omololu Oshinowo described him as an accommodating business partner.

    Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Prince Olusegun Adesegun, who was his classmate, said he will miss his support and input in the coming elections.

    Omoruyi Iyamu recalled meeting him in 1972 in the HSC block; decked in a clean and crisp khaki uniform, which was his trademark.

    Rev. Oyeledun in a brief sermon, said the event was a wakeup call for others to consider what they can do for the college and pick from his exemplary life.

    The cleric, who was also a contemporary of the late Awe described him as a much misunderstood person.

    He also asked: “What will people say about you when you leave this world? What do we want to be remembered for?

    He urged all thus: “Everyone will die someday, whether we like it or not. Let us use the little time we have to do positive things for God, humanity and community. Always keep your eyes on the cross and don’t be deflected.”

    He ended his sermon with a solemn song and briskly walked back into the altar.