The book Pleasure in Fellowship is a fascinating narrative of the travelogue of the author to so many countries, cities, destinations and sites, enriched by analytical commentaries on many topics and subjects.
Though a practising medical doctor, Bayo proved to be an accomplished observer and reporter of people, places in the flowing prose, while leading the reader through an adventurous journey of our world through an enlightened prism of his personal experience and feelings.
I did not know this extraordinary dimension of Bayo Windapo’s basket of talents, though I worked with him in the Literary and Library Committee this Rotary Year where he performed excellently.
He is able through enchanting narrative to hold you spell-bound by hand, and lead you through his passionate tours of the cities he visits, while he focuses your gaze at different sights and sounds of each environment that you will otherwise have overlooked or missed.
Though I have visited most of the places featured in Windapo’s junket around the world, I can hardly recognise the spell and spirit he has so vividly captured in his travelogue.
Many Rotarians, including my good self, have attended many Rotary International Conventions along with Bayo Windapo, but very few of us are blessed with the keen and detailed power of recall and narration captured in the book “Pleasure in Fellowship”. After reading this book, I began to wonder if the same places that I visited are the same locations described by this writer in this iconic book.
This book is a great contribution to the world of international tourism and I believe many tourists and tourism organisations around the world will benefit from this colourful depiction of many historic and modern destinations.
The centre piece of their beautiful book is focused on service above self. This essence of Rotary is vividly captured by Arthur F. Sheldon when he states that “He profits most who serves best”.
The writer emphasises this central theme throughout the book in various forms as he regales the reader with account of Rotary interventions in the service to mankind, Polio eradication from our world being one of those initiatives by Rotary.
Dr Windapo is the current Chairman of Rotary Wheel Schools, a project that was conceived to rid our streets of beggars, by breaking the chain of begging and poverty through education, beginning with the children of beggars who are forced to assist their parents in begging. This stewardship of his at the Rotary Wheel Schools shows great commitment in the service to mankind.
As laudable as this programme is, it is suffering the danger of paralysis and extinction because of the shortage of funds, amongst other things, to run the schools. Surprisingly too, many Rotarians and non Rotarians are hardly aware of the existence of these schools, not to talk of knowing the challenges the schools are facing.
For the record, there are three Rotary Wheel Schools located in Ebute-Metta, Idi-Araba and Agege run by Rotary International District 9110, which are all endangered because of paucity of funds and personnel to run the schools as required.
The book is rich in fine, thought-provoking quotations.
For example, he quoted copiously from mother Theresa, the saintly nun in the Slum of Calcutta, India, who posits that people should “Give until it pains”.
He also quoted the past District Governor of Rotary District 7210, New York, United State, Roterian Mustapha, who admonishes us to commit to serve mankind, because, that is the “rent we all pay for living”.
On education, the writer repeatedly comments thus: “Education, they say, makes a people easy to lead but difficult to drive; easy to govern but impossible to enslave”.
From Paul Harris the father of Rotary he quotes, “the power of combined effort knows no limitations, especially when we work together.”
Dr Bayo Windapo is a scientist and practising medical practitioner, yet he exhibits vast knowledge in all areas of human affairs that typifies him as a well-read man of the world.
He approaches even the most serious topics with wit and candour such that his advocacy for high ideals and values trenchantly rings aloud like the sermon of a preacher from the pulpit.
Though the printing paper is not of the highest quality, the quality of the content of the book more than compensates for the low quality of the print.
The book “Pleasure in Fellowship” is a sumptuous menu of tales, comments, reportage and analysis, spread through 160 pages of enchanting adventure written in fluid narrative.
Through a journey of about 30 short chapters and/ or sections, the book thrills the reader with well written stories and articles on subjects such as travels and places, medicine, philosophy, Rotary service, account of the author’s stewardship as a Rotary President, politics and politicians, tributes to Icons dead or alive, world peace and understanding, and religion, I particularly enjoyed the tribute he paid to my friend and old classmate Dr.Yombo Awojobi. Dr.Windapo’s passion for service to humanity runs through the pages of the book like a flowing stream. His diction is simple and clear, even when he is discussing technical matters.
The book is replete with deep quotations from outstanding people which he employs to support his position as if he was an advocate in the court of Law. Regular check-up and test to prevent cervical cancer in women, is treated humanely and equally humorously.
While I highly recommend the book to readers, I will suggest some areas of improvement in the event the author chooses to reprint “Pleasure in Fellowship”. The quality of the book deserves better printing paper and editorial attention.
I looked for the ISBN in the book and could not find it, which could mean it might not be registered in the National Library. A book of this quality should be so registered to make it accessible to all readers.
The book could also do with a table of content, to guide the reader through the delightful maze of stories and comments.
The different topics and sections of the book can be better categorised in editorial classification.
The illustration on the front cover is apt and suitable, but omitted picture of a bicycle which is a symbol of his daring bicycle junkets in new terrains. The pictures in each chapter are quite appropriately good and relevant.
In conclusion, I strongly recommend this book to all lovers of service, education, healthy living, good governance, adventure, scholarship and goodwill, whether Rotarian or non-Rotarian.
