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Tag: Tai Solarin

  • Old students mark Tai Solarin posthumous with football, marathon

    Old students mark Tai Solarin posthumous with football, marathon

    Old students of Mayflower School, Ikenne, Remo, Ogun State, founded by foremost social critic and educationist, late Dr. Tai Solarin have lined up activities to mark the 30th anniversary of his death.

    Solarin, a notable newspaper columnist and Chairman of the defunct Peoples’ Bank of Nigeria (PBN) died on July 27 1994. He was at age 71.

    The president of the Mayflower Old Students’ Association (MOSA) Wale Abdul, said as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of his passing, the MOSA president disclosed that the events would start with a walk by students of Mayflower School and their private school counterparts on the morning of July 23rd, while a lecture with the theme “Who is Tai Solarin?” would be delivered by an erudite old student, Ex-May Akin Aloba at noon.

    He added: “On Wednesday, July 24 there will a marathon race in honour of Dr. Tai Solarin and his wife, Sheila by the students from 7 am to 10 am, to be followed by a football match at the school field from 2 pm.

    “The grand finale is held on the morning of August 3, with a walk by Ex-Mays from the school emblem to the Solarins’ residence and their grave sites, while a lecture with the theme ‘Tai Solarin’s Philosophy: 30 years after’ is expected to be delivered by a renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) at noon.

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    He said Mayflower School has distinguished itself from inception till date and produced national assets that have continued to excel on a global scale because of the dream and ideals of its founder.

    According to him, the late critic and educationist would be remembered by generations unborn for the impactful life he lived, which was defined by handwork, discipline, integrity, and personal sacrifice.

  • A nugget as we commemorate the world students day

    A nugget as we commemorate the world students day

    There is a popular saying that “the moment you stop learning, you start dying”. Therefore, the subject of learning is a never-ending journey; one that is embarked on regardless of status, age or skin colour. Who is a student? By definition, a student is anyone who studies a particular academic subject or a student is one who is seriously devoted to some subject whether academically or not.

    From the writer’s point of view, a student is anyone with an open mind to acquire knowledge for things they do not know; especially of novel tasks and experiences.

    Taking a cursory look at the learning processes in our institutions of higher learning, we would readily recognise the banal and mechanical way of teaching and learning between lecturers and students. It is as if the students in the classroom are some robots that operate by “garbage-in, garbage-out”.

    Students are not machines that can be easily programmed and then expected to work accordingly. They’ve got flesh and blood; minds and hearts. Like Albert Einstein said, “if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will feel stupid for the rest of its life”. So, it is important that our curriculum and teaching methods be adapted to the students, and not just one-size-fits-all.

    According to A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM, “Every child is shaped by the mind of the teachers”. Therefore, teachers should learn to encourage, speak positivity to their students and make them realize nothing is impossible to assimilate.

    More also, the use of foul languages on students, give them reasons to think ill of themselves. You should understand that there are two (2) types of students seated in the class room.

    One of which are the fast learners; they are quick to learn, understand and even assimilate before the teacher hits the nail on the head. The other categories are the slow learners; they find it difficult to assimilate quickly like former. They need things to be broken down in smaller pieces before they can assimilate.

    Interaction and communication play a vital role in the teaching process; therefore, teachers should ensure that everyone is following and not face the “brilliant” ones in the class.

    An advice to parents and guardians, please avoid comparing the skills and abilities of your children; doing that makes them feel down casted and begin to doubt their abilities.

    How many times do you as a parent assist your child when he or she needs to do his or her assignment? How many even create time for their children to talk about issues bothering them? How many as much as notice or pay attention to the emotional needs of their children, especially when they get unnecessarily silent?

    Encouragement, love and care are the things that a child needs. Children need you around whenever and wherever the need arises; they want to turn around and see you behind them, giving them words and reasons to press forward. Let them know that with hard work, consistency and perseverance, success will definitely come.

    Students! You need to realize that nothing comes easy and that hard work pays! A.P.J. Abdul Kalam whose birthday, the United Nations declared as world students day says “man needs difficulties in life to enjoy the success”.

    Also, our very own Tai Solarin (of blessed memory) said, “may your road be rough”. Please don’t get it twisted, that was not a curse, but a silent reminder of the vicissitudes of life, and the ubiquitous benefits it has.

    Therefore, expect difficulties because after that comes success. Those “unpleasant words” we get from both our parents and teachers are for the betterment of our lives.

    Their intention is to push you to strive harder to become someone great in life. If you don’t seem to be getting the encouragement that you expect, don’t get discouraged…encourage yourself by doing those things that secures your future.

    You start by planning your future from now because excellence is a continuous process not an accident. Start now to create a better future for yourself and put on the “I can do it” attitude…truth be told – YES YOU CAN!

  • Ogun to address two institutions named after Tai Solarin

    The Ogun State Government is to amend the law establishing Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu- Ijebu.

    Mr Victor Fasanya, Chairman, Ogun State House Committee on Education, said this during oversight visit to the institution on Tuesday.

    He explained that the aim was to address the issue of two state institutions named after the late social crusader, Tai Solarin.

    He added that the amendment was to effect adjustment in the institution’s name in fulfilment of the recommendations of the National Council of Colleges of Education accreditation team.

    According to him, this is to ensure full accreditation of all programmes run by the institution.

    The lawmaker commended the management of the institution for upgrading its facilities which had aided teaching and learning as well as adding beauty to the college.

    Provost of the college, Dr Adeola Kiadese, said the institution, within the last six months, had witnessed tremendous development.

    Kiadese said this included purchase and installation of more infrastructure, provision of teaching and learning facilities and prompt payment of salaries.

    He said there were new equipments in the biology department, integrated science, chemistry and physics laboratories as well as the school of vocational and technical education.

    He said the institution would commence degree programmes by September, adding that the degree accreditation team from Olabisi Onabanjo University had visited the school.

    The House Committee Chairman and his team also visited Abraham Adesanya ICT Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, where they inspected the Mass Communications studio.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the state, aside from having TASCE, also funds the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode.

     

  • Tai Solarin memorial walk

    Tai Solarin memorial walk

    THE Tai Solarin Organisation (TSO) is organising a memorial walk in honour of the late Dr. Tai Solarin.

    This is to mark the 21st year anniversary of the great educationist, who passed on  in Ikenne on July 27, 1994 at 78.

    The two-kilometre walk slated for July 27 will take off at 10am from the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos and will end at Yaba Bus Stop, where the Tai Solarin cenotaph is.

    A short lecture will be delivered by the former Association of Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (ATCON) President,Ms Titi Omo-Ettu. The keynote speaker is Ms. Corin Solarin.

  • Tai Solarin, Buhari et al

    In life, it is often chance encounters and seemingly innocuous events that help to reorder  our perspective on serious issues. When the phrase “ the labours of our heroes past shall not be in vain’ is put out there, ones mind inevitably flashes to the Azikiwes, Awolowos, Abubakars, Dick Tigers et al of this world. For me, a chance encounter in September this year with a white lady in Zurich, Switzerland has helped reorder my analysis of personalities and their contribution to the Nigerian story. My wife had dragged me (as usual) to an antique sale. In the hall, a white lady, perhaps in her seventies walked up to us and politely asked where we were from and we proudly answered Nigeria. The next thing we heard from her were – kaaro o! Ekabo , shay Nigeria lo ngbe abi London ni (Yoruba for good morning, welcome, do you live in Nigeria or London).

    We laughed in surprise and told her we did not speak Yoruba. Obviously we were curious to find out what the link was. She told us she had lived and worked in Nigeria in the seventies and eighties with Tai Solarin. She was one of the teachers at Mayflower School, Ikenne. We chatted about this and that and she regaled us on the good times she had in Nigeria and how committed Tai Solarin and his wife were to bettering humanity through education. She had a very good general impression of Nigerians and gave many instances of incredible acts of kindness, generosity and trustworthiness she had experienced. We drew attention when we burst out laughing at her mimicked recollection of the incredulous expressions and gesticulations of the market women in Ikenne when she spoke Yoruba to them. She regretted her inability to keep up with Nigerian news for the past couple of years, apparently because the Nigerian newspapers disappeared from the embassy website following an upgrade! We bought a collection of Nigerian stamps of the fifties and sixties from her. The ones where the price indication will be 2s 6d i.e. two shillings and six pence – called ‘2 and 6’ in those days!

    I first came into close encounter with products of Mayflower Secondary School when a record six of them were admitted to do ‘A’ Levels in Kings College Lagos in 1978. Not only did they all come with distinctions in West African School Certificate, they all passed the subsequent Higher School Certificate exams in flying colours. Before I lost touch with Ogayemi and co, I knew they had all become medical doctors or engineers. These were not children of privilege but through the instrumentality of the single-minded vision and humanity of Tai Solarin who gave them a chance in life, they have become useful not only to themselves but to society; sadly though in most cases that society is in foreign lands as many of them are working abroad. That aspect could not have been Tai’s dream but a result of the fact that whilst people like Tai Solarin were building, others were destroying. Happily though, the few Mayflower boys I know are a tiny fraction of the multitude that have passed through that school and become productive citizens in our society. If we had a few more Tai Solarins, Nigeria would have definitely been better for it. The encounter really got me thinking about how an unsung hero can have such an enduring positive impact on society and how we sometimes don’t really appreciate the importance and extent of their contributions to nation building.

    Tai was an atheist and wore only khaki clothes.  We have many religious leaders in Nigeria. If I examine their lifestyles and societal impact, it will be ironic but I will not be wrong in concluding that Tai lived like one subjected to God’s guidance as evidenced by his life of simplicity and love for fellow human beings. I do not know what motivates our religious and political leaders, but it is obvious to me that it is Tai whose life reflects the genuine fear of God.  Men like Tai Solarin are ultimately the people’s heroes because at the end of the day humanity is the religion they practice and their impact is more wholesome and beneficial for humanity as a whole as opposed to the crass exploitation of fellow human beings by religious and political leaders (assuming there is a separation).

    Give me a Tai Solarin any day!

    So what concerns Buhari with Tai Solarin? Just reflecting on Nigeria and how we have come to this sorry state of self inflicted national despair leaves one emotionally drained. This country is drifting dangerously towards anarchy or dancing on the brink as per John Campbell. We need a figure that can take the lead in pulling us back. Rather than we Nigerians to think seriously about rescuing our future in our leadership preferences, we are being goaded like sheep to ignore character and rather focus on religion or tribe. Corruption is at the root of the Nigerian failed state conundrum.  The simple truth is that nothing good can happen to Nigeria if the corruption issue is not tamed! Buhari is not the most honest or the only honest man in Nigeria. But out of all the presidential aspirants, he is the only one with the pedigree, credentials, strength of character and personal example which suggests he can wage a meaningful war against corruption.

    I am not naïve to think that corruption will disappear with a Buhari presidency or that there will be no corrupt people in a Buhari government. The point is that a simple application of common sense suggests that a man who most corrupt or corruptible people are already certain will not join them but fight them to stem the rot will be beneficial to the anti corruption war. A war we must all join if this country is to survive meaningfully. The head of any establishment is important not only for managerial reasons but also because his own personal style acts as a cue for those he heads. It is unlikely that a man who has been Petroleum Minister, State Governor and Head of State and evidently not stolen will develop itchy fingers at 70+.

    Why should I bother about his personal religion? I will not! And for the same considerations, the Christian and Muslim parents who sent their children to Mayflower School did not bother that the principal and proprietor was an atheist! In the type of country we must have, everybody must be free to practice any religion they choose or were born into or none at all. Religion should be personal and no business of the next man or government. The propaganda of Buhari as a religious fanatic is nonsensical but unfortunately in a country like ours polarised by poverty, lack of education and hopelessness, the charge is not dismissed with the contemptuous hiss it deserves. Buhari as head of state banned government subsidy for Muslim Hajj! When he arrested the Emir of Kano and ordered the crating of Umaru Dikko back to Nigeria to answer for monumental corruption, was he persecuting Christians?

    As GOC, he led the successful rout of the Maitatsine sect (precursor to Boko Haram). Fanatic indeed! Twisting words or ascribing fictitious statements to Buhari must not be allowed to go unanswered this time. Take it from me, the people feeding this propaganda are not afraid of Buhari the devout Muslim, they are afraid of Buhari of the ‘War against Indiscipline and Corruption’ fame! It is the smokescreen they hope to obscure our vision of him and befuddle our judgment. It must not work.

    Others say he is too old! Too old for what? Is he looking for a place to revamp our Super Eagles? The question should be whether he is healthy enough to withstand the rigours of presidential duties. How has he kept himself? Mandela became President of South Africa at 74, that country’s people were smart enough to know that Mandela’s age was not the issue, what was of paramount importance was that his country needed him to perform a national duty. Come of the hour, cometh the man!

    Let me close with the lesson of the departure of the Swiss lady from Nigeria. She was attacked by armed robbers on the road in Lagos. She couldn’t get over the trauma of a gun being poked at her head and left Nigeria. Only God knows why she was not killed but when the robbers asked her where she worked and she mentioned Tai Solarin’s name, it had an effect! That effect is perhaps why she is alive today. Evidently the robbers know those responsible for their plight and the endemic corruption that breeds criminality. What if she had worked for A or B or Z or …I am not good at decoding so I don’t know! All I know is that the robbers did not bother to ask her religion or tribe or that of my Uncle Tai for that matter!

    • Ukpong is a Legal Practitioner

  • Warri roads and corporate social (ir)responsibility

    SIR: The late Satyagraha and social crusader, Tai Solarin, in one of his anecdotal portrayals posited that, “the hand of an elderly man cannot enter the gourd and the child cannot carry it. It therefore behooves both of them to get out the content of the gourd and to carry it forward through co-operation”.

    The lack of co-operation between governments and most corporations in the execution of corporate social responsibilities have precipitated structural and developmental anarchy and entropy in Delta State and Nigeria. Although, Section 14 subsection 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Fundamental Objectives and the Directive Principles of State Policy states that, “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government”, the blatant lackadaisical attitude of most companies in the discharge of their corporate social responsibilities remains grotesquely recondite.

    Glaringly cases are the gullies, static flood water and sandy dunes opposite Sterling Bank, Zenith Bank by Odibo Estate, Donasulu Company, Stanbic Bank, Heritage/Agape Church along the Warri/Effurun Sapele Road, PTI Road opposite PHCN’s Office, Giwa-Amu by Okere Ugborikoko Road, Giwa-Amu by Apala Junction, Giwa-Amu by Eta Junction, Ginuwa Road opposite Johnson & Jones Chemist, Old Walfare Road Radio Road by Igbudu Market.

    There are horrendously deadly scenarios re-enacted along the Airport Road by Union Bank, Pegofor, Isoko Plant Hire Company, Opposite Awenayeri Filling Station, Amju Bank, Ogborikoko Market, Fortune Bank, Greener Line Filling Staion, opposte Cambridge School, Kosini Junction, Ogunu by Angle Pack, Roundabout/ Junction opposite Angle Pack, opposite Federal Government College, opposite Rewane Villa/ Mobile Police Quarters Okere/Urhobo Junction, the express road through Ugbuwangue to the NPA gate and all its adjoining roads.

    The main express from bye-pass is an eyesore as the express road is dotted by potholes and the indiscriminate parking of petrol tankers after the Army Barrack along the major thoroughfare has been the cause of needless loss of lives and avoidable accidents.

    This pothole drama is virtually epitomized in three-quarter of Effurun and Warri areas. The absence of culverts and central drainage systems in Effurun/Warri roads has further compounded the state of the roads and the bitumen surfacing are easily washed away during torrential rains.

    We call on all corporate bodies, individuals to work in unison with the Uduaghan administration’s construction drive to ensure a broad outreach to the citizenry. Governor Uduaghan can do better by constructing culverts/drainage facilities in most of the roads he has done. A simple move to macadamize and fill them will go along way.

    Finally, organizing Neanderthal thanksgiving services in churches for flood short circuiting for 2013 is antediluvian, pristine and escapist. The state government must focus on massive construction of roads, drainages and bridges working in unison with corporate bodies to forestall floods and untold hardship for motorist and pedestrians.

     

    • Chief Bobson Gbinije

    Warri, Delta State

     

  • Don stresses need for healthy living

    Don stresses need for healthy living

    Nigerians have been advised to cultivate the habit of living as against the common habit of just existing.

    Giving this charge is the former Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Prof Yinusa Oyeneye, who advised Nigerians to live healthy lifestyles.

    Speaking at the annual celebration of the World Social Work Day organised by the Ogun State chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Oyeneye stressed the need for government to promote social work from primary schools to tertiary institutions in the country.

    Oyeneye, who is the current Provost of the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode, said this would curb social vices and injustice.

    He admonished social workers to use the unique training to help save Nigerians from the endless problems facing the country.

    In his address, the president of the Ogun State chapter of the association, Mr. Olagunju Balogun, called on all social workers to use the day to impact on their local communities.

    He called on governments to pay more attention to the social welfare problems plaguing many sectors of the country.

    The association also presented awards to individuals who have contributed to social development and welfare.

     

    Amongst the awardees were the Clerk of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr. Oladele Adenopo and a Permanent Secretary in Ogun State, Mr. Fatai Gbadamosi.

    The Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, Oba Rasaq Adenugba was also invested as the Grand Patron of the Ogun State Chapter of the association.

     

  • Between Tai Solarin and Aregbesola

    The other day I was reminded of the great and implacable educationist Tai Solarin (1922-1994) when I saw pictures of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola kitted in school uniform with a cap to match sitting in midst of students. From the wide grin on his goateed face, you would conclude correctly that the governor relished the moment and probably wished it was not a fleeting experience!

    It was no less excitable for the students.

    Perhaps the message Aregbesola sought to pass in posing with youngsters dressed like them is that when a leader is passionate about a policy, he must follow it up (beef it up?) with some outward tokenism. It is the equivalent of saying that examples are better than precepts.

    It is Tai Solarin all over again! Not satisfied with breaking new grounds in the education sector and in fighting the mighty establishment of his era in a crusade to secure education for the Nigerian child, Solarin would renounce society’s sartorial formality. He would not for instance wear trousers nor would he put on his native Yoruba attire. He resorted to khaki shorts and khaki or white short-sleeved shirts, all in protest against the neglect of the Nigerian child by the state.

    But for his age, he wouldn’t be an odd man on the grounds of Mayflower College, the school he set up in Ikenne, Ogun State in rebellion against the order of the day. He said the khaki attire was meant to kick against the non-delivery of free and compulsory state education to the children of the poor. He stuck to his position to honour the Nigerian child and was easily noticed at the numerous public gatherings he was asked to grace by hundreds of his loyal admirers and government functionaries.

    When military President Ibrahim Babangida invited Tai Solarin to chair the board of Peoples Bank, the social critic only accepted the offer because it was for him “an opportunity to serve the deprived folk”. Later the media would run rare photographs of Tai Solarin in flowing agbada with the imprint of Peoples Bank logo. Again to honour the people, he briefly abandoned the khaki. He wouldn’t take government job that didn’t give him room to serve the hoi-polloi.

    Setting up Mayflower saw the iconoclast in full flight of rebellion. He left the financial comfort of Molusi College, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State where he was principal to found Mayflower in 1956. Nobody gave him a chance to succeed. Professor C.O Taiwo, upon noticing what Solarin and his wife Sheila were attempting to do, told Tai: “You are carrying a dead baby!”  At a point when the “baby” was to die following the refusal of the authorities to allow Mayflower students to take their WASCE exams, Solarin did the unthinkable: He took the youngsters to far away Ghana where they did the work! Such passion to serve humanity! Today, Mayflower is 57, outlasting those who derided its founder and predicted it would die at birth.

    A journalist wrote of the school: “Mayflower School has become a veritable centre of excellence, a fitting tribute to a man who believes that Nigeria’s salvation lies only in free and qualitative education at all levels for her citizens.”

    Are we not already seeing the Tai Solarin in Rauf Aregbesola who is also declaring that he is ready to give all it takes to offer all-round and qualitative education to the Osun child? Aregbesola is taking on the colossal opposition in the state to implement his policy. Like the illustrious Solarin, the governor is adopting unorthodox but legitimate means to achieve his goals. And the elite few are trying to run him down, pooh-poohing the steps he is taking. They say he can’t succeed on account of the massive deconstruction of the old order that he must undertake. The myopic critics of Tai Solarin’s day said the same thing when the man started his great crusade. But he succeeded.

    Nigeria is where it is (a sorry state) today because in the past we did not take the courageous step to halt the decay at its start and while in progress. Now it is a monster in our time. But it can only take an equally monstrous approach to kill a monster. Not to do so would amount to enfeebling the present and passing the death sentence on the future. Aregbesola is doing the right thing to abort this fatal trajectory. He is also conditioning the project with the appropriate passion.

    Discerning observers such as Senator Uche Chukwumerije have submitted agreeable comments on Aregbesola’s mission. He declared in 2012 when he visited the State of Osun: “The state and the country owe Governor Rauf Aregbesola a lot of gratitude for promptly laying a formidable foundation for education in the state. I will like to use this opportunity to advise other states, irrespective of your political affiliation: You must drop your ego and learn from the people-oriented projects and programmes of Governor Aregbesola.

    Classical German philosopher Wilhelm Hegel (1770-1831) said somewhere in his numerous works that great personalities in history appear twice, as it were. Later, Karl Marx (1818-1883), his compatriot of a more radical persuasion, ran a cynic’s post-script. Marx said Hegel forgot to add that when history so resonates, the first apparition is a tragedy and the second a farce.

    Tai Solarin was not a tragedy; nor Rauf Aregbesola a farce!

     

    • Ojewale is a writer in Ota, Ogun State.

  • Tai Solarin varsity shines at debate

    Mass Communication students of Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, have defeated their counterpart from the Lagos State University (LASU) and Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) to clinch the first position at the Inter-collegiate Debate and Awards Ceremony organised by LASPOTECH chapter of Mass Communication Students Association (MACSA).

    The Engineering Hall of the polytechnic, where the event was held, was quaking by intellectual fireworks when the representatives of the participating schools argued for and against the topic, Advertising is more cost effective than Public Relations. There was also a quiz contest to test the knowledge of participants on general issues.

    President of the association, Oluwatoyin Fanegan, explained that the event was meant to engender cross-fertilisation of ideas to promote professionalism and to test the knowledge of students on attributes of the two media careers.

    “The event is first of its kind in the history of our department and we felt that there was a need to exchange and generate ideas on best practices in the advertising and public relations arms of the media. More importantly, we also believe that this will serve as a platform to bring ourselves together, so that we can engage ourselves on intellectual issues that can strengthen our knowledge properly and we intend to make this an annual event,” Oluwatoyin said.

    Prizes were later presented to the university that came first and the runners-up.

    Some of the guests honoured for excellent leadership and professionalism included the LASPOTECH Registrar, Mrs Olufunke Ige, Head of Mass Communication department, Dr Ifedayo Daramola, Secretary to Ikorodu Local Government Area and publisher of The Factor, Hon. Japhet Odesanya, The Nation’s Kunle Akinrinade, among others.

  • Solarin’s widow Sheila is dead

    Solarin’s widow Sheila is dead

    Madam Sheila, co – founder of Mayflower School, Ikene, Ogun State and widow of the late social critic, Dr Tai Solarin, is dead.

    The foremost educationalist died Sunday evening at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), Ilishan Remo, Ogun State.

    Sheila Solarin (nee Tuer) who was born in England May 31, 1924,was 88.

    She breathed her last about 4.30pm at BUTH on Sunday with her two children  at her hospital bedside.

    Her remains have reportedly been taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) morgue.