The Scholar-Critic
Prof Daniel Sunday Izevbaye. Known and called by his academic colleagues and close friends as ‘Dan’. First, let me indicate that we are deeply enthused about his joining now the respectable growing group of octogenarian scholars. A post-Colonial African Literature genre. A globally acknowledged talent in the field of historical and textual analysis of pre-and post-Colonial African Literature. A Scholar-Critic. Indeed a Lamp Post and Illuminant of relevance.
He emerged on the academic scene at Independence. On board at U.I. in 1962 as an undergraduate. He got done with his first degree in English in 1965 as the only 1st class student of the Department. He had the Faculty prize for the year in the bargain. Lecturers of the Department then were experts from London, Cambridge and Oxford. We were just a year out of being a College of London. Prof. Mahood, the Oxonian Departmental Head was anxious to sustain the erstwhile world-class standard of the Department. She deliberately obtained Cambridge and London assessors to affirm Dan’s first class quality-output before the confirmation of the Senate with degree award burden. Perhaps Mahood should not have gone that extra mile. Dan’s earlier progressive scores had pointed to the comfort of 1st Class. Besides that, with only formal primary school education, Dan had previously scored A’ at both GCE Ordinary and Advanced Level using the then London University Wolsey Hall lecture Notes sent by post. Now 80, we now wonder whether some thought about this prodigy are not worth sharing as a subtle mentoring platform.
Faith As Humanity Fundamental:
We note this without prejudice to individual’s belief: That Dan’s parents, Benin Indigenes, had lost three children in situations which defied scientific understanding. Hope was failing about the coming of the next one. Dan’s paternal grandmother was from the Nobility, with its cultural disposition. Moved by reasons beyond Science, she took the strong position that her son and consort should migrate out of Benin. She pronounced ‘Kaduna’ as their relocation base. She was not Western Education favoured, nor tutored in the general knowledge of Nigeria’s city names. Her specific pronouncement of ‘Kaduna’ became awesome!
On Faith, like the Biblical Abraham who moved to the land of Ur, Dan’s parents also moved to Kaduna. Without any prior net-working, a Baptist Missionary was waiting there for them. Rev. D.A Adejumobi. Evangelization and admission into Baptist Church family resulted. Daily ministration followed. Dan’s mother made an alter vow: ‘If God would favour us with a Son, that Son shall serve the LORD’. Again, like Samuel in the Bible. Dan, the Kaduna boy, was born. Finishing his Phd in 1968 within 3 years of first degree attainment. Academic vocation inevitably became his forte. But there was no Missionary University on completion of his training. Fulfillment of mother’s vow had to be on hold. Has since 2002 become a Professor and Head of Department at Baptist Bowen University after 34 years of excellent innings at the University of Ibadan.
Destiny As Leading Light
Kaduna was not a bed of roses either. Parents saw him through standard 5. They got lost thereafter. The paltry Baptist primary Mission schools fees had been paid with pain. Their goal was Dan’s standard six attainment. Destiny intervened through Rev. E. Akingbala, the new Proprietor of the Baptist primary school. He assisted with Dan’s admission into Kaduna Government Primary School where fees were much cheaper. He also thereafter got him a job as a public teacher in his own School.
As noted earlier, Dan had got through his O & A Level. With nil access to counseling, he was blank on further relevant initiative. Destiny smiled again. Rev. J.E. Mills, the Baptist Travelling Inspector of Education was in Kaduna on duty. Counseled him. Got him appointment at Baptist Secondary, Oyo. Put him through U.I. Admission procedure. Ditto, Federal Government Scholarship procedure, ending with a Phd in the same University in 1968. Rapid promotion and appointment followed. Ditto capacity-building for teaching, research and administration. He become Head of Department, Faculty Dean and Provost of the College of Arts, Social Science and Law. He was thereafter sought for in 1996 as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
As far as Dan was concerned, professorship with over 40 seminal papers, was adequate life attainment. Humbled however by the Search Committee deference, he released his papers. Was finally No 2 on the List which got to Aso Rock. Ended up as the Vice-Chancellor U.I did not have inspite of his incomparable track record. But his response to press interview which followed the exercise remain eternally instructive. When asked about he felt when the appointment did not favour him. He replied: ‘Very humbled to have been requested by my colleagues to participate in the selection process on Search basis’. He added: ‘From my life experience, whatever is not lying in wait with Destiny for one’s easy pick-up, missing same should be joyful!’
Value As The Essence Of Relationship
Unarguably, Dan is a Gentleman. In soul and heart… In mien and communication, he exudes virtue. His being continually soft-spoken and non-abrasive is neither shyness nor self-effacement. His success in various management positions in the University has since confirmed that leadership and sustained politeness are mutually helpful in getting result. Dan bears all the time the burden of value. Perhaps we should here recall here two overt vows and another subtle one he took in his stride.
At the time of courtship, Dan was ten years older than Mary. All who knew her would agree that it was common sense not to delay ‘alter walk’ after her saying ‘Yes’. More difficult to get her father’s endorsement, being his first daughter-and because of Oedipus complex. He was a noble Edo tin miner in Jos. As a child in Primary School in the mid-fifties. Mary was always chauffer-driven in Pontiac. Like Dan, she spoke Edo, English and Hausa with genetic affirmation. Her two brothers were already professional architects. Mary’s Excellent School Certificate result at Enugu Catholic Secondary School was just over. Dan agreed with her father that it would be culturally inappropriate for him to bank-roll her further education. Dan gave his word to see her through her 1st degree and kept it. Indeed, he saw her through A Level, BA, MA and Phd at the University of Ibadan. She was on the Faculty staff of Communication and Language Art department when she passed on at 55, fourteen years ago.
From early Secondary days, Mary was all commitment for the Nunnery. Understandably, the Benin Diocesan Bishop was tardy in consenting to the marriage. Dan had to sign a written undertaking that he would in everyway support Mary’s Catholic spirituality. Ditto the fruits of her womb. Dan, a gentle man, kept his word. In their home, Mary established an alter for the Virgin Mary. Venerated the Saint till her last second on earth.
On his own, Dan took an additional vow. This time privately. For whatever reason, Mary chose Jan 24, 2003, Dan exact 66th, as the date of her final departure on earth. Inspite of subtle pressure here and there, Dan’s privately declared vow of eternal love for Mary had since precluded him from another walk to the alter. Their children are now adult: Noruwa, Ehioze, Iyare, Adesua and Izebuwa. All bright. Progressively successful in their professions.
Dan, Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, we salute you on your auspicious 80th.
