At the risk of stating the obvious, Professor Olukayode Oyediran’s 80th birthday provides us with an excellent opportunity to acknowledge his superlative achievements as a medical doctor, academician, administrator and author as well as his sterling leadership qualities. Indeed, he is a rare gem. We must however recognize that the gem has been sparkling for at least six decades – going back to 1957 when our paths crossed at King’s College, Lagos. He was in the Sixth Form and had gained admission from Methodist Boys High School where his father was the Principal (Headmaster). His father, who later became Nigeria’s Ambassador to Sierra Leone, was an old boy of the college. King’s College only admitted the best students from all over Nigeria following a fiercely competitive and transparent process. Even amongst that excellent crop, the celebrant stood out regardless of the fact that he was consigned to Hyde Johnson’s House which was reputed to be the warehouse for trouble-makers. He was not only an exception to the rule, he was exceptional.
His academic performance was flawless and stellar even amongst his formidable classmates who for some strange reason (perhaps an epidemic) all wanted to be professors of medicine or engineering!! Strangely, most of them ended up achieving their goals almost effortlessly.
As for Professor Oyediran, the academic prizes and professional laurels came in torrents and the pinnacle of his career was his tenure as the Vice – Chancellor of the University of Ibadan during a most turbulent period (1991-1995). His survival strategies and tactical manoeuvres must have been acquired after he left King’s College.
Regardless, they served him well and combined to enthrone him as a household name in Nigeria and beyond – in his own right.
My tribute would not be complete without acknowledging Professor Oyediran’s strength of character and his unflinching loyalty to his friends (and I count myself as one of them) regardless of the prevailing circumstances.
Most endearing are his humility, compassion and generosity of spirit which were already his trademark 60 years ago. Only those who are close to him would appreciate his abundant sense of humour which enabled him to excel with his feet firmly planted on the ground while he has been oscillating within the intimidating orbit and constellation of superstars – starting with the Oyediran family where he is the eldest, and the Awolowos, Ajoses, Subairs, Dosunmus, Soyedes and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (his in-laws) as well as a son – in – law who is both a chartered accountant and tax collector!!
I believe that I am entitled to bragging rights on account of my long association with the celebrant. What you see is what he really is. He is most unassuming but take my word for it – he is deep. Otherwise, he could not have survived in Ibadan, the garrison town and epicentre of political intrigues for all those years. I have only recently discovered that like me he is related to the Layeni family of Broad Street, Lagos through his mother; and his sister Tayo is married to my cousin, Engineer Rotimi Morgan.
The celebration of Professor Oyediran is not driven by frivolity or collective self-indulgence. On the contrary, it provides us with an excellent opportunity not only to acknowledge his international status and reputation as a scholar but even more compelling to address the agonising question that is regularly thrown at us at international fora – how come a nation that has produced so many outstanding intellectuals and professionals is hobbled and crippled by crisis after crisis in a sea of corruption and suffocating incompetence?
Many of the international professional colleagues of Professor Oyediran cannot but be in shock when they are confronted by the report delivered by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Mr. Sonny Echono (with the approval of the Minister, Alhaji Adamu Adamu): Headline: “Sixty Million Nigerians Are Illiterates”.
Also, it must break their hearts to learn that the University of Ibadan which was previously ranked the fourth best in the world is still number one in Nigeria but is now NOT ranked among the first 100, or first 500 in the global league.
We need to issue a rebuttal urgently.
Even more damning is the recent CNN programme which reported that only 24 out of the 186 students who sat for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations in Zamfara State obtained the required five credits or above marking an abysmal pass rate of 12.90 per cent.
Also, there were 300 public schools in Zamfara State that were being manned with only one teacher each!! To make matters worse, some of the schools did not even have a single teacher. Even in Lagos State and Edo State, some of the schools are in a deplorable condition – no desks, seats, drinking water, decent toilets etc.
Another disheartening report, is the viral story of a young girl in Warri that was sent back home from school due to unpaid school fees and her wish to rather be flogged and stay in school than to be sent home and learn nothing.
If the truth must be told, Professor Oyediran would be shocked by what the televisions relayed to the rest of the world regarding the state of affairs at his alma mater.
While we are at it, we may just as well spare some time to reflect on the spurious accusation that Professor Oyediran’s generation failed the nation and by extension compromised the future of the succeeding generation.
Ironically, the comments attributed to Professor Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laurate on this profound issue which suggested admission of guilt must have been misconstrued.
Professor Soyinka himself in his younger days paid a heavy price for his confrontation with politicians. He denounced the government of Western Region, which he considered illegitimate, on radio. His reward was incarceration. It is well documented in his brilliant book: “The Man Died”. What further proof do we require as evidence of boldness and sacrifice? We can only prevail on the next generation to present their own evidence of patriotism, tenacity of purpose and courage.
Indeed, the likes of Professor Oyediran are entitled to reparation by a nation that has failed them woefully. There are two components to reparation. First of all, the nation must mend its ways and justify the sacrifices of previous generations by actualising the potentials of our nation for greatness. We do not belong to the category of the non-runners (or the also ran).
The other half of the reparation is for the powers that be to compile the list of those who have been “found worthy in character and learning” for nomination as ministers, special advisers, ambassadors, legislators, heads of parastatals, judges, permanent secretaries etc.
For over 60 years, Professor Oyediran has been at the cutting edge of diagnosis of ailments and diseases; prescription of drugs; invasive/keyhole surgery; diligent after-care but he is now a champion of primary care and preventive medicine for both his patients and our beloved nation. However, as the nation wallows in poverty, ignorance and chaos while indulging in brinkmanship as the ambulance/trolley are on standby for the journey into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), we run the risk of his conversion to alternative medicine when everything we have tried has failed to rescue us. Both the dead and the living have been glued together by fear.
For now, let us celebrate Professor Olukayode Oyediran who like Percy Bysshe Shelleys’ Ozymandias is entitled to brag: “My name is Ozymandias, king of kings; look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!!”
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