F A Daramola

QUINTESSENTIAL TEACHER AND EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATOR: NONAGENARIAN CHIEF FRANCIS ADEBAYO DARAMOLA

By

Seye Adetunmbi, June 2017

They are not made like them anymore, the selfless teachers and school administrators of old that were dedicated and worked conscientiously to mentor the best of academics, technocrats, entrepreneurs and other various professionals that we have in Nigeria today. This category of teachers and school principals were God fearing and majority of them served selflessly. They went about their career jobs and non-secular assignments as well as arising various public service duties as truly accountable public officials and responsible civil servants with good ethics. Majority of them worked so hard which took toll on their health and well-being in a national system that has no sustainable sound medical care programme for all which often made the society to lose their wealth of experience prematurely. In the event that we are lucky to still have some of them ‘still standing’ at the age of 90 years, it is unequivocally a thing of joy. This is why it is very well in order to celebrate Chief Dr. Francis Adebayo Daramola, one of such distinguished men of essence that stood out in his career and breasts the tape of nonagenarian on June 10th 2017, to the glory of God.

Father, mother & son

FAD as a student at St John's College Owo in the middle of 1950s

Send forth in 1958 at Aramoko Modern School and Harding Memorial Modern School in 1959

Wedding ceremony on September 4th, 1958

After graduation thanksgiving at St John Anglican Church, Ire-Ekiti in 1964

The notable Daramola family of Ire-Ekiti was blessed with the birth of Chief F. A. Daramola (FAD) on June 10, 1927. He started formal western education in 1938 at St John’s Primary School, Ire-Ekiti and continued the early education at St Paul’s Primary School, Ikole-Ekiti, 1941 to 1942 and Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, 1943 to 1944. Interestingly, he later played significant roles in the affairs of Christ’s School as a teacher and in various other capacities till date as one of the oldest alumnus alive today. He is a product of Elementary Teacher’s College, Ota; St. John’s College, Owo where he obtained grade II certificate in 1955 and Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone where he bagged Bachelor of Arts (Durham) in 1964. In 1978, he attended Moray House College of Education, Edinburgh, UK for postgraduate diploma in education management and administration.

a

    Chief Daramola had a notable teaching career which started in 1945 at St John’s Primary School, Ilupeju-Ekiti. Pupil mentoring took him to St Paul’s Primary School, Ikole in 1949; St. John’s Secondary Modern School, Aramoko-Ekiti in 1957 and Harding Memorial Secondary School, Ado-Ekiti in 1959. He held his first appointment as Headmaster in 1952 at St. John’s Primary School, Ilasa-Ekiti and later at St. Peter’s Primary School, Erijiyan-Ekiti in 1956 to 1957. His first teaching job in the secondary school was at his alama mata, Christ’s School in 1960 from which he proceeded for a degree programme. On graduation in 1964, he resumed duty at Christ’s School where he worked meritoriously till 1972 during which he served as a house master, games master and took some sixth form classes.

Christ's School Staff in the 1960s Chief Daramola standing 2nd from the left in the last row

Board of Governors of ADCSS, Aramoko

In his calling, as experience grows and one performs on the job, higher responsibilities set-in; this explains his first appointment as a school principal in 1973 to Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School where he served till 1981. He was under the employment of old Ondo-State, thus his next posting was Principal of Ore Community High School in 1981 and retired voluntarily in 1985 as the Principal of Ola-Oluwa Muslim Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti. No doubt, Chief Daramola was able to excel on his job due to his dedication to duty and various seminars and training programmes he received in Scotland, Edinburg and Nigeria on education management, school administration and supervision. Between 1965 and 1969 he was an assistant examiner in History for West African Examinations Council, served as a team leader from 1970 to 1978 and co-Chief Examiner 1979 to 1991. Expectedly, he served as Chairman/member of Board of Governors some public schools in the old Ondo-State and Ekiti-State between 1968 and 1991.

     For four years 1974 to 1978, he served as the Chairman, Schools Sports Committee for Ekiti West Division under the old Ondo-State; Chairman of Ondo-State Schools Sports Committee charged with the responsibility of managing and organising sports for secondary schools, teacher training and technical colleges at state and national levels; and member of Ondo-State Sports Council. He served as the Secretary of Ekiti Stadium Committee that built Olukayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti that was commissioned in 1974 by Brigadier Oluwole Rotimi, the military Governor of old Western Region, and was the Chairman of Olympic appeal funds committee for sponsoring Nigerian contingents to Los-Angeles Olympic Games in 1984.

    Contemporarily, distinguished men of honor like Chief F.A. Daramola that have done well as a teacher and a school administrator are like ‘gold fish’ and there is no hiding place for them among their kinsmen especially when political appointment in the public service was about putting their best foot forward for quality representation. It was thus a well earned recognition when he was the government nominee as the councilor for Ekiti North Local Government Council representing Ire-Ekiti. He also served as a member of the movement for the creation of Ondo State representing Ekiti North. He was elected the executive chairman of Oye Local Government, Oye-Ekiti in 1991 under NRC political party and was adjudged by the constituents after his completion of his term in 1993 as the most positive in development oriented service in the history of the local government area. He also served as the Chairman of Ire-Ekiti national Congress in 1991.

Chief Daramola is a devout Christian which is evident in the various capacities that he served within Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, in Ekiti Diocese. He was a member of the Synod of Ondo Diocese, 1965 to 1966 and 1968 to 2004 representing St John’s Anglican Church, Ire-Ekiti. He served as Assistant Secretary of Ekiti Anglican Diocesan Synod 1978 to 2004 and was the Administrative Secretary for Ekiti Anglican Diocese in 1985 to 1990. Ekiti Diocesan special award for meritorious service in 1966 to 2006 is a well deserved acknowledgment.

    Someone like him is bound to attract numerous public recognition. The chieftaincy titles that he received include the Maiyegun of Ire-Ekiti in 1985, the Obagunwa of Aramoko-Ekiti in 1986 and Justice of Peace by Ekiti State Government. The icing of the cake of the laurels he has garnered over the years is the award of Ph.D (Honoris Causa) by the Federal University of Technology, Oye-Ekiti now Adeyinka Adebayo University on April 29th 2017. This I consider to be timely, as a well deserved honor and an unequaled nonagenarian birthday present to the exemplary elder statesman.

Let me state here that it was during his resourcefulness and visibility within the Ekiti Anglican Diocese that I first knew Baba FAD as he is popularly called. These were the few occasions I accompanied my beloved venerable father Chief D.O. Adetunmbi, a diocesan chieftain to the Bishop’s Court and various church events in Ekiti. I noticed and admired him as a handsome gentleman always smartly dressed. By the time I got involved with Christ’s School alumni matters and was privileged to move close to him, he has been very approachable, receptive and ever accommodating. Always cool, calm and collected. Baba mentioned to me how he worked on a number of Ekiti Diocesan projects with my father that he respected a lot. I long to see him and relish in his warmness towards me with the signature name he calls me, ‘omo Baba’ with sincere smiles. I am on the list of those he calls on the first day of every month and pray for from his heart. He is a kind and disciplined person, this must have contributed to why goodness and mercy continue to follow him with the uncommon favors around him and the honor he receives in his old age to the glory of God. I am particularly happy for all the children of Baba FAD. I say congratulations to my friend Biodun, Tope, Bunmi, Honorable Bimbo Daramola who is doing well as a politician and other members of the family. Let’s thank God for the good health of Baba at age 90. Ajinde ara a ma je fun won l’oruko jesu, amin. Ajinde ara a ma je fun won, amin.

Psalm 128

   It is a great pleasure for me to do this pictorial tribute in honor of a very dear good and kind hearted old man. Happy 90th birthday, may you continue to age gracefully sir.

Your little boy, ‘omo Baba’ 

Seye Adetunmbi

10/6/17