Rejuvenate the Value System to Reclaim Nigeria's Greatness - Olusegun Aganga

RECLAIMING THE JEWEL OF AFRICA UNVEILED IN ABUJA

The ground unveiling of the Amazon best-seller book of Segun Aganga today in Abuja on July 24, 2023 was yet another testimony of the fact that the political class, the leading lights in the private sector and other stakeholders appreciate the initiative of the author for writing such as a timely and auspicious book. For two past presidents of Nigeria and the the incumbent president to publicly associate with the Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa, then the book and the author are of immense treasure. 

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Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who encouraged him  to leave Goldman Sachs and work for the Nigerian government, left his Abeokuta home 3am today to join a flight in Lagos to Abuja. He didn't let the cancelled flight stopped him. He travelled back by road to Abeokuta to join the event via zoom. In his speech, he commended the book and reiterated that Nigeria has history of good policies, the bane of progress is implementation. President Ebele Goodluck Jonathan who called Aganga the Chief Marketing Officer of the Nigerian federation, acknowledged his excellent value added contribution to his administration as a federal minister in his cabinet. 

The president in the saddle now, Bola Ahmed Tinubu commended the seminal work. He said that the book would serve as a beacon of hope and a guide for a brighter and prosperous tomorrow. He charged the stakeholders to a derive a collective insight from the book for the benefit of all. President Tinubu was represented by Wale Edun, his Special Adviser on monetary policy who was a long standing friend and professional associate of the author. He recalled their early days as budding professionals and that there was something unique about Aganga which made him to see him as being destined for glittering prizes as it has manifested today. Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo acknowledged the fact that the standard Aganga set in office and the structure in place made his own job easier as a federal minister in the Ministry of Trade and Investment.

In all, it was a collective resolve that enough is enough of talking of potentials in Nigeria. It was high time to go for the real thing, prosperity. The book is not about the past but about what the future holds for Nigeria and Nigerians. The stakeholders as a matter of deliberate policy must embark on a cooperative productive engagement and inclusive growth that will attract resourceful youthful energy, predominantly, for things to get better in Nigeria as a going concern.

Lest I forget, the glory of Christ's School, Ado-Ekiti resonated and shone during the memorable occasion. The heritage from which the author and fellow alumni benefited remains, and it stood out like the magnificent cathedral in the midst of regular buildings.  Up School!!!

The present stock of the book was outsold at the venue and the author is set to get more copies published by a Nigerian publisher. Congratulations to the distinguished technocrat of repute and the resourceful author.

THE IMPERATIVES OF HAVING VALUES DRIVEN TECHNOCRATS IN GOVERNMENT

An Integrated review of "Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa" written by Segun Aganga and the Public Presentation of the Book

By 

Seye Adetunmbi, 13/7/2023 

It is not surprising that the book of Segun Aganga has turned out to be a functional and pragmatic guide for the renaissance of Nigeria, the African Jewel. I have been looking forward to the formal presentation of the book to the public after he first gave me an insight to the book in February 2022. It is indeed a rich informed thoughts of an accomplished international technocrat of repute on leadership, public service, economy, human capital development and plausible roadmap for the integrated Nigerian assets to actualize the zenith potential. As Dr Christopher Kolade put it in the foreword of the book, documentation of experiences from which subsequent/succeeding civilizations can learn and thus improve their living standards and accomplishments, is one of the best things to happen to any human civilization. This is why I join others to congratulate oga Segun for a job well done by heeding to his innate desire to put his thoughts down for posterity. He is an undisputable values driven technocrat and not like any of the typical politicians in government. Consequently, his book has no political undertone or any partisan coloration, it is about what is the best for Nigeria with the strong conviction of a patriot that the desired greatness is achievable. It is not a litany of woes on Nigeria but a special focus on the way forward for the turnaround to be a reality. It has become imperative for Nigeria to occupy her rightful position in the contemporary world. The statement credited to Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela in 2007 keeps resonating - “The world will not respect Africa until Nigeria earns that respect. The black people of the world need Nigeria to be great as a source of pride and confidence.”

Nick Kochan in conversation with Segun Aganga on 12/7/2023 during the book launch at the SOAS in University of London

When the duty called for him to serve as the Federal Minister for Finance and Chairman of the Economic Management Team, he considered it a privilege and honour to serve his beloved country and fellow citizens. With the benefit of hindsight, such a high-ranking position enabled him to see and experience many things, which most people are not privileged to see and know. He saw some of the gaps and had been able to articulate how those gaps can be filled. In the actual sense of it, he had at several occasions made a case for Nigeria and commented on integrated socio-economic and political issues as a technocrat, as a professional and as a senior government official who was directly involved in policy development and the implementation process. Along the line, some of his associates who saw substance in his informed and shared measured-perspectives and integrated thoughts from time to time, kept on calling on him to put his thoughts down in a book for the benefit of the succeeding government officials and posterity sake.

The Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola (in 3 piece native wear) and a section of the gathering at the book lunch on the 12th of July, 2023 

The book is therefore his humble response to the inspiring call for his public service memoir. He tried to capture in the book, what he saw, did and why as a federal minister in Nigeria. Also, what still needs to be done in the sense that much remains to be done. This is not a book that seeks to cast any aspersions on anyone or to make public the occasional private disagreements in the course of duty. No, it is indeed about unveiling the Jewel of Africa. He subscribes to the views of the African leaders who look up to Nigeria to take the lead in the scheme of things by getting its acts together to occupy her rightful position in economic development as the true giant of Africa. As a matter of fact, Nelson Mandela is on point when he said that the western developed world would not respect Africa until Nigeria manifests her full potential.

Unequivocally, Nigeria is that Jewel in Africa. His life-long goal for Nigeria, is to achieve her true potential to become one of the greatest and most prosperous countries in the world. He has no doubts whatsoever that Nigeria has the potential to be really great. The book is his modest contribution towards achieving the goal while hoping that the policy makers and all those who aspire to lead our nations and indeed Nigerians, will find it useful.

The book has ten chapters and the titles are: Leadership - Political and Governance Structure, The Fundamentals -  Political, Economic and Social Institutions, The Backbone of Government - Civil Service, Investment - Making Nigeria the Top Destination Again, Managing Our Resources Better - Eliminating Leakages and Waste, Our Biggest and Most Important Asset - Our People, The Triple Threat - Poverty, Unemployment and Insecurity, Leading and Working with Multilateral Organisations and the last chapter is The Road to Reclamation - Africa Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. 

    Olusegun Olutoyin Aganga is a technocrat par excellence, having worked for two leading institutions in accounting and investment banking for three decades, in the United Kingdom. He was born in 1955 in Lagos. He is a product of Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti, University of Ibadan and University of Oxford. In 2006, he founded the Nigerian Leadership Initiative. From Goldman Sachs, London where he was the Managing Director, he joined the public service on the 6th of April in 2010 as the federal Minister for Finance and Chairman of the Economic Management Team. He became the Federal Minister of Trade and Investment in June 2011 and served his country till 2015. He was conferred the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) in 2011. As the chair of the WTO MC8 ministerial conference, he laid the foundation for the first WTO trade agreement and also played a pivotal role in finalising the agreement in Bali, Indonesia, in 2013. Segun Aganga is happily married and the holy matrimony is blessed with fruitful children. He acknowledged in the book the good upbringing he had, and Christ's School which he attended between 1968 and 1972 as contributory to the success he achieved in life.

    According to him, learning from the Singapore experience; it is important to have a disciplined and efficient work force. It is a statement of fact that a strong and economically productive nation and an efficient governing system is a function of a strong and highly proficient civil service. By nature, Segun Aganga is a private person. He considers himself as unimportant in the larger scheme of things. Consequently, his advice to those who read his book is to focus on the message and not the messenger. However, feedbacks on the book would be appreciated to enable him consider any value-added commentaries in the subsequent editions of the book.

Mr & Mrs Segun Aganga with Seye Adetunmbi

Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa was formally presented to the public on July 12, 2023 at SOAS in the University of London. Lord Hastings was the chairman of the event and he gave an incisive opening remarks. He brought up a vintage over a century old cartoon that visionary projected Africa, China and India as the places to watch in the sheme of things in the future. It is only Africa that is yet to actualize its full potential among the three. The Nigeria High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola gave the closing remarks. He spoke eloquently and intelligently on the need for a paradigm shift  by all ranks of stakeholders in Nigeria and  commended Mr Aganga on the book.

I must also mention the instructive commentary of the author on leadership and its different styles in perspective, in response to one of the posers raised during the questionns and answers session at the public book presentation. He gave Madiba (Mandela) as an example of a president who led from the rear, President Jonathan led from the middle while President Obasanjo led from the front.

In all, it was a well attended event by diverse dignitaries. This is an attestation to the credibility of the author and the value attached to the substance in the book that was formally presented to the public. The endorsement of the book by Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa in 1999 to 2008 underscores the fact that all eyes are on Nigeria to make the greatness happen through a systemic paradigm shift. Hopefully, those in government now would read and digest the contents of the book. The Nigerian end of the event would hold in the last week of July 2023. It was indeed a quality summer evening well spent in the center of London. Congratulations once more to the author.

Segun Aganga flanked by Mr & Mrs Hakeem Bello-Osagie

I got my autographed copy at the event

Hakeem Bello-Osagie & Seye Adetunmbi

TV Interview 

Seye and Kenny Ojutalayo 

Kenny Ojutalayo and Ambassador Isola

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Mr & Mrs Aganga cutting the book launch cake

Ambassador Isola and Sanya Hastrup

Seye Adetunmbi  is a UK based serial author, publisher and a Chartered Stockbroker  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B08537XRYY?ref_=pe_1724030_132998070

Segun Agbetuyi: The Venerable Archdeacon

CELEBRATING VENERABLE SEGUN AGBETUYI AT 70

By, Seye Adetunmbi 30/6/23

In various professions and vocations, we have people who standout by virtue of being brilliant and good on the job. Also, the values which they stand for in their calling always make such profession admirable or desirable for the aspiring professionals in the sector. One of the distinguished influencers in the history of banking in Nigeria who falls into this category of successful bankers is Venerable Segun Agbetuyi. His rise through the ranks to the pinnacle of his professional banking career, complemented by the speed at which he qualified as a chartered banker attests to the fact that he is naturally brilliant, focused and hardworking. His success as a career banker and a venerable archdeacon in the Church of Nigeria, Anglican communion are manifestations of dedication, devotion and diligence.

    Archdeacon Segun Agbetuyi was born into the Christian family of Mr. Agboola and Mrs Eunice Agbetuyi in Usi-Ekiti on the 30th of June, 1953. He is a product of Ekiti Parapo College, Ido-Ekiti; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Manchester Business School; Harvard University Business School and Lagos Business School. He started his banking career in the 1970s as a trainee in Arab Bank (later Nigeria-Arab Bank) and worked with the Bank of America (later Savannah Bank). Subsequent to being qualified as a professional banker, he worked as the Credit and Marketing Manager and as the Area Credit Manager for the northern region of IBWA (later Afribank PLC). He was among the pioneer senior executives of the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank in 1980. He worked as the Vice-President Bank of Boston between 1984 and1986; the Country Risk Manager, the General Manager, Credit and Business Strategy for the Nigerian-American Merchant Bank, Lagos from 1987 to 1989 and was the Deputy Managing Director between 1989 and 1993. 

    A gold fish has no hiding place. When Ondo-State needed a crack professional who would be result oriented for the then state owned Owena Bank PLC, he was headhunted and was appointed the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer in 1993. He nurtured the bank through the transformation to profitability and change of name to Omega Bank PLC. His Christian upbringing and personal disposition later led him to attend a seminary college and he was ordained a priest in the Anglican Communion in June 2001. His excellence in the banking earned him the recognition of a noteworthy banker by Marquis Who is Who.

My first close meeting with Venerable Agbetuyi was when he visited my brother's steel fabrication company in Lagos in the year 2001 as the CEO of our banker, to check how the bank's customer was doing and he prayed for us. When there was an opportunity for me to explore working in the banking sector, Omega Bank gave me the opportunity. I was charged with the responsibility of establishing Niche Securities Limited as a dealing member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and I pioneered the take-off and consolidation of the subsidiary of the bank. He was a very disciplined boss and a courageous banker who was committed to best practices. I must mention the remarkable manner he responded to an attempt to malign me in a soft-sell tabloid sponsored by an inveterate ignoble Ekiti fellow at the peak of the friction between the then state governor and the bank. As an intuitive person and an upright senior colleague/boss, he saw the intrigue at play by the ill-bred who lied against me and could imagine the mission of the lowlife elements behind the deceptive publication. When I got to his office to inform him about the irresponsible publication, he said that I should go and be doing my work and ignore those who wanted to cause problem for me with my employer. I am using this opportunity to formally say thank you to him. His honourable action remains indelible in my mind. He has always been supportive of  my modest various endeavours. Virtually all the books I  have written are in his library. He joined his fellow indigenes of repute in Ekitipanupo Forum which I convened in 2005. One other thing I like about him is his writing skills. I was so delighted that he wrote a preface to my book on Christianity and Anglicanism in 2020.

    Considering his wealth of experience in his working career, he was called to serve in various capacities. He served in the Governing Council of the Financial Institutions Training Centre in 1990 to 1992, in Ekiti State Economic Advisory Council and as the Chairman of Springbank PLC in 2006. He is a member of the Institute of Directors, England and Nigeria; a member of American Management Association; a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Nigeria; a member of the Institute of Management Specialists, England; a member of the Institute of Management Consultants, Nigeria. He was the President of Rotary Club Victoria Island in 1989 to 1990 and Patron of Jaycees International, Ikoyi Chapter. In 2001, he bagged the Doctor of Science in Economics (Honoris Causa) form the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. Also, holds the Merit Award of Ondo-State in October 1995 and that of Ekiti-State in 1997.

He is happily married to his beloved wife, Mrs Titilayo Adeyemi Agbetuyi and the union is blessed with fruitful children. Oga has dedicated part of his time to bring those who worked with him in Omega bank together as one big family in an interactive online platform and he continues to encourage us to support one another. My prayer is that God will grant him more years in good health and bless his ministry in Jesus Christ's name, amen. Happy 70th birthday to you sir. 

Plausible Purpose Driven Governance and Premium Leadership

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION THEN AND NOW

By, Seye Adetunmbi 

The debate on the "arguments against financial autonomy of local governments" prompted me to comment under the above caption. I won't be saying anything new but just rejigging our consciousness to enable those interested to put the issues in proper perspective. Local government autonomy under the current prevailing political structure is bound or prone to fail, just as most of the state governments have failed the governed in the recent past years till date.

The present local government administration setting is kind of skewed to suit manipulation in the politics of federal and state government dichotomy. Also, it is more of a platform to pilfer the commonwealth by local government officials and for the state governments to fraudulently access more money than to facilitate bringing development to the grassroots. The progressive African political leaders of old like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nkrumah and Nyerere were more committed, visionary and sincere unlike what we have this days.

Chief Obafemi Awolowo 

Come with me in this recall. The local government administration system was a creation of the colonial masters. They put the structure in place to make the job of their colonial administration easier down the hierarchy. That was the era of the DO (Divisional Officers) who were trained oyinbo technocrats. When the colonial masters were winding down, indigenes who understudied them and trained over the years took over. That was how Baba, Chief Arokaodare of Ijero-Ekiti was the one who succeeded the white man in Ekiti and the likes of Chief Augustus Adebayo of Igbara-Oke served as a DO in some parts of the old western region at some points before rising to the prestigious position of Head of Service in the old western state. Hope I got the history right.

Until the era of pedestrian partisan politics crept in, which had now relegated the noble and efficient local government administration system of the past to the background, competent and responsible tested technocrats were in charge of the local government administration in Nigeria. Most of them will do better jobs than the calibre of governors that the Nigerian democracy has produced in the recent past to date. What obtains predominantly today is kakistocracy, whereby the government at all tiers are being administered by the least suitable or competent citizens of the state. The more scandalous and terrifying trend is the incursion of the people of questionable characters having a field day in the political arena.

For an example, the legendary principal of the Methodist Boys High School, Lagos in the 1960s and 1970s was a councilor in his Ifaki Ward and my beloved father who was a national leader of NUT in the early 1970s served as a councilor in his Ifaki Ward too in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These were career teachers gainfully employed. It was the time when communities put their best feet forward. When political job took them out of their career duty, they came back to the classroom after they were done.

What do we have today? Partisan politics is now a "profession" in Nigeria. Communities hardly choose their representatives anymore. The political political system has incapacitated them by limiting the options opened to them. It is the person that the godfather and political chieftains throw at them that they settle for because the general election is also unreliable. 

Compare the profile of the present set of councillors to the Awolowo era. Put the resume of Adeyemi Lawson when he was the Mayor of the City Hall - Lagos Island Council and that of High Chief Alex Olu Ajayi as the Chairman of Ado LGA beside any of the LCDA boss of today and you expect the same level of performance, quality administration and good leadership!

In the first instance, election to all tiers of government to various offices in Nigeria is no longer a call to service. It is no more considered an honour but a jackpot! It is not about a ward putting their best foot forward. The majority of the contestants are unemployed and desperate for where they can make a living and have their own bite out of the appropriated national cake. 

Tell me, when someone who lacks integrity or conscience knows that there are better and more qualified hands to represent the community and the godfather gave him or her the slot. Who is the fellow going to be loyal to? The masses that didn't elect him/her or the benefactor and self-serving caucus that put the beneficiary there?

The qualification for local government appointments or most political positions these days is now a reward for inclination to do the bidding of the clique in control of the political structure. Many of the beneficiaries don't have a second veritable vocational address or contented means of survival when the political employment contract is over. Accountability is near zero in most of the local government offices. If you give those calibre of people an autonomy over local government affairs, then forget about progressive development completely. "Won kan gbe eran din-din ti ologbo ni". 

Before autonomy can be ceded to the local government, the bar of quality representation from the councillor to the chairman must be raised. Capacity building is essential for all cadres of the rustic current LGA kleptocratic civil servants. Good quality governance at all tiers is a serious business. In all, the quality of governance at the state level will determine the quality of staffing at the local government levels, too. When you have a very corrupt and incompetent person as the governor or head of the government, then forget about best practices at the local government level. If the head is rotten, what do you expect of the lower parts of the body. 

The bigger the pie, the better for the governor who is interested in who is in charge of the local government funds. With the hugely monetised electoral process, cornering funds for the next election starts immediately when a new governor comes on board. They can't allow anyone who will not play ball to get positions at the local government level. In essence and in the final analysis, there would be no autonomy in the real sense of it at the local government administration level. The harmless poor masses shall continue yo be shortchanged. "Malu ti ko ni iru ni won."

Restructuring of Nigeria, the fundamental political and governing structures, becomes inevitable if we really want to get things right as a progressive nation. Anything short of this amounts to motion without any movement. The country will just continue to roll like the person sitting on the spinned chair of a barber. May God help Nigeria🙏🏾

Chief Wole Olanipekun - An Inimitable Philanthropist

THE UNRELENTING PHILANTHROPIST: CHIEF WOLE OLANIPEKUN

By

Seye Adetunmbi

When you have a humble background and God blesses you outstandingly in your community or among your contemporaries, and you deploy your affluence and use your influence for the benefit of people around you and the needy, it says a lot about the character and general disposition of the person. In most cases, this type of inclination is not by accident; it is often a manifestation of someone who responded well to good upbringing and appreciates the place of God in his or her life accomplishments, and in turn blesses others with his God given substance and means. Chief Oluwole Oladapo Olanipekun SAN, OFR fits this description. His beloved father, Pa Isaac

Olanipekun who passed-on in 1999 was very rich in character and a God-fearing man, who dedicated over a decade of his life taking good care in gratis, the premises and building of St. Peter’s Church, Ikere-Ekiti. Apparently, the patriarch inculcated discipline in his children; to fear God, respect humanity, and love their neighbours and serve the larger society. To the glory of God, his son replicated the good work of his father by building an architectural masterpiece church auditorium for the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in Ikere-Ekiti. The 1,500 sitting capacity multi-million-naira cathedral, that has the state-of-the-art facilities which include fully marbled pulpits, audio visual gadgets and new complete set of musical instruments, was dedicated on the 28th of February in 2020 to the glory God.

Prior to the donated church building, Isaac Olanipekun Memorial Vicarage was built by him and his wife in 2012. His philanthropy is beyond the Christian community, it is extended to the education sector, government facilities and his professional constituency. His alma mater, Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti is a beneficiary of a computer hub, fully equipped with laptop and desktop computers. It was first commissioned in 2007 and refurbished in 2019. In March 2014, he donated to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikere Branch, a 350-sitting capacity Bar Centre. This was later followed with a donation of a brand new 16-seater bus for the Branch in August 2019. Iyaafin Abosede Amenity Ward with modern facilities, was built by him and donated to Ekiti State Government at the State Specialist Hospital, Ikere-Ekiti in 2015. He established an FM Radio Station that was commissioned on the 28th of February, 2020 in Ikere-Ekiti.

He responded to the call of Ekiti-State government to indigenes of means to reach out to the government during the incursion of Covid-19. He donated to the state government a Ventilator worth over N14 million plus the cost of transportion, installation and other logistics. Also contributed N10m to the Covid-19 Fund in addition to the palliatives of 25 bags of rice.

    Having excelled as a legal practitioner and various state and federal governments have benefited from his integrated professional expertise, he was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of University of Ibadan in 2004 to 2006. During his tenure in office, he used his influence to open up Ajibode, the second phase of the institution. He donated N10 million in 2011 to the university when the flood ravaged the university in 2011 towards the restoration project. He also donated a 350-sitting capacity Wole Olanipekun Law Lecture Theatre to the Faculty of Law. Ajayi Crowther University also benefited from the donation of Wole and Lara Olanipekun Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge from him and his wife, during his appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.

The latest addition to his integrated awe-inspiring generous donations is the new Ekiti-State Judiciary High Court of Justice Building in Ikere-Ekiti, commissioned on January 19th in 2023. In the pipeline, is the construction of the Senate Building for the newly established Bamidele Olonilua University of Education Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti.

    Apart from his ongoing reach-out to corporate entities and institutions generally, he instituted the Wole Olanipekun Scholarship Scheme in 1996. Over 650 indigent students from various secondary schools and universities in Nigeria have benefited from the scheme. In 2020, he paid for the JAMB fees of 94 students of St. Louis Grammar School of Ikere-Ekiti. Those are some of his numerous philanthropical exploits in the public domain without capturing too many numerous gifts and assistance he gave wide range of people as a cheerful giver. Chief Wole Olanipekun was born on the 18th of November in 1951. He is a product of Amoye Grammar School in Ikere-Ekiti, Ilesa Grammar School, and University of Lagos, where he obtained a bachelor's degree in Law. He was called to bar in July 1976 after graduating from the Nigerian Law School. Wole Olanipekun and Co, his practicing outfit is a leading law firm of repute in Nigeria. His brilliance as a dedicated smart lawyer earned him the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in July 1991. He was appointed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State. He was elected as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2002 and was appointed the vice President of the Pan African Lawyers Union in 2003. He was appointed by the Nigerian Body of Benchers as a Life Bencher in January 2007. In October 2022, a Nigerian national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) was conferred on him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Chief Olanipekun is happily married to Erelu Omolara Olanipekun and the matrimony is blessed with successful four children. He is held in high esteem in Ikere-Ekiti. This was underscored by the honour the Ogoga of Ikere did him with the honorary title of the Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti on 10/11/2016. The act of giving is in his DNA, that is why he is not relenting his inimitable philanthropy. May God continue to bless oga Wole and uphold him in his inclination to support worthy causes, tirelessly. In mo s’oro un o, eee!

Chief Wole Olanipekun with Aare Afe Babalola, Seye Adetunmbi and Prof Laofe Ogundipe at an Ekitipanupo event in 2015

Chief Wole Olanipekun flanked by Seye Adetunmbi, Mr & Mrs Femi Falana and other dignitaries at the wedding ceremony of his daughter on July 14 in 2016 in Lagos.

Chief Wole Olanipekun and Seye Adetunmbi at a function in Lagos on 15/10/2016

Vice-President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Governor of Ondo-State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akerdolu and Dr Kayode Fayemi, onetime Governor of Ekiti-State graced the dedication of the Cathedral Church he built in 2020.

Remembering Cyril Showers 1964-2022

QUNITESSENTIAL VENERABLE GENTLEMAN: REVEREND CYRIL SHOWERS

By, Seye Adetunmbi, 2/12/2022

In this journey of life, we meet various kinds of people which leaves one with lingering sweet memories. Also, we met a few half way or far in the journey and yet it would be like you started the journey together from the onset. Especially, when the encounters brought so much joy like a beautiful song that one would have loved to sing endlessly because it brought forth pleasant tidings to be desired. Such was my experience with a venerable gentleman of God, Reverend Cyril Rotimi Sigismond Showers who was the Priest-in-Charge of St Botolph's Church, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent in England, 2019 to 2022. He was a diligent man of God whose dedication to duty and remarkable disposition to his parishioners endeared him to all. He was popularly called by Father Cyril by members of the congregation which attested to his carriage as a devoted priest in the vineyard.

    Reverend Cyril Showers was born in 1964 to the family of Mr. Samuel Dandeson Showers and Mrs Taiwo Showers in Sierra Leone. His father was a civil servant and a printer while his mother was a teacher and a seamstress. Father (Fr) Cyril didn't just take to priesthood, serving in the vineyard runs in the family. His imitable father was a Lay Reader while his grandfather was a Canon of the Cathedral in the Anglican Communion.

Fr Cyril, 1st left with two of his siblings, David and Henry

Showers Dynasty

In Freetown, he had his primary education at Christ Church Primary School and secondary education at Sierra Leone Grammar School, and St Edwards Secondary School for his Higher Secondary Course. He was a product of the famous Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma in Adult Education. He came to the United Kingdom in 1989 where his heartthrob, Miss Dennishia Lewis was based. To the glory of God, Cyril and Dennishia got married in 1991 and God blessed the holy matrimony with a daughter, Delia.

The professional and ethical disposition of Fr. Cyril manifested in all the places where he worked. In his early years in England, he worked as a stock manager at Dolphins Square in Central London. His passion for teaching led him to teach for 20 years at the Charter School, North Dulwich. Apparently, he was destined to be a priest, and this led him to the seminary. In September 2012, he was ordained a priest in the Anglican Church of England. His first posting as an ordained priest was as a curate at St. Faith's Church, North Dulwich where he served for four years until the God's work took him to St. Saviour's Church in Dulwich. In 2019, he became the vicar of St. Botolph's Church in Northfleet and St Mark in Rosherville in the Diocese of Rochester. In addition to his duties as the Priest in Charge of the two parishes, he joyfully conducted weekly devotion at St Botolph's Primary School and at Rosherville Primary School, occasionally.

Right from before relocating to the United Kingdom, he made his presence felt in the various communities he associated with in Sierra Leone. He was actively involved as a member of Sierra Leone Grammar School Band, Fourah Bay College Excelsior Club, St George's Cathedral Youth Fellowship and the choir of St George's Cathedral. As a dedicated citizen and by his innate inclination, he naturally made himself available to various relevant civic engagements in England over the years. By virtue of his membership of many indigenous organisations, coupled with commitment to good causes and being an inspirational leader, he was a rallying point for Sierra Leone community in London. At some point, he served as the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Grammar School Old Boys Association (UK) Foundation Trust, the Fourah Bay College Alumni Association (UK) Branch, and was a founding member of the LEOA Academic Male Voice Choir. He played active roles as a member of Ministers on Assignment and executive committee member of Sierra Leone Inter Diocesan Association. He gladly officiated at numerous community events. He served as the Chaplain of Sierra Leone Grammar School Old Boys Association (UK) Foundation Trust, the Fourah Bay College Alumni Association (UK) Branch and St George's Cathedral Association (UK Branch). He was always available to lend hand of assistance or help wherever he was needed including taking interest in the wellbeing of the communities in which he lived. He was involved in a regeneration project in Ebbsfleet, Kent.

Loving husband and a dotting father

Fr. Cyril and two of his siblings

Reverend Cyril Showers was indeed an inspiration. It was in the morning of Ash Wednesday on March 2nd in 2022 that I walked to the notice board of St Botolph's Church, Northfleet where I saw the email address of the priest in charge of the parish and did an email to inquire about worship days and time. He replied and I was able to join the service at 7pm on that day. The following Sunday, my family worshipped in the church, we were warmly received and became members of the parish. I gained a brother and friend after we met. He contributed among other reasons to my looking forward to worshipping at St Botolph's Church every Sunday. He had a unique way of delivering his homilies. At a point, I mentioned to him that he should consider compiling his sermon notes for publication to facilitate wider reach. He was happy and said that his sister also mentioned it to him.

    He rekindled my interest to join the priesthood in the Anglican Communion. As a matter of fact, he encouraged and registered me for a Safeguarding Leadership Course and called my attention to register for "It is Your Calling" of the Diocese of Rochester in the Church of England. He also volunteered information that could guide me in the journey. He gladly gave me all the necessary support when he conducted my 60th birthday holy communion and thanksgiving service on July 21, 2022 at St. Botolph Church. I was really worried when he told me on September 24, 2022 that he was seriously ill. It can then be imagined, the extent of how devastated I was, when Lay Minister Marion Fielder-White announced on the last Sunday in September 2022, that my brother and friend, Cyril was terminally ill and hard limited time left to be with us. I cried bitterly. It was a painful and hurting sad news. The moment I dreaded came, on October 27th, 2022, the notice of him being seriously ill, given to us notwithstanding, it was an irreplaceable loss.

Fr Cyril with Dara, Bukunmi, Seye, Bowo and Semilore Adetunmbi

L-R: Marion Fielder-White, Seye Adetunmbi & Reverend Cyril Showers on 21/7/22

My very dear vicar, inspirer, encourager, trusted brother and prized friend had gone home. Yes, "heaven is home", we are all just passing through this world.

God giveth, He taketh!

We have certainly lost a gem. His time came when we still needed him here.

We surrendered all to Jesus. 

It is well....

We will all miss Fr Cyril.

We are left with the fond memories of his devotion to duty, cultured nature, mien as a remarkable priest, sincerity of purpose in his responses to integrated duty calls and of course, his evergreen functional and instructive sermons throughout all the church seasons and on special occasions.

His transition is a personal loss to me because I was looking forward to his mentoring, when I finally commence my journey to ordination in the Church of England, God being my helper. 

No doubt, for a long time, any time I remember him, I am bound to be emotional with a very deep sense of an irreplaceable loss! 

Who are we to query God?

May God continue to be with his beloved wife, precious daughter, very dear siblings (Moses Ayodeji, Violet Iyabo, Henry Adewale, David Ekundayo, Farnell Wilson and Ebun Pratt); and we his other loved ones. God will grant the family, the fortitude to bear the burden and pain of losing such a precious family man and a diligent servant of God.

We loved Fr Cyril. God loves him more and He has taken him from us.

It is well.....

The befitting funeral given to Fr Cyril on December 2nd, in 2022 at St. Botolph's Church, Northfleet was an attestation of a well loved man of God. The tributes of family members, school mates, friends, colleagues and other associates were overwhelmingly spirit lifting and soul inspiring. Cyril lives on in our hearts. 

Fare thee well my beloved vicar, Venerable Fr. Cyril  Showers, till we meet to part no more.

TRIBUTES

Mr Toyin Oloniyo wrote:

I mourn, but also thank GOD for the gift and grace given us to have met his committed Soldier of Christ Fr. Cyril.

21/7/2022 your birthday Seye was an opportunity to meet the impressionable Vicar who celebrated the Holy Communion Service warmly, calmly  and not without apology that the wine was not delivered in compliance with covid 19  restrictions at the time. 

 He served his GOD diligently as His true servant and disciple.........can we, or should we delay him receiving the precious Crown laid up for him? 

Go forth. Well done Fr. Cyril till we meet again at the feet of Jesus.

 

To you Seye take  heart ❤️ GOD will not leave you comfortless.  The pursuit of your quest to be a Priest will be the biggest tribute to this encourager of yours.

GOD bless you and your co-parishioners which must include Fr. Cyril's family. 

IT IS WELL. - Toyin Oloniyo

Reflecting on the Befitting Final Rites for Queen Elizabeth II

REFLECTING ON WORSHIP AND A SOLEMN CHURCH SERVICE

Seye Adetunmbi

Queen Elizabeth II was in a class of her own. I never thought that I would get that emotional when the news was first broken on BBC because I was monitoring the news right from when the statement of her doctors expressing concern on her health was reported in the news. When a distinguished matriarch joins hers ancestors and the young and old cried, also the world mourned her exit, it says a lot about the uncommon great mother of the commonwealth and United Kingdom. May the gentle soul of the unequalled monarch, in the history of United Kingdom, rest in peace, amen. What I saw during the final rites church service held for Queen Elizabeth II was a manifestation of a disciplined and a structured system at its best. It applies to virtually all the facets of the governing model in the United Kingdom and human endeavours, towards making living decently in a well organised manner for their citizens as much as possible. It is a product of proper planning, visionary and responsible leadership. Checkout their public transport system! The timeliness and efficiency of the trains and buses as scheduled.

It is fashionable and an acceptable standard for people to attend occasions on time or as scheduled. It makes it a rule for protocol not to be a "respecter" no one. I saw how President Biden and his wife were politely asked to wait briefly because they missed the procession of the invited head of states who came in a bus together. Apparently, he came in his official car and arrived after the vehicle that convened his colleagues. People were ushered-in in turns, the war veterans were about file in to their seats when the couple arrived and they had to wait before they could go to their seat. Bo se wa ni yen, bo se ye ko ri ni yen.

    What I find nauseating or that constitutes a put off among the shameless "VIP" in Nigeria is that they will deliberately arrive at church functions late and interrupt a solemn worship service. Anytime I arrived in church late, I felt ashamed of myself. This is why I can't imagine anyone feeling comfortable to arrive in church late and instead of finding a way to your seat unnoticed, it is then the president and his crew or the governor and his wife or the "big-man" and his aides will walk through the isle causing unnecessary distraction! This is unacceptable! What amounts to a shameful act is what our ill-bred and uncultured nouveau riche take delight in, to the consternation of decent fellow kinsmen/countrymen.

    In the Anglican setting in Nigeria, a rowdy church service is not allowed. It is our "big men" and few busybodies in some of the parishes that in most cases cause problems for the clergy and the church. When a vicar tries to enforce discipline and orderliness, some of these elements will retort to petitioning to the diocesan to remove the priest when they can't manipulate the shepherd. Most of the people who fall into this category of causing confusion in the parishes are not active in the church for spiritual reasons. To them, what is topmost in their priority is that the church is a social, business, political and economic networking gathering. The unfortunate thing is that, this class of scallywags are often the vocal and visible ones which make them to have their way with mischief and intrigues in some cases. They are everywhere in our polity and they are at the center of the problems of Nigeria.

    Nigerian churches will be better if all ranks of the stakeholders in the congregation and the body of Christ generally, sincerely, truly and practically make God the reason for worship and their main focus. Where conflict or confusion sets-in is when people don't go about worship to glorify God but themselves or by devoting more attention on mere mortals. When people in position of power, influence and authority truly fear God in the real sense of it, our society will be better for it. Life will be more abundant for the majority. May God heal our beloved country, Nigeria.

    Ki Oluwa ko gbogbo wa mo se. May God help us.