MINDSCOPE

Sunday, 1 October 2023

Phenomenal Christ's School at 90

CELEBRATING THE PHENOMENAL CHRIST'S SCHOOL AT 90

By, Seye Adetunmbi

90 years ago, a British missionary, the Venerable Archdeacon Henry Dallimore, founded Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti. As a premium institution with a distinct heritage, the school has produced many distinguished Nigerians in all walks of life who continue to associate with the school at every opportunity. This milestone of nine decades of establishing the school is not an exemption.
The alumni globally have been looking forward to the 2023 to come for them to roll out the drums and celebrate their alma mater with pump and pageantry. On the 30th of June, 2023, the President of Christ’s School Alumni Association, the umbrella body for all chapters and branches globally, Kunle Jinadu, issued a formal statement, an extract of which is quoted thus: “Glory to the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent for the opportunity to witness this auspicious event of the celebrations of Christ's School Ado-Ekiti Founder's Day. All we need to do as individuals is to think of our umbilical cord to our Alma mater, our journeys, training, relationships, experiences in school, out of school and realise what a great, solid foundation Christ's School offered us all. The Bible says if the foundation is destroyed what can the righteous do? Christ's School on the Agidimo hills gave us solid unforgettable foundation. We have built on the foundation and will keep building on the it. We are all testimonies to the good jobs our teachers did as molders. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, says the Bible. Those who love thee shall prosper. The school is our Jerusalem. We love Christ's School. In giving back to our alma mater, we shall all continue to prosper. Amen. Let us give back and build back our School better. Let the 90th Founders' day celebrations begin.”

Archdeacon Henry Dallimore 5/2/1885-8/5/1970, the Founder of Christ's School

On Sunday 2/7/23 the president and fellow alumni gave thanks to God at Emmanuel Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti.

UK Chapter of the Alumni Association

The branch of Christ’s School Alumni Association in the United Kingdom evolved consequent to the ever growing numbers of the products of Christ’s School in Europe as applicable to North America Chapter and other parts of the world. They started on an informal note at various family events or gatherings of fellow old students. When it became necessary, they elected their pioneer executives and organised periodic meetings and strategic events to further engender interest in the association and give necessary support to the affairs of their alma mater back home. From inception to date, those who have led the association were Professor Femi Oyebode, Messrs Ojo, Segun Aganga, Dr Akin Ojo, Mrs Nike Babatola, Dr Sola Isinkaiye and Sanya Haastrup, the current president. The alumni branch had been very supportive of the school back home and continues to complement the progressive activities of the global alumni association and that of other branches and chapters. In 2012, UK branch hosted the Homecoming and Reunion of the old students in Ado-Ekiti

The Holy Communion and Thanksgiving Service

The UK alumni celebrated the 90th anniversary on the 30th of September, 2023 in England. Holy Communion and thanksgiving service was held in the afternoon at St John's Anglican Church 268 Albert Road North Woolwich in London. The eucharistic service was conducted by conducted by Reverend Dr Emeka while 96 years old Rev Geoffrey Gardner, one of the early expatriate teachers delivered the sermon.

The Collect for Christ’s School and the Alumni during the service: "O God of time and eternity, with whom one day is a thousand years; and a thousand years as day or a watch in the night, we thank you for your goodness and mercy on your school, Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti that was founded through your grace ninety years ago. Thank you especially for your comfort, guidance and protection over all the present and past students of the school. Forgive all their sins and pardon their imperfections. Accord them those virtues which are acceptable to thee. Give them grace, as the alumni UK Chapter remembers the way you have led them, to offer themselves completely unto you. Also, teach them to number their days, that they may apply their hearts unto wisdom, in the faith and knowledge of Him who is the same yesterday, today and forever, Jesus Christ our Lord Amen."

Baba, 96 years old Reverend Geoffrey Gardner

This prayer was also said for the school: "Eternal Father, the giver of life and creator of all good things who did cause thy servant, Archdeacon Henry Dallimore to establish Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti 90 years ago; we thank thee oh Lord, for all Thy mercies bestowed on the school and her products from that time unto this present, humbly beseeching Thee to continue Thy gracious favour and protection on the school, the students and the alumni in mighty name of Jesus. Amen". And this intercession: "Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your children, members of Christ’s School Alumni Association, UK Chapter who today celebrates the 90th anniversary of their alma mater. We thank You for their Christian heritage they benefited from the school. We thank You for their families and friends that surround him. We are also grateful for the talent you have endowed them with individually and collectively and for many lives they have touched through their callings and integrated disposition. We pray that by Your grace and mercy, they may continue to be of service to you, in good health, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

We are the body of Christ. In the one spirit we were baptized into one body. Let us pursue all that makes for peace and build our common life...

Reception and 90th Anniversary Lecture

Immediately after the church service, the reception for the event was held at Crowne Plaza London Docklands Hotel, Royal Victoria Dock, Western Gateway, London. A distinguished alumnus of Christ's School, Olusegun Aganga, onetime Managing Director of Goldman Sachs who served as the Nigerian Federal Minister of Finance, also as the federal minister of Industry, Investment and Trade delivered the 90th Anniversary Lecture. The title of the lecture is The Role of Educational Institutions in National Development. It was a stellar presentation by the international technocrat of repute who reiterated the place of Christ's School in his accomplishments in life. Likewise, Dr Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti-State and one time Federal Minister of Mineral Resources in Nigeria remarked in his goodwill message that Christ's School heritage contributed to his success in life as a product of the school. His Excellency, Ambassador Saraf Tunji Isola, the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom was the special guest of honour of the 90th anniversary celebration.

This quoted message I received from Baba Gardner through email second day after the remarkable celebration encapsulates the grand success of the memorable event: "What a splendid occasion that was, Seye. It was a pleasure to renew our friendship, and I enjoyed talking with you again. Above all I appreciated the gift from the Association of your book. I began reading it on the train going home and found it quite un-put-down-able. You are a formidable researcher, and the book on Nigeria's Secondary Schools is a very valuable one. I shall study it. And I shall show it to my son who was at one time a pupil at the International School, Ibadan...." - Geoffrey Gardner

TIMELINE OF LANDMARKS FROM 1933 TO 2023

1933: The School started as a Lower Middle School at the present Ekiti Anglican Bishop’s Court premises, Ado-Ekiti.

Venerable and Mrs Henry Dallimore

1934: As early as 1934, it was visible that the total impact of the education given was to make the individual a useful person to himself and to his community.

1936: In June 1936 the school moved to its permanent site on the crest of Agidimo Hill, Ado-Ekiti. On August 6th 1936, the Governor of Nigeria, Sir Bourdillon visited the school, on which occasion the name was changed to Christ's School.

1937: The Superintendent of Education in Ondo Province wrote: "The tone and discipline of the School are very good and altogether; this is one of the pleasantest Schools I have seen”

1940: Three dormitories were built and were named Block A, B & C which later became Harding House (Yellow), Babamboni House (Red) and Dallimore House (Green) respectively. Bishop House (Blue) was later built and named after Mason. In 1940 the Senior Education Officer, Owo and Benin Provinces wrote "This is the best School I have yet seen in Nigeria"

1943: Christ's School grew as a secondary school in stages, it moved up to Class IV in 1943.

1944: The High Master, Archdeacon Dallimore created a class of seven brilliant boys that he prepared for the Cambridge School Certificate Examination.

1945: Agriculture and cattle-keeping were included in the school programme. Likewise, Carpentry, Masonry and Gardening on every Crafts-Day (Wednesday). In 1945 the students presented for external examination passed with six in Grade II and one in Grade III.

1946-49: Students participated in the building of the School Chapel, new hostels, classrooms, new laboratories-and staff houses, all in granite stone masonry

1947: The Chapel was formally commissioned on February 5, 1947. February 5 was chosen in honour of the founder, Venerable Dallimore who was born same day in 1885, in England. Dallimore left in 1947, Chief E. A. Babalola acted as High Master for 6 months period of interregnum and Rev Canon L. D. Mason stepped into office as Principal in January 1948. The ship that brought Canon Mason berthed in Lagos on Friday, 17th August, 1945 and he was met in Ibadan the following day by Leslie Murphy and his first tour of duty at Igbobi College had started. He completed a first tour of some two years on the staff of Igbobi College, where he was appointed a House Master and during this time, the school moved back to Lagos. Rev Canon L. D. Mason stepped into office as Principal of Christ’s School in January 1948.

1948: The official first set of the Senior Cambridge School leavers was produced. The officially recognized set of Senior Cambridge School Certificate candidates sat for their papers at Ilesha in Academic excellence reached its peak under Reverend Canon L. D. Mason (1948-66).

A small electricity generator was installed in 1948 by Mason, there was none in the whole of Ado Township then and the school always stood tall over the hills at night.

1949: Science Laboratories were built using students labour. Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Fine Arts, Physics, Technical Drawings and Zoology became part of the curriculum.

1950: The School crest was formerly introduced to the school documents between 1949 and 1950 by the “Brand Master”, Canon Mason. Mr Ben Oluwole was among the students in the Library with him when he got the inspiration for the original concept of the timeless school emblem.

1952: Reverend Canon Mason got approval for The School as a Cambridge recognized centre for school certificate examinations.

1954: The last set of students writing School Certificate Examinations in Form VI and the first set writing the examinations in Form V sat jointly for the examinations.

1955: The Anglican Girls’ School was established, opposite the Agidimo Hill site of the Christ’s School, Ado-Ekiti.

1958: 28 students passed with Grade I, 15 in Grade II and 4 in Grade III

1966: On retirement of Canon Mason, Venerable R. Akinloye Ogunlade stepped in as Principal of Christ’s School. The same year, the Ekiti Anglican Girls Grammar School merged with Christ’s School

1968: Between 1968 and 1970, the school Post Office was built and the road from gate to Principal’s office was tarred with active participation of the students.

1975: Christ’s School won the Principal’s Cup in 1975

1978: Akinjide Ogunjobi HSC 78-79/085 and Akosile HSC 78-79/282 composed an anthem which was common among the later day and new generation of old students; Christ’s School is the place amongst mountains....

1979: After 13 years as a mixed school, the Girls section was separated from the boy’s School and named Christ's Girl’s School, while the boy’s section simply remained as Christ's School.

1980: Canon L. D. Mason made a return visit to Nigeria.

1984: Christ's School had the boarding facility restored in September 1980 after the systematic but gradual scheme of closing down boarding facilities all over old Ondo State and other states in the old western region.

1985/86: The first intervention project by Old Students by refurbishing the old Form I Classroom, which was dilapidating. It was embarked upon by the 1956-60 set and commissioned by Governor Mike Akhigbe of Ondo State. Other sets have followed ever since. HSC Programme was reintroduced into Christ's School and two other schools in Ondo State. The system closed down in 1990 with the introduction of the 6-3-3-4 Education System in Nigeria.

1988: Commissioning by Canon L. D. Mason of the ultra-modern School Library built in place of the semi-circular flower bed, a project jointly financed by the School (majorly), students labour, the PTA and old students, mainly the 1957 Set that paid for the cost of Canon Mason's flight to Nigeria. That was Canon Mason's last visit to Nigeria. The year also witnessed the tarring of the main driveway again, which was commissioned by Governor Ernest Adeleye, an old student, then Governor of Rivers State.

1989: Canon L. D. Mason passed away. His ashes were brought by Chief S.B. Falegan from Sheffield, U.K. and interred on the grounds of the School Chapel, an occasion celebrated in the typical Yoruba way of celebrating the passage of community Titans.

1991: Christ's School won for keeps the Ondo state Principal's Cup football competitions on winning the Cup that year for the third consecutive year 1989, 1990 and 1991.

1992: The shopping complex built with School fund, assisted with student labour was commissioned.

1995: Venerable Rufus Akinloye Ogunlade, first African Principal of the School, earlier a Teacher, Sports Master, Vice-Principal, died and his body was interred on the grounds of the School Chapel.

2001: Commissioning of the "Ghana House" a donation to the School by an Alumnus Olusola Luther-King (Olusola Alagbe)

2009: Commissioning of the Alumni Hall, a block whose foundation was laid in 1969, meant to be a School Assembly Hall, but which remained abandoned until 2009 when the Old Students Association took over, completed it to finish and named it Alumni Hall.

2010: Total refurbishing of the School Chapel which was supervised by Chief SB Falegan and the Dining Hall were completed as Alumni Projects. The Anglican Bishop of Ekiti, Most Rev'd S. A. Abe rededicated the buildings on completion. Also, in 2010, a block of dormitory was presented to the Girls' Section by Dr. Kayode Obembe, onetime Alumni National President.

2013: The 80th Anniversary of the School was celebrated with grandeur, by which time the Alumni Association had been playing decisive roles. Seye Adetunmbi packaged a book titled “In Deed and in Truth”; the publication was sponsored by Lagos Branch of the Alumni Association to mark 80th anniversary of founding Christ’s School.

Dr U. Justus Itsueli

2015: Sir Uduimo Justus Itsueli was elected the President of the Alumni Association and the new EXCO was inaugurated in March 2016.

2016: Alumni raised fund to fence the premises of Girls Section of the School. On 26/8/16, the Alumni President led the delegation to Chief Ayo Fayose, the Governor of Ekiti-State

2017: The report of the working committee of Christ’s School was concluded and the proposal to Ekiti State Government for the handover of the school was submitted. The gate of main campus was built by 1973-77 set to mark their 40 years of graduating from the school.

2018: Handover proposal was presented to Ekiti-State government

2019: Ekiti State Government under the leadership of Dr Kayode Fayemi formally handed over Christ’s School to the Anglican mission in Ekiti in September 2019.

2020: Kunle Jinadu was elected the alumni president in the first electronic voting by the alumni body and will go down as the best election held so far by the alumni association

2021: Three sets held their homecoming. 1975-80 set hosted tarred the road to the two school compounds and build the gate for the Girls’ section. Members of the HSC 1978-1980 and 1979-1981 donated furniture and laboratory equipment to the school.

2022: The hybrid HSC 1978 and 1979 Group had their Homecoming in April 2022

2023: President of the alumni association and selected members of the alumni body met with the Diocesan, the proprietor on the 1/6/23 to further smoothen things out for the proper running and progress of Christ's School. The alumni association rolled out programmes to mark the 90th anniversary in June 2023 and UK Branch marked the milestone in England on 30/9203.

AN INTEGRATED REMINISCES OF PAST TEACHERS AND OLD STUDENTS

By, Seye Adetunmbi

Christ’s School no doubt is a distinct phenomenon! The passion of all ranks of people who were associated with the school at one point or the other is amazingly phenomenal. Virtually everyone had/has one unique thing or the other to say about the school. Quite a number of the old students have written books on the school while virtually every product of the school who has written their memoirs dedicated a chapter or a section to Christ’s school in their book. In the latter category were Architect Fola Alade, Chief F.A. Daramola who was also a teacher, Chief S.B. Falegan, Chief Olusola Bayode and recently, Olusegun Aganga. One of the books of a prominent old student, Professor Adelola Adeloye, a renowned brain surgeon was essentially a detailed book on his school days. My humble self do have my own story to tell. My father with the school number 36/060 belonged to the 1936 set that actually started in the permanent site of the school. My older brother and younger sister also attend the school. One of my recent books is The School, a compendium on Christ’s School (1933-2023).

In 1969, Professor Adelola Adeloye had a memorable encounter and interview with the founder of the school, during which Archdeacon Henry Dallimore was quoted as follows: “The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti decided upon the land. As the final and head school of the area, there was no better name I could think of at the time. I chose the name but the school was opened by Bourdillon.” On the purpose of the school he said: “To lead Ekiti on to the place it should occupy in the country. There was no source of leadership then in the district and provision had to be made for it. The school was to prepare pupils for this leadership. We could not get Ekiti boys into other schools and yet they were capable.” On the chapel: “I felt it was necessary to have a central place of worship if the whole school was living in”. What pleased him most about the school: “Everybody had worked together well in the school and in relation to the community.” With respect to the role his wife played in the evolution of our school: “Well, she has always been my right hand person. She was part of a large family at home”; and why he left in 1947: “I'd been wanting to go for some time to allow a younger man to take over. On his published works on geography: “I wrote two books on geography, and taught the subject for some time in Christ's School.” Recalling his knowledge of his co-missionaries in Ekiti, he said. “Babamboni came as an evangelist and helped in organising the C.M.S. in Ekiti at the time. Those were early days. I thought that he might have had this at the back of his mind. A simple man, you know. But he had come to be able to read the bible and to know the love of God. And he wished to preach it, and he did preach it. He was an Ekiti man. That's what brought him back. Harding was the first missionary. I did not meet him. He had gone before I came. He was our first missionary, then Hargreaves came. Canon Jebb was there at the time.”

Mrs Dallimore also narrated how in the early days as they went for their walk one day, they came to the rocky spot where the old Principal's house now stands and she said loud and clear: “This is the place”. She narrated with delight her first meeting with Babamboni, “a very determined, grand old man who lived ahead of his time”. She recalled Babamboni's youthful enthusiasm to learn even in the twilight of his days, and told with glee how, one day, Babamboni came into a class where an English lesson was going on and said he would not leave until he knew "this new thing about subject and predicate.

Also, Reverend Geoffrey Gardner one of the distinguished early expatriate teachers of the school recalled as follows in his chat with another passionate alumnae of the school, Mrs Wura Ajibade. On the expatriate teachers, he said: “Most UK teachers were recruited by Overseas Appointment Bureau, on fixed term contracts, matching applicants to requests from Nigerian schools and colleges, via the Regional Education Boards of Nigeria, which provided the salaries (i.e. John Hathaway, Gordon Lewis, John Busbridge, David Puttick, Gareth Cook, etc.). Similarly, the Youth Corps of USA: Rod Marriott, Ted Robinson). A few of us were recruited by CMS (David Lewis, Physics, Anthony Foster, Chemistry, and I, History & BK)”. He underscored the power of Christ’s School bond when he was asked about his fellow expatriates and said: “Until recently many of us did keep in touch, as our rich experience of working at Christ's School created a real bond which survived for decades. Sadly many have now died, and some have aged seriously…” On his thoughts and counsel for the school, Baba Garner said: “I am shy of giving advice, as my own country has so many failings. But if you alumni can support each other in resisting corruption and bribery, and maintaining the highest professional standards, then alumni can still play a significant role in modern Nigeria - the Giant of Africa.”

On Canon Mason, he had this to say: “Canon Mason worked at Grade 1 College, Abraka, then UI Education Dept, before retiring to UK. In England he lived alone in a bungalow in the beautiful Cotswold Hills, then in a flat in Bath, a choice city where my wife and I helped to look after him, and many alumni and ex-staff visited him. Finally, he retired to Capel Court, a retirement home for clergy in Cheltenham, where I saw him frequently, right up to his death. His best friend was Major Vellacott, a fellow bachelor. They kept in touch with each other up to the end, and George V was the Executor to Canon Mason's will. After his funeral service in Cheltenham, it was George V who passed some mementoes from Canon Mason to my wife and myself and other friends, which are still treasured. I gave a few of his pictorial slides of CSAE to Mrs Babatola recently.” He went further to buttress the place of Christ’s School in providing scholarships to help impecunious students at some points. “The original purpose for the school in the mind of Archdeacon Dallimore was to provide education for the sons and daughters of cocoa farmers. It is not anyone's fault that the school became so good that leading citizens in the country wanted their children to go there”. He said.

Dr Akinyemi Farounbi (58/043) in his chat with Gbenga Alaketu he reminisced thus: “I can't forget my experiences as the School Time Keeper, particularly given the fact that I was left handed. I can't forget the annual feasts of the Young Farmer's Club. Waoh. I enjoyed the school. I had great class mates like Henry Ekperigin, Sunday Okpaise, Niyi Onioriro etc I was in Bishop House now Mason House. My favourite subject was Geography. I loved music and was the DJ for annual dances of Science Society, of which I was a member. I remember the highlife band based in Ado Ekiti. I recall our monthly walk to Emmanuel Cathedral for morning service. I recall the occasional participation of students from now the Girls Section. I recall our interactions in school debates, football and sports with only Government College, Ibadan, King's College, Lagos. I think Government College, Ughelli. Christ's School related only with the best schools in Nigeria. We had no relationship with the schools in Ekiti. All of these gave us the impression that we were the best in Nigeria. I remember when Tesilimi Thunder Balogun came to coach our football teams on the pitch.I remember the annual Cross-Country Race. I remember being taught carpentry, bricklaying and farming in our lower classes to cultivate in us the value of using our hands. I recall the life around School Quadrangle. I remember singing the famous" O what an ass I am". There are too many things to remember about the school that laid the foundation for what I am. There were Olutola Ojo and Dipo Ajayi without whom I would not have attended Christ's School. I had an admission but my father was not sure he would be able to pay my fees. Dressed in their white and blue school uniform, with their caps to match, they met my father at now Araromi Ekiti. With their unique uniform, they persuaded my father to come to Christ's School. They persuaded him that the Principal was very sympathetic to poor brilliant students. My father agreed. My story changed. The rest is now history Christ's School showed through me that with good education the poor can become great. I salute you my Alma Mater”

In the reminiscence of Professor Fehintola Mosadomi, nee Ogunjobi, she said: “What a great School to be a part of….. My academic training in Christ’s School has positively impacted my career. Without the tenacity I had inculcated from Oke Agidimo, coupled with my belief in God who works all wonders and is always there when I call on Him, I don’t think I would have been able to accomplish anything. My faith grew with the activities of the Scripture Union in Christ’s School. Monsieur Cook, our French teacher in Forms 4 and 5, was my academic anchor, who made the greatest impact on me academically. Old glory also involves students winning awards in academics, sports among others. I remember Tunde Famodu and Dr. Dayo Odunlami who won the U.S. (Boys’ Scouts) Jamboree award to go to the U.S. They made Christ’s School proud. That was glory earned for the School in the 60s. Macoooosa (Mac Iyayi) and a host of soccer players come to mind! One cannot underestimate the contributions of Archdeacon Dallimore, Canon Mason, and Chief Ogunlade, Mrs. Reed, Ms. Davies, and Rev. Gardner among others. A lot of other secondary schools envied Christ’s School back in the days. The school should get that image back.

Segun Aganga also had this to say to Alaketu in a chat: “Christ’s School was a good ground for preparing me for future. We were in the boarding house which prepared us well for living in the community. We were involved in a disciplined regime from the moment with entered. Our teachers were strict, disciplined and accessible; we had seniors and college brothers who supported, motivated and mentored us. Our school activities were structured throughout the day to bring the best learning and morals out of us. We joined school clubs and groups that allowed for disciplined interaction with female students. Christ’s school enabled me to fall back on valuable network of useful people in life. I was a lecturer in Ọbafẹ́mi Awólọ́wọ̀ University for about a decade and was able to get things done in the university because Christ’s School old students were everywhere there in high places and very supportive. In a particular year (probably 1987/8 session), eight of the nine professors promoted were from Christ’s school including the Deputy Vice Chancellor. Every day I enjoyed the loyalty, faithfulness, blessings and love of my wonderful Christ’s school brothers and sisters and even now that I left school forty seven years ago, I remember Christ’s School days with nostalgia and value more the import of our school prayer that God should grant that Christ’s School will be a Christian school not in name only but indeed and in truth...Indeed, Christ’s school is a home of the blessed. Christs School had a Christian foundation. It was built on morals and Christian precepts. School leadership helped to channel its running in enviable directions.”

Dr Abiodun Adu in a bit of the history of Adu clan in Christ’s School said: “Richard my younger brother entered Christs School in 1962. He was in Bishop now Mason House. He left the School with a Grade 1. I left Christ's School in 1963, I was in Mason House. My other brothers who attended the great school were Professor Simeon Bisi Adu (popstar Sade's dad) and same set with Prof Kayode Osuntokun. Reuben Adeniyi Adu (Afro-food packaging), Rufus Bamigbola Adu belonged to the first set to do WAEC in Class 5. Their brilliant set was joined with the year 6 that included Chief Dele Falegan to sit for WAEC. Julius Olatunji Adu (Acro-Sambo, a great footballer) belonged to the 1960 set of Prof Jide Osuntokun. There is Mathew Olawumi Adu who belonged to 1964 set. UP School.”

Christ’s School is certainly a classic paradigm of an unending captivating story and an enduring beautiful song. Up school for life!!!

Saturday, 22 July 2023

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu - Doing and Getting it Right

PATIENCE, CAUTION AND DISCERNMENT FOR PRESIDENT TINUBU

By, Seye Adetunmbi

Let's give President Tinubu (PT) some time more on the job. He certainly needs it. That was my immediate response to a political commentary thread in Ekitipanupo Forum, an indigenous intellectual roundtable, early this morning of Saturday July 22, 2023. In fairness to him and on a lighter mood note, what he said from the outset was that it was his turn (oun lo kan emilokan)! He did not say that he was coming to perform the miracle of turning things around within within a short period of time.

Seriously, the best Nigerians can do now is that, once the election case is put behind us and there is no alternative to his presidency for the next 3+ years, let all hands be on deck to help him get it right and do the proper thing for the benefit of the majority of all ranks of the stakeholders. This will be my position too to whoever emerges as the elected president at any point in time.

The supporters of PT must adjust their campaign flag/status and move to "ise ya" mode. All his media foot soldiers must hang their boots of all shades of toxic profiling and name calling of the opposition camp. The image makers must give him a break of projecting him as the "political Rambo" of Nigeria who is greater than all those who came before him and all the outstanding politicians in the political history of Nigeria. Let him be! Let him do his work and create his own niche which will form the basis of how he would be rated after he is done in the office as the president of Nigeria.

He too must listen to the people who mean well for Nigeria and the majority of Nigerians, and not just to a sect or a small clique. He must neither allow palace (Aso Rock Villa) jesters hijack his government nor let the political attack dogs drive away quality people from him and his administration. He should heed the advice of values driven technocrats and not that of the stomach infrastructure, "jeunsoke", appointments seeking, self-serving and commercial/mercantile elements and politicians.

As the president, he can choose to lead from the front, middle or from the rear. What is important is what you have set out to accomplish and whose side you want to be. Each model has its own peculiarities and the required structural integrity to achieve the desired result/set goals. One thing is constant to all the three leadership models; he must be surrounded by credible, efficient, responsible, selfless, well-meaning and tested Nigerians of good character.

In all, everything depends on PT. It is up to him to make the difference or sustain the status quo. The outcome of his tenure would depend on what drives him in the office as the president of Nigeria. Is he going to be on the side of the masses or dedicate his era to those setting Nigeria back from attaining her potential? The answer resides in the kind of values that drive him as the person in charge.

Nevertheless, my charge to oga BAT is to go for excellence. Because excellence endures and remains long after cost is forgotten.

Ajuse o

Thursday, 13 July 2023

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.

https://www.youtube.com/live/oK5LLZNmAWI?feature=share

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

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.