The Ultimate Honour
www.obatejuosobooks.com______1 The Ultimate Honour
The Ultimate Honour
Dapo Tejuoso
www.obatejuosobooks.com______2 The Ultimate Honour
www.obatejuosobooks.com______3 The Ultimate Honour
© Dr. Dapo Tejuoso All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re-produced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the author or the publishers. First published 1989
ISBN 978 126 165 X
Published by: Nelson Publishers Limited Nelson House, 8 Ilupeju Bye-Pass, Ilupeju, P.M.B. 21303, Ikeja Lagos
Ebook reproduction: 0803 431 1147 | Freelink Media
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Dedication
To the memory of my dear late Sister Miss Rolayo Adebimpe Tejuoso who died on December 30, 1965 at the age of 25.
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Contents
Profile: The Man Tejuoso
1. My Roots
2. My Years at the Abeokuta Grammar School
3. Choice of a Career
4. Teju Foam Business
5. My Marital Life
6. Socio-Cultural Limelight
7. A Rotarian
8. A Freemason
9. Kingship: The Ultimate Honour
10. Testimonials
11. Appendices
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www.obatejuosobooks.com______7 The Ultimate Honour Profile: The Man Tejuoso
The only surviving child of his parents, late Mr. Joseph Simioye Tejuoso and Chief (Mrs.) Bisoye Esther Tejuoso (Nro Karunwi), the incumbent Iyalode Egba, Oba Adedapo Adcwale Tejuoso was born on February 19, 1938. He began his formal education at St. George's School, Zaria (1941 — 46). His parents were based in Zaria at the time. Oba Tejuoso later on attended Abeokuta Girls' School, Ake, (1946-48), and Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti's Class (1949—1950).
In 1951, the young Tejuoso moved on to the prestigious Abeokuta Grammar School. He climaxed an outstanding secondary school education with the senior prefectship of (lie school in 1956. For his Advanced Levels, Adedapo studied at the West Ham College of Technology London between 1957—58. He did not complete this segment of his education before gaining admission into Trinity College, Dublin in 11)58 for his medical education. He became a qualified medical doctor in 1964.
The bug of higher education further bit him in 1967, and lie went back to the United Kingdom. Between that year 1970, he earned post-graduate laurels at the University of Liverpool, University of Edinburgh, University of Bristol and the University of London.
On his return to Nigeria in 1970, Adedapo decided to expand the frontiers of the private practice he first started at the Awonaike Close residence of his parents in 1965. He therefore established the Teju Industrial Clinic Ltd, Ilupeju in 1971 of which he is the Medical Director.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______8 The Ultimate Honour Since that first step in the business world, Adedapo has established other companies. They are: Teju Industries Ltd; Teju Foam Ltd.; Regent Hotel, Lagos; Teju Investment and Property Co. Ltd.; and Avis Petroleum Co. Ltd.
That early embrace of the business world is not to say that Adedapo had no experience of public service. In 1957, he was a clerk in the Senior Medical Officer's office for six months. Between July 1964 and June 1965, he was a House Officer at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. This was during his housemanship. And between July 1965 and September 1966, he was a Senior House Officer in the same hospital. On his return from Britain in 1970, he took up a part-time appointment with the Surulere Health Centre as a Medical Officer.
A teetotaller, Adedapo is a member of various social organisations such as: Abeokuta Club, Abok '56 Club, Island Club, and Lagos Country Club. A man committed to the service of mankind, Adedapo is a respected member of the Rotary Club of Ikeja .He was the President of the Club in 1980-81. And in 1986- 87, he was the District Governor of Rotary International District 911.
An active sportsman in his young days, Adedapo is in the forefront of the vanguard for the promotion of Badminton. He is a former Chairman of the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria. He had been President of the African Badminton Federation, and is the first African to be elected into the Council of the International Badminton Federation.
In the course of rendering service to humanity, many awards had been heaped on Adedapo. Some of them are: the International Badminton Federation's Meritorious Service Award (1988), Rotary International District 911 — www.obatejuosobooks.com______9 The Ultimate Honour Distinguished Service Award, Meritorious Service Award for the Rotary Foundation (1987), and Rotary International — Presidential Citation (1987). His people, the Egba, are not left out in the giving of honour to whom it is due. Thus, since
1982, five Chieftaincy titles have been conferred on Adedapo. They are: Bada of Ago Oko Christians, Oke-Ona, Bajiki of Ago Oko, Bariyun of Ilaro, Bantun of Oke-Ona, and the first Bantun of of Egba Land.
The Oke-Onas has now put a fitting cap on all these by giving him the ultimate honour, their Number One Citizen spot, the Osile Oke-Ona Citizen
A Christian Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso is happily married and has many children.
Olalekan Ogundimu, Lagos, 1989
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www.obatejuosobooks.com______11 The Ultimate Honour Preface
Every day man lives, he is imbued with ideas. These are vibrations in the Creator's pool of knowledge. At 51, the story of my life is a testimony to the successful tapping from that pool. Like a skilful palmwine tapper, I have tapped abundantly from the juice of life. However, a couple of months ago, when this idea of an autobiography first occurred to me, my first reaction was to scoff at it. What will a young man at two scores plus write about himself? The amazing thing about this idea was that it came at a time my shift towards my creator became much more pronounced.
Whereas a few years earlier, I would spend the whole of Sunday relaxing at home, the church-going bug suddenly bit me. This is not to say that my belief in God only came a few years ago, those who know and understand me realise that my faith in God and his many wonders to perform has been unshakeable from youth. So, behaving like one of my species, I, a mortal, did not but in moments of introspection, question this change and thought as to their meanings.
That question has been fully answered in the unfolding events of the last one year. When Oba Adedamola II, the seventh Osile joined his ancestors and subtle hints started making the rounds, that I was to be his successor, I was shocked. I, who had been described as an introvert. And what with some of the controversies surrounding my way of life especially, marital? Overwhelmed by the honour my people, the Oke-Onas, have unanimously conferred on me by making me their first citizen, I resolved within myself to give a frank account of my life.
This autobiography therefore is to set the record straight. It will put a lie to the "hear-says". It has for the first time exposed for public consumption how and
www.obatejuosobooks.com______12 The Ultimate Honour why I abandoned monogamy for polygamy. A full account of my early marriages is there for the reader who had all along been treated to one side of the story to finally judge for himself.
On many occasions, a number of my friends and acquaintances have asked me to justify how I am able to marry the Christian doctrine with my membership of Freemasonry. Their curiosity has been finally satisfied here. In fact, I have gone beyond their expectation by providing an indepth account into my Rotary activities, my membership of the Freemasonry, religious activities, and what I hope will be my role as the traditional ruler of Oke-Ona in the town's spiritual engagements.
I hereby whet the reader's appetite by making the following testimony here. That I am a better man in the service of my God because Rotary's Four-way Test has in conjunction with Christian doctrine been the guiding light of my life. And as I have said elsewhere in this book, there is nothing secret about the Freemasonry, its doctrine hinges on brotherly love, relief and truth. In fact, if a great percentage of the top hierarchy of the rulers of the country are FREEMASONS, the country would be a much better place to live in.
Because of the vantage positions from which one has been privileged to serve this nation, I have seized the opportunity of the experience garnered over the years to make certain pronouncements. On health care, to build a nation whose citizens are free from disease and want, a National Health Insurance Scheme will in the final analysis become a fait accompli. This recommendation is not in the least to pooh pooh the various laudable programmes of government in the health sector.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______13 The Ultimate Honour On the international scene, competitive sports have become a healthy war among nations. It has become an avenue for forging everlasting friendships and for nations to stamp their virility and vigour on the world's landscape. As an active participant, in sports administration, that is via Badminton, sports administration in Nigeria leaves much to be desired. My recommendation in this regard therefore may seem harsh but that is the wholesome truth nurtured by conscience and experience.
That this idea, The Ultimate Honour, materialises is due largely to a number of people, chief among whom is Mr. Leke Taiwo who put at my disposal extensive and invaluable editorial advice. The publishing house too, Nelson Publishers, which midwifed the book, performed a feat by ensuring its publishing in record time. To all those wonderful people too, numerous to mention here, who rendered their assistance, however small, I extend my sincere appreciation. I assure them that since men's destiny is forever interwoven with others, God sparing our lives, we shall definitely continue to need one another.
Thanks.
Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso
Osile Oke-Ona, Egba, Karunwi III Abeokuta.
April, 1989.
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www.obatejuosobooks.com______15 The Ultimate Honour My Roots
The founding of Abeokuta as recorded by E. K. Ajisafe, illustrate the circumstances that brought the Egba people. It is a story of the willingness and determination of it people, who had hitherto existed as distinct and separate towns to come together and settle under the Olumo or Abeokuta — having suffered the devastating effect of the various fratricidal wars of the 18th and 19th centuries from their enemies particularly the Ibadan and Ijebu elements.
The four distinct entities that make up the present composite town of Abeokuta, which came into being in 1830, are the Egba Alake, Egba Oke-Ona, Egba Gbagura and Egba. These four decided to settle under the Olumo rock not only as a sanctuary against the incessant attack and harassment of their principal enemies but also to provide a unified unit, to ward off the harassment of these enemies who are still bent on dislodging them from their refuge.
Prior to their coming together, each of the four 'rudimentary' towns had its own Oba and a clear authority over its domain as distinct from the rest. The Obas were and still the Alake of Egba Osile Oke-Ona, Agura of Gbagura and Olowu of Owu. Up till today, each of the four still wields authority over his domain, operating within the loose federation which was initiated in 1830 but concretized by Governor MacCullum on 31st January 1898 when he brought the four Obas face to face at a meeting for the first time. It is pertinent to note that the four Obas present at that first historic meeting were — (1) Alake (Oba Sokalu); (2) Osile (Obakarunwi I — my great grandfather); (3) Agura (Oba Mubunmi); (4) Olowu — (Oba Adepegba).
www.obatejuosobooks.com______16 The Ultimate Honour According to Biobaku, the coming together of the four groups forms the basis for the strong solidarity that exists among the Egbas today.
Of the four entities that make up the present Abeokuta, Oke-Ona is my home. According to tradition of origin, the Oke-Ona people migrated from Orile-Oko — a settlement near Ijebu province. Oke-Ona itself comprises a number of communities namely: Ago-Oko, Ikija, Ikereku, Ilugun, Ilawo, Ago-Odo, Idomapa, Iberekodo, Idere, Idofin and Imala.
Both parents of mine hail from Ago-Oko. My father is from Tejuoso compound at Oke-Oko, while my mother is from Karunwi house at Isale Oko — the house that produced the first Osile Oke-Ona. History has it that my great grandfather, Mr. Tejuoso was the leader of the six eminent baba-lawos — native doctors — who were given the assignment to find out through the Ifa oracle, whether the coming together of the four 'rudimentary' towns mentioned earlier, to settle under the Olumo rock, portended well for the future. Their finding was that the Egba would prosper by the association.
My late father, Mr. Joseph Somoye Tejuoso was born in 1908. He died in 1968. My mother, Chief (Mrs) Bisoye Tejuoso was born on 22 June 1916. She is the grand-daughter of Oba Karunwi, the first Osile Oke-Ona. She attended the Igbein Primary School Abeokuta and later went to Idi-Aba Teacher Training College, also in Abeokuta.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______17 The Ultimate Honour My mother and father came across each other in the early 1930s while the latter was a class teacher at Igbein Primary School and the former a pupil in the same school. The affair was consummated in 1934 when the two of them were joined in holy wedlock thereby becoming husband and wife.
My parents suffered a good deal of hard fate in child bearing. They lost most of their children at the infant stage. The record showed that they had five children in all. They already had two before me, none of which survived till I was born.
Coming third along the line of an exercise which apparently had become more or less a gamble in the process of child bearing, I came into this world on February 19, 1938.
Both parents were living at 10, Queen Street, Yaba, Lagos. I hr house belongs to my uncle, Chief Akitoye Tejuoso. My immediate sister who would have been said to have scaled through this infant mortality syndrome with me also died when she was twenty five years old. She was born in July, 1940 and died on December 30, 1965. In fact, her death has left an ever painful and indelible scar in my heart up till today because of the sentimental attachment I had to her. Her death also came at a time when my parents seemed recovered from the trauma occasioned by the loss of the former children and now feeling assured of two grown up ones.
I could remember my parents still had one other child after my sister who also died at infancy. This account summarizes why I have remained the only surviving child of my parents.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______18 The Ultimate Honour Childhood and Early Education
After working for some years as a teacher, my father decided to join the Nigerian Railway Corporation. Father must have started working with this corporation before I was born. He was transferred to Zaria in 1940 — that was two years after I was born. At this time, mother was a petty trader. It became imperative for her to follow her husband to Zaria to continue her petty trading. While in Zaria, she, was dealing in various assortments of merchandise ranging from onions to beans and rice — all of which she was railing down to the southern part of the country.
Having realised the importance of education and being a former teacher himself, my father introduced me to education very early. I was enrolled at the St. George's Primary School, Zaria in 1941 to begin the preliminary which normally took some years before one moved up to standard one. Schooling really did not mean much to me at this time as my main preoccupation then was to have enough time to play with my compeers either at home or at school.
One unpleasant but remarkable incident which occurred during this early childhood of mine and which would take some time to obliterate from my memory was the day I inadvertently caused the burning of my parents apartment in Line E4 at Sabon Gari, Zaria.
Our family was living in a hired apartment when we first got to Zaria. The house was the Brazilian type containing about eleven different families, mostly Ibos. We were the only Yorubas. I must have been about five years then. My parents were occupying a room and a parlour. On this fateful day, my mother went to plait her hair at the next house while my father was away at work. Alone in the room, I stumbled on my father's packet of cigarette and his box of matches. I www.obatejuosobooks.com______19 The Ultimate Honour took the box and started striking each stick of match one after the other while lying on the bed. I was amused the way the sticks were burning out in numbers. But at a point, I struck one which burned one of my fingers and promptly I threw it away. The burning stick landed at one end of the bed. In my own childlike wisdom I used the hand fan (Abebe) which was around to cover it, in the belief that that would consequently quench it out. Thinking that I had successfully put out the fire, I went out to play with my mates. While I was having a good time with them, someone looked in the direction of our house and saw smokes coming there from. He raised an alarm which quickly drew the attention of every person around. There was a spontaneous attempt by the people to save the whole house from being razed down by the fire. At the end of it all, it was only our own apartment that was gutted down. All the property therein, including all goods of sentimental value were destroyed. I lacked the courage to tell my parents that I unknowingly caused the fire but I suspected they too knew, especially my mother who knew that I was the only person left behind in the house before she went out to plait her hair. I guess she was more grateful to her God that she did not lose me in the fire. Though very young, I regretted this incident. My parents had to start all over again. Thanks be to God that it was not too long after this incident that they built their own house in Zaria.
In 1946, my parents decided that my late sister and I should go to Abeokuta to continue our education. We were arnt to Mrs Onatolu, the wife of the late Bishop Onatolu of the African Church, Idi-Ape, Abeokuta.
I continued my primary school at the Abeokuta Girls School, Ake which at that time served as both Primary and Modern Schools. Though a Girls' School as the name implies, the practice at that time allowed for the admission of a few buys. I was in this school between 1946 and 1948. Again, as h mutter of policy, we boys www.obatejuosobooks.com______20 The Ultimate Honour were to leave this school in 1948 while still in Standard III. We took entrance examination to holh Saint Peters School and Mrs. F. Ransome-Kuti Class. I was admitted to Standard IV in Saint Peters together with a of my mates but I was admitted to Standard III in Mrs Kuti's Class. On my own I chose to go to Saint Peters for I could not bear seeing my mates in Standard IV at Saint Peters’ and I in Standard III at Mrs Kuti's Class. But when I got to Zaria on holidays and told my father my heart's desire, he over-ruled and insisted that I should go to Mrs Kuti's class to read Standard III. I had no choice but obey against my wish. This was one of the significant decisions which my father made for me that has had a remarkable influence on my life. Events in later years proved he was wiser.
I therefore repeated Standard III in 1949 at Mrs F. Ran-Home-Kuti's Class and the following year I moved to Standard IV. I took the entrance examination to Abeokuta Grammar School in 1950 and passed. Some of my former contemporaries at Saint Peters took the same examination but did not succeed. I left for the Abeokuta Grammar School in January 1951, the year I was supposed to be in Standard V. My mates in Saint Peters had to move to Standard VI. I was already in Form II by the time they gained admission to the Grammar School.
I was with the late Mrs Onatolu from 1946 to 1950 after which I was admitted to Abeokuta Grammar School as ii boarder. I must say with gratitude to God that my stay with Mrs Onatolu really toughened my endurance which still sustains me up till today. We normally trekked to school from Wasimi Ake, where we lived, to Mrs Kuti's Class at Kcmta — a conservative distance of about four kilometres.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______21 The Ultimate Honour A typical day at Mrs. Onatolu's house began at 5 a.m when we were to go and fetch water from a distance of about 500 metres for the use of the household. This of course was after a short family morning prayer.
I remember one early morning in 1948 when we went to fetch water on Ake road opposite the Ijemo Police Station. On that memorable day, Oba Ademola II, the then Alake of Egba was leaving for exile. He was going to Osogbo where he decided to exile himself. We were at the tap drawing water around 5a.m. when he drove past. To me, this was a rare opportunity which eluded some adult who would have loved to see Oba Ademola II moving out of Abeokuta.
Our regular assignment after school every day at Mrs Onatolu's house always came from her daughter, Mrs Adelu. This daughter of hers was making use of me and other cousins of mine staying there to hawk her wares which included matches, kola nuts, cigarettes and so on. Each time I went out with my wares, I always tried to sell all the items on me even if the rest of my colleagues did not finish their own. I did not realise I was doing myself some harm by this feat. At least this was the way I perceived it at that time. Eventually Mrs Adelu had to abandon the other people and concentrated on me alone since she must have been sure I would sell all her goods.
A typical weekend at Mrs Onatolu's house would see all of us out as early as 5 a.m going to draw water as it happened on ordinary days. After drawing water, we would go to fetch fire-wood in the bush along Idi Aba — a distance of about six kilometres. After this, was breakfast. As soon as breakfast was over, we would move to the lake (Ogodo) behind the Ijemo Police Station, with all the dirty clothes in the house for washing. While the clothes were on line to dry, we would be preparing our lunch. The next assignment after lunch was to iron all the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______22 The Ultimate Honour clothes which we had washed earlier in the day. This was the pattern of my life from 1946 to 1950.
My period at Mrs Onatolu's house could be likened to a period of Spartan training. It was an experience to which I have not been exposed until I got there. All the same, it has proved useful to me.
I guess destiny was inevitable. Otherwise, how could one have explained the fact that my parents chose to send me to Abeokuta for schooling and to live with a stranger, when in fact they could have sent me to Lagos to live with any of their brothers or sisters who were resident in Lagos.
But for the ten years plus (1946 — 1956) which I spent ill Abeokuta during my school days I might never have imbibed the Egba culture and developed the love for the - Egba Community to the extent that I would now think of spending the rest of my life there, despite all my business and professional commitments in Lagos. That is, again, destiny.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______23 The Ultimate Honour 2
My Years at the Abeokuta Grammar School
The noon-time sun was at its best, doing nature's bidding by discouraging the eyes from the blueness of the sky, yet, in total defiance of its scorching effect, some lads were busy off-loading their luggage from the vehicles that brought them to the centre where a new academic life was to begin. The joy in the faces of their parents that accompanied them was also undisguised. One could notice their enthusiasm in the way they paced up and down the place doing one thing or the other on behalf of their wards just to make sure that they were properly settled in their hostel.
The day was 23 January, 1951 when all boarders were expected to report on the compound of the Abeokuta Grammar School. Accompanied by my mother, I was also part of the hustle and bustle that characterized the first day of those of us that were fresh students. That day was to mark another major segment in my life.
The relevance of my secondary school account becomes evident when viewed against the background of the fact that it was at this level that both my natural and acquired traits began to assert themselves. My philosophy of life and what could be regarded as my world view today germinated out of my secondary school days experience.
It was from the secondary school that I cultivated the habit of doing everything according to my conscience regardless of whatever might be the other person's view or reaction to it. As long as my conscience is clear about what I am doing,- www.obatejuosobooks.com______24 The Ultimate Honour I care no hoot, no matter how maligned or vilified. I know the truth will ultimately triumph one day.
Following the earlier efforts of my parents, it was also at the secondary school that I became fully indoctrinated into the Christian faith. The physical and spiritual trainings I received there from have combined to form a solid and veritable asset to me in my day-to-day activities after leaving the school.
My period at Abeokuta Grammar School has been divided into two segments. The first one was under the Principalship of the late Rev. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and the second under the late Rev. J. S. Adeniyi. The period has been so divided for the significance of each leadership to my life.
The late Rev. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti was the Principal when I entered Abeokuta Grammar School in 1951. My first four years at the institution, though dreadful were the most memorable. The period was dreadful because we had a principal who was a stern disciplinarian. Reverend I.O. Ransome-Kuti was dreaded because no one was sure of escaping his cudgel before the end of the day. But I must say that dreadful as he was, I probably got beaten by him only once or twice throughout my school-days.
Fearful as Rev. Kuti was, those of us in the boarding house enjoyed him. He had a special interest in the boarders. He probably saw us as his children because he was living in the school compound with us. By this closeness, many of us boarders had got used to his dos and don'ts. Naturally, one would try as much as possible not to contravene any of his rules.
One subject on which any student could incur the wrath of our principal was Music. Rev. Kuti had an inscrutable love for Music and so he made it a compulsory subject for every student in Classes One to Three. The most www.obatejuosobooks.com______25 The Ultimate Honour probable time any student could run the risk of being beaten by the principal was during the Music lesson. The cause was usually a group mistake having divided the students into Treble, Alto, Tenor and Bass groups. When a group got its part wrong, it attracted the wrath of the principal and everybody in the group must pay for it. The only few occasions on which I was ever caned by the principal were during Music lessons. Other subjects, though not without their own problems, were not as dreadful as Music.
At this point, I like to point out that a few of us that left the primary school in Standard IV to enter Abeokuta Grammar School in 1951 found ourselves among giants who in fact had gone through Standard Six. Things were pretty difficult for us in our studies in the first year. Beko Ransome-Kuti, a son of the principal and a one-time Vice-President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), was one of those in this same plight with me. We had to face a stiff competition from other grown-up students, some of whom had been using their Standard VI Certificates to teach before they decided to go to the secondary school. Our positions in examinations were not encouraging when compared to our elderly classmates. It is heartening, however, that by the end of the first year, we had levelled up with them. It is worth remarking to the eternal glory of the late Rev. Kuti that apart from his love for Music, he also saw to it that other subjects were effectively handled by the various teachers. Rev. Kuti's strict discipline could be noticed in the general tone of the school. The compound was always in an impeccable condition. We were the ones cutting the lawns and tending the flowers. As a matter of fact, Rev. Kuti's love for flowers could be seen in the amount of time and energy devoted to keeping them in a fascinating look at all times. No domestic animal was allowed to enter the school compound lest it trampled upon, or ate any of the flowers. Any domestic animal, be it goat, sheep,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______26 The Ultimate Honour cow, cock or whatever, that strayed into our school compound would not live to see its own exit. The principal's house was so strategically located on the compound that he could easily see any object coming into the compound. As soon as he sighted any domestic animal inside the compound, he would shriek out the order — ko gbodo lo — meaning "the animal should not be allowed to escape". He would not mind whatever we did to such an animal. So any animal that had the misfortune of entering our compound would not be spared whether the principal was around or not.
It is worth mentioning here that Rev. Kuti was held in strict awe that the owner of a goat dared not protest whatever was done to his goat that strayed into our school compound. The neighbours themselves knew that to be the policy of the school as a result of which they always tried to restrict the movements of their domestic animals.
To further illustrate the extent of Rev. Kuti's love for flowers, he knew that during the raining season, the tiny species of mollusc called Ikoto or eesan (Snails) in Yoruba always damaged the flower leaves. He would because of this divide the boarders into groups to keep vigil at night. Each group would go put with its lanterns. A group might start its own beat around 10 p.m till 11.00 p.m while the next will start from 11.00 p.m. to 12 midnight and so on, on an hourly basis, until 6 a.m when the last group might have had its round. The practice was that the outgoing group would go and wake the next group to take over. Each group was there on beat to pick any of these- tiny snails that perched on any of the flower leaves.
Under the principal ship of Rev. I. O. Ransome - Kuti, no teacher should fail to report for his subject at the right time. No student should also be found
www.obatejuosobooks.com______27 The Ultimate Honour wandering outside the class except on break. Students were free to report to the principal any teacher who failed to turn up for his lesson.
It is pertinent to mention again at this juncture that features of what is now regarded as the 6—3—3—4 system of education in the country has had its semblance in the curriculum of Abeokuta Grammar School as far back as the 1950s. Ours was tagged a comprehensive education in the sense that apart from the normal classroom subjects which included the sciences and the arts, we were also made to compulsorily learn some vocational skills in the workshop. Such training included wood-work, Agriculture, Technical Drawing and so on.
As far as real academic work was concerned, no student of my time really had it easy with the late Rev. Kuti. But in spite of his hard line posture on our academic work, there were two major events which he always made sure we en- joyed in order to serve as a lighter side of the rigorous academic work of the time. One of them was his birthday anniversary and the second was the yearly Founders Day Celebrations.
My first experience of witnessing Rev. Kuti's birthday celebration was during my first year at Abeokuta Grammar School. He was to mark his Diamond Jubilee (60th Birthday). In fact, that was the first time I ever heard of what was called Diamond Jubilee.
Rev. Kuti celebrated his birthday mainly by entertaining students especially those in the boarding house. One or two cows were slaughtered with plenty of rice to the bargain. It was an occasion when every student, particularly boarders who were the major participants, forgot everything about academics and fed to finish!
www.obatejuosobooks.com______28 The Ultimate Honour The Founder's Day Celebration was another occasion which Rev. Kuti made very unique. It was divided into the torchlight parade, the bonfire and the thanksgiving service. At times, other schools were invited to join us in this cele- bration which was characterized by a lot of eating, drinking and merry making. Again, there was the feeling of freedom in every student on this occasion.
As a first step in the celebration, we would go out in the early hours of the first day to fetch firewood which would be used for the bonfire. This would be piled up at the centre of the football field. Followed by this is the torchlight parade which was always marked by a procession round the town. Each student would make a stick capped with the local Oguso. This would be lit and all the students would inarch past the major streets of Abeokuta, each holding the lit stick. This aspect of the celebration was usually an exciting^ scene as the people in the town always troop out to watch us.
The procession would later return to the school compound where whatever remained of the Oguso stick with each student would be gathered on the piled up fire wood at the centre of the field. These remnants of oguso always served to light the fire wood. After a while, a huge fire would emerge limn the pile of wood and the whole place became aglow. The next stage after the bonfire was the thanksgiving 'icivice which was always held at the Cathedral Church, Ake on Sunday.
One other feature which characterized the headship of the late Rev. Kuti at the Abeokuta Grammar School was his display of fairness and sense of judgement. For instance, Rev. Kuti would not allow a senior student to take an undue advantage of seniority over the junior one. A junior boy could even report his senior to the principal provided he was sure of his facts and the best way to
www.obatejuosobooks.com______29 The Ultimate Honour present it in good Knglish. Rev. Kuti had an undisguised and sustained contempt for any senior student who could not express himself in good English. Sometimes a junior could challenge a senior whose English was poor, to go to the principal on an issue, knowing fully well that it was not so much of the case is that the principal would treat but the spoken English.
The late Rev. Kuti retired in December 1954. His successor was Rev. Adeniyi who had been one of the old teachers of the school. He was a direct opposite of his predecessor in terms of the junior boys/senior boys relationship. In fact a junior boy should not allow a senior boy to bring him before the new principal. Whether your case was good or bad, the moment you were brought before him as a junior boy, you were in trouble.
Fortunately or unfortunately, we were in Class V when Rev. Adeniyi assumed the post of the principal. The senior boys were in Class VI which was their final class. Up till that time, the relationship between us and the final year students was good.
Because of the outlook and style of administration of the new principal, the relationship between the final year students and the junior students started going sour. The Class VI students derived pleasure in taking the Class V boys to the principal on any slight disagreement. My set (Class V) did not like this and we showed our resentment. As a result, the Forms V and VI students became 'enemies' and we were always at each other's throat. The then Senior Prefect did not help the situation either. Then came our turn to become final year students. Beko Ransome-Kuti, a day student, was made the Junior Prefect and I, a boarder, the Senior Prefect in accordance with the tradition of the school. It was
www.obatejuosobooks.com______30 The Ultimate Honour usually a great honour to be a Senior Prefect as it attracted, a lot of privileges and respect.
I must confess that my set had some occasional clashes with the school authorities. We resented the style of administration of Rev. J. S. Adeniyi.
When Rev. Adeniyi became the principal it was his wife who took over the responsibility for our food in the boarding house. It was she who would decide what to eat and what not to eat. Gradually, the quality of our food started going down, until it became very unbearable.
The boarders held a meeting and decided to boycott the food. I and a few others persuaded them not to boycott but the majority decided they were not going back on their decision. They believed that was the only answer to their problem. Then came this particular weekend, when the boarders refused to eat. I went with about two or three other boys to Rev. Adeniyi to report the impending trouble but all he did was to dismiss it with a wave of hand even though we tried to let him see the magnitude of what the consequence of the students action could be. He ordered us to go back and tell them to go and eat. The students refused bluntly. Needless to say, we agreed with them. It was then he understood the gravity of the problem. He then invited the senior boys to a meeting to find out the cause of the whole trouble. It was explained to him and he then decided to pacify the students. He appointed someone else to supervise the students' food. Rev. Adeniyi never really forgot the incident and he was waiting for an opportunity to have it back on us. He felt it was a sabotage or a kind of conspiracy from the senior boys whereas it was a fight we felt justified about. We felt he could not do anything to the deteriorating standard of the food since it was his wife that was in
www.obatejuosobooks.com______31 The Ultimate Honour charge. After this incident, the relationship between us and the principal became more strained than before.
Now came the time to sit for our school certificate examination. Before this time, our principal had written us off that we could not make the examination.
At this time we formed a club. What would be the aims and objectives of the club? —none. Then someone suggested that we should call it a 'Planless Club' — and that was how the club came to be known as 'Planless Club’. The club comprised mainly students of our set.
After our final examination, we still remained on the compound. It was customary for final year students of those days to have the feeling that they were no longer under the control of the school authority after their final examination. Most schools were like this.
With the growing disaffection between me and the principal, I did not feel quite comfortable. There were two or three of my classmates at that time who, though older, were my good friends. Again there were some other elderly classmates of mine who did not particularly like my guts. They were always going the opposite direction to whatever cause I was championing as the Senior Prefect. There was one of them in particular who did not conceal his. hatred of me and would employ any tactics to disrupt my peace. But as a youngster, I tried to discount any sinister plans he might be nursing against me.
One day, after we had finished our school certificate examination, the students were assembled in the hall. Not all the Class VI students were there. We had just finished our examinations and we were relaxing upstairs. As a matter of fact, some of us had even gone out.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______32 The Ultimate Honour Our carpentry teacher, Mr Obadina, had earlier seen some students jumping the fence to go out. The carpentry teacher then went to the hall to report that he saw three senior students jumping over the fence to go out. He claimed I was one of them when in fact, I was upstairs hearing everything he was saying downstairs. He went further by stating that he called the run-away students but they refused to come back. I felt like jumping up from my bed and go straight to the hall to debunk the lie. I could not decide what to do immediately.
As at that time, our relationship with the principal had worsened. So I just kept calm, I didn't bother myself. I allowed the assembly to go on.
After the assembly, I went to the teacher who reported the case. I put it before him that I heard him from my room when he mentioned my name among the students he claimed to be jumping over the fence. He maintained he saw me. I went to the principal to explain to him the same way. He also said he believed what Mr Obadina had said and I was going to be punished. It then became a situation where I was avoiding the principal as I felt aggrieved and distrusted. But I knew I was not guilty of the offence of which I was accused. The incident did upset me a lot. The principal later announced that he was going to punish me publicly before other students in the school.
I refused to show up on the particular day I was to be punished. I have since then been avoiding the principal and for many days to come, there was no meeting point between the two of us.
The days were moving gradually to our valedictory service and I continued to play hide and seek with the principal not knowing that a grand humiliation was being planned for me by the school authority — a design which the principal spearheaded. www.obatejuosobooks.com______33 The Ultimate Honour As was customary at Abeokuta Grammar School, it was the Senior Prefect who usually read the Bible lesson at the valedictory service. This service was usually held at Saint John's Church, Igbein Abeokuta.
In the meantime, I did not know that the principal and the teachers had arranged someone else to read the lesson in my place. And there was I in the church well prepared to perform my last traditional function as the Senior Prefect of Abeokuta Grammar School in 1956. I was sitting at the edge of the pew. Suddenly, one of the teachers just came and planted himself by my side. He told me someone else was to read the lesson and not me. He claimed that the order was from the principal. My immediate reaction was to walk out of the Church. And so, someone else read the Bible lesson.
At this stage, everybody knew what was happening. There were a lot of sympathisers for me, for they knew the truth about the persons who committed the offence for which I was being seriously haunted and humiliated in the church. The particular boy whose identity was mistaken for mine also came to me and apologised.
Later on in my period of persecution, a friend of mine in the school, came and drummed it into my ears that all these unpleasant incidents that were threatening my distinguished record in this school were far from ordinary. He made me realise that some of these elderly students who would never see eye to eye with us younger ones were behind the whole thing. He-suggested there was some *juju* behind it. He then offered to take me to an uncle of his who could bail me out of the trouble. As far as I was concerned, I gave no damn about what was happening. I relied on my conscience and fate but in order not to appear
www.obatejuosobooks.com______34 The Ultimate Honour ungrateful to this friend, I resolved to follow him to his uncle who was a spiritualist.
My friend narrated the whole story to his uncle. At the end the man said he knew what to do. We went to him the Sunday* that preceded our last assembly which would come the following Monday. The man said he would do certain things behind me but I was free to attend the assembly. He assured me that nothing would happen.
I was at the assembly. The principal and the teachers were also in attendance and the whole devotion was conducted. Up till that time, the principal was still inflexibly determined that I was going to be publicly punished. I was at the assembly waiting for what would happen to me but nothing happened. The Principal and teachers even greeted and smiled at me without references to the past. And that was how the whole issue died down. Up till today, I still respect this friend of mine because he saw I was in trouble and he felt he could help in the way he knew. Here was I — no father, no mother nearby, they were both in Zaria.
As mentioned earlier, my best friend among the 1955 set who incidentally was the Senior Prefect for that year became my arch enemy for the same antagonistic stance which the principal had motivated them to take against us their immediate juniors. This friend of mine had to come back to repeat his West African School Certificate Examination during our final year in 1956. Because the bitterness that was engendered between our set and theirs was so serious, we innocently rejoiced at his failure. Some of us then saw it as an opportunity to have it back on him.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______35 The Ultimate Honour In those days, we used to have lockers — one to each student — inside which you could put your books, lock up and go. So this person's chair and table had been marked out for some sinister action. On the morning of the English paper, some students got a bowl of faeces and put it inside his locker, locked it up and threw away the key. Though I was not part of the group that schemed this havoc for him, I want to admit that the arrangement suited me well. When we started the paper, the person could not write. He had been overwhelmed with the stench buried in his locker and he alone had the monopoly of this rare treat. He did not know where the smell was coming from. By the time he realised it, he had been seriously disorganised and discomfited. He realised afterwards that it was the handiwork of some people designed to hurt him and possibly to serve as a reprisal for what they considered the undeserved hostility which the previous set — now represented by the former Senior Prefect — had meted on them.
I and this person remained enemies for a long time after our secondary education but now we have both put those bad times, spurred by youthful exuberances, behind us. He is also a successful man today and we are once again the best of friends.
My Leaving Testimonial
In the history of Abeokuta Grammar School, my set was the first to sit for the West African School Certificate Examination. What the previous sets used to take was the Cambridge Examination.
After we left school, I went back for my testimonial like every other colleague of mine. The principal would not give me except I would agree with him to write that I only attended Abeokuta Grammar School and left in Form VI. He would not write that I was ever the Senior Prefect. I refused to take such a testimonial. www.obatejuosobooks.com______36 The Ultimate Honour At the point, I assured the principal that with or without the testimonial, I would make it in life because I was convinced I was being persecuted for what I did not do. The principal said I could go if I did not need the kind of testimonial he was prepared to give me.
Before I left school, a cousin of mine, late Mr Oladeinde — the first African Governor of the University College Hospital Ibadan had already secured a place for me at the office of the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) at Kakawa Street, Lagos. And so I began work in January, 1957 without a testimonial.
The next shock which I think the Principal had was our school certificate result which was the best and still remains unbeaten in the history of Abeokuta Grammar School up till the time of writing this memoir. Out of the sixty students that sat for the examination, five of us came out in Grade I. Beko Ransome-Kuti had the best result. I had the second best.
With this result, I was armed to face the world with a renewed belief in the Yoruba adage which literally translates thus: if He has been travelling for twenty years, it will only take a day for truth to catch up with it. I knew that the whole truth behind all the trouble I had in my final few days in the secondary school would be made manifest one day and I would be completely vindicated.
I want to assert with the deepest gratitude to the Almighty Father that in the history of Abeokuta Grammar School, our set has made tremendous achievements in the various fields of human endeavour. Ours was also the first ever to get ourselves together to form a club after we had left the school. We named the club ABOK '56 which is just a coinage from Abeokuta — the city that harbours our great school.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______37 The Ultimate Honour Abok '56
Abok '56 was formed in 1971 when I came back from Europe after my postgraduate studies.
The idea first occurred to three persons — I, Mr Jinadu and Mr Olusiji Soetan — a Lawyer. He was then working with the Ministry of Justice. He later became the Solicitor General of the Federation of Nigeria and the Attorney General of Ogun State. I was with him in the office one day in 1970 when another classmate of ours, Mr. Jinadu, came in. It was there and then that we mooted the idea of forming a club that will comprise every interested member of our set in the secondary school. We eventually called a meeting of the 1956 set at the house of Mr. Olusiji Soctan. At the meeting, we elected the protem officers.
(1) Mr. Olusiji Soetan — Protcm Chairman (2) Mr. Jinadu — Protem Secretary (3) Dr. Dapo Tejuoso — Protem Treasurer. The inaugural meeting of the club was at Mr Soetan's house in Ikoyi — Lagos where the protem officers were ratified to be the first principal officers of the club. Each Chairman was expected to hold office for two years. The chairmanship of the club has since been rotating until it fell on me between 1979 — 81. The first thing I did was to review the constitution and consequently, the chairman became the President. In 1981, we marked the Silver Jubilee celebration of our leaving Abeokuta Grammar School under my Presidency.
ABOK '56 has become so relevant that there is hardly anything the Old Students Association of Abeokuta Grammar School will do without consulting
www.obatejuosobooks.com______38 The Ultimate Honour it. We built and donated a Squash Court to the school and I personally donated a Lawn Tennis Court.
As providence would have it, I was the President of ABOK '56 up till the time we celebrated our Silver Jubilee" Anniversary in 1981. We held a Thanksgiving Service at St. Peters Church, Ake, Abeokuta. As fate would have it, on this occasion I read the very Bible lesson which I was not allowed to read at our Valedictory Service in 1956. This was a fulfilment of what wrongly eluded me twenty-five years back.
While I was training abroad, my parents had come down from the North to Lagos and they were attending St. Jude's Church, Ebute-Meta Lagos. The Pastor in- charge of the church was my former principal, Rev. Adeniyi who had retired from Abeokuta Grammar School to take full pastorial job. He had developed a relationship with my family and he had become so fond of them. I came back from abroad and became one of his favourites. He became so fond of me also.
Then came the time I was to become the Governor, District 911 of the Rotary International for the year 1986 — 1987. My installation as the Governor took place on the 28th of June, 1986. The organisers of the installation wanted comments of people who had had direct dealing with me in my life which they could publish. To my surprise, one of the people to whom they wrote for comment was Rev. J.S. Adeniyi who then wrote a glowing comment about me.
The testimonial he refused to give me in 1956 was given in 1986 in superlative terms. When I got the comments I was so moved, so shocked, so vindicated and so grateful to God.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______39 The Ultimate Honour RT. REV. J. S. ADENIYI B.A.,O.F.R. Grace Villa, Onikolobo, P. 0. Box 5067, Totoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Tel. 039:230267
Date: May 17,1988.,
My Choice of a Career
Chief (Dr.) Dapo Tejuoso, Surulere,
My Dear Chief & Doctor,
I am very proud of you when I learnt of your success in the Rotary Club of Nigeria, District 911, I wish you continued success in your humanitarian activities.
The report of your ascendancy in the Masonry reaches me from time to time.
We remember you at all times and we pray for your continued successes and long life.
The report of the excellence of your character gives me joy.
Yours sincerely,
J. S. Adeniyi
www.obatejuosobooks.com______40 The Ultimate Honour 3
My Chose of a Career
Quite early in life, during my childhood and primary school days, the name doctor by which medical doctors were addressed and the prefix of Dr. to their names caught my fancy. I was also fascinated by the prestige, respectability and popularity of the relatively few Nigerian doctors then. Gone are those days. They were held in awe and literally treated like mini gods. Perhaps rightly so, for doctors are God's mechanic right here on earth, they maintain, service and repair the machines (human beings) manufactured by God. Nevertheless, if there was an equally or more prestigious profession with respectability and generally recognised title like that of the Doctor, maybe I could have considered it. But there was none. So, I wanted to be a medical doctor and everything fell in line accordingly.
I was good in both mathematics and science in the secondary school. In fact, at the West African School Certificate Examination in December 1956, I offered English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Religious Knowledge and Latin. I passed in Grade One. Of course, as at that time in the country, if you were good in the sciences at the secondary school level, your first and natural choice of a course of study in the university was Medicine.
At this juncture, maybe, I should intimate the reader with possible ancestral influences on my choice of a career. The Ifa priest (herbalist or traditional or native medical doctor) who predicted the good that would come from the Egbas settling at Abeokuta was my great grandfather, Chief Tejuoso. Perhaps one could then say that by choosing to become a medical doctor, I was merely toeing the www.obatejuosobooks.com______41 The Ultimate Honour family line but improving on it without knowing it. But the important thing really was that early in life I got the initial attraction to medicine from the prestigious title and popularity of doctors. Thereafter, through the primary and secondary schools, becoming a doctor became more or less an obsession.
Medical Training
As the often-quoted Chinese proverb goes, 'the journey of a million miles starts with the first step.' My medical career started the very day I set off from this country on M.V. Apapa on July 30, 1957, for England, in pursuit of the golden fleece, leaving behind my father, my mother and my sister. Pursuing any course of study abroad, especially in the United Kingdom, was some kind of status symbol, how much more the pursuit of the then most prestigious profession — medicine! In those days, it was the Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) who deputised for the Governor General of Nigeria in his absence. The few of us who had this rare privilege were at once envied and revered by our counterparts and people of our age group of both sexes.
Settling down in London itself was a challenging task. You wanted to keep to yourself but your inquisitive white classmates would not let you. They kept asking you questions that gave you the impression that they regarded you as a 'wise man’ from the dark continent.
Then there was the 'culture shock' to cope with. The kind of exotic foods served did not agree with your system; neither were you used to the rather chilly environment. Nevertheless, you managed to retain your sanity because your
www.obatejuosobooks.com______42 The Ultimate Honour white colleagues were sometimes sympathetic and understanding despite being mischievously inquisitive.
This was the environment under which I started my academic life in London. I should recall that I made very good grades in my secondary school certificate examination.
Partly because of this and partly because of the assistance of the then Dr. Ade Elebute, who was a demonstrator (Lecturer) in Anatomy at the Medical School of Trinity College, Dublin, I gained admission to the University in the 1958/ 59 session after the end of the first year of a Two year Advance Level Course at West Ham College in London.
Dr. Elebute kindly helped me to get my application through. I was among the very last set of students that were admitted into Trinity College without A/Level papers. In that year (1958), only two of us (I and Valentine Akinsete, both of us were Nigerians) were admitted to the medical school of Trinity College. Trinity College, I later learnt, had a policy of not admitting more than two students from Africa to the Medical School in a session.
Medicine in Trinity College was then a 6—year course even if you had your A/Level passes. For the first four years, all medical students had to study art subjects along with their actual medical courses. This was a stringent re- quirement common to the first big three Universities established in the whole of Great Britain and Ireland. The other two that were founded before Trinity College, Dublin were Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England.
So, I spent my first four years at Trinity College studying both medical and art subjects. The courses were challenging but they were still such that I could easily
www.obatejuosobooks.com______43 The Ultimate Honour take in my stride given my good academic background at Abeokuta Grammar School. I found out that studying in Britain was not as difficult or mentally torturing as it is in Nigeria. Not because the courses were simpler but because the teaching aids, laboratory equipment and library facilities were all in place.
In June 1962, I got my Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree having passed all my arts subjects during the four years from October 1958.1 then continued with the rest of my medical courses for the next two years until I got my degrees of Bachelor of Medicine (MB), Bachelor of Surgery (Ch.B) and Bachelor of the Art of Obstetrics (BAO) in June 1964.
By the time I finished my medical course in 1964 in Trinity College, my younger and only sister who joined me in Dublin in 1963, had gained admission into the University College of Dublin (U.C.D) so I left her in Dublin and came to Nigeria for my housemanship in medical practice at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (L.U.T.H).
Housemanship
After six eventful years of medical training, I came to Nigeria with bubbling spirits and high hopes. As a qualified medical doctor at the age of 26, a relatively young age for a Medical Doctor in those days, I understandably felt at the top of the world.
I reported to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba for my house job towards the end of June 1964. Anybody who had passed through medical school had to do his housemanship in both surgery and medicine for one calendar year to become a full-fledged medical doctor. In those days, there was no National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).
www.obatejuosobooks.com______44 The Ultimate Honour At LUTH, I did my surgery partly under Professor Ade Elebute (the same man who assisted me in securing admission to Trinity College, Dublin and my then Cousin-in-Law) and partly under Professor Adesola (who later became the God Father of my third child — Mr Kayode Ademuyiwa Tejuoso). Professor Akin Adesola also later became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). This was a period of about six months (three months each under each of the supervisors).
My housemanship in medicine was done under Professor Monnekoso, a Cameroonian who was then the Head of the Department of Medicine at LUTH. I found my medical tutelage under this bunch of intellectually sound and profes- sionally competent hands very challenging and inspiring. Everything was going smoothly and nicely. I mean you have competent supervisors to put you through and show you the rudiments of medical practice. Thankfully, there were no shortages of equipment and drugs for clinical studies in those days as you now have in most of the teaching hospitals. In fact, I can, with the benefit of hind sight and recent experience, comfortably say that ours was the finest hour as house officers in LUTH.
Therefore, I was working hard and enjoying my house job, feeling that the world was in my pocket, when the saddest experience of my life suddenly reared its ugly head. At that time, though I had already grasped the fundamentals of clinical practice, I had only done ten-and-a-half months of the normal twelve months of my housemanship (of course, I was entitled to a month's leave). It was in the middle of May 1965. I was alone in my bachelor House Officer's apartment at LUTH when I got a letter that brought the damning and heart rendering news: my sister had just had a surgical operation in London during which it was discovered she had a carcinoma (cancer) of the ovary! www.obatejuosobooks.com______45 The Ultimate Honour The news was like a bullet shot straight at my heart, I knew the full impact of the message of doom contained in the harmless-looking envelope. Even some laymen or a mere medical student, not to talk of a qualified doctor like myself then, would have realised the tragic truth: that my lovely and only sister was going to die of cancer in about six months! So, initially alone in the room without anybody to share my grief with, I broke down helplessly and hopelessly in tears. The cruel reality, that I would soon become the only surviving child of my parents, was too dismal, too disheartening, too severe at that crucial but lonely moment. Though I realised that nobody, no mortal, could change fate except the IMMORTAL, the Invisible God only.
I was in my room alone crying when my then colleague and Co-House Officer Dr. Oladele Kale came in. He was shocked to see me weeping and so anxiously asked why. I could not speak. I merely directed his attention to the letter. He read the letter and got the bad news. He knew my sister very well, so he joined me in the premature mourning. Both of us were grief-stricken for quite a while.
I told my father and mother as much as was safe and diplomatic enough to tell them without them realising the implication of the message. With the aid of the shocking letter, I secured permission from my supervisors to travel to London and bring my sister back home to LUTH for 'treatment.' After bringing her back, I reported at LUTH. My supervisors were very sympathetic. They released me from the House Officer's Job having spent ten and a half months already.
This was the saddest point of my eventful life. Not just because I knew my sister was suffering from a terminal and irreversible disease and was going to die in a few months, though this was horrible and terrible enough. My sadness and emotional distress were compounded more by the fact that I knew how my father
www.obatejuosobooks.com______46 The Ultimate Honour and mother felt and hoped against hope — thinking that my sister would soon get well. The fact that I knew the truth without being able to tell them was a source of indescribable mental torture and psychological upheaval for me.
My sister's health -visibly deteriorated by the day. It was the worst that could happen to a human being under the circumstance. Here was I under the suffocating truth that I knew that my sister was dying while my parents thought that LUTH was not doing enough to improve the situation. As one would expect in an African society, family relations, friends and neighbours started advising that we should try local' methods. I did put up a feeble resistance at first but had to succumb to pressures because there was not much I could do myself and besides, I just could not tell them the bitter truth. It would have sounded callous of me to tell them that the problem was not with LUTH but that my sister was irreversibly destined to die shortly. So my sister was withdrawn from LUTH, after being there for about two months with her health deteriorating steadily. From there, she was taken from one native Doctor to another and from one Aladura (Prophet) to another without any improvement. ]3ut then, all this time, I had to tag along with them wherever they went despite the fact that I knew that the efforts were bound to be fruitless. So, on December 30, 1965, my sister, Rolayo Adebimpe Tejuoso died and was buried on the following day. The sad news of her death was brought to me in the middle of the night at my residence at 76, Ogunlana Drive Surulere by my late friend, Late Dr. Adeto-yan Doherty who was then a medical student at LUTH. Expectedly, this was a source of great sorrow to the family. But I thank God for giving the family the necessary fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______47 The Ultimate Honour While all this was going on, I had already picked up a Senior House Officer's appointment with LUTH in July, 1965. This I did until September 1966.
During this period, I worked directly under distinguished medical experts like Professor B. K. Adadevoh, who later became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Late Professor Titus Dada.
In London for More Laurels
I went back to London in September 1966 for my postgraduate studies. I started with a three-month course at the Hammersmith Hospital in preparation for my membership in Medicine. I was on this till the end of the year.
By January 1967, I had moved to the University of Liverpool to do a postgraduate course in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (D.T.M. 8c H). I got my Diploma in TM&H in April 1967 and moved on to the Wittington Hospital in London on attachment. I was at the Wittington Hospital and Hollo-way Hospital, both in London on attachment for a couple of months.
I moved on to Edinburgh University in January 1968 for another six-month course in Medicine. It was after this, I went to Bristol University in October, 1968 to do my Diploma in Public Health (D.P.H) for nine months.
At Bristol, I initially planned to combine a course in Public Health with a medical course. During the December 1968 holiday from Bristol University, I was involved in a private medical practice under one experienced British medical practioner in London to gain experience as well as make some money.
It was late in that December I had come home after an afternoon break from my Locum medical practice. I was resting in my flat after finishing my lunch. Then
www.obatejuosobooks.com______48 The Ultimate Honour suddenly I had some visitors. Rather unusually the relatives of my first wife came in saying they had come to see me. I told them 'sorry, I would soon be going out to work. However, they told me to sit down, they wanted to talk to me. I sat down. After a moment's silence, one of them told me that my father was dead at home. Naturally, I was dumbfounded. I mean it was quite unexpected. My father? At the age of 60 years?
All the same, I instinctively telephoned the man I was working for, to intimate him of the unbelievable fact. I searched for my suitcase, for my travelling passport and proceeded to buy the ticket to travel back to Lagos. The people who came to inform me of my father's death later told me that they were marvelled by my instant reaction and immediate preparation to come home. I was on my way to Nigeria the next day. It was just as well that I came home as early as possible. I knew being the only son, nothing would be done to my father's corpse until I arrived home. So, expec-tedly, I came home to meet my father's corpse well stock away at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital mortuary. Everybody was waiting for me. I then joined my mother and others in the funeral preparations to bury my father on January 4, 1969.
My father's death left me with no other choice but to get more actively involved in the family business. While my father was alive, the plan for the Tejufoam business was already concluded. The site was being built and the machines had been bought. But I was not seriously involved because I reasoned that my father and mother could cope with the initial programme for the project. However, when my father died, I made up my mind that I was just going to complete my course in Public Health in London and come straight home to face the family business.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______49 The Ultimate Honour Therefore, after my father's burial in January 1969, I went back to London. I finished my course in Public Health in July 1969. Then, because I was fully aware that the machines for the Tejufoam Industry would not be ready until early 1970, I registered for another course in Industrial Health which started around August 1969. I knew this course was going to be useful for my future specialised practice in medicine. I finished the course in February 1970 and sailed back to Nigeria instantly.
Back Home for Practice
On getting back to Nigeria early in March 1970, I made attempts to secure a part- time job in LUTH. The LUTH Management wanted me to take up a full-time job. This I could not afford to do. For one, I was enthusiastic about resuming my private medical practice. I had this backhouse clinic at No. 1, Awonaike Street, established by me way back in 1965 after I finished my house job in LUTH. I wanted to revive it. Secondly, I had the Tejufoam business to think about. In any case, I was only interested in a job that would partly occupy me for the following one or two years while I waited for the foam business to take-off in full swing.
At the end of the day, when LUTH refused to budge — when its officials insisted I had to go the whole hog of taking a full-time appointment if I wanted a job,.I had to drop the idea. So in March 1970, I had to settle to a part-time job with Surulere Health Centre (SHC) at Randle Avenue. It was a four-hour-a-day affair. It suited me well enough — I mean, it gave me enough time for private medical practice and the Tejufoam business planning.
I was with SHC for about twelve (12) months. During this time, the Tejufoam business had taken off while I had got enough medical equipment and facilities
www.obatejuosobooks.com______50 The Ultimate Honour together to establish the Teju Industrial Clinic and the Tejufoam factory. The fact that both establishments were in the same area was of strategic advantage.
The period between 1970 and 1971 was in the main devoted to medical practice and setting up the Teju Industrial
Clinic Limited at Ilupeju since production was yet to start at the Tejufoam factory. From that time, the Teju Industrial Clinic had, by the Grace of God, grown by leaps and bounds with many branches. We have the head office at Ilupeju,with the hospital and a clinic located there.
There are branches at No. 2, Gbajumo Street, Lagos; No. 4, Creek Road, Apapa; Isolo Expressway, Isolo No. 1, Awonaike Crescent, Surulere; Grizi Nigeria Limited branch, Oregun; and 111, Allen Avenue, Ikeja. We also have a branch at Ado Ibrahim Street, Kano. Because of the many hospital branches and my active involvement with Tejufoam factory, I am not so much involved in clinical medical practice. My role now is basically administration and policy formation. I give general directives, approve budgets and ensure smooth-running of the clinics but do very little of clinical work.
Routines Bore Me
Right from my younger days, I have disliked routines. They bore me. Of course, in those student days, life in the school was very regimented. Lateness to or absence from a school function attracted a penalty. The system was ruled by a time-table and a time-keeper. So, there was little one could do to change those routines of waking up at such and such a time or eating breakfast at a particular
www.obatejuosobooks.com______51 The Ultimate Honour period. But, even in those days, one found a way round some of the schedules. For instance, I realised early enough that the best time for me to study was to wake up around four in the morning. Two undisturbed hours at that period were more than five in the hurly-burly of the afternoon. Therefore, the usual afternoon and evening preparatory were for me out of the question. However, out of deference to the school authority, one carried out those routines religiously.
In my undergraduate days, although one had more freedom, there were the routines of lecture hours to live up to. It was a time one could not afford to miss lectures. Attendance was mandatory. So, missing lectures was gliding the gradual road to failure. Even at that time, I observed what was best for my system and behaved according to its dictates.
There were times, I would not sleep for three days at a stretch except may be snatching some few minutes naps. However, the most important thing is that when I have a job to do, I do it. This brings me to my days as a house officer in the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
At that time, 1964 to 1966, the hospital had two departments, Surgical and Medical. In the department of surgery, there were two professors with each of them leading a team, called a FIRM or unit. Each team comprised a house officer, senior house officer, a registrar, senior registrar, and the professor, who was the firm leader. In my own unit, as a house officer, I was the most junior. I was usually on call every other day, and on call every other weekend. Being on call during a weekend meant duty from Friday night to Monday morning non- stop.
When one was on call, everybody in the unit theoretically was. The house officer, as the most junior, was the man on the spot 24 hours. It was his duty to
www.obatejuosobooks.com______52 The Ultimate Honour solve all the problems within his capabilities. If any problem was beyond him, he was to call the attention of the next person higher in rank to him. It went on like that till one got to the professor. In actual practice, the professor was hardly ever called.
I recall an encounter with the late Professor Oritshe-Jolomi Thomas which emphasised the fact that a doctor at LUTH in the 60s was indeed on call everyday for 24 hours. It was a weekend and I was on call. The professor was in charge of the hospital and was going round on a routine inspection. He was also the head of surgical unit. On seeing me, he asked for his house officer, Dr Oladele Kale, who was not actually supposed to be on duty. I replied that he was not around since he was not on call. This was around eight o'clock in the evening.
To my surprise, he was very furious and retorted: "what do you mean he is not on call?” If he is not on call, he is supposed to be on-call for his own patients. Go and find him." When compared to what obtains today at LUTH, it is obvious that the practice at that time smothered all social life. Now, a House Officer is on call, once a week, and one weekend out of five or six. In anycase, it was not all work and no play. One managed to oil from time to time one's social life.
After setting up my practice, I was able to operate what suited my system. As I said earlier, I hate routines. As at now, I do not follow a routine in my everyday activities unless I really have to. I am a man of all weather and I can easily adapt to most conditions. I take everything in my stride. I do not have a regular time I must go to sleep. I sleep very late most times. I do not have to breakfast at the dot of 6 a.m or 8 a.m. It is not necessary for me to sit at a table to eat. If a
www.obatejuosobooks.com______53 The Ultimate Honour situation demands it, I can eat in the car. When there is pressure, I can work far into the night. Depending on what needs to be done, I can wake up as early as 4 a.m or as late as 9 a.m. There are days I go to bed at 4 a.m and wake up two hours later. In my undergraduate days, there were days I never slept for two days running.
And as to socialising, I am not the typical club man; that is, a club where one goes to drink and relax. I don't drink; I don't smoke. Until April 1988, I did not become a member of the Island Club for instance. In fact I was honoured as a special guest with the membership of the Club by the then Chairman of the Island Club, Chief Sola Faleye. A great honour indeed. I had this belief that Island Club was a meeting point for people who had political ambitions. Since I was not interested in politics, I did not care for this elite Club, although my father was a member. Rotary is the only Club I have voluntarily joined. And it is not a social club; rather, Rotary is a service club. Our lunch meetings are geared towards raising a fund or engaging in some humanitarian work. Those meetings are very business-like and last only one and a half hours. We value time and therefore do not fritter it away on trivialities. Apart from Rotary, one other area I have shown considerable attention is the administration of Badminton. This interest again is not in a social club, it is a kind of service to the nation. It is my contribution to the development of the Nigerian Youth with a sound mind in a sound body. I have tried to inculcate in my household and children the cultivation of this habit. That is why there are table tennis, lawn tennis, swimming facilities and so on all over DABIS COURT — my residence at 2, Tejuoso Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______54 The Ultimate Honour
On Saturdays, I attend the numerous social engagements that one always gets invited to. Sundays, however, are a different matter. A few years back, I would s^ay in bed for the better part of Sunday, as my full day of rest. I was spending most Sundays this way then, not because I did not believe in God. I have believed in God for a long time. And my belief in Him is very strong. I spent most Sundays at home then trying to recover from the rigours and strains of the preceed-ing week.
Later, I graduated into engaging in some games on Sunday mornings. I would play lawn tennis for as long as the fancy caught me. Another transformation followed. These days, as I advance in age, I have become a church-goer. And after the normal Sunday service at St. Jude's Church, Ebute-Metta, the family retires to our Chapel St. Joseph on DABIS COURT for another half hour service.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______55 The Ultimate Honour 4
Teju Foam Business
Way back in about 1962, my mother was in her show room at 131, Broad Street, Lagos selling her Vono Beds and Foam Mattresses to customers when she received an unexpected Norwagian visitor. It was a surprise visit that later turned out to be a mixed blessing as time went on. On that day, this Norwagian came to my mother and discussed the possibility of floating a foam-manufacuring company with her.
Though my mum was one of the most enterprising foam merchants in business that time, she had no idea of how foam mattress was produced or how lucrative the business of making foam mattresses could be. Because of this and probably because the man making the proposition of a partnership hi foam manufacturing business to her was a stranger, she initially rejected the idea.
However, later — after much persuasion — she accepted to participate in the business on the condition that the Norwagian could find and involve another Nigerian businessman. This was how Mr Eribo, a Benin-based businessman, came into the picture. A limited liability company with three subscribers resulted from the agreement. The name of the company was Nigerian Polyurestone Company Limited. The European was to be the Managing Director, Mr Eribo was the Executive Director while my mother was the Sales Director. Though I was still in UK at this time, I was made one of the directors of the business.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______56 The Ultimate Honour
The foam factory based in Benin went into production late in 1964 after I had arrived in the country. I was trying to settle down to my house job in LUTH so I was not much involved in the running of the factory. Meanwhile, the "COOL FOAM" mattresses were produced at Benin and sent down to Lagos for sale. Things went on smoothly initially. My mother was selling the foam mattresses and sending the proceeds to the head office at Benin.
However, after a few months, the products were not coming to Lagos again as planned. We later found out that the mattresses were being diverted to be sold in other parts of the country without my mother and I in the picture.
When it became clear, after more than one year of operation that Mr Eribo had indeed taken over the business to the disadvantage of my mother, we decided to pull out. By this time my mum had spent close to 80,000 Nigerian Pounds on the business without making a kobo. My mother asked for her money to be refunded on account of having lost faith and interest in the business, Mr Eribo did not cooperate. So, my mother and I planned to take Eribo to court. We consulted Chief F.R.A. Williams. But, Mr Salman Grizi — a family friend — advised us not to bother taking Mr Eribo to court. He said that the court case would merely waste our time and resources without yielding any dividend. He advised us to settle amicably with Mr Eribo and get whatever money he was ready to refund to us.
We took Mr Grizi's advice. Mr Eribo early in 1966 gave my mother only 10,000 Pounds (£10,000) after much persuasion. We put out losses behind us and Mr
www.obatejuosobooks.com______57 The Ultimate Honour Grizi — happy that we listened to his good counsel — took us to Mr Gabi Jinadu (then the General Manager of LSDPC) who gave us a piece of land without any hassle or official delay. Because the plot of land at Ilupeju was waterlogged, we spent a substantial part of our take-off capital sand-filling the place.
The period between 1965 and 1970 was very turbulent for the family. One recalls that my sister died on the 30th of December 1965, my mother's father Mr Josiah Ajayi Karunwi, died on the 1st of November 1968, while her husband, my father, died on the 27th of December 1968. My mother parted ways with Mr Eribo in 1966 after about two years of being on the losing side of the battle.
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While I was back in London for my post-graduate studies, my father and mother were making plans to set up the Teju-foam Industry. However, putting together the needed capital and getting the necessary machinery took the family quite some time. My father died (in 1968) before the Tejufoam business actually took off. Teju Industries was registered in 1971.
From this time onwards, my mother and I have devoted most of our time and energy to the Tejufoam Industry, and, I must confess, our efforts have been handsomely rewarded by God.
God, who has given us the fortitude to bear our losses — both human and financial — and the courage to stay on even when failure seemed inevitable, has been the secret of the Tejuoso family’s success in business.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______58 The Ultimate Honour In Nigeria, it is widely believed — perhaps for good reasons — that successful businessmen are dubious people. From my experience, you , do not have to be dishonest, inhuman or ruthless to make it in business. What you need is the necessary foresight and the blessing of God to ensure and persevere when success seems to be far away or even unattainable.
Personally, I believe and fear God too much to wish to do anything that is not clean. A good name, to me, is better than gold. As a matter of fact, I would rather have a good name than all the riches in the universe. The fear of God has been the secret of my success in life.
Being a Rotarian, I believe in the Four-Way Test for good behaviour and action: The four-way test of the things we think, say or do; Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendship? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Industry and fairness combined with abundant blessings from God have made me to achieve the much I have been able to. Not being in politics, we hardly get government contracts. This means we get our customers mostly from the generality of Nigerians. God has made this very easy because we have always fulfilled our business agreements with customers.
Though, Tejufoam production is our main industrial concern, it is not our only business. We own other businesses like the Regent Hotel in Abibu Oki Street in Lagos; Teju- farms Limited, mainly involved in poultry business; Avis Petroleum Company Limited, a sales outlet for petroleum products; and the Teju Investment and Property Company Limited. We also have shares in Grizi Nigeria Limited and a few other businesses.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______59 The Ultimate Honour The businesses continue to grow in number and strength by the grace of God. A good indication that those who faithfully do business with God would never regret on the long- run.
My Mother — A Source of Inspiration
I grew up to know my parents as a hardworking pair. As earlier said, mummy has been deeply involved in trading while in Zaria. When my father decided to call it quits with salaried job, he too entered into business.
My parents first came to England in 1968 when I was there doing my post graduate studies. It was during their visit that we went to Germany to look for the machines to use for the Foam Factory.
The death of my father three months after their return to Lagos from abroad compelled me to come home in good time in order to serve as a pillar of support to my mother in starting the foam business of which she is now the Chairman and I the Managing Director.
I got my business inspiration from my mother. The way she was coping with the foam business was marvellous .more- so without a man behind her. She was a lone-ranger in this arena into which she had dabbled. Up till now, the opinion is still widely held that my mother is the first female industrialist in Nigeria.
As I said earlier, my original intention after my return from post graduate studies was to practise medicine on a part-time basis so that I could spare time to support my mother in the factory but since this was not possible, I eventually teamed up with her in the business. Along the line, I established the Teju Industrial Clinic
www.obatejuosobooks.com______60 The Ultimate Honour Ltd with the sole aim of taking care of the occupational health hazards of the workers of the Foam factory.
I believe it is the industry in my mother which she ably exhibited coupled with her spirit of selfless service to the community that earned her a chain of chieftaincy titles, the highest and the most prestigious of which is the Iyalode Egba.
Apart from the prestige attached to the Iyalode Egba title, it is also a highly contentious office because of its historical significance. The record shows that my mother is the third Iyalode since Abeokuta was founded in 1830. The two earlier Iyalodes before her were renowned for their industry and valiance. Madam Tinubu, the first Iyalode Egba, was reputed for being unremitting and indefatigable in her support for the Egba soldiers during the period of inter-tribal wars. So also was Madam Jojolola who came after her. But in our own time when there are no more fratricidal wars, the emphasis shifted to any woman who has distinguished herself in business and community service.
After Madam Jojolola who probably must have passed away some 50 years ago, one or two unsuccessful attempts had been made to appoint another Iyalode. When Oba Lipede I ascended the throne of Alake in 1972, there was a thought of choosing another Iyalode.
How my mother got the title was very unique. As would be expected, a number of other women had their eyes on the coveted title. Some of the reasons which the people charged with the screening claimed they saw in my mother was that she was an enterprising woman, wealthy in her own modest form, respectable and living a comfortable life. Above all, she is a widow that has not remarried. By this last but singular credential, it was thought that she would be able to
www.obatejuosobooks.com______61 The Ultimate Honour perform the duties assigned to the office without any domestic hindrance. She was considered as her own boss not under the control of any man. If there was a demand by Egbaland for her time, she would not have to wait for a husband to consult first.
Hitherto, the Alake, Oba Oyebade Lipede did not know much about my mother. He did not know whether she was a pauper or someone of modest wealth. But soon after we moved to our new house in Surulere in 1981, we invited him and his Chiefs to visit us. The visit gave his highness an opportunity for a close appraisal of the person being toasted for the post of Iyalode. I think on that visit, the Oba and his Chiefs were convinced that my mother was worth the title of Iyalode Egba.
Then suddenly came a hurdle. A chief raised an objection on why my mother should be given the title. He argued that she was not from Egba Alake, the place to which the title has been zoned. He contended that my mother was from Oke- Ona.
I got to know about this situation in good time through a friend whose role in the whole matter would always remain evergreen in my memory. My reaction to the charge was that my mother was truly not from Egba Alake but questioned if there was any objection if her mother was from Egba Alake? My maternal grandmother was from Kemta in Egba Alake.
Chief Aduramo Rotimi, the Oluwo Egba was given the assignment to lead a team of investigators to ascertain whether my maternal grandmother was from Egba Alake. The investigation revealed that my mother was in fact related to Chief Rotimi through her mother who was from the same Kemta. This was how my mother scaled through the hurdle. Her iwuye ceremony took place at Abeokuta
www.obatejuosobooks.com______62 The Ultimate Honour from 21 to 23 January 1982, a periodof three days, ending up at the Alake’s palace, Abeokuta with pomp and pageantry.
As the Iyalode Egba, my mother is regarded as Oba Obinrin. This impliedly means that she is the number one lady in Egba. If there is anything happening in Egba today and a lady is to be consulted, she is the one to consult. She is the one to present any female chief of Egbaland to the Alake for formal conferment and installation. For instance when Chief Biola Fernandez was to be installed in July 1988, as Erelu by the Alake, it was my mother that presented her to the Alake in her capacity as the fipst female citizen of Egba and the leader of all Egba women. This presentation signified her consent to the title being conferred on Mrs Fernandez. Again after Mrs Fernandez had been conferred with the title, she was handed back to the Iyalode Egba for acceptance and further guidance.
Reflections
Before assessing the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria, I want to recall with nostalgia the happiest moment in my smooth but challenging medical career. It is a thing of immense joy for any medical doctor worth the name to save a life. I am always very happy and professionally-fulfilled each time I save a life. But the most memorable life-saving act of my medical career was shortly after an operation — a thyroidectomy — I assisted a senior colleague, a surgeon, Dr. Ele- bute (now a professor) to perform.
Perhaps like any medical doctor worth its salt, I was (and I am still) very observant. The patient we had just operated upon developed a thyroid crisis and suddenly started bleeding profusely from the operation site. I noticed it immediately and managed to attempt to stop the bleeding before alerting Dr www.obatejuosobooks.com______63 The Ultimate Honour Elebute who was still around. In surgical operations, of the thyriodectomy, a minute could mean the difference between life and death of a patient. Dr Elebute was impressed by my professional alertness and I was filled with joy and satisfaction. It is a memory I would continue to cherish for as long as I live.
Now, this worthwhile personal experience of mine brings us to financial remuneration in medical practice. Personally,
I believe money-making should be at best a secondary objective to medical doctors. The duty of medical doctors, first and foremost, is to save the lives of the people; any other thing is secondary. Nevertheless, doctors cannot render their services free of charge despite the humanitarian essence of the profession. Like other humans, a doctor has to earn a living and he has to pay economic rates for services he enjoys from other professionals. So even if the reward of a medical doctor is in heaven, he needs a bit of reward here on earth to keep body and soul together in order to perform to the best of his ability.
I am convinced that one cannot get rich from practising medicine alone. I mean if one obeys the hippocratic oath, medical practice cannot give one the midas touch. At least, not in Nigeria where most patients are poor and deprived. That was why it was pertinent for me amongst other reasons to go into business along with medical practice. I realised quite early in life that to live comfortably in Nigeria, one needed to have the wherewithal. Hence my interest in business, otherwise I could have spent all my life practising medicine and even work towards becoming a medical professor. Gone are those days when Medical Doctors were like demi gods. When the Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) used to be the second in command in Nigeria and even deputised for the Governor General in the latter’s absence. When the mere mention of one’s name as a
www.obatejuosobooks.com______64 The Ultimate Honour doctor commandeered all the respect, gifts and sacrifices anyone could hope to get in this world. When the respectability was a foregone conclusion. Now, what has really happened? What has brought about the wind of change? Hope the good old days would return someday.
Impressions
I trained as a medical doctor in an institution where there was harmony of men, machines and materials. Apart from this, I was in private practice for a while in London, a society where people want and are willing and able to pay for the best of healthcare services. Where there is a Medical Insurance Scheme for all and sundry. This background naturally conditioned my perception of Nigeria’s health system which were later found none existent.
One would have loved an ideal set up. A situation where you do not only have capable medical professional (like we do in Nigeria) but where you also have the necessary equipment and materials to ensure optimal healthcare services to the people. It is a pathetic and awkward situation where a doctor sometimes helplessly and hopelessly watches his patients die, not because he does not have the medical expertise to save their lives but because he lacks the equipment and materials to function effectively with.
We need to create a situation where everything needed for good health care delivery is at the beck and call of every doctor. This we can easily do through a National Health Service Scheme. Such a system involves a national health insurance scheme where health becomes free after the government, employers or the people have pre-paid for it. Under the setup, the government would establish an insurance company. Nigerians on their own or through their employers (private or public) would then take insurance policies with the government—or
www.obatejuosobooks.com______65 The Ultimate Honour privately owned insurance company and pay appropriate premium on a periodic basis. That way, they would be entitled to specified types of medi-care depending on the type of policy they take. Some companies already practise this system by taking health insurance policies on behalf of their employees with medical practitioners.
I strongly believe that every hospital (both private or public-owned) should be allowed to run on a profit-making basis (so long as the ethics of the medical profession are obeyed) so that they can provide efficient service. The government could then make special provisions for the very poor segment who cannot afford to take insurance policies on their own.
My Marital Life
When I took Miss Adetoun Adebiyi to the Registry on July 30 1960, and we exchanged marital vows, I had at the back of my mind that desire to live a monogamous life. I was bom into one, from which two children, my late sister and I out of five, survived into adulthood. That desire was not to be. It is a classic example of “man proposes, God disposes”.
At the time of our marriage in 1960, Adetoun and myself had courted each other for five years. The affairs took root in 1955 while I was still at Abeokuta Grammar School. She had her secondary education at Queen’s College, Lagos, and passed out in 1957. Adetoun’s mother was my mother’s very intimate friend. And in fact, we first knew each other when our parents were stationed in Zaria.
As fate would have it, both of us proceeded abroad for further studies. I on July 30, 1957 and she in mid-1958. While I was studying medicine in Dublin, she was
www.obatejuosobooks.com______66 The Ultimate Honour doing nursing in Manchester. So, in 1960 when we were about getting married, I saw getting married to the daughter of my mother’s best friend as not only an ideal thing but, also a development that would further cement their relationship. But it is worthwhile to recall the comments of Toun’s cousin, Dr. Dipo Elebute, on the occasion of my engagement to Toun at Manchester on the 20th of April, 1960 on her 21st Birthday. He said to us: “But both of you are introverts. Do you think you will get on well together? ” That has since turned out to be a prophecy which has come to me.
However, before we took the marital plunge, I wrote home to my parents seeking their permission. My late father wrote back granting the permission. But that was not all. That letter contained a riddle (in the form of an advice) written in Yoruba. Although, I did not understand the riddle then, so I did not lose any sleep over it, especially that the old man had granted the permission I needed. The riddle was: “Tete Taya, ki o ma baa tete Taya. Ma tete Taya, ki o baa le tete Taya.” Many years later, I regretted my indifference to this riddle which had since become abundantly clear to me.
Our first child Titilola came in December 1960 at Manchester, England. The two of us were living apart. We only came together during the holidays. That was about two or three months in a year. She finished her studies in 1963 and gaw birth to Lanre in March 1964 at Liverpool (three months before I qualified as a Medical Doctor). As soon as I finished my studies in 1964, we got on the boat Aureol in July 1964 and came back home.
Five years into my marital life, I started noticing certain misgivings in my wife’s attitude. This was the time my father’s riddle, earlier quoted, started to become meaningful to me. Caught in this web of mistrust, my faith in monogamy got
www.obatejuosobooks.com______67 The Ultimate Honour some dents. In spite of all my attempts to save the cracking foundations of our marriage, my wife’s attitude continued to widen the gap of our incompatibility.
At a stage, that was early in 1966, when it became obvious that our marriage was getting irreparably shattered, I summoned a meeting of some close relations. Those present at the meeting, held at my mother’s room at 1, Awonaike Crescent, Surulere on that fateful day were the two of us, my parents, her mother and her mother’s best friend (late Mrs Marquis). We were six in all. I told them the details of my main grievances which bordered more on the well known dictum of ‘man’s inhumanity to man’ especially in relation to my late sister’s period of illness and eventual death. At the end of the meeting, I told the gathering that, but for the fact that she already had three children for me, I would have gone straight for a divorce. However, the least I would do was to take on a second wife since I had already lost confidence in her.
When I finished narrating my ordeal (the details of which I do not wish to go into here), none of those present at the meeting, including Adetoun herself, could utter a word, except her mother’s best friend, the late Mrs Marquis. My wife had nothing to say to counter all I said. So, Mrs Marquis gave her a piece of her mind and told her off in very strong terms. My mother-in-law did not take kindly to Mrs Marquis’ stinging rebuke of Adetoun , though she did not make that obvious at that meeting. I understand that their bond of friendship became impaired from that day. For till Mrs Marquis died many years later, their relationship remained strained simply because the good lady saw and spoke the bitter truth. Even at that stage, our marriage did not break. We maintained a facade.
In September 1966, I went abroad again for postgraduate studies. I invited Adetoun over to England in 1967. Although she came, our relationship further
www.obatejuosobooks.com______68 The Ultimate Honour deteriorated to the extent that she only managed to spend six months in England with me before returning to Nigeria. By that time, our fourth child Bimpe had been born, on the 19th of February 1967. She shares the same birthday with me.
Although, the gulf between Adetoun and myself kept widening, we remained husband and wife. In December 1972, I thought we should seize the opportunity offered by the festivities to start anew in the new year. We were both in bed one night that December, and had a lengthy discussion. Surprisingly, Toun did not give a damn. She still felt her way of doing things were the best. We were both living in my parehts’ house then. I had a Clinic established in 1965, in the same building at No. 1, Awonaike Crescent, Surulere.
When I realised that she was adamant, and would not listen to any advice, I decided that night 31st of December 1972 to move out of the house for her. As from about January 5, 1973,1 only came home everyday to mn my clinic, see my mother and the children. And so I did for about eight months. After some time, she realised that the .bond had been terribly ruptured and that I meant business; she, therefore packed out of the house, sometime in August 1973. The following week, she sued me to court, not for divorce, but for judicial separation, alimony of one million naira, and custody of all the children. She claimed even at that time that I was a multi-millionaire.
Her application to the High Court had a number of implications. If her prayers were granted, she would have had the right to live outside the matrimonial home just like a single girl but still have all the privileges of a wife. In other words, if shortly thereafter, I died, she would be entitled to repossess at least half of all my property. G.O.K. Ajayi was her lawyer, Rotimi Williams was mine. We went to court in early September 1973. The case was heard, and in the end around
www.obatejuosobooks.com______69 The Ultimate Honour December 1973, her case was thrown out. She was asked to refile her application.
There was a lot of pressure on her from her family especially from her cousins — the Elebutes. And because her people easily controlled her, she was unable to make up her mind. When the case was thrown out, her lawyer was very furious. By then, she had started realising her folly. She refused, against her lawyer’s advice, to continue the case in court, and started lobbying people to appeal to me for reconciliation. Notable among the people she lobbied were Justices Lambo and Adefarasin. To both of them, on different occasions, I explained my own'side of the situation in her presence.
While I respected these worthy people, I had seen the handwriting on the wall. ‘Once beaten, twice shy’ is a well known adage. I therefore told her that although I forgave her, we could no longer remain as husband and wife. I was ready to extend the hands of friendship to her, even when necessary, play my part as a husband but certainly never to reunite as husband and wife again. I was determined to end the agony I had been through, and free myself from the shackles of the colonial matrimonial system of being a slave of the wedding ring. So, I advised her to go back to court and sue me properly for divorce as she ought to have done in the first instance.
She was hesitant, I was adamant. When she realised my position was unassailable, she sued for divorce. And that was it. We have remained friendly within limits ever since. The children are our everlasting bond. She visits me anytime it pleases her. Our relationship is cordial.
On regaining my freedom from Adetoun, I still kept to my earlier promise of becoming polygamous. There was one particular relationship that deserves to be
www.obatejuosobooks.com______70 The Ultimate Honour fully related. Sometime in 1970 or thereabouts, I got involved with a lady, Gladys Adcbimpe Sowunmi. She is a native of Abeokuta; but, she was bom and mostly bred in Lagos. Her parents lived in Mushin at the time. Her father was a herbalist or a spiritualist, so to say. He practised his trade at a house on Simpson Street, Ebute-Metta.
Anyone who knows Bimpe will regard her as an epitome of womanhood — graceful and humane. She turned out much to my chagrin to be a devil in disguise. When we met, I realised she had infertility problems. As at that time, I had about seven children. Of course, I was naturally sympathetic to her. I was ready to do anything to please her just to ensure she had a child. I did not wish to appear selfish.
We desperately sought all kinds of assistance to improve her condition. I was in sympathy with her all along, accompanying her to hospitals, native doctors, aladuras etc. We went to doctors in Harley Street London. We explored unsuccessfully the possibility of the test tube baby. There was a place in Alagbado area on the way to Abeokuta. Somebody informed us about an old woman who ‘knows no failures’ in matters of infertility in women.
We went there in the company of her sister, Foluke Sowunmi, and had to stay overnight. On getting there, I parked the car, and we trekked another two miles to reach the village, which consisted of only a few huts. It was a thick jungle. There was this old woman, among others. They informed us that the ritual was to be performed in the deep forest. The old woman, Bimpe and myself retired and slept under some huge trees that night in the forest. They gave her certain things to eat, and asked me to partake of them. I refused. My reason being that it was Bimpe
www.obatejuosobooks.com______71 The Ultimate Honour who needed fertility rites, so why should I partake of whatever would make her fertile.
While I was rendering all these assistance, I never knew I was endangering my life. Unknown to me, having a child was the least of Bimpe’s problems. She wanted something else from our relationship that spanned eight hectic years. Her deceit was not really clear to me until towards the end of our affairs and much later. It was then I realised that I meant nothing to her. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, Bimpe must have believed that since she had no child by me, there was nothing at stake for her and my life probably did not mean much to her. Her relationship with my mother was not cordial. She pretended to love me, whereas, she probably never cared whether I was dead or alive. It even appeared my death would have pleased her greatly if only for the pleasure of getting my mother hurt. Bimpe taught me quite some lessons about women. Of course, her father helped to complicate matters. When I saw the handwriting on the wall, I quietly got involved with my present senior wife, Omolara (nee Odeneye).
Omolara had her first baby (Tutu) in 1975. This was about the time Bimpe first heard of her relationship with me. Because she could not rebuke me openly for marrying another wife, she started scheming. We were living at Ilupeju at the time. My mother was living in the front apartment and we were staying at the back flat.
One day, I returned from an outing around 8 p.m. I met the whole household in front of the building. Bimpe was seated on a stool beside the garage, shedding tears- profusely. My mother was there confused. I quickly parked the car and I asked them what was amiss.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______72 The Ultimate Honour Instead of replying, one of them handed me three letters. One was addressed to Bimpe, one to my mother and the third to me. I was informed somebody brought the three letters to the gate on a motor-cycle a short while earlier. I read the letter to Bimpe. It was very abusive and derogatory. She was called very vile names: a barren woman who allowed her husband to snatch a little girl, Miss Omolara Odeleye from her fiancee. The one addressed to me contained the same nauseating contents, likewise that of my mother. The writers of the letters threatened to go after my daughter in her school at Ibadan. They promised to rape her in that letter.
The first thing that gave me a clue to the mystery letters was the fact that Omolara’s maiden name was spelt as “Odeleye” instead of Odeneye. That was what Bimpe usually called her. It struck me as very significant. I reasoned that anyone who knew Omolara well would not mis-spell her maiden name. I started investigating, and got to know who wrote the letters, who typed them, and where. They were typed in WAEC by one of the girls Bimpe took as her school daughter. This was all within a week.
After securing these facts, I confronted her with them. At first she denied. But when the evidence became overwhelming, she not only confessed but apologised and asked to be forgiven and I did. This further shook my confidence in women very seriously. At the time, three people lived with us as maids. Two of them were her cousins and the third my own cousin. It was one of her cousins that allegedly received the letters. This grand deception really showed her true character. It really helped to build up my present attitude of indifference and lack of trust in women.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______73 The Ultimate Honour We would have parted ways since 1975 or thereabout. What saved the situation was Ebenezer Obey’s record in which he sang the praise of the two of us (lucky wife indeed). On one particular occasion when we were embroiled in a rift, a family friend brought the record into our house, put it on the amplifier, and immediately, Bimpe and I looked at each other and the hostility vanished! The truce was however shortlived.
I arrived home one evening only to meet a large crowd in the compound. To my frantic questions, I was informed that armed robbers had struck. This was around 8 p.m. I was further told that Bimpe had been rushed to Otegbeye’s hospital around Sabo in Yaba. I made straight for the hospital. On getting there, Bimpe narrated to me how three armed robbers came into the flat and threatened to give her the beating of her life and to rape her. Since I am a doctor myself, I examined her, and saw that nothing was particularly wrong with her.
I asked her to follow me home, so that treatment could be continued in our own hospital. At first she refused, but I insisted. And so we both went back home. On getting back home, I started investigating. I noticed that our wardrobe was open, and clothes were scattered everywhere.
She narrated to me: “As soon as the three robbers entered, one went to the balcony, another pushed the maid plaiting her hair into the bedroom and followed her, and the third stood beside her at gunpoint”. She said further that, when the one who went into the bedroom had packed all the clothes they wanted, he came out, pulled her wrapper up with tip of his gun, and asked her to get ready to be raped. However, the one who had stood beside her all the time told his colleagues not to bother as she was in her monthly period. “So, they merely tied my hands
www.obatejuosobooks.com______74 The Ultimate Honour and legs; went downstairs, scaled the fence and escaped through the Teju Hospital gate”, she concluded.
Meanwhile, the police had been informed. The following morning, some policemen came and invited all the security- men in our house, hospital and factory for interrogation. I intensified my own private investigations. The security personnel on duty that evening in the three premises insisted they never set their eyes on any strange face, neither did they perceive any unusual incident that night.
My persistence yielded dividends as I later discovered that it was another grand deception from the rich landscape of Bimpe’s scheming mind. I kept quiet waiting for an opportunity to launch the attack. The opportunity came one evening when I insinuated that Bimpe and her family were thieves. About seven o’clock the following morning, it was a furious Pa Sowunmi, Bimpe’s father who woke us up. He was in a fighting mood. He wanted to know whether it was true I called his family a bunch of thieves. Of course, I denied that, but told him it was Bimpe, herself, I labelled as such, however she was keen . on extending that to other members of her family, that had nothing to do with me.
As to why I called her a thief, I narrated to the old man how Bimpe merely cooked up the robbery story. It was one of our maids (her cousin) by name Atoke (the same maid who purportedly received the previous three letters) who tied her up, scattered clothes everywhere, and raised the alarm. The father was dumbfounded. He left without uttering a word. As to the gold trinkets allegedly stolen, I said that was a subject-matter for another day.
The following day, Bimpe and I had an outing. As we were going back home, I instructed the driver to head for Apapa Road. Unknown to lier, we were heading
www.obatejuosobooks.com______75 The Ultimate Honour for the house of one of her friends. As we were about to get to the place, I informed her that we were going to collect her “stolen” trinkets after I had told her the details of how those trinkets got to her friend. She was surprised as to how I knew the details, but she confirmed my story. When we got to the woman’s house, (her name is Lai tan), she opened the door in response to our knocking. I immediately told her we had come to collect Bimpe’s trinkets. She was taken aback and wanted to deny, but my wife cut her short, asking her to bring the box of trinkets. That I already knew all that transpired. Laitan went into her room and brought out the box of trinkets which we collected and took back home with us.
Our parting of ways was as dramatic as the numerous incidents in our joint life while the relationship lasted. She finally left the house on Saturday the 9th of October, 1979. Three days earlier, on a Thursday, some spiritualists (Ala- duras) had sent for me, adding that if I had need for my life,
I should see them on or before the end of that week. About that time, my second child, Lanre, was about to enter the medical school, but he was not yet 17, so, I had to go to Ibadan with him that Saturday morning to see the Dean of the Medical School, Professor Akande, at the University College Hospital. This was on the 9th of October, 1979.
There was no quarrel between Bimpe and myself. In fact before I set out with Lanre that memorable morning, we ate breakfast together. I told her I should be back from Ibadan before 3 p.m. that same day because I had to attend a Lodge meeting at St. George’s Hall Broad Street, Lagos that afternoon. I asked her to ensure my clothes were ironed and that lunch was ready by the time I came back from Ibadan. As we were about to leave for Ibadan, Bimpe offered to join us on
www.obatejuosobooks.com______76 The Ultimate Honour the trip. Ordinarily, I would not have refused her coming along. But, since I wanted to keep my date with the Aladuras, I asked her not to bother. She then told me she would wish to go to Falomo Shopping Centre in Ikoyi to buy one physical fitness equipment. I left for Ibadan at 8 a.m, having kissed her goodbye. I understood later that she left for Falomo Shopping Centre shortly thereafter.
On my way to Ibadan, I went to see the Aladuras. When I got there, they were excited and happy. Shouting Alleluya many times, they abandoned all those I met there. The seven of them asked me to follow them along a footpath for prayers. When we got to a junction, they asked me to kneel down and face the direction along which I would be travelling back later. After I had complied, they formed a circle round me and offered very intense prayers for a couple of minutes in diverse tongues.
When they were spent, their leader asked me to get up and go. He added “Olorun ti segun” “ki ile to su wa gburo” — meaning “God has conquered and before nightfall, you will see what happens.” They however warned me that under no circumstances should I look back until I got to where I parked my car. I ruminated over all they said, “God has conquered and before nightfall you will discover what the Almighty has done for you.” I did not understand, though with faith I complied with all their injunctions, and continued with my journey to Ibadan.
On getting back to Lagos from Ibadan around 2.45 p.m, my food was not ready, my clothes had not been ironed, Bimpe was yet to come back from Falomo Shopping Centre, Ikoyi. I quickly asked the maids to iron my clothes. As I was putting on my tie in the sitting room, Bimpe came in through the kitchen about 3.00 p.m and inquired whether I had come back or not. She came into the sitting
www.obatejuosobooks.com______77 The Ultimate Honour room, passed me bye without a word of greeting, and went back into the kitchen. Some minutes later, she settled down at the dining.table to eat.
I got enraged at this stage. Here was somebody, my wife, whose relationship with me was very cordial barely seven hours ago, but had just returned and did neither of the assignments I gave her to do, came back after spending about seven hours between Falomo and Ilupeju, and who didn’t have the courtesy to say hello, but had the audacity of wanting to have her meal without me, right there in front of me. I simply removed the plate of food in front of her and took it to the kitchen. On coming back into the sitting room, I reproached her and asked her to go back to where she had spent the last seven hours if she hadn’t the courtesy of explaining what happened. She kept mute. I locked the bedroom and left for my Lodge meetings.
Usually, after the Lodge Communication we should wait for Banquet. On that day I was not in the mood to eat anything. So about 5 p.m, my cousin, Mr. Biodun Tejuoso, my friend Dr Isola Abudu and I left the place for my Ilupeju home. We got there about 30 minutes later. Within the period of my departure to and arrival from the meeting, Bimpe had taken the bedroom’s duplicate key, opened the door, packed all her belongings and left the house.
I asked my two companions to please accompany me to her father’s house to explain what had happened, and to further drive home the point that if she failed to return that night, she should regard our marriage as terminated. On getting there, the parents and siblings claimed ignorance of her whereabouts. However, one of them hinted that she probably went to her uncle, Mr Olonadc, at Ikeja. I implored my friends to follow me there so that the issue could be settled once and for all that night. When we got there, her uncle who, under normal
www.obatejuosobooks.com______78 The Ultimate Honour circumstances was an amiable person, showed quite surprising hostility, but luckily, Bimpe was there. I simply explained to him that my mission was to ensure that Bimpe was with them and therefore no longer in my care. I told them further that if by any chance Bimpe slept outside my house that night, she should regard her chapter as permanently closed in my life. She did not return home that night. First thing the following morning, I removed all her photographs from the walls in our sitting room, packed them together with the rest of her apparells, put them in my Range Rover car with her two cousins (Atoke and Bolanle) and asked my driver to take them back to her father’s house at 15, Ayantuga Street, Olorunshogo Mushin. That was how we had the clean break.
She left in early October 1979. In December that year, I was summoned by another group of Aladuras. They revealed to me through a vision that a man was after my life but that God had warned him to hands off, but up till then he had not. They said further that if he persisted, God promised that that person would die suddenly on April 14, 1980. They further warned me that whoever died on that date, no matter how close, I should not attend his funeral. That was the day Bimpe’s father died! “Was this just a coincidence?” one might ask. I had always believed that no man can kill another fellow man except God wants it that way. “What would he want to kill me for?” I said to myself. “It cannot be true. Definitely not a son-in-law”. I was dumbfounded when I heard the news and the date of his death. However, I did not want to take chances. I did not attend the burial. Up till today, Bimpe has not forgiven me and my relations for not attending. She had said it to a number of them. Incidentally, she had no child for me and has none till now.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______79 The Ultimate Honour Dapo believes too much in Aladuras is the natural thought that should come to anybody’s mind at this juncture. Yes that is true. If you have witnessed as many coincidences as I have witnessed in my short life so far, you will feel the same.
I do not go looking for them. Most of them come looking for me with messages from God. For instance, one of them was praying for me one day and suddenly said I had a very close girl friend who told me she was going somewhere but indeed had gone somewhere else. I did not countenance this until about three days later, I met the boyfriend of the friend with whom my girl-friend was supposed to be spending a week at Kaduna. That boyfriend had just arrived from Kaduna where he had been for a week with my girl-friends’s friend. They did not see my girl-friend throughout. When my girl-friend arrived from her so-called trip to Kaduna three days later, she still pretended to me that she went to Kaduna until I confronted her with the bitter facts. She broke down and confessed she actually went to Onitsha and Port-Harcourt and not Kaduna. Of course, she went there to see a boyfriend. She has since regretted it. I have also come across an Aladura who described to me in details the setting of the room and what went on between two of us behind closed doors. Such coincidences are not easily brushed aside nor forgotten.
As at now, I have three wives all living with me in my house. There is Omolara, from Ogbogbo Ijebu — (nee Odeneye alias Ade Million) whom I talked about earlier, Yctunde (nee Akinluyi) from Esa-Oke in Ilesa (her maternal grandfather was the late Oba Akinsanya the Odemo of Ishara) and Olabisi (nee Badejo — Okusanya) from Ijebu- Imodi of the Badejo Records fame. All the relationships are very cordial. We are all so far very happy together. They all have children for me. Praise be to God!
www.obatejuosobooks.com______80 The Ultimate Honour Honestly, I enjoy my polygamous life. Maybe if I had met a compatible woman initially, I might have remained a monogamist. However, polygamy does not solve the headaches one gets from his woman or women. It should be stressed though that the case of a polygamist is like that of the prawn eater, who having started, finds it extremely difficult to stop. But, having made that decision to embrace polygamy, there is no going back, now, although I have since come to the realisation that women, old and young, are similar in many respects. I like the excitement in polygamy. My view is that a polygamist is an honest man who publicly accepts responsibilities for those who would otherwise have just remained as his girl-friends while a monogamist may be a hypocrite or a very deceitful man who pretends to have only one wife publicly, but has a chain of girlfriends who may or may not have children for him. The monogamist may succeed in deceiving people, until he dies when the final exposure of his polygamist tendencies are brought to public glare to the chagrin of his so-called only wife.
Why all these stories, one might ask. It is pertinent for me to bare my mind out at this juncture so that those who have been told all sorts of different incorrect stories about me to date with regard to my marital life which has since become an open book will have the opportunity of knowing the true picture direct from the horse’s mouth. Ladies are more talkative in matters like this than men. I know a lot of untrue stories in this regard have been peddled to people, some of whom could directly confront me and ask, but also a lot more, who cannot even get across to me forever, to be able to find out the truth. I learnt, for instance, that Bimpe has bandied a false story around, that she was annoyed that I got married to Omolara who was her school daughter. This is far from the truth. Bimpe is ten years older than Omolara. They were never in the same school together. Bimpe
www.obatejuosobooks.com______81 The Ultimate Honour met Omolara for the very first time through me when the latter was still at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
Many facts about my marital life have been grossly distorted and misrepresented. It is in realisation of this that I have tried to put the record straight, so that some deliberate falsehood that may have been maliciously dished out would be substituted with ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth.’
My life is an open book; I am merely a victim of circumstances.
Socio-Cultural Limelight
As a young schoolboy, in the early 40s, I was an active member of the choir of St. George’s Anglican Church Zaria, where I lived with my parents. When, in 1951 I entered the Abeokuta Grammar School, as a boarder, the three school societies that caught my fancy were the Yoruba Drama Group, the English Drama Group and the Literary and Debating Society. I was a very active member of these societies.
Like many of its contemporaries in those days, Abeokuta Grammar School, under the principalship of late Revd. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was one with an exceptionally high standard of discipline. All the school activities — both curricular and extra-curricular were given deserved attention. The high sense of devotion of our teachers manifested themselves in the zeal and assiduity with which they discharged their curricular and extra-curricular assignments.
Our Yoruba teacher, who was also in charge of the Yoruba Drama Group, was Mr Olufemi Olomodosi (now Venerable Provost in charge of the Anglican Church Cathedral, Ake, Abeokuta) while the English Drama Group and the www.obatejuosobooks.com______82 The Ultimate Honour Literary and Debating Society were co-ordinated by our English teacher then, Mr (later Professor) S.H.O. Tomori, of blessed memory. Messrs Femi and Dotun Oyewole (the famous Abeokuta twins) were also closely involved with the organisation of the Literary and Debating Society.
As mentioned elsewhere in this book, I was always an active participant in most of the plays staged by the Drama Group and was usually given a prominent part to play each time we had a performance. As a matter of fact, any time we were going to put up a play, and there was the role of a King to play, instinctively or otherwise, it always came to my lot to play that role. I recall, in 1954, when our Group acted Julius Ceasar I was Julius Ceasar in that play.
Perhaps, as a part of the efforts of our school authorities, at that time, to make us ‘real grammarians’ it was compulsory for all students to be members of the Literary and Debating Society. We had the Junior Group and the Senior Group, which corresponded, roughly to Classes One to Three, and Four to Six, respectively. It was compulsory for every student to be an active member from Form One to Form Five. The condition was relaxed on the Class Six students, the finalists, who were allowed to concentrate more on their preparations for the School Certificate Examination, though they were to see themselves as still belonging to the Society.
The two principal officers of the society were the President and the Secretary, who were chosen by election. The President was more or less a ceremonial head, while the real power was vested in the Secretary, who was obviously the live- jvire of the Society. His spoken and written English had to be good. In 1955, while in Form Five, I became the Secretary of the Literary and Debating Society and I made sure I wielded the powers conferred on me very effectively though
www.obatejuosobooks.com______83 The Ultimate Honour not arbitrarily. That was the assessment of my fellow- students. Our literary activities were geared towards the realisation of the ideal of the Society to enhance our communication skill — particularly in the oral sense. To this end, we organised regular impromptu speeches, lectures, debates, symposia and so on.
Religious and moral education were strongly emphasized at the Grammar School. Our Principal, the Late Revd. I. O. Ransomc-Kuti tried to see to it that we devoted our lives to God. One of the ways by which he sought to achieve that was the formation of the Temperance Society, whose membership was mandatory for all the students. The Temperance Society was basically a non- alcoholic group, and the members were generally referred to as “teetotallers” — a term used to describe people who do not take wine or any strong drink. Besides abstaining from taking alcohol, members of the Society were also expected not to smoke.
However, in spite of the strenuous efforts o'f our school to make us meek and gentle Christians, some of my close mates and I used to engage ourselves in lively private discussions on religious issues, which, if known to the school authorities, would be regarded as blasphemy. For in those discussions we often queried the existence of God and therefore saw no justification for going to church. While some of us would like to be left alone as free thinkers, there were some who thought they should be atheists. These were all childhood thoughts.
Among my friends with whom I shared these radical views about religion were Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and Siji Soetan. Although I later realised that some of the ideas were a manifestation of youthful exuberance, they stayed with me for quite some time, even after leaving the Grammar School. Even after my return from abroad after my medical studies, I was a mere occasional “church-goer”
www.obatejuosobooks.com______84 The Ultimate Honour attending perhaps for the satisfaction of social requirements rather than as a result of any spiritual conviction.
With time, my radical perception of religion softened. I had no cause to doubt the existence of God any longer, but my attitude towards religion could still be described as apathetic although my belief in God was definite.
U-Turn to God
Of late, I have started feeling the urge to reassess my relationship with my Creator; I choose to move nearer Him. This ‘about-turn’ to God may be due to my realisation of the imminence of the day of reckoning, I can’t say for sure. But I know that I am now more spiritually committed to the service of God. I probably now understand life much better. I go to church regularly. Although, this is not a sufficient proof of one’s proximity to God, it is nevertheless one of the manifestations. Nobody has urged me to move closer to God, it is by sheer inspiration and an inner feeling and calling within me.
In February 1988 when I was marking my 50th birthday, I said, among other things:
‘I do not think there is any greater thing now than to move nearer to God, because the older one gets, the nearer one should be prepared to face his Creator. This, one can do only by being TRULY religious. I have now made up my mind to pay greater attention to my Creator for the rest of my life. I believe in God, in Jesus Christ, and indeed in the Holy Trinity.’
As a step towards the actualisation of this solemn resolve, I decided to put into effect the family dream of ‘building a house unto the name of the Lord our God.’ www.obatejuosobooks.com______85 The Ultimate Honour As a matter of fact, in the original plan of our land at 2, Tejuoso Avenue Surulere, provision had been made for the site of a chapel. When the first phase of the land development was completed after seven years, and we moved in on the 10th of April 1981, the day one of my children Bisola Tejuoso was bom, we kept on saying ‘we are going to build a chapel.’ Although this idea continued to re-occur in my mind and in most family discussions, no serious steps were taken to put it into effect. Messages came from different Prophets (Aladura sects) that God wanted me to build a house for Him, I was touched by these messages because none of them knew what we had in our building plan, yet they — different individuals from different spiritual groups — kept saying the same thing about the matter in their respective visions.
So at the approach of my 50th Birthday Anniversary, the idea kept coming to my mind more forcefully and I also started seeing signs about the urgent need for me to do something about it. Then I decided that the chapel MUST be built.
The original plan of the structures on the premises was drawn by my cousin, late Arch. Akin Tejuoso who died in a motor accident along Murtala Mohammed Airport Road,
Lagos. In fact, the sudden disappearance of the principal architect was a serious calamity and indeed one of the factors responsible for the long delay in the execution of the project.
I called on his partner, Mr Oni, about the middle of 1987, to let us go ahead with the chapel project. He received tenders putting the cost of the project at ridiculously high prices from contractors. These were certainly unacceptable. He was requested to ask for more tenders and to expedite action on the matter so that the foundation laying ceremony could take place on the 17th October, 1987. This
www.obatejuosobooks.com______86 The Ultimate Honour was in mid-September. It was our intention to request the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Oyebade Lipede to lay the foundation stone on that day as our family organised a fund-raising activity for the Alake Palace Building Fund in our house at 2, Tejuoso Avenue, Surulere on that day the 17th of October 1987.
For about one month, the architect did not come back again, so we could not lay the foundation in October as scheduled. For some time after, I kept the matter off my mind.
Barely three weeks before my 50th birthday, I started thinking on what I could donate to our church, St. Jude’s Anglican Church and also how the chapel would be built in our house. ‘Since both the architect and the quantity surveyor had failed me, by refusing to show up since September, I started thinking which other architect could we use?’ That was my thought as I sat alone in our sitting room that morning. The name of Arch.Wale Odeleye came to my mind. But again, I said to myself; ‘Odeleye is too busy — Chairman of this, that; he is always abroad to Australia, Europe, America. He won’t have enough time to do it,’ was my conclusion. ‘Who else?’ I started thinking of other Rotarians. Then it occurred to me that Rot. Kayode Adebayo is an architect. How could I quickly get in touch with him was my next thought as he hardly ever visited me at home? As I was carried away in this thought, I suddenly heard a knock at the door. And, like a bolt from the blue, it was Kayode Adebayo that emerged at my door! I couldn’t believe it! In that ecstasy, I said ‘Kayode, I was just thinking about you and you entered; what have you come for?’ He said he just felt like seeing me and so came to say hello. Please sit down, I said, narrating the reason why I was looking for him. ‘My 50th birthday is barely three weeks from now, precisely 19th February 1988. I wish that the family would lay the foundation stone of .a chapel on this premises on that day. Can you make it possible?’ ‘Yes, why not?’ www.obatejuosobooks.com______87 The Ultimate Honour was his instant reply. Then he asked me to show him where the chapel was going to be built.
We both got up and went round the compound, meticulously surveying the whole place, in the end we chose a site. Then I gave him the idea of what we wanted and he promised that he would come with a sketch in three days’ time. Exactly three days after our discussion he came with a sketch as he promised, which upon examination, I found satisfactory. Then we went into the discussion of the cost. He asked me how much we were proposing to spend on the building project. I told him to put it at about N250, 000 without the furnishing (needless to say we ended up spending much more than that). He assured me he would make all necessary arrangements so that by 7.00 a.m. of February 19, 1988 the foundation stone was going to be laid by God’s Grace.
Meanwhile, I had sent someone to the Church I attend, Saint Jude’s Church Ebute Metta, to find out what I could buy or do for the church to mark my 50th birthday. I later met the Archdeacon and suggested donating a marble pulpit but he said ‘no’, arguing that since there was a plan to build a new church, installing such an expensive infrastructure in the old church would be inadvisable. I then asked him to suggest what he thought I should do instead. The idea of close- circuit television sets was mooted. This was based on the fact that it would enable the congregations in the two annexes of the church to follow the proceedings in the main church. This was estimated at about N12,000.00. In the alternative, suggested the Archdeacon, I could buy a band set for the church, the cost of which was put at about Nl5,000.00. There was yet a third suggestion — that was the building of a Bethany House. The Archdeacon said if I really wanted to help the church, the building of a Bethany House would be very appropriate. A Bethany House is a Church Guest House where people, particularly religious www.obatejuosobooks.com______88 The Ultimate Honour dignitaries, on a visit, who either cannot afford the cost of hotel accommodation or do not like an hotel environment could put up, on payment of nominal charges. Revenue so derived would accrue to the church and be used in maintaining the House amongst other things. The idea sounded rather attractive to me and I quickly asked how much that was likely to cost. ‘With direct labour about N20,000’ replied the Archdeacon. Although N20,000 is a lot of money, I did not object as I thought that was a more permanent and meaningful gift. I said ‘O.K.’ I was then reminded that the foundation stone of such an important building had to be laid by the Archbishop. It was a part of the anniversary plan that the foundation-laying ceremony should fall on my 50th birthday. The Archdeacon informed me that although the Archbishop was going to be at Ibadan at that time he (the Archbishop) would not like to miss a thing like that especially being the first Bethany House to be built by any church in Nigeria. Accordingly, he was approached and gave his consent to perform the ceremony.
The stage was now set for the ceremony at 7.00 a.m. of February7 19, 1988. I was at the church gate at 7.00 a.m. but the gateman wouldn’t let me go in through the gate nearer the place of the ceremony, so I had to go right round to get into the church where I stayed, expecting the Archbishop and other officiating ministers to come in. I thought the service would be held in the church from where we would all move out for the foundation laying ceremony. But this was not the plan of the Archbishop. It was his original intention to lay the foundation stone and return to Ibadan. So he sent Mrs Adetoun Bailey to call me out for the ceremony.
I told Mrs Bailey who came to deliver the Archbishop’s message that I wanted him to help me perform another foundation laying ceremony of a chapel at home that morning. Although this did not occur to me before. I just thought about it www.obatejuosobooks.com______89 The Ultimate Honour there. Mrs Bailey then advised me to go and tell him myself for a likely positive result. I did and he agreed to perform the ceremony. He then decided to take part in both the church service and the foundation-laying ceremonies of the Bethany House and the Chapel.
At the end of the ceremonies at the church, the Archbishop came with me to the house to lay the foundation of the chapel. He laid the first stone; my mother laid the second, I the third while my fourth child, Miss Adebimpe Rolayo Tejuoso who was celebrating her 21st birthday with me on that same day laid the fourth. The two central ones were laid by my two eldest children Mrs Titilola Olayinka Adebiyi and Dr. Olanrewaju Adeyemi Tejuoso.
After the ceremony, I called up the Archbishop to thank him, and at the same time to request him to be ready to perform the dedication of the chapel which should be ready for my mother’s 72nd birthday on the 22nd of June, 1988. Providentially the chapel was ready and he dedicated it to the use of God on the occasion of my mother’s 72nd birthday. One significant thing about the chapel is that it is named CHAPEL SAINT JOSEPH, after my late father, Joseph Somoye Tejuoso; and its foundation-laying and dedication ceremonies were performed by Archbishop Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye. What a pleasant coincidence of names.
The estimated cost of the Bethany House underwent a number of variations and modifications. According to the Archdeacon, the original estimated cost was N20,000.00. About three weeks after work on it began I was told that the project might cost nothing less than N25,000.00. I said ‘O.K’ and the work continued.
Again, three weeks after, a new estimate was communicated to me by the Archdeacon, this time, via the pulpit — during a Sunday service. I was sitting at a back row when the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______90 The Ultimate Honour Archdeacon said, during the sermon: ‘I urge all members of this church to emulate a commendable gesture demonstrated by one of the members. The member in question, a blessed man, decided to present the gift of a building to God, to mark his birthday. The building construction of which is still in progress, and is costing about N40,000. Although the name of the donor of the gift was not mentioned I knew the message was for me. I liked his way of delivering an otherwise difficult message. Notwithstanding the sting in the message, I quickly said to myself: 'Come what may, the project has to be completed.’ It is therefore very heartening to note that the project is now completed at a higher cost than what was mentioned by Archdeacon Agbaje on the pulpit.
It is a three-bedroomed self contained house. It has been named ‘Esther’s Bethany House’ after my mother. It was declared open for the use of mankind and to the glory of God, by His Grace The Most Rev. Joseph Abiodun Adetiloye — the Anglican Archbishop of Nigeria on Tuesday the 27th of December, 1988. This date was the 20th anniversary of the death of my late father — Joseph Somoye Tejuoso. May his soul rest in perfect peace (Amen).
My grateful thanks go to Chief Arc. Adedokun A. Adeyemi who supervised and built The Bethany House selflessly at no extra cost to me or the church.
A letter of appreciation written to me by the church is reproduced below:
ST. JUDE’S PARISH CHURCH, EBUTE-METTA.
Ven Dr, A. A, Agbaje (M.A.N.D. Ph.D.)
VICAR
www.obatejuosobooks.com______91 The Ultimate Honour Mr. M. A. Adeniyi PARISH CHURCH SECRETARY TEL: 861395, 841245, 863191. Dr. (Chief) Dapo Tejuoso, 2/12, Tejuoso Avenue, Surulere, Lagos State. Dear Chief Tejuoso,
LETTER OF APPRECIATION - ESTHER BETHANY HOUSE
I am directed by the Parish Council on behalf of the Parish Church to express our gratitude towards your generous gift of the Esther Bethany House which was presented to the Parish Church on 27th day of December, 1988.
We would recall that the “turning of sod” of the Esther Bethany House, took place on 19th February, 1988, the day you were 50 years old. That the ceremony was performed by the Bishop of Lagos (now the Archbishop). That the dedication took place on Tuesday 27th December, 1988 to the Memory of your father, late Mr. Joseph Somoye Tejuoso, who died on 27th day of December 1968. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE. The ceremony was performed by His Grace, The Most Revd. J. A. Adetiloye, Archbishop, Primate and Metropolitan of the Province of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).
We thank you whole-heartedly for the very generous gift, and we wish you God’s blessings from above. May HE enrich your purse and reward you abundantly.
We wish you and your family — Happy New Year.
M. A. Adeniyi Parish Secretary.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______92 The Ultimate Honour A Sportsman
My fraternity with sports dated back to my early days in Abeokuta Grammar School. When I was in Form One, there was one Form Three student by name Sulaiman Kushamotu with whom I had very close association. Our fondness of each other was so much that the social barriers which normally existed between the junior students and their senior were never allowed to rear their heads between us. Though a day student, he was paying me regular visits in the boarding house.
By the time I got to Form Two, my senior and friend, then in Form Four, was already doing the hurdles for the school. Each time he went out to practise I was always there with him, admiring his excellent performances. In time, my own interest in the event became kindled and asked him to teach me how to do the hurdles, which he did enthusiastically.
In a couple of months, I had gained tremendous skill in hurdling. I first came into limelight in the event when I represented my house, the School House, at the junior level during the Inter-House Sports Competitions. By the time I got to Form Five, I had already become the number two hurdler for the school, coming after one Mr Niyi Bicker- steth now a Lawyer. Both of us ably represented our school in the event at both the Aionian Cup and Grier Cup Competitions in 1956. In those days, These two sports competitions were very highly priced among the secondary schools in the country. I recall that in 1956, my final year at school, Niyi and I, represented our school at the Aionian sports held at Imade College, Owo, and at Government College Ibadan, for the Grier Cup Competition. My early interest in sports was not limited to hurdles. I also did the tripple jump, (hop, step and jump) although I was not sufficiently good at it to be able to
www.obatejuosobooks.com______93 The Ultimate Honour represent the school, but I was good enough to represent my House at the Inter- House Sports Competitions. I was thus involved in both hurdles and tripple jump as a secondary school boy. Table Tennis is another game I was interested in; indeed I was one of the best six table I cm i is players in the school. I still play the game till today.
Contact with Badminton
At Trinity College Dublin, my involvement in sports was very little, the weather being a major disincentive. But then, I had a Malaysian friend Mr (now Dr) Jerry Tay who was a very dexterous badminton player. I used to accompany him whenever he went out to play badminton. Soon I became fascinated by his exceptional skill in the game and knew some of its rudiments. That was the genesis of my interest in badminton.
On my return to Nigeria in 1970, after my post-graduate medical studies, Mr Isaac O. Odunlami of the Nigerian Railways approached my mother to sponsor a competition of the Pioneer Badminton Club of which he was the Chairman. Mr Odunlami was very close to my parents, he also being an active member of St. Jude’s Church Ebute Metta.
My mother, not being conversant with what Mr Odunlami was talking about, asked him to contact me. As soon as he mentioned badminton I knew exactly what he was talking about and I discussed the issue with him intelligently. We then at once set in motion the necessary machinery for the sponsoring of the competitions as requested by him. Mr Isaac Odunlami and I become very close through this Pioneer Badminton Association.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______94 The Ultimate Honour Soon after the competitions, the Lagos State Badminton Association was formed and Mr Isaac Odunlami was made its Chairman, while I was made the Vice- Chairman. This was about 1971. Between 1973 and 1974, the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria was also formed with late Mr Olaleye (a half brother to Mr Ganiyu O. Dawodu) as its first Chairman and Mr I. O. Odunlami the Vice-Chairman. I was invited to be one of its founding members. At first, I felt a bit reluctant to accept the appointment because of my time constraint. As a matter of personal policy, I never get involved in things half-heartedly. It is either I am fully involved or not involved at all. However, in the end, I decided to accept the offer.
We started off and I was playing my part as I thought fit without realising that my activities were being watched. About 1974 or so, the Chairman, Mr Laleye died suddenly. His death shocked all of us seriously as there was no previous news about his illness. We all rallied round the family in that hour of deep grief.
It was the assumption of everybody (including myself) that the Vice-Chairman, Mr I. O. Odunlami would take on the mantle of leadership and that the business of the Association would go on as usual. We were waiting for the National Sports Commission to make the announcement, which wc thought was going to be a mere formality.
At the end of what seemed to be a lull, I heard over the radio that I had been appointed the Chairman of the Association. The news item was as shocking as it was incredible. I said to myself, ‘definitely not me. I won’t be the Chairman just like that.’ ‘Why should I?’ ‘What about the Vice-Chairman, Mr Odunlami?’I immediately picked up the telephone and told Mr Odunlami the news I had just heard. I told him categorically that I was not going to accept to be the Chairman
www.obatejuosobooks.com______95 The Ultimate Honour and that I would tell the NSC so. In his reply, he told me that he already knew about the matter. That he with NSC had been on it for quite some time and that it was clear that he, Mr Isaac Odunlami, would not be the Chairman whether I accepted the offer or not. He entreated me to accept the offer, saying that if I rejected it, it would be a disservice to the cause for which we had laboured hard in the past. He added that if I refused to accept it somebody else, other than himself, would be picked and our joint efforts in getting badminton to the stage it was would have been in vain. In spite of these sentiments and thought- provoking words I was still unimpressed because I could not comprehend the sudden twist in the normal course of events.
Mr Odunlami’s pressure on me continued unabated. In the course of his efforts to persuade me to accept the Chairmanship, he assured me of his maximum support. At last, I agreed to be the Chairman, while Mr Isaac Odunlami to my astonishment was just a member. One thing worthy of note was his exceptional loyalty to and support for my administration. He gave me all the assistance needed from him for the success of my tenure. It was indeed a clear manifestation of his large-heart and broad-mindedness — which is not common in Nigeria of today.
Not long after I became Chairman, Mr Odunlami travelled to London where he learnt that a meeting of the International Badminton Federation (IBF) was going on. He seized the opportunity to attend, as an observer. When he came back home he told us about it and urged that Nigeria too was ripe enough to join the IBF. We applied and became a member of the Federation in 1976. Soon after, we attended the Annual General Meeting of the Federation in Malmo, Sweden. It was the first time Nigeria would be officially represented at the AGM of the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______96 The Ultimate Honour Federation; the then Secretary, Mr Patrick Okpomo and I were Nigeria’s representatives.
At the meeting the issue of South Africa’s continued membership of IBF came up for debate. A motion calling for her expulsion had been tabled. Members spoke for and against, and at the end, voting took place. The motion was defeated and so South Africa had to remain a member of the IBF. At that juncture I got up to speak. I said, among other things; ‘Since the motion to expel South Africa has now been defeated, it means she will remain at the meeting with us, we have only waited thus far to see her expelled. But now that she is not expelled, we, as Nigerians, do not have the mandate to sit at the same meeting with racist South Africa, consequently we are withdrawing from further participation at the meeting.’ There and then the two of us packed our bag and baggage and left the hall. As we were outside looking for a taxi to take us back to our hotel, Mr W. W. Kente, the only delegate from Tanzania — the only other African at the meeting — joined us outside. ‘Are you out too?’ I asked. He said ‘yes’, adding that as soon as we left the hall, after saying that we had no mandate to sit with South Africa, he too got up and told the meeting that he similarly had no mandate, and so he left.
It was at that point, the three of us started to discuss the issue. I then said, ‘By the way, look here, why can’t we get together and form the African Badminton Federation so that we can effectively fight these people?’ At that time there were only three African countries in the IBF, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya. Ghana had just registered. Mr Rente gladly embraced the idea that we should form an African Badminton Federation (ABF).
www.obatejuosobooks.com______97 The Ultimate Honour As soon as we got back home I told the Secretary (Mr Patrick Okponro) to send out circulars to all the African countries with Associations (affiliated or not to the IBF) to let us form an African Badminton Federation. The response was very encouraging.
But soon after this, came my own disagreement and fall out with the National Sports Commission. Mr Akioye was the Commission’s Director then. The Commission had on two previous occasions under the same Director announced to the embarrassment of the Chairmen, the dissolution of Associations over the radio without prior discussions with them, let alone the other members. On each occasion we registered our disapproval of that method of dissolving Associations. I personally went to meet and lodge the complaint to Mr Akioye and he assured me that such would not be allowed to happen again. He promised that before any such announcements were made in future all the Chairmen would be properly intimated. I thanked him for that assurance.
Sometime after that, we were holding a week-long badminton competition being sponsored by our company, Teju Industries Limited for the Tejufoam Cup at the National Stadium Surulere when suddenly, on day two of the competition, we heard another radio announcement dissolving all Associations. The announcement added that the Chairmen should carry on until new Associations were reconstituted. I felt terribly shocked, disappointed and embarrassed. ‘Here I am, running a competition on which money and energy had been invested. It is not going to be paralysed! I mused.
Naturally, each member who heard the news simply said, ‘sorry, Mr. Chairman, I’m no longer a member of the Association and so I cannot continue.’ The burden then fell on me alone. It was a herculean task for me to persuade some of the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______98 The Ultimate Honour members to stay on till the end of the competitions. In fact, this was only possible as a result of the good relationship I had kept between us. They managed to stay on, illegally though, reluctantly till the end of the competition. I could no longer stand the breach of faith on the part of NSC, so I decided to get out.
Meanwhile another Association had been constituted and I was retained as its Chairman. Some of the old hands were replaced by new ones. The Minister in charge of Sports, then, Mr Dan Isokiari, came to address us at the inauguration ceremony at the National Stadium. I had already brought with me my letter of resignation to be submitted immediately after the ceremony.
After the Minister’s address, comments were called for from members. Then I got up and spoke vehemently against the breach of faith on the part of NSC. I expressed my utter surprise and shock, that in spite of Mr Akioye’s (the Director General’s) earlier assurance that Chairmen were going to be duly informed before Associations were dissolved and that they would even be taken into confidence in the selection process of new members, he still acted unilaterally. This was certainly not in good faith and I concluded by saying how disappointed I was. Other members spoke in support of the views I had expressed. As soon as the meeting was over, I sent to hand in my letter of resignation to the Director of Sports. That was how I got out of badminton at that time, though the decision was short-lived.
Sequel to this action, people, particularly lovers of badminton started coming to appeal to me to reconsider my stand. My reply was a categorical ‘NO’. Notable among those who tried to prevail on me was this same Mr Isaac Odunlami himself. Although his intervention sort of softened my mind, I did not yield. Mr Akioye himself admitted that I was right in principle but he saw no reason for me
www.obatejuosobooks.com______99 The Ultimate Honour to have reacted so badly. He said that I should have known that a lot of ethnic or tribal discrimination was going on then within the Commission. Before that incident, he added, people had been trying to get rid of him from his post because he is a Yoruba- man. A vehement criticism of his policy by another Yoruba- man further boosted the position of his detractors who would now say: ‘Even his own people do not like him; they are condemning him.’ At first I was not impressed by that appeal to ethnic or tribal sentiment. I saw my action as one based on principle rather than the ethnic origin of who was involved. Even though on reflection I began to see the matter rather differently, I was still not convinced that I should go back on my decision.
Pressure that I should return continued to mount unceasingly from different fronts. One morning, my mother phoned me asking that I should see her urgently. I went.I had no idea why she had sent for me. So, I was at sea for the first few minutes of her speech. She started by preaching to me, reminding me how much people value my voluntary and free services. She then made specific reference to my resignation from Badminton Association about which several people had come to her, to request her to appeal to me for a reconsideration of my stand. It was therefore her view that I should disregard my letter of resignation now that people were appealing to me. They must love and want me. ‘Lehin aponle abuku lo kan’ she concluded. ‘It is honourable to listen to people’s appeal before they turn against one.’ This was the last straw that broke the camel’s back.
After my mother had spoken to me in that manner, I had no choice but to listen to her. I decided to return to badminton.
Mr. Isaac Odunlami had come with about four other people and we fixed an appointment to meet Mr. Akioye in his office. He was highly delighted to see us.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______100 The Ultimate Honour We all sat down and held an informal but relaxed meeting at which Mr Isaac Akioye and I spoke out our minds freely over the matter in a cordial atmosphere. In the end we agreed to forget the past, and chart a new course for the progress of badminton in Nigeria. That was how I returned to badminton again after about a year’s absence or so.
In the meantime, the African Badminton Federation, whose formation I spearheaded had taken off. At its first meeting, held in Ghana, Mr R.W.W. Rente of Tanzania was elected its first President. Other officers were also elected at that meeting. Before my temporary exit from badminton, there existed a considerable rapport between Mr Rente and I. This was probably not unconnected with our joint reaction at Malmo Sweden, against South Africa’s continued membership of IBF. When he learnt of my withdrawal from badminton, he was very sad, and was looking for an opportunity to see how he could persuade me to return. So, during his tour of some African countries he visited Nigeria and he, in company of Mr L.A. Ayorinde, the then Secretary of Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria (ABAN) paid me a visit at home at Ilupeju. He passionately appealed to me to reconsider my stand, reminding me that it was my dream of a continental badminton body that culminated in the formation of African Badminton Federation. He expressed his awareness that if I did not participate in badminton in Nigeria, naturally, I would not be able to participate at the continental level. He therefore regarded it a duty to do all in his power to bring me back to badminton so that I could join hands with the others in their noble efforts to develop the sport in Africa. He used the occasion of that meeting to appeal to me to donate a trophy to be competed for at a continental level. The trophy has since been donated by me to the African Badminton Federation and it is the Dr. Dapo Tejuoso Junior Trophy which Nigeria has always won since its donation.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______101 The Ultimate Honour By the time I returned to badminton things had started falling apart at the International Badminton Federation level. It had broken into factions. At least three factors could be deciphered as being responsible for the break-up;
(1) The issue of the continued membership of South Africa Badminton Union in IBF.
(2) The question of Taiwan versus China’s membership in IBF.
(3) The issue of one man one vote at the IBF.
There was no doubt that our reaction in Malmo, Sweden,over the question of South Africa’s membership of the IBF had triggered off further reactions. More members particularly, Asians, had joined Africa to agitate for the expulsion of South Africa from IBF.
Taiwan was already a member of the IBF, and the Republic of China refused to join unless Taiwan was thrown out.
Many member states were reacting very badly to the issue of one man one vote. By this system different countries had voting rights according to certain criteria. One vote, based on equality of member states; one additional vote for every country that had at least 10,000 badminton players; another one vote for a country that had over 50,000 Badminton players, and yet another additional vote for a country that had participated in the world championships. In other words while Nigeria for instance, had one vote at that time, Britain, USA, Canada and Denmark had four votes each. So when the issue of South Africa came up for determination while say Nigeria and another African country voted for her expulsion and Denmark alone voted against, the result was two for and four
www.obatejuosobooks.com______102 The Ultimate Honour against. That was the lopsided nature of the arrangement which was being strongly resented by member nations.
There was no compromise reached on all the three issues enumerated above. The ensuing stalemate resulted in the break-up of the IBF. The Asians and the Africans went one way to form the World Badminton Federation (WBF) with China as the rallying point. WBF’s meetings were usually held either in Peking, China or Bangkok, Thailand. Europe and America remained the IBF between 1978 and 1981 when the crisis lasted.
When I got back to ABAN, I came into this IBF crisis as a delegate for Nigeria. After a careful study of the situation, I knew that the IBF had learnt her lessons and that she would not allow things to fall apart totally. Based on this perception of the situation, I advised that ABAN should not totally dissociate itself from IBF, we should not rush to resign our membership because I foresaw that the prospect of reconciliation soonest was quite bright. My prediction was right. In 1981 the IBF and WBF decided to have reconciliation meetings. Preliminary talks to this end were held. Later, the final reconciliation meeting was held in Tokyo, Japan. At the meeting the issues were resolved fairly amicably. It must be noted, however, that the terms of reconciliation sacrificed Africa’s interest to a large extent. The terms of settlement were as follows:
(1) Taiwan should cease to be a member of the IBF, and in her place, the Republic of China was admitted. That had been the bone of contention between China and IBF. China therefore had her interest fully satisfied.
(2) The issue of ‘one man one vote’ was also resolved as follows: It was agreed that whenever any question affecting the rules of the Badminton Federation was to be decided, such as constitutional matters, e.g. expulsion of a member nation,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______103 The Ultimate Honour ‘one man one vote’ principle would apply. The principle would, however, not apply in matters affecting the laws of the game of badminton itself.
(3) South Africa would retain its membership of the Federation but would not be allowed to participate in any international badminton competitions.
It is clear from the above terms of reconciliation that:
(a) China’s interest was fully satisfied, with the throwing out of Taiwan.
(b) The rule pertaining to voting rights though partially satisfying, still gave room for manipulations for the furtherance of socio-political interests of Europe and America.
(c) Europe and America also felt partially triumphant by ensuring that outright expulsion of South Africa from IBF did not materialise as demanded by African member-countries and her friends.
China, the backbone of WBF, rallied round the third world countries to compel IBF to negotiate terms for reconciliation and in the end she got what she wanted.
The issue of ‘one man one vote’ and the question of South Africa’s membership didn’t really matter to China and so she never seriously tackled them during negotiations. But surely those two issues matter to the African countries.
With steadfastness and hardwork, Nigeria succeeded in securing three voting rights while the other African countries still, up to date only have one vote each.
Although, I was temporarily out of badminton during the greater part of the crisis I was following the events with keen interest. After the crises had been settled on the terms stated above, and having got back into badminton again myself, I thought that if I were part of the negotiating party my stand would probably have
www.obatejuosobooks.com______104 The Ultimate Honour been different. As soon as I noticed the trend of the terms of reconciliation leaning too heavily in favour of our principal ally, China, I would probably have said that if Africa was not given adequate concessions she would not reconcile (that probably might have been akin to the situation of an ant bragging in the presence of an elephant). Pressure would have been brought to bear, at that point, on the issue of the total expulsion of South Africa. Maybe I am only probably thinking that way now, with the benefit of hindsight.
As I said before, the issue was resolved in 1981 in Tokyo, Japan. A few months after (then I had come back) another emergency meeting of the reconciled and reconstituted IBF was held in London. At that meeting, it was considered necessary to have an African representative on the Council of the reconstituted Federation (IBF). Mr. Rente of Tanzania and I were nominated and voted for. I won the election. That was how I became the first African ever to be elected into the Council of the International Badminton Federation.
We in Nigeria consider the continued membership of South Africa in IBF as a pernicious evil or a cankerworm which must be got rid of by all means. Efforts in that direction are being vigorously pursued. In May 1987, at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the IBF in Peking, China, I delivered a powerful speech which really moved our friends and allies but got many of our detractors jittery.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______105 The Ultimate Honour BEING A SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR. DAPO TEJUOSO OF NIGERIA AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF THE INTERNATIONAL BADMINTON FEDERATION (IBF) IN BEIJIN CHINA ON TUESDAY 19TH MAY, 1987
Mr President Sir, Ladies and Gentlemen.
The South African Badminton Union (SABU) should be asked to resign or be expelled from the IBF now. It is becoming increasingly clear from the results of the last South African ‘elections’ that there can be no end (except by force) to the perpetration of apartheid by South Africa with adverse and devastating effects not only to badminton but to all sports in South Africa, and other parts of the world. Days before the last white minority elections in South Africa, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, had dismissed it as ‘shame’ and ‘irrelevant.’ He lamented that South Africa was entering ‘the darkest age in its history.’ and I dare add that sports, including badminton will partake of the unfortunate development.
The election ‘was a historic and perhaps irreversible decision’ the editor of Johannesburg’s Business Day wrote in a front page editorial.
‘Serving notice that white South Africa .... would rather fight than switch.’
Indeed, one can conclude that the monster, called apartheid is not only destined to be the origin of the early demise of all sporting competitions including Badminton on earth but also the source and cause of the third world war and possible end of mankind.
Now that we are moving towards the next decade, we are moving inexorably towards the fulfilment of some prophecies of doom, come the 1990s. IBF cannot
www.obatejuosobooks.com______106 The Ultimate Honour afford to just sit back like a toothless bulldog and watch this avoidable tragedy come true.
The great Jewish French physician, Nostradamus, bom 14th of December 1503 and brought up as a Catholic, began compiling his major prophecies in 1547. His prophecies had always come true when due.
He predicted the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. He also looked ahead into the 18th century and predicted the fourteen-year mle of Napoleon over France and his eventual exile. He foresaw the emergence of Adolf Hitler (whom he called ‘Hister’).
Finally, Nostradamus predicted a war to end all wars starting in 1990 and reaching its destructive peak ‘In the year 1999 and seven months when from the sky would come the great king of terror.’
This prophecy of an international holocaust engulfing sports including badminton which Nostradamus made centuries ago was mirrored by another startling view of the future by the extra-ordinary American Prophetess Jean Dixon who predicted the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Mrs Dixon had forecast a war beginning in the late 1980s and getting to peak in 1999 — the same year quoted in the work of Nostradamus.
What, one might ask, is the relevance of all these? Do we really understand the time we are in now? Do we actually realise how unconsciously South Africa is leading us to a disaster? The United States of America now rightly abhors and opposes the apartheid system like the rest of the sensible and humane world. Despite the call from most continents including the USSR and now USA, the South African government has refused to release all political prisoners legate either gradually or otherwise, all she is therefore directly or indirectly, www.obatejuosobooks.com______107 The Ultimate Honour competitions among within her territory, and more importantly at international levels. Minority rights, are protected to the detriment of those of the majority. All well-meaning nations have imposed sanctions. Recently, scores of corporations like General Motors, Kodak, IBM, etc have withdrawn their businesses from South Africa in protest. Most nations and organisations now provide assistance to the victims of apartheid.
What has IBF done? Perhaps IBF is just as guilty as the leaders of South African apartheid enclave. Perhaps IBF is directly or indirectly providing the coffin for the gradual demise of badminton by its non-challant attitude towards the apartheid policy and all its stands for? If all these were not true, then this is the right time for IBF to act in concert with the rest of the world and get rid of this bad egg within IBF.
We should realise by now that racial issues are as deadly as the atomic bomb. It fired the anti-semitism in Hitler, leading to the last world war. It reduced America to a continent of fire and slogans in the ’60s. It painted the Middle East in blood. It has now dreadfully reared its ugly head in South Africa with the persistent threat of a war to end all wars and badminton.
All the noise made over South Africa in recent times has been in vain judging by the results of the last ‘election,’ which more or less wras a mandate to perpetuate apartheid.
If IBF now comfortably and inactively sits still and condones South African Badminton Union’s continued membership in the Federation, were should then understand how consciously or unconsciously were are aiding and abetting the evil called apartheid and thus gradually piloting the fulfilment of those prophecies.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______108 The Ultimate Honour But how else can were make a deaf nation listen? Therein lies our collective responsibility. IBF must not be caught hobnobbing with the South African Badminton Union on doomsday. Remember this is the advent cf badminton in the Olympics. Apartheid South Africa has made self-centered SADISTS of most of us. We are indifferent to the sufferings of others in their own fatherland. We are all becoming stray dogs, toothless bull dogs for that matter. Deaf but barking, unyielding and ready to be blown up with South Africa, come 1999.
This is an avoidable disaster. IBF can still help. Thirty-two out of fifty-three nations boycotted the Commonwealth Games in 1986 because of the inhuman policy of South Africa. Numerous sportsmen and women including badminton players were thus deprived of a good sporting competition because of one selfish nation (South Africa). An English adage says: Two heads are better than one.’ It therefore necessarily follows that ‘thirty-two heads must surely be better than one.’ Even if anyone suggests that they may be thirty-two egg heads, they must still be better than one head that needs a head Shrinker (Psychiatrist).
South African apartheid policy amongst other things once broke up the IBF. It almost succeeded in breaking up the Commonwealth and its games. It has perpetually put its sportsmen under quarantine. Its next target is to ruin the world. Must this earth crumble because of the stupidity and suicide tendencies of one nation? Must IBF be a pauppet on a string in the process? If not, should we not now play our part as a responsible and responsive body and prevent this imminent but avoidable tragedy?
This is why I am asking you to vote South African Badminton Union out of IBF today. Tomorrow' may be too late. Save our w’orld, save badminton from this tragedy.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______109 The Ultimate Honour Thank you and God bless.
DR. BAPOT/SJ DELEGATE FROM NIGERIA
By the time I finished my speech and voting took place over a motion to expel South Africa we had 73.53% votes in favour. This was slightly below the 75 per cent majority required. Thirty-six member nations were present. Twenty- five member nations voted in favour of expelling South Africa while nine member nations voted against. Two nations abstained. Although we did not achieve our objective, it was quite a satisfying development, especially when it is realised that Nigeria was the only African nation present at that meeting. On the other hand, the other motion tabled by Nigeria asking the AGM to call upon the IBF Council to suspend South Africa was successfully carried (despite differential voting system adopted — forty-seven in favour, forty-three against). The Council however refused to carry out the order since most of the members are die-hard supporters of the racist South Africa.
Back home, it is necessary to stress that sports administration in Nigeria is still not what it is expected to be. Opinions of well-meaning Nigerians on how to better our performances in sports have not been given the required attention. For example, I have on many occasions tried to explain to the NSC that our non- participation in international badminton competitions is adversely affecting our voting rights not to even talk of the foreign exchange earning ABAN is losing. This was never seriously addressed.
A few other examples may help to elucidate the point I -am trying to make in this respect. Most people think, and quite rightly too, that Nigeria’s dismal showings in many global competitions are not due to lack of talents but to poor www.obatejuosobooks.com______110 The Ultimate Honour preparations. The bureaucratic approach to most issue affecting us has been a highly demoralising factor.
After the 1988 Seoul Olympics, suggestions as to how our future performances could be improved were offered. For example, I made it clear that the chances of winning several medals in badminton are there. ‘Unlike soccer which is only one, there are different categories of competions in badminton’. And knowing that we are likely to participate in the 1992 Olympics I started shouting about it into the ears of the NSC officials to let us-start preparing in earnest. In May 1987 when I was in China for the AGM of IBF, Indonesia had already selected its possible and probable badminton players for the 1992 Olympic Games — six years before the games — and they have been put in camp for training. Perhaps, Nigeria too, after our poor outing in the last Olympics is now willing to start preparing for 1992 in its own way. Recently, a circular was passed to all Chairmen of Associations telling them to prepare a five-year plan and submit same TWO days after I received my own copy of the circular. It was said further that 30 copies of the ‘Plan’ should be forwarded, and ‘any Association which failed to submit the 30 copies as stipulated would not be allowed to participate in the Olympics.’ This kind of circular is not only amazing but also amusing. It is amazing because one had assumed that an issue of that importance should have been better approached in order to yield positive results. The amusing aspect of it is the failure of the officials of the NSC to appreciate the fact that most of the members of the Associations being so ordered are voluntary workers. They are part-time members who have their full-time jobs.
It is inconceivable for anyone to expect a Chairman, within the twro days’ deadline, to get his secretary to summon a meeting of the Committee; prepare a blue-print on a meaningful Five-Year Plan; and get this produced in 30 copies. It www.obatejuosobooks.com______111 The Ultimate Honour should occur to them that any development plan at salvaging Nigeria’s waning image in sports requires a hard thinking. But that is what goes on in Nigeria.
The better approach would have been to first of all call a meeting of all Chairmen. Let them put heads together as a Committee; form Sub-Committees; get them to produce reports on how best to go about it.
For about two years now I have nearly shouted myself hoarse about the urgent need to start preparing at least badminton for the 1992 Olympics but no one seems to listen. When about a year ago ABAN requested for Nigerian Badminton coaches, we were told that all Associations should now advertise and get their own coaches to be paid salaries by NSC. We interviewed some people and recommended to the NSC. Up till now, after almost a year, NSC has not given Badminton a coach. Imagine a body that asked us to produce a Five-Year Development Programme of sports, but cannot even provide a single coach due to unnecessary bureaucracy where at least four are needed. Everybody who is being paid to do a good job there (NSC) is surprisingly the one trying to pull down what we volunteers are trying to do.
Perhaps I should like to state here, without attempting to be immodest, that up till now everything I have done for the promotion of the game of badminton has been done at my own expense. Even where I went to represent Nigeria at International Conferences or I went with the sportsmen or women, I had always been fully responsible for myself, without taking one kobo from the NSC.
For sports to develop in Nigeria, I strongly advocate the immediate scrapping of the National Sports Commission (NSC). We don’t need it. It is merely a drain pipe. All the money that should go into a meaningful development of sports is spent in paying salaries and allowances of staff, who unfortunately, are the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______112 The Ultimate Honour people barring the development of sports. Imagine the numerous CVU/FGN cars you have at the stadium without much to show for them.
Let each sporting association be autonomous with a link with the Ministry through a co-ordinator or co-ordinators. Give them subvention directly as is now being done in respect of local government councils. It took the Federal Government a long time to discover that the existence of the Ministry of Local Government was inimical to grass-root development, which is the basic role of the local government. While the ministries lasted, much of the money meant for a local council was used in paying salaries and allowances of ministry officials whose duties were irrelevant to grass root development.
In the same manner, the NSC should be done away with. This, in my opinion, will give a new lease of life to sports administration in Nigeria. Sports generally should be run as a private business concern devoid of any undue government bureaucracy. That definitely would usher in an era of achievements in sports in Nigeria.
(i) Final Year group photograph at the Abeokuta Grammar School 1956. Standing first from right is the author in bluer.
(ii) Group photograph at Dublin EIRE. Front row from the right is the author.
A Rotarian
Many people, particularly the non-Rotarians, have a wrong perception of Rotary. It is for the purpose of illuminating such minds that a brief explanation of what Rotary is all about is considered necessary.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______113 The Ultimate Honour Rotary is an international organisation of service-minded business and professional men who are united in the ideal of service and rendering selfless service to their respective communities and above all, fostering the advancement of international understanding goodwill and peace.
Rotary was founded in Chicago, USA on the 23rd of February, 1905 by a lawyer, Paul Percy Harris and some other well-meaning friends, Sylvester Scheele, Hiram Shorey and Gustav Loehr. In order to survive and grow they decided to have representatives from different professions and businesses. This four- member group was the nucleus of Rotary. It was from the rotational nature of their meetings that the name ‘Rotary’ was adopted. By the time Paul Harris died on the 19th of April 1947, there had been about 6,000 Rotary Clubs world wide.
The first Rotary Club in Nigeria was that of Kano which was chartered in May 1961. In the same year Rotary Clubs of Lagos and Ibadan were chartered in that order. At that time Nigeria and the rest of West Africa and beyond constituted one District.
1982 marked the turning point in the growth of Rotary in Nigeria. By that year the number of Clubs had reached such a level that Nigeria was created into a District with Rotarian Julius Adelusi Adeluyi of Rotary Club of Ikeja
TABLE “A” - NIGERIA: DISTRICT GOVERNORS AND GROWTH OF RJ. DISTRICTS SINCE 1974
1974/75 PDG. ANOFI S. GUOBADIA DISTRICT 210
1980/81 PDG. JON. B. MAJIYAGBE
DISTRICT 910 (WEST AFRICA)
www.obatejuosobooks.com______114 The Ultimate Honour 1982/83 PDG. JULI ADELUSI-ADELUYI DISTRICT 911 (NIGERIA)
1983/84 PDG. BOB BEREMAKO OGBUAGU DISTRICT 911 (NIGERIA)
1984/85 PDG. BABATUNDE AJAYI DISTRICT 911 (LAGOS, OGUN, ONDO, OYO, KWARA, NIGER, SOKOTO, FCT) PDG. VONJENSAMBO SANDA DISTRICT 912 (REMAINING STATES OF NIGERIA)
1985/86 PDG. ADEBAYO ADETIJNJI DISTRICT 911
(AS in 84/85) PDG. MIKE OKWECHIME DISTRICT 912 (AS IN 84/85)
1986/87 PDG. ADEDAPO TEJUOSO DISTRICT 911 PDG. FRED AGAMA DISTRICT 914
PDG. KOLA OLAFIMIHAN DISTRICT 913 PDG. SOLOMON ABE DISTRICT 912
1987/88 PDG. OLUWOLE FOLARIN DISTRICT 911 PDG. BEN UDEZE DISTRICT 914
PDG. ADEDOYIN ADELEKUN DISTRICT 913 PDG. JOHN AJOGE DISTRICT 912
1988/89 D.G. BANJO SOLARU DISTRICT 911 D.G. CHIKE NWIZU DISTRICT 914
D.G. AYO OGUNLADE DISTRICT 913 D.G. SIMON GUSAH DISTRICT 912
N.B.: In 1984/85 Nigeria was divided into two Districts viz:
911 - Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Sokoto and FCT.
912 — Rivers, Bendel, Imo, Anambra, Cross River, www.obatejuosobooks.com______115 The Ultimate Honour Benue, Plateau, Gongola, Bauchi, Borno, Kano and Kaduna as its first District Governor. The growth has since continued at such a phenomenal rate that by 1986 — a short span of only four years, Nigeria had had to be split into four Districts — 911,912, 913 and 914 respectively.
Nigeria was in 1986/87 further broken into four Districts. District 913 was carved out of the former District 911 while the southern portion of District 912 became District 914.
The constituent states of the Districts in Nigeria today are as follows:
911 — Ogun and Lagos States.
912 — Katsina, Kano, Borno, JBauchi, Kaduna, Plateau,
Gongola and Benue States.
913 — Sokoto, Niger, Kwara, Oyo and Ondo States and FTC.
914 — Bendel, Rivers, Imo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.
The number of Rotarians in Nigeria today is about 8,000 with the prospect of a much higher number in the very near future.
Rotary, as a service-oriented organisation, is guided by a few simple principles to which its members are expected to religiously adhere. They are summarised in the Four-Way Test:
Of the things we think say or do:
*Is it the truth?
*Is it fair to all concerned?
*Will it bring goodwill and better friendships? www.obatejuosobooks.com______116 The Ultimate Honour *Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Besides the above principles, the ideals and activities of Rotary are anchored on what is known as the object of Rotary:
The Object of Rotary is:
To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular to encourage and foster:
First:
The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
Second:
High ethical standards in business and profession, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
Third:
The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life;
Fourth:
The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.
From the above, it would be clear that ideal of service, high ethical standards, and promotion of international goodwill and understanding, among others, are strongly emphasized in the Object of Rotary which is why Rotarians dedicate their time and resources to the service of their local and international
www.obatejuosobooks.com______117 The Ultimate Honour communities with the Object of Rotary and the Four-way test as the focal point. Rotary through its varied forms of service, has improved on the fives of many: the destitute, the disabled, the elderly and the disenchanted. All over the world Rotary has ensured “the provision of food for the starving, clean water for the thirsty and a healthy and happy future for the young children of the world/’ Indeed, Rotarians are concerned with making life better for more people of the world.
Before becoming a Rotarian, I had heard as much about the ideals of the organisation with its selfless service which made it to strongly appeal to me. I wanted to join, but I did not know how to go about it. I did not therefore bother myself for some time.
By early 1971, on my return from Britain after my postgraduate studies I had established Teju Industrial Clinic, and towards the end of that year I became a doctor to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) sometime around the end of 1972, one of the then top officials of that organisation, Alhaji Yemi Adeniran had a minor illness and came to consult me at the WAEC clinic; at Yaba. It was a Monday.
After treating him, we spent some time chatting. He later took leave of me so that he could go for a Rotary meeting at Ikeja. Then I quickly said, “Look here, Alhaji, it has been my desire to join Rotary and I didn’t have anybody to put me through. I didn’t know you are a Rotarian. Can you not get me to join?”
“No problem, next week get ready and we shall go together” was his instant reply. That was how I started following him to the Rotary Club of Ikeja in early 1973. After attending the meeting about three times or so, I was accepted and inducted on my birthday, on the 19th of February, 1973. Between then and 1978
www.obatejuosobooks.com______118 The Ultimate Honour I was not really actively involved. The weekly routine did not quite attract me. Frankly speaking, my attitude to club activities then was rather lax; I was always late to meetings, and I believed my habitual late- coming might be somewhat nauseating to the leadership of the club but the truth was that I was bored with my non involvement in apportioned DUTIES. I was soon tagged the “President of the late comers’ club,” and this went on for some time.
Rotarian Wole Folarin had just been elected President of the Club to assume office from 1st July 1978. By that time one of his Directors had been transferred out of the country. Folarin was therefore looking for someone to take the place of that Director. One day, as I was coming into my office, I met Rot. Folarin waiting for me at the entrance. As we greeted each other he stopped me and said it was I whom he had been waiting for. I asked what it was all about. He said he had come to give me a special assignment which he believed I could carry out in spite of some people’s opinion to the contrary. Then I demanded to know w'hat that assignment was, assuring him that if it was within my competence I would try my best to do it. He said he would like to make me a Board Director of the Rotary Club of Ikeja to replace the Rotarian who had just been transferred. I considered the offer a very strange one and expressed great surprise why he should ever think of making me — “the President of the late comers’ Club, a Director!” Then he said’ ‘That is exactly what people said, but what I was told was “that man is just behaving that way; if he was involved he would definitely perform.” He said further, “I know if I make you a Director you would be an effective one.” “If you say so, then I accept” was my reply. So, come 1st of July 1978,1 became the Director of Community Service without the usual election. The Club had just a few years back completed the Community Hall Building Project at Isolo, built by our Club, the Rotary Club of Ikeja. As the Director of
www.obatejuosobooks.com______119 The Ultimate Honour Community Service, I was in charge of the project which already then had a maintenance problem. With the Board’s approval I organised and constituted a Management Committee (independent of the Club) for that project. Since then and up till today, it is that Management Committee that has continued to function very effectively, keeping the place alive and beneficial to the community and self-sustaining without any further cost to our club.
It is a part of Rotary tradition for the club to have regular business meetings bi- monthly. The first business meeting we had at the Club since my assumption of office, I came with a written report of the activities of my committee. This had been cyclostyled and made ready for distribution to members. The other Directors either came and gave verbal reports or no report at all; while another did not even show up. At the next business meeting, I, again, came with my reports prepared in a cyclostyled form and distributed to members. Again, others gave verbal or no report at all.
At that juncture, a past President of the Club, Rotarian Banjo Solaru in undisguised anger, spoke sternly against the other Directors, when he said: “what is wrong with you Directors? See Rot Tejuoso: the previous meeting he gave a written report; this time as well, he is here with another well prepared report. Can’t you learn from him?”
This castigation of the other Directors later unintentionally turned out to be an indirect campaign in the promotion of my candidature at an impending annual general election. For, shortly after, the annual elections of the club were held, I was nominated for the post of the Vice-President. Two others — Rotarians Bayo Makinde and Oliver Johnson — were also nominated. Voting took place and I won the elections with 15 votes as against 5 votes scored by each of my two
www.obatejuosobooks.com______120 The Ultimate Honour opponents. That was how7 I became the Vice President of my Club barely one year after becoming a Director. With this victory, I automatically became the President for 1980/ 81 Rotary7 Year. This was certainly a turning-point in my Rotary life.
When I become the President of Rotary Club of Ikeja in 1980/81, the only Club it had formed in its 13 years of existence was the Rotary Club of Abeokuta. During my tenure, I, working in concert with the Board, established two new Rotary7 Clubs — Isolo and Ilupeju. Rotary Club of Isolo was chartered within that same year, wliilc Ilupeju remained provisional. It was also in that year that the election of a new District Governor become due at the District Conference. As said earlier, Nigeria was still a part of District 910 encompassing the whole of West Africa-and beyond.
The Rotary Club of Ikeja was determined to sponsor a candidate for the post of the D.G., at the 1980/81 District Conference. Because of the enormous size of the District, it became necessary7 for us to do a thorough home-w7ork on our nomination to ensure success.
The D.G. to be elected wras going to be the first for the new7 District 911 comprising all the Rotary Clubs in Nigeria.
The incumbent District Governor whose prerogative it was to choose the venue of the election meeting decided that the meeting would be held at Kano.
The following possible candidates for the D.G from the Rotary Club of Ikeja Rot. Justice Adeoba, Rot. Banjo Solaru, Rot. John Ade Adepoju, Rot. Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi and Rot. Folarin had been Presidents in that order of seniority. It was the thinking among some members of our Club that nomination would be based on ‘seniority’! www.obatejuosobooks.com______121 The Ultimate Honour My Board did not share that view. We favoured the candidature of Rot. Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi because we were certain that he had a much greater chance of winning than the other possible candidates. We did not particularly wish to fight a losing battle. He was very popular among Rotarians from Franco-phone countries which constituted a part of the District 910 at that time. Juli speaks French very fluently — a factor which most certainly endeared him to the hearts of the French-speaking members and therefore gave him and us a better chance of winning.
My Board then decided that we should not go for the District’s Election to lose. We then decided to call for election of the candidate along with other officers of the club at the Club Annual General Meeting. All qualified candidates were voted for except Justice Adeoba who declined to stand. Fortunately for the board, as predicted, Rot. Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi emerged victorious. Rot. (Dr.) Aku Omokhodion was the Returning Officer. It then became clear especially to the past presidents that ‘age’in that respect had no overriding relevance as they had assumed.
Presumably Rotarian Folarin, having interpreted the ‘handwriting on the wall’ opted out to go and head the Isolo Club. He must have based his calculations on the possibility that a time would come when the young Clubs would challenge Ikeja and say, ‘must it be Ikeja alone?’ Whenever it came to nomination for District Governorship race. Rot. Segun Osunkeye was chosen to start off the Ilupeju Rotary Club, but unfortunately, Segun came back with the excuse that his job did not give him enough time to perform as expected. As I was thinking of the person to replace him, Rot Banjo Solaru approached me and signified his intention and wish to go and form the Ilupeju Club. I raised no objection. That was how Rot. Wole Folarin went to charter the Isolo Rotary Club, in 1980/81 and www.obatejuosobooks.com______122 The Ultimate Honour Banjo Solaru to charter the Rotary Club of Ilupeju. That was 1981/82 Rotary Year even though it was a provisional Club in 1980/81.
I think it is pertinent to state here that it is ironical that the two people who unintentionally got me into position of strength in Rotary later became my arch- rivals. In March 1985 at the Federal Palace Hotel, the three of us - Rot. Banjo Solaru, Rot. Wole Folarin and I locked horns in the race for the District Governorship. I won but it was a contest that left some sour taste in the mouth not only in the contestants but also in the then District Governor Babs Ajayi.
Nigeria was again ripe for re-districting by July 1984, which in effect meant that it would be split into two Districts. There was to be a District Conference in Owerri in March 1984 where we had to elect two District Governors for District 911 one for 1984/85 and the other for 1985/ 86. At that time I was not quite prepared to run, but my Club nominated me. At first, I thought of turning down the nomination. I later realised that since my Club nominated me from among many other qualified past presidents, if I should make the mistake of rejecting the offer, I would probably never get nominated again. So I accepted to run.
I knew that Rot. Babs Ajayi of Rotary Club of Lagos was also contesting. He had even come to our Club for the usual familiarisation tour. I was not bothered. I saw the whole thing as a game that was going to be thrilling and full of excitement. After my nomination, I walked up to Babs Ajayi and told him: “I know you are running for the D.G, but my Club has also nominated me to run as well, but in running, I did not really expect to win, I just like to register my presence. I know you have already done a lot of homework towards the race. This time all I need is just ten votes, I know next year I am going to win.” Surprisingly and contrary to the friendly mood in which I spoke with him, he
www.obatejuosobooks.com______123 The Ultimate Honour retorted: “Don’t go and waste your time; you will lose woefully.” “Me?,” “lose woefully?” “why?” I queried. Stretching out his little left finger, he said “lets have a bet, you won’t get up to ten votes, if you get five votes, you are lucky; you can’t even get it.” At that stage I said, “O.K, if I have less than ten votes, as you have now predicted so authoritatively, I will quit Rotary.” Then the struggle began. I started my familiarisation tour at his club, the Rotary Club of Lagos. He was surprised. He later left for Ibadan while we left for Akure. After leaving Ibadan he also headed for Akure only to learn that we had already been there. It then became quite obvious that the electioneering battle line had been clearly drawn.
I had known that Rot. Folarin for whom I had a lot of respect was also going in for the race. I went to him and said “you have been nominated for this post so was I too. I do not want to clash with you, I respect you a lot because, but for you, I will not get to where I am in Rotary today, so, choose what year you want and I will take whatever is left.” We wore to choose for 84/85 and 85/86. Being my senior, you had better go for 84/85 and face Babs Ajayi. He said no, he wanted 85/86. That was how I had to face Babs Ajayi while he had to face Rot. Bayo Adetunji from the Rotary Club of Ibadan, along with Banjo Solaru.
A lot of effort was put into my preparations for the election and my hope of winning was wraxing. A few weeks before we went to Oweiri for the elections, my wife Molara had a dream to the effect that I won the election with 42 votes to Babs Ajayi’s 28.
On the day of election at Owerri the past District Governors had met, apparently in favour of Babs Ajayi because he was older than I, in age. But the fact of the matter was that we were president of our respective clubs about the same year, so
www.obatejuosobooks.com______124 The Ultimate Honour the much orchestrated ‘seniority’ factor could not arise in that respect. However, the apparent dilly-dallying on the part of those on the high table that day was quite manifest, but it didn’t really matter to me. They found ways of dis- qualifying my candidature to no avail.
Then came the voting. There were then some unorthodox movements that day details of which I do not want to relate here.
At the end of the voting, the result was announced and Babs Ajayi had 42 votes while I had 28 — exactly what my wife saw in her dream but in the reverse. (Who said destiny could not be changed or forced to be changed?).
As soon as the result was announced, despite it all, I went straight to hug and congratulate him on his victory. Everybody present was impressed by that demonstration of my spirit of sportmanship. Humorously I told Babs Ajayi “you have lost your bet. You had said I would not have 10 votes, but now, I have got 28. For me, that result was good enough.” In fact, very good.
It is pertinent to record here the acrimonious circumstances which surrounded or were coincidental to this simple issue of election. Some unfortunate incidents would be related to illustrate this.
When we were going to Owerri, I went with my two Mercedes Benz cars - one 280S and the other 380S. My drivers, together with those who were to go with me, went in the two cars. I was made to accompany the R.I President’s Representatives — Bahia Onsy and his wife Regia from Egypt to Owerri. We travelled by air from Lagos to Port-Harcourt and gave an instruction that the cars should come to Port-Har- court airport so that we could travel in them to Owerri. On the way to Owerri, one of the cars, heavy and new as they were, had multiple tyre punctures in succession. They narrowly escaped an accident. www.obatejuosobooks.com______125 The Ultimate Honour After the election, we came back to Lagos by road. On our way we also narrowly escaped an accident, but thank God, we arrived Lagos safely. As soon as we drove in and my car pulled up, two people wearing visibly gloomy countenance said to me (before I could enter my house) in a subdued tone, “Sir, we are sorry to tell you that, right now, your factory at Ilupeju Lagos is in flames” I immediately went back into the car and made straight for Ilupeju to see for myself. This was on March 24, 1984. The havoc done by the conflagration was collosal. People’s expression of sympathy for me on the loss occasioned by the incident was overwhelming. I learnt later through several spiritual and other revelations that I would be ungrateful to God if I should think about what looked like mishaps. They were indeed a sort of ransome for my life, for which I should thank God.
The next election came in Babs Ajayi’s year as District Governor. We were to elect District Governors for 85/86 and 86/87 for District 911.1 went to Rot Wole Folarin again to reiterate the great respect I had for him and to express my reluctance to contest against him. I then asked him again “What do you want? Do you want to move forward to 86/ 87?” His reply was a quick “no”. He said his choice was 85/86 as in the previous year. I then said “O.K 111 take 86/87.” Soon afterwards we were informed that we were not going to be re-districted any longer as we had thought. So, there was going to be election for only the year 86/87. With this development, Wole Folarin decided to change to 86/87 again. It was too late for me to step down or change. Banjo Solaru too was joining in the race for 86/87.
As the preparations were hotting up, the incumbent D.G. Babs Ajayi called the three of us and advised that we should meet and agree on only one candidate from among us. The three of us met, with our respective Club Presidents in www.obatejuosobooks.com______126 The Ultimate Honour attendance. At the meeting, there was a suggestion that ‘age’ should be considered a factor in deciding who should be allowed to go. This proposal was certainly repugnant to my Club President — Boye Ogunlaja and he did not mince words to say so, when he said, “It is not how long but how well.” The meeting was stalemated.
When the election was drawing nearer, we went to Abe- okuta for Rotary Information Institute. While there, an incident worthy of mention occurred.
While at Abeokuta, Rot. Chief Akanni Dokunmu organised a party in his GRA residence which was attended by myself, Banjo Solaru and others. At about 1.00 a.m., one of us asked my driver to go and bring some people from the Ogun State Hotel in the town. For a long time, the driver did not arrive and we were all becoming apprehensive. Later, news reached us that my car had been involved in an accident. We all rushed there. On getting to the scene of the accident, we saw the car very badly damaged. The story told by the driver was that he was being pursued by people suspected to be armed robbers. As he was about to negotiate a bend the car crashed into a kerb and this resulted in a violent break-up of the engine block of the car. The car had to be towed away from that spot. It eventually cost me N38,000.00 to get the car repaired. This was in the days when one United States of America Dollar was exchanging for N1.00. My faith in God remained as ever unshaken as the election was drawing nearer.
Rot. Babs Ajayi was the principal figure in the conduct of the election. Indeed, he was until shortly before the election, the “Chief Electoral Officer”. He was apparently still, nursing so much animosity against me. It was therefore not surprising that just before the election, he tried to do everything possible to ensure that I did not win. The normal procedure had always been to conduct the
www.obatejuosobooks.com______127 The Ultimate Honour election at the end of the two-day conference but he insisted that the election should take place on the first day.
I had foreseen the possibility of such a development and I had taken some precautionary measures. I kept up- to-date records of our pre-election meetings and circulated same to the other contestants. At our last meeting (the three contestants) we all agreed on the mode of the conduct of the election. When he was proving difficult, I showed him the proceedings of our previous meetings at which we had agreed on what method to adopt, which was intended to prove that the method he had chosen to use was a breach of the agreed procedure. Although this, to some extent, seemed to be the saving grace he insisted despite advice to the contrary from other past District Governors, that the election must be held as he had planned and so it happened.
At the end of the election, it became obvious that I had clearly won. Unconfirmed but credible sources said I scored 51 votes, Wole Folarin 14 and Banjo Solaru 5 votes. When Rot Babs Ajayi was called upon to announce the result he refused. It was learnt later that he had left the conference venue unannounced. That was how the results were not announced that day. Sensing the way things were going, I made sure my supporters kept an eagle eye on the ballot papers and other documents related to the election to ensure that they were not tampered with.
By evening time, Rot. Babs Ajayi had to mount the rostrum to announce the results. But before making the announcement he wisely apologised to the whole house for the way he had handled the situation, he himself created. He had apparently sensed that the indignation of fellow Rotarians had been aroused. His
www.obatejuosobooks.com______128 The Ultimate Honour apology however calmed down the Rotarians who were poised for a show-down with him.
I was called up to the rostrum to make my acceptance speech after the results had been announced. Rot Wole Folarin, who had 14 votes, I called to stand on my right while Rot Banjo Solaru with 5 votes was called to stand on the left. This ceremonial standing at the rostrum was instantly criticised by Rot. Solaru who read a sinister motive into my innocent arrangement. I saw nothing wrong in it. Though unknown to us at that time the result of that election pointed to the order of succession to the post of District Governorship. I was succeeded by Rot. Wole Folarin who in turn was succeeded by Rot.Banjo Solaru, the present District Governor 1988/89. You may call that the voice of prophecy on my part if you so desire.
Stewardship in Rotary
As I said earlier, I was attracted to Rotary by the mere fact that it is a service organisation. I have always believed in rendering selfless service to the community which is consistent with one of the aims of Rotary: “Service above self.” The bitter truth, however, is that quite a number of us, Rotarians, do not live up to this noble ideals of the organisation: only lip service is paid to this objective. One is inclined to think that such Rotarians wrongly have as their motto: “Self above Service.” The best policy Rotarians and non-Rotarians alike should adopt, in addition to the above motto, is the motto of my Alma Mater — Abeokuta Grammar School “Iberu Oluwa ni Ipilese Ogbon” (The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom).
www.obatejuosobooks.com______129 The Ultimate Honour The years (1980/81) during which I served as the President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja and as the District Governor of District 911 1986/87 respectively afforded me the opportunity to translate my desire to serve into concrete action.
As the President of my Club, my Board, in collaboration with the other members of the club successfully sponsored one of our past presidents, Rot Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi for the District Governorship of the then newly-created District 911. It is to the glory of God that he won the election to become the first and very successful Governor of a District made up of the whole of Nigeria. It was in the same year that our Club initiated the erection of a one-and-a-half life size welcome to Nigeria statue of a drummer now adorning the Murtala Mohammed Ikeja Airport Road. Also in that year, the membership strength of our club increased substantially. The formation of two new Provisional Clubs was also given the necessary fillip. Rotary Club of Isolo which was chartered that same year and that of Ilupeju were formed during my tenure.
Without being immodest, my year as the Governor of R.I District 911 was characterised by spectacular achievements. I owe this to the special grace of God and also to the unwavering support of my District Officers and the generality of fellow Rotarians. People at different times and places have testified to the fact that I had a very successful year that every Rotarian was proud of.
I started off with about 2,200 Rotarians and by the time I was leaving office on 30th June, 1987, there were about 3,300 Rotarians in the District 911 which comprises Lagos and Ogun States only — a membership increase of about 50 per cent.
I inherited 51 Clubs by 1st July 1986 and at the expiration of my tenure in June 1987, 45 more new Rotary Clubs had been chartered to make a total of 96 Clubs.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______130 The Ultimate Honour In actual fact the formation of 50 clubs were initiated by my regime and 45 of them got chartered while only 5 remained provisional when I was leaving office. These 5 clubs have since been chartered. Rotary International has confirmed that, that was the highest number of new Rotary Clubs ever formed by any one District in any one Rotary year in the history of the Rotary World.
The foundation for the International Youth Exchange Programme which my regime introduced into Nigeria was laid for our District. The first set of three beneficiaries from the District were sent to USA, Canada and Australia. They were:
(i) Master Busayo Odugbesan (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Akoka) from International School, Lagos University to R.I. District 709 in USA.
(ii) Miss Joy lklaga (sponsored by Rotary Club of Akoka) from Queen’s College Lagos to R.I. District 506 in Canada.
(iii) Master Chima Okechukwu Echeruo (sponsored by Rotary Club of Festac Town from King’s College, Lagos to R.I. District 982 in Australia.
In the spirit of true International Exchange, we also received into this District three Youth Exchange students. They were Miss Christy Mckunney, Master Ryan Dawson and Tony Pitman from the corresponding R.I. District in Canada, USA and Australia. Christy schooled in Queen’s College Lagos. Ryan attended the King’s College, Lagos, while Tony Pitman attended International School, University of Lagos, Akoka — Yaba, Lagos. There is no doubt that the Youth Exchange Programme provides a veritable opportunity for the development of international friendship and harmony amongst our youths. More of such will go a long way in banishing international prejudices borne out of ignorance of one
www.obatejuosobooks.com______131 The Ultimate Honour another. We also published for the first time in Nigeria, our Youth Exchange Manual.
The first issue of “Rotary Nigeria Magazine” was published during my tenure. It was a joint project of all the Rotary Clubs and Districts in Nigeria, but I went through hell with some of my fellow District Governors before we were able to get this project off the ground. But for the policy of “stick to itiveness” otherwise known as “stickete” which we imbibed from our late Principal, Rev. J. O. Ran- some-Kuti at the Abeokuta Grammar School, I would have given up on the project long ago. The quality of the magazine was such that it has been accepted by Rotary International as a “Qualified Regional Magazine.” Efforts were not spared to raise its status to that of an Official Regional Rotary Magazine for Nigeria after an experimental year of 1988. Hopefully, our immediate succeeding District Governors for 1987/88 would make this possible.
The concern shown by Rotary International in the plight of children afflicted by preventable diseases such as polio is amply demonstrated by its involvement in the crusade to eradicate polio, hence its massive contribution towards the fund. During the period under review District 911 contributed a sum of $507,000 towards the fund. This was an all time record in this part of the world.
To buttress the point made earlier on about the excellence of my year of service as District Governor, I present the following:
INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR R.I.D. 911 1986/87 ROT. (CHIEF) DR. DAPO TEJUOSO TO THE AUGUST GATHERING OF ROTARIANS AND DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE CHARTER PRESENTATION TO THE ROTARY CLUB
www.obatejuosobooks.com______132 The Ultimate Honour OF OSHODI AT THE PAVILION HOTEL, IKEJA ON JUNE 30 1987 BY: ROT. JUWON ADEOBA
An Illuminating Star Worth Watching And A Star Worth Following
To be asked to introduce someone like our District Governor whom everyone knows, could be an easy and difficult task. The easiest part is to say Ladies and Gentlemen, please meet the District Governor — Rot. Tejuoso and sit down. The difficult part is to do justice to a man of his calibre with immense contributions to the progress of our community and our nation.
Most Rotarians here know of his scholarstic achievements. To them, it is no news he went through the University of Liverpool, Bristol and London and he came out in flying colours. He was awarded the honorary degree of F.M.C.G.P. by the Post Graduate Medical College of the University of Lagos.
It is no news to them that the D.G. Dapo Tejuoso is an industrialist, in fact he is one of the foremost pioneer manufacturers of foam mattresses and pillows in Nigeria; neither is it news that he is the first and only African up to date to sit on the Council of the International Badminton Federation Council, nor the fact that he is the current president of the African Badminton Federation.
He is the first Bantun of Egbaland and he has been given many other chieftancy titles in recognition of his input into the society. His alma mater awarded him the Distinguished Old Boys’ medal.
Let us take time to look away from his contributions to the society and peep through his contributions to the Rotary Organisation. As president of the Rotary7 Club of Ikeja, he was the sponsoring president of the first District Governor with Nigeria as his constituency.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______133 The Ultimate Honour It was during his year as president that a landmark was sited at Murtala Mohammed Airport by the erection of a life-size sculpture of an African Drummer with the inscription, “Welcome to Nigeria” and a Rotary Emblem. His club w'on the SIGNIFICANT achievement award during his year as president.
There is a lot to learn from this distinguished Nigerian by all of us here present tonight. I have studied him at a distance and have realised through his approach to achieving his goals that if we set ourselves laudable goals; set our compass right and apply our strength and might to the task, there will be no mountain too high for us to climb and scale through.
From his days as President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, he had shown his commitment to the extension of Rotary Clubs. It was during his year that the clubs in Lagos increased from four to six with the charter being presented to the Rotary Clubs of Isolo and Ilupeju.
When the District Governor whom he sponsored completed his year of service, he left us with 32 new Rotary Clubs. A feat that up to this year remained unequalled despite great committment to excel it. It is pertinent to mention that PDG Adeluyi had the whole of Nigeria as his constituency. Plis successors wrere Governors over at least half of Nigeria. Rot. Chief Tejuoso is over two out of nineteen states, and he has increased the number of clubs in the District from 51 to 96. A laudable achievement by any standard. I wonder if it could be beaten even on the Rotary International level.
During his year, Rotarians in District 911, 507 of them contributed more than six hundred thousand Naira within a period of three months to Rotary Foundation. This feat was achieved because of the leadership qualities of the District Governor and the respect he commands from members. Maybe I should say here
www.obatejuosobooks.com______134 The Ultimate Honour that the total sum of six hundred thousand Naira far exceeds the total contribution to Rotary Foundation during its first ten years; beginning from the year of award of Paul Harris Fellows insignia. And this happened during a period of austerity. The austere period testifies more to the esteem in which the Governor is held.
During his year, the first Rotary Village Corps (RVC) came to Africa through the formation of a RVC in Amuwo. Since that achievement, two months ago, he has increased the number of the village corps in his District to eight.
He has to his credit of hard work and effective leadership role the record number of formation of Interact and Rotract Clubs in our District in a year.
When the District Governor was about to assume office, I had been working on the International Youth Exchange Programme for six months on a club to club basis. The DG started his own six months after, already three Nigerian Youths are abroad on IYE programme; and the first of the return leg came into this country last Friday. A feat that from experience is not easy to achieve like all laudable feats.
If one loves to continue to state the achievements of this humble man, those who do not know him may lose the essence of these achievements for they may misconstrue the truth for flattery.
However, I want to talk about the marriage of his son to the daughter of Chief Okoya, a Lagos socialite. The marriage has been described in extreme superlatives like lavish, extravagant and unnecessary. For all those who made these comments and similar ones, one thing is obvious to me, they do not know or appreciate the person of our District Governor. A man committed to doing very well all that it is his desire to do. A man committed to success in the face of stiff competition. To have the daughter of Okoya bestowed to ones son demands www.obatejuosobooks.com______135 The Ultimate Honour a celebration that will match if not exceed the bridal one. A look at both parties will convince anyone that, that was done, for our DG will not like to be overshadowed when he has the ability to be equal to the task.
Finally, fellow Rotarians and distinguished guests, I feel greatly humbled to be asked to present to you tonight a distinguished scholar, an athelete, a renowned sports administrator, a pioneer Nigerian industrialist, a philantropist, a great motivator of men and a great achiever. I think he could be best summed up as a man of Destiny. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, fellow Rotarians, I present to you a humble man of Destiny.
Signed Adejuwon A. Adeoba June 30, 1987.
AWARDS FROM ROTARY INTERNATIONAL TO R.I.
DISTRICT 911 - 1986/87
(1) THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CITATION FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE
D. G. 87/88 Oluwole Folarin reports as follows:
Our PDG Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso has been selected by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation to receive the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. The following letter from the Chairman of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation, past R. I. President, Carlos Canseco speaks for itself.
Service Above Self- He Profits Most Who Service Best
www.obatejuosobooks.com______136 The Ultimate Honour Dear PDG Dapo,
As I start this letter, I remember our inpromtu play “a Koso” at the Opry land Hotel Nashville during the Talent Night of the International Assembly in January 1986.
You acted the part of Oba Koso, and the rest of us, the three then Incoming Governors and wives paid you our respects. Little did we know this would come to reality.
Perhaps you yourself never thought it would be so. We thank God for making it possible for you to ascend the throne of your ancestors. “This is the doing of God and it is marvellous in our sight”.
It appears we will be losing much if not all your invaluable services in Rotary. But what may be a loss to Rotary will be a gain to Oke-Ona in particular and Egba land and Nigeria generally.
Lola and I wish you a successful coronation, wisdom to reign * over your subjects and good health and long life to enjoy the \ fruits of your service.
Yours sincerely,
PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR 1986/87, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 912.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______137 The Ultimate Honour Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso 10/12 Ilupeju Bye-Pass P.M.B. 21191 Ikeja
Lagos State Nigeria.
Dear Dr. Tejuoso
On behalf of my fellow Trustees, it is with sincere pleasure to inform you that you have been selected to receive the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. Your exceptional record of service to the Foundation has proved you to be a most deserving recipient of this honor.
Your efforts to promote the ideals of the Foundation in part, have been responsible for the unprecedented success of its many international programs. All told, more than 20,000 goodwill ambassadors from 150 countries have participated in and benefited from these fine programs.
Your generous contributions of time and talent are truly appreciated. For all you have done to ensure the continued success of the Rotary Foundation, I thank you.
Yours very sincerely,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______138 The Ultimate Honour P. O. Box 262, Ifo.
Ogun State. 8th February, 1988.
Rotarian Chief (Dr.) Dapo Tejuoso,
Immediate Past District Governor,
District 911, Nigeria.
Dear Sir,
LETTER OF APPOINTMENT
With due regard and honour, I humbly request' your permission to allow me use this column to express my mission to you in past one calendar year of service.
I am a member of the Rotaract Club of Ota and an incumbent International Service Director of the club and Co-ordinating rotaractor for the Rotaract Club of Ewekoro/Ifo (Provisional) and Interact Club of Methodist High School Arigbajo — Ifo, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ewekoro/Ifo under the Presidency of Rotarian Dr. Gbolahan Soremekun.
My aim of writing this letter is a result of the special concern, and love I have developed in you since your visit day to the Rotary Club of Ewekoro/Ifo on 29th of January, 1987 during your tenure of office as Governor District 911.
Sir, with best regards, I hereby wish to take you as my ADOPTED FATHER. I have always been anxious to meet you but no way to do so and each time I look at your pictures taken at Ewekoro works, the proceedings at the reception and the joint photographs, Oh! I always feel you were my father.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______139 The Ultimate Honour The first impression is your physical appearance, your mode of dressing; the second is the way you speak (control of tongue) and system of picking words; the last but not the least is your relentlessness to service, dedication to humanitarian services and health care assistance which you have been rendering to various people — in this, you are worthy of emulation and a song of inspiration to me as a father.
I wish to be in your footstep in the field of dedication to everything, I want to be like you as a Rotarian and as a father which gives me happiness. “May your shadow never see darkness, may you never see sorrow and may you live long to a more better life and joy (Amen).
I feel I have been trying to get up to the task which you have set as a pace to me personally I admire you a lot and I pray God’s blessing, safety upon you and your household (Amen).
Believe me sincerely, with the application of the Four-Way- Test, since I met you that day, I have been in prayer day and night for your long life and prosperity (Amen).
And now, that your birthday comes next week, I wish you well on the Golden Jubilee celebration.
I am a native of Owu in Abeokuta and bom twenty-six years ago to Mr & Mrs Y. F. Ogundele in Ifo township, and I am currently trading and hoping to go back to school as soon as possible.
Sir, I wish and hope you will accept my request with happiness.
Best regards
www.obatejuosobooks.com______140 The Ultimate Honour Yours in Service/Adopted Son,
Rotr. Hakeem O. A. Ogundele.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Service Above Self
DISTRICT 911
3A, Olayide Benson Street,
Onigbongbo, Maryland,
P. O. Box 447, Yaba,
Lagos State, Nigeria.
July 1, 1988.
PDG Adedapo Tejuoso 10/12 Ilupeju Bye Pass Lagos
My dear “ancestor” & “aburo”,
ICC, INTER DISTRICT CONFERENCE et al
The news of your appointment as National Coordinator of Inter Country Committees for Nigeria came to me not as a total surprise (for you have merited this and more) but with considerable pride and pleasure.
As I said to you on the telephone, great minds do think alike!
www.obatejuosobooks.com______141 The Ultimate Honour I congratulate you most heartily and I look forward to you ‘ornamenting’ this position even further. I do believe it can be said of you without fear of overstatement: “Nihil quod tetigit non ornavit” (He touches nothing that he does not adorn). More strength to you!
Now you see how apt and almost prophetic my appointment of you to be convener of the Inter District Conference 19 — 20 January ’89 is!
With your permission, I will spread the gpod news of your R. I. appointment in 914 (Enugu) as well as do a ‘Promo’ for our Inter District Conference.
We will talk when I return.
Once again May Fortune continue to smile on you and may The GAOTU never leave you without adequate support.
A Freemason
It had been my father’s wish to join the Lodge; and he told me about it when I came back from Ireland in 1964. In the intervening period, between 1964 and in 1966, when I returned to England he had still not joined, but soon after I went abroad either late in 1966 or early 1967 he joined Freemasonry. He joined the one at Abeokuta called Lisabi Lodge. Unfortunatley he did not live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labour and to achieve his other life ambitions. He died in 1968, just about one or two years after joining Freemasonry. Before his death, he had repeatedly expressed the desire that I should also join the Lodge. I, myself, had always been a great admirer of my uncle Chief Akitoye Tejuoso, who is one of the founding fathers of Freemasonry here in Nigeria. Uncle Akitoye Tejuoso belongs to both the Scottish and the English Constitutions. www.obatejuosobooks.com______142 The Ultimate Honour There are three Masonic Constitutions. The oldest is the English Constitution, the others are the Irish and the Scottish Constitutions in that order. The English constitution started in London, the Irish in Dublin and the Scottish, in Eding- burgh. It was from these places Freemasonry spread to different parts of the world. My Uncle became the third District Grandmaster in the Scottish Constitution in Nigeria. Sometime in 1973, I got sufficiently inspired to approach and tell him that I wanted to join Freemasonry. He asked me if I was sure of my intention, I said, “Yes”. After some time, he asked me again whether I really wanted to join Freemasonry on my own volition, or it was someone urging me to join.
I told him that my decision to join was an independent one, adding that it had been my ambition, strongly shared by my father, before his death, to become a Freemason. Another factor which influenced my decision was my belief that my uncle would not join an organisation if it Was not a reputable one. I told him “You have joined Freemasonry and risen to such a height. My father also joined and wished that I too should join one day. Why should I not join? I know there must be something good about it”.
I eventually joined Freemasonry in September 15, 1973. Since then I have had no cause to look back. I am very delighted that I joined.
I should use this medium to correct a number of wrong impressions, which a majority of our people have about Freemasonry. Some look at it with great awe; while others perceive it with odious disposition. It is seen by quite many as a secret society where ‘hideous rites’ are performed. The fact of the matter is that the doctrine of Freemasonry hinges mainly on brotherly love relief and truth. It is our policy not to engage in any civil disobedience or do anything that will go
www.obatejuosobooks.com______143 The Ultimate Honour against the laws of the land. We are charged to support our government at all times wherever we may be. In fact, if a great percentage of the top hierarchy of the rulers of the country are in Freemasonry, the country would be a better place to live in.
The secret nature to which most people ascribe to Freemasonry is not altogether correct. Like most other organisations, it is one with its own secrets. Just as an outsider cannot know what goes on at the Supreme Military Council or the Armed Forces Ruling Council Meetings or even between husband and wife, so also in Freemasonry an outsider is not likely to know what goes on at their Lodge meetings, neither can a non-member come in. Of course, all members know one another. We keep a register of members and record minutes of our meetings which are held during the day and at nights. Our books can be inspected at any time, especially if one has a good reason for such an inspection.
Examples abound to show that Freemasonry is not incompatible with good government. Indeed, it exists to ensure good government. In the United States of America, over the years, nearly every president had been a Freemason. In fact one is inclined to suggest that if you are not a Freemason in the US you are not likely to become the President. In England, the King or the husband of the Queen or a close relation is usually the Head of Freemansory. Similarly in Scotland and Ireland, to be the Head of the Organisation, you must have a blue blood. In such enlightened societies, if it is not a good thing, they would not allow it to linger for so long and watch its tentacles encompass men of distinction. If it is esteemed at such level in such societies, one must appreciate the fact that there must be something good in it.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______144 The Ultimate Honour Freemasonry is open. Among members are Bishops and other religious dignitaries — Christians and muslims alike — traditional rulers. Anybody. All Freemasons believe in the existence of a Supreme Being whom the Christians refer to as God and muslims, Allah. There is therefore no discrimination on religious grounds.
Notwithstanding the fact that Freemasonry is not a secret society, we are rather strict about what we tell people about it. This is a matter of deliberate policy rather than anything else.
Of recent, we have endeavoured to relax our traditional strictness in Freemasonry. We have taken a number of steps to correct some highly ridiculous impressions held about us. Some people say that at our meetings, we drink palm wine from human skull, some even suggest that we drink human blood! People themselves can be left to determine the veracity of such stories by looking at the people who are members and see if they could ever be associated with such heinous activities.
Nevertheless, we have tried to be open by occasionally inviting our wives to our places of worship. On a particular occasion, our Lodge was kept open to visitors, including our wives. We took them round the whole place so that they could see for themselves what we do there. At the end of the ‘excursion’ I asked my wife if she was then convinced that there was nothing secret about it. Her reaction was that of ‘unrepentant’ scepticism, when she said: “Hun un, Bee ni (Y e e s). We have seen those you have left for us to see, after you have stored away the Vital’ items. Whom are you fooling?” With this kind of remark it becomes the game of “head you lose, tail you lose”.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______145 The Ultimate Honour Our activities go beyond helping ourselves. We help others too. It is only that we do not make noise about it, unlike the Rotary Service, Lions, etc. whose activities are given adequate publicity. These days Freemasonry has non-Masonic charity policy by which we visit and make donations to places like the Motherless Babies’ Home, the Old Peoples’ Home, the SOS Village, etc. We also embark on other measures by which we identify ourselves with the society in which we live. By this, people are becoming increasingly inquisitive to want to know more about us and thereby probably banishing from their minds the wrong impressions they had earlier had.
In England, Freemasons have come more and more liberal about publicising their activities. About two years ago a friend of mine a non-Mason telephoned me from England to say how shocked he was to see on the British Television Screens, all the stages of admission to Freemasonry — all the stages of initiation were shown. There are three degrees. According to the report all the stages of the first degree which we call initiation; all the stages of the second degree and all the stages of the third degree — all shown publicly on the television screen in England.
I guess the decisions to throw everything open to the British public might be due to the age-long misgivings and ugly rumours about the activities of Freemasonry which the leadership of the organisation was prepared to place in correct perspective once and for all. I hope this would go a long way in correctly educating the people about the organisation. But there could still be some sceptics, who, despite seeing the whole proceedings on the television would, just like my wife, still say “Ah, they show just what they want us to see when in fact they do a lot behind the screen.” I wish to state here quite emphatically that what
www.obatejuosobooks.com______146 The Ultimate Honour was shown on the TV screen that day was “the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
Since joining on the 15th of September 1973,1 have made quite some progress in Freemasonry 1 joined Lodge. Lisabi — which is a Scottish Lodge in Abeokuta. By the 15th of March 1978, after about four and half years of membership I had become a Master in my Lodge, which was a very rapid progress. Since then I have been very much involved. Only recently, precisely, on the 3rd of November 1988, I travelled to Scotland at the invitation of the Most Senior Freemason in the Scottish Constitution, J.M. Marcus Humphrey of Dinet, the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason.
In May 1988 he, in company of two other top Freemasons, Arthur Hazel, General Secretary and Bro. Robert Smith (now late) came for the ceremony of the installation of Dr. Chief Adebola Bailey as the District Grand-Master of Nigeria (Scottish Constitution). The District Grand Lodge held a civic reception in honour of the three distinguished masons at our house at No. 2, Tejuoso Avenue, Surulere. Although the Lodge was responsible for the reception we, as hosts, played our part sufficiently which we believed impressed the guests. Before they left an invitation to visit Scotland was extended to the District Grand Master. He was requested to bring me along whenever he was visiting them in Scotland.
Five of us undertook the journey, Dr. Bailey and his wife (Mrs Adetoun Bailey), the District Grand Secretary Brother Owoaje, my wife Lara and myself. During the visit we spent some time with the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason in his home in Dinette where he lives alone with his family on a 2,500 — acre estate. We had quite an enjoyable time there. It was quite close to the Balmorals Castle of the Queen of Great Britain.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______147 The Ultimate Honour It must be said that Freemasonry is highly beneficial for the building of an orderly society. The more the people that join Freemasonry the better for the country. In fact, if practised in the armed forces, it can prevent coup d’états.
The pity of it however is that we, Freemasons, as a matter of deliberate policy, do not go out of our way to convince people to come and join us. We believe that people themselves must be sufficiently convinced that there is a need for them to look for us. You will never find anybody coming to ask you to join Freemasonry. It is you who will make up your mind and say “There must be something good in Freemasonry, let me look for someone who is a member to assist me.” If he is convinced that you are a good material who really means to join, then he would assist you to get there.
I was not responsible for involving my son in Freemasonry. He grew inquisitive enough to want to know what goes on there and he requested, not even from me but from my friends who he knew as members, to join; and they assisted him after obtaining my consent. He joined at a rather young age in 1984 but he must have had a feeling that he was already a man, and said ‘while this man is there, why not I too?
The recent modification of our traditional policy whereby many things hitherto exclusive to members are now thrown open, is an effort to convince people that we are not a secret organisation and that there is nothing fetish in Freemasonry. Far too many good people are Freemasons.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______148 The Ultimate Honour Kingship - Royal Dreams
Like any normal youth, I did dream in my childhood. They were dreams of greatness. That is, in a career or chosen profession. Abeokuta Grammar School does that to anyone who passes through this great institution. It exposes the student to an overwhelming collection of books which lighted the way for ambition to thrive. Who would not want to be great when one reads of great people? For me, as I narrated earlier in this book, a career as a medical doctor had a fantastic attraction. As for becoming a king, it never occurred to me.
I never gave it any thought.
Curiously though, some of my teachers in those days, with their actions, did tread a prophetic path. I remember now very vividly that in the school drama groups, whenever there was a king’s role in any of our plays, my teachers or whoever was in charge would give me that role. The time we staged Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. I was Julius Caesar. Apart from this, other leadership roles kept coming my way. In those early years, the climax came with my being appointed the Senior Prefect of the Abeokuta Grammar School in 1956.
If I did not nurture Royal dreams, that is not to say others might not have dreamt on my behalf. The people I have in mind are my parents. My mother, the current Iyalode Egba, Chief Bisoye Tejuoso, is a princess and she hails from the Ayokan Ruling House. That House had produced two Kings out of seven so far in the 91- year-old traditional rulership history of Oke-Ona in Abeokuta. In fact, the first Osile, Oba'Karunwi I who reigned between 1897 — 1899 was from the Ayokan Ruling House.
The other person who must have dreamt royal dreams for me, was my late father, Mr. Joseph Somoye Tejuoso. He missed being a prince himself because of his www.obatejuosobooks.com______149 The Ultimate Honour father’s reported distate for the travails of kingship. That needs some explanation. The following story was told to me by my uncle, Chief Akitoye Tejuoso, the Oluwo of Ago-Oko and Oke-Ona and the head of the Regency Council of Osile after the death of Oba Adedamola.
Today, one will find in the Western Nigeria Chieftaincy Act of 1958 that there are three ruling houses in Oke-Ona. These are the Ayokan, Kebiodu and Ganganojuda Ruling Houses. But, before those three Houses acquired their legal taproot, the Tejuosos missed a rare chance of becoming a ruling «house because their son, Chief Moses Tejuoso, was said to have refused the throne when the Oke-Ona people wanted him. This was in 1918, when Oba Sokunbi Karunwi II the second king to be produced by the Ayokan Ruling House and the third Osile joined his ancestors. This of course is not surprising knowing fully well that both the Tejuosos and Karunwis hail from Orile Oko. They were probably cousins.
From what I have been able to gather from family history, my grandfather, that is Chief Moses Tejuoso did not refuse the first citizen position of the Oke-Onas out of pride. Rather, he was an unassuming, quiet and peace-loving gentleman, who feared the turbulence that was characteristic of some kings’ tenure in those days. And considering himself too young, he did not want to die and leave his children like sheep without a shepherd.
This same argument guided his decision when some years after refusing the Osile crown, he was offered the Chieftaincy title of the Oluwo of Ago-Oko. He had the mind of equally turning it down. But one of his sons, the current Oluwo, my Uncle, Chief Akitoye Tejuoso, pressurised him into accepting the honour his people bestowed upon him as according to him he was then old enough to die and it was better he died with the honour. So, realising these princely roots, my
www.obatejuosobooks.com______150 The Ultimate Honour parents must have had their dreams. Probably, that was why they gave me the names Adedapo Adewale.
As I said earlier on, I went about my life in my childhood without attaching any significance to those names. Even when I lived in my mother’s family house at Isale Oko, Abeokuta, which had served as the palace of the Ka- runwis, the idea of my becoming a King one day never crossed my mind. One thing, I should not forget to mention, however, is an intuition I have had for a long time. At times, it will suddenly dawn on me that I am the reincarnation of Oba Karunwi I, the first Osile.
The first sign that indicated to me I might be called upon to become the eighth Osile occurred in 1984. One day, I woke up and went to my mother’s apartment. It was very early in the morning. As I entered her seating room, she was not alone. With her were some very elderly people who had come calling from Abeokuta. Immediately I entered, all of them, old enough to be my father, got up and prostrated, and said “Kabiyesi.” I was taken aback. So, I also prostrated and left.
After their departure, I went back to my mother to enquire about the riddle behind that peculiar greeting. My mother disclosed to me that she had been informed that the Ifa Oracle at Ago-Oko and Oke-Ona had given me the nod as the next Osile after the demise of the incumbent. Again, in December 1984, Chief Oluyombo Akoni, told me he saw me in his dream as a King and he (Yombo) about eight years older than me, prostrated before me. Many Aladuras had also told me these visions earlier.
Another incident which is worthy of mention happened about fifteen years ago. Around 1973/74 I had just come back from my postgraduate studies. The then
www.obatejuosobooks.com______151 The Ultimate Honour Osile, Oba Adedamola II, from the Kebiodu Ruling House, who had just joined his ancestors, took ill. The illness was quite serious. Soon after that, at a gathering of mostly Egba, a few of us were discussing generally. Somehow, we got talking about the Osile. Then, one of us suddenly said, ‘Dapo, ma duro na, Osile ti won lara re o ya yii, to ba ma ku, won ma le so wi pe Oba kan e.’ (If the present King dies, you Dapo may be called upon to be the next King). I retorted, ‘y°u must be joking, at the age of 35/36 mo see here aye ni. Se maa fi gbogbo eleyi sile, maa wi pe mo fe lo foba? Olorun ma fe. To ba fe wi pe mo tile to 50 ni, ti won ba ni ki n wa fe Oba, a gbo yen. But at 35/36 kini mo fe fi Oba se?’ (meaning what could I do with being a King at 35 years of age? If I were 50 years old, I might have considered it). The surprising thing about this incident I have just related is that the late Osile never really fully recovered from that illness since that time. It was on and off but he did not finally join his ancestors, until I was 50 years and five months old. Again, could this just be coincidental or was God deliberately moulding things to make it impossible for me to refuse?
The first time I heard about his death in July 1988, that was the first thing that struck my mind. Why did this man wait for me to be 50? Why did I not say 60 instead of 50 during that discussion 14/15 years ago? Maybe he was waiting for me to ripen, mature, and ready to shoulder the responsibilities of kingship. As soon as his death was officially announced, my Uncle, Chief Akitoye Tejuoso, the present Oluwo of Oke-Ona, told me that the lot might fall on me to be the next Osile.
The first time I visited Abeokuta after Oba Adedamola II passed away, everywhere I went everybody addressed me as Kabiyesi. This was even before the formal announcement to my mother’s family, the Ayokan Ruling House, that it should present a candidate. The development worried me. Here I am. I’ve lived www.obatejuosobooks.com______152 The Ultimate Honour all my life in Lagos. I am happy the way I am. I wondered whether the days ahead would not be stormy. Why me? Is this ordained or destined by God? May God’s will be done.
However, having realised that there was no way I could avoid the Osile stool, in my usual way, I put my fate in God’s hand. I prayed hard and left everything to Him. To direct me. I thus made a covenant with my God. That I would not go out of my way to contest the crown or lobby anybody for it. If, therefore, it is the will of God and of Oke-Ona people to make me their King, who am I to refuse? To say no to them is to incur the wrath of many people, a whole township. And I reasonsed this way, won ni eniyan nwa owo lo, o pade iyi Iona, ko duro ko mu iyi, o ni oun tun nwa owo lo. To ba r’owo oun tan, ki lo fe fi ra? Ki se iyi ni?’
To me, there is no honour in Yoruba land that surpasses that of being made a King. Even if today I become the President (I mean civilian President) of Nigeria, after eight years at the most, I will have to vacate the presidency. It is the same for a state governor. After one’s tenure, one again takes up the garb of the ordinary citizen as before. But, hopefully a king reigns for life, unless, God forbid, the untoward happens. A King is deemed to be the father of all, within his domain. In fact, when the governor visits, he addresses him as Kabiyesi.
Furthermore, the King does not run the risk of being labelled an embezzler of the town’s funds as these days, he is not even in charge of anything capable of being embezzled. ‘Kabiyesi, Alayeluwa, Igbakeji Orisa. * Whatever a King does is said to be final. Hence the name Kabiyesi (meaning Ka bi i o si); The President at times cannot do certain things without the people asking questions. Having compared the two, and bearing in mind that my ambition does not extend to politics, I guess, I would be happier and better suited to being a king. Afterall,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______153 The Ultimate Honour not everybody can be king. You should be bom into it. I know it is going to be a big sacrifice on my part. A lot of things are at stake for me. But it is a worthwhile sacrifice for my people and community for bestowing on me their ultimate honour without much ado or rancour.
I only pray that God in His infinite mercies will grant me the wisdom to comprehend the intricacies of my present exalted position, and also grant me the health and strength to fulfil, satisfactorily, the duties of my high office. (Amen).
Business Activities
On learning about the possibility of my becoming a King, I thought a great deal about my various businesses. And in the end, even though the temptation was great to refuse the crown, the feeling that God has His reason for my destiny turning out this way overwhelmed me. And with the Almighty’s usual backing, I believe my absence from my business should not affect it in any way. If the business is properly organized, there is no reason why a King should not continue the business he had before becoming a royal majesty. Organisation of a proper management team however, is the keyword. For instance, look at Woolworth in England. This is an establishment said to be owned by a Madam Wool- worth in America. But Woolworth is a vast empire with branches scattered all over the United States and Great Britain. Madam Woolworth, herself, is not involved in the running of the company. And her absence has not in any way affected the thriving and enviable concern. That is what efficient and reliable management can do to a business. Once that is established, the business should grow from strength to strength.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______154 The Ultimate Honour Apart from that, I believe that people are changing with the times. In the good old days, Kings were restricted to their domains. They were not allowed to meet one another. In fact, meeting each other was forbidden. Kings did not leave their domains after 7 p.m. It was taboo for a King to sleep outside his domain. For Abeokuta, Governor McCullum, of the Southern Protectorate changed all that on the 31st of January 1898.
As at 1897, there were four Kings in Abeokuta with its four townships, the Alake of Egba,Osile Oke-Ona, Agura of Gbagura, and Olowu of Owu. In spite of their proximity to one another, all of them never met because it was the Yoruba belief then that the day they met all of them would join their ancestors. But Governor McCullum who was visiting Abeokuta at that time arranged a meeting for the four Kings to meet face to face for the first time and they formed the Egba United Kingdom from the four different Kingdoms. At that first meeting, the Alake presided, while the Osile emerged as the Minister for Justice; the Agura, the Minister for Communications and Works and the Olowu, the Minister of Finance. This was in the dying days of the 19th Century. My maternal great grandfather, Oba Karunwi I was part of that historic meeting in which four kings met and nothing untoward happened. None of them died. Come to think of it. Oba Karunwi I died a year after in 1899 while the then Alake — Oba Sokalu died exactly five months (11th of June 1898) after that historic meeting. Coincidence you will probably Say again.
Today, Kings are everywhere. They are no longer restricted to their domains as such. People have realised the futility of such steps. How can you keep a King in a place, pay him much less than N900.00 a month, and expect him to sit down, fold his arms? In fact, all his subject will come in turns to ask for favours from
www.obatejuosobooks.com______155 The Ultimate Honour him. Under this condition, will the King go and steal or how is he expected to earn his living if not from his business?
These days, it is only a backward township that will restrict the King’s movement unreasonably especially if it is for the benefit of the people and the community. If a King goes out to earn a living from prosperous business activities, it is obvious that it will reflect on the township. If he does not earn a good living, it will equally affect the town. The Ooni of Ife, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Awujale of Ijebu land and the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, to cite a few worthy examples, are reigning wonderfully well. They have successfully married their royal functions with their business activities. And if we call someone a King, he has got to live like one. Why should an Oba live like a pauper? If a King lives like a pauper, it is not only a disgrace to the King himself, it is also a sad and poor reflection on his town as well. Really, I believe that Kings should not be paid salaries. Paying them salaries was what the colonial powers and now by extension, the Nigerian politicians, used to subject the Kings to their whims and caprices. Kings should be independent of the political setting/ government. They should have independent means of livelihood, like in the old days when among other things large tracts of land were vested in them. Personally, I do not intend to go there to earn a salary. This is why I consider this royal step of mine a great sacrifice. My belief is that a lot of gains will probably be derived from that sacrifice not only to me but also to my people and community, if I am riven a free hand. Although, this may not be in the short run.
After all, my father is from Oke-Ona, my mother is from Oke-Ona, Rotary is from America. I devoted two full years or more of my life to serve Rotary free of charge, sacrificed my time, money and energy for humanity; if my people now want me to serve them, because they believe I could improve a lot on their www.obatejuosobooks.com______156 The Ultimate Honour present situation, why should I refuse? This is a sacrifice I believe has been mapped out for me by God. My townsmen will not ask me to come and reign over them if God has not willed it. And because, it has God’s blessing, I am aware that the general populace in Oke-Ona know exactly what I am; they know the situation they have found me; I am sure they will not want their King to go from grace to grass. Rather it should be from grace to grace. Even right now, the minute they gave me the nod as the next Osile, the young elements told me that they have started planning the rebuilding of the palace. Already, the sense of belonging in me and in my subjects will be the guide of our relationship. If they can think of my own welfare, and have shown the desire to look after me adequately, why should I not sacrifice everything I have got for their own welfare too? Furthermore, I intend to reign over my subjects with the spirit of give and take. I want to be a leader not a boss. A motivator ruling by love and not an autocrat ruling arbitrarily. I believe this can be achieved. I will master the duties expected of me. Once that is settled, I will organise them in such a way to suit both the township and myself. I would involve the people in my administration. From me, everybody will get his due. I expect everybody to play his part for the glory of our fatherland.
Relevance of Kings in Modern Nigeria
One national debate in which I feel duty-bound to express my opinion in this section is on the relevance of traditional institutions, especially Kingship, in a republican Nigeria. Many feel that Kings are relics of a glorious past that ought to be consigned to the garbage heap of history. I cannot but disagree with this view. And it is not necessarily because I am now going to be a King myself.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______157 The Ultimate Honour I believe very strongly that Kings, not only have relevance now, but will continue to have relevance in a modem Nigeria. They have become an anachronism in the eyes of some people because politicians have whittle down their powers, hound them from pillar to post. They have been wrongfully deprived of their rights. But, the irony of it all is that politicians resort to the Kings when they really want to get to the grassroots. The community needs the king. People relate more to their kings than they do to their local government Chairmen or governors. Afterall, Kings are the permanent fathers of their respective communities and they are believed to be appointed and ordained by God.
A King is for everybody, rich or poor, big or small, lunatic or sane, no matter their political leanings. Everybody comes to him, and he is expected to solve the people’s problems. It is my belief that if governments want things to be properly done for the grassroots, it is better-for them to go through their Kings. Most of the time, one finds politicians playing politics at the expense of the peoples’ welfare.
This brings us to the issue of what role there is for Kings. The role that I envisage for Kings in the Nigeria setting is not more than what they do now, that is advisory. But specific and meaningful advisory role. The government should make use of Kings more effectively to reach the grassroots. The old system in the First Republic whereby there was a House of Chiefs is a good one. It was designed to mellow the excesses of the House of Assembly, a forum for politicians. If it is reintroduced directly or indirectly, it is a good system. The Kingship institution has been relegated to the background by the way Nigeria is now being run. This should not be so because the institution consists of vast human resources — an untapped goldmine of wisdom from which the country can benefit immensely. Keeping Kings at arms length, and treating them as www.obatejuosobooks.com______158 The Ultimate Honour glorified antiquities is akin to a brain drain. That is why today, if a King must keep fit, he has to plough his energies into gainful pursuits, rather than hang around the palace all day long, year in, year out, wasting away his precious life. At the end of the month, he is paid a stipend which is not even enough to purchase his barest needs, how much less to live like a King.
Christianity and Traditional Rituals
A question a few people have put to me in the last few months has been centred on how I will cope with both my Christian obligations and the traditional rituals I may be expected, as a King, to perform from time to time. I think combining the two is quite easy. First of all, “Olorun ni oun fura un lo nma nfi Oba je: ti oun ko ba feniyan joba latorun. ko le joba laye, ” I am assuming that “aaye” includes Nigeria, of which Oke-Ona is a part. If God has ordained a King over Oke-Ona, He knows what is going on there. He knows that I am a Christian before He decided to choose me as a King over Oke-Ona. Therefore, it is my profound desire to be a Christian King.
I am too deeply religious, even though people may not know it, not to continue to be a true Christian at heart. Jesus Christ himself declared, ‘Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and unto God what is God’s.’ A King of Oke-Ona reigns over Christians, muslims, atheists, traditional religionist, wizards, witches and so on. Everybody, no matter what his belief is, is a subject. I cannot therefore, because I am a Christian, say that the whole town should embrace Christianity although that would have been a nice idea. I look forward to everybody professing what he believes in, but living and acting with the fear of God in mind.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______159 The Ultimate Honour Whatever any group is doing to expand the frontiers of its religion, will be most welcome. Even though I may not participate, I will certainly not disturb them. They must be doing what they think is right. I will make them understand that I am a Christian, and that I believe absolutely in God and Jesus Christ. If there is any ritual to be carried out for the progress of the town, and there is needifor me to spend some money, I will give it to them to spend.
I don’t expect my subjects to force me to personally partake in these rituals against my wish. There are many Christian kings in Nigeria, so, I will not be alone. Anyone who becomes king certainly has to accommodate some insults, and in the same breath, all sorts of honour will be heaped upon him. If I can convince some people that it is good to be a Christian, all well and good. If I live a worthy Christian life, some of my subjects may be drawn to Christ. What I know is that God being with me, I will never forget Him. For, it is only Him, I can look back to as a pillar of strength at any time. He has helped me a lot, and I don’t see why He will not continue to give me comfort and succour. That is why my philosophy in life is: God should rule, God should direct my every step. With that I know I can never falter. God never forsakes anyone that stands firm in Him. God that has been our help in ages past shall be our hope for years to come.
The Procedure of my Selection as Osile
After the death, on July 27, 1988 of the former Osile of Oke Ona, Oba Adedamola II, it was the turn of Ayokan Ruling House to present a candidate to fill the vacant stool. Towards this end a five-member Nomination Committee was constituted by the Ayokan family; they were:
www.obatejuosobooks.com______160 The Ultimate Honour 1. Chief Fasanu
2. Mr Isaiah Adesina
3. Mr Solomon Karunwi
4. Alhaji Duro Tiamiyu
5. Mr Dotun Karunwi.
It was the responsibility of the Nomination Committee to present, in accordance with the age-long tradition, the names of eligible candidates to the Ifa for oracular divination. For the rite, names of four eligible candidates were presented:
1. Isaiah Adesina
2. Peter Adesina
3. Adebayo Kanmwi
4. Sunday Olomowewe could still be some better candidates to fill the vacant stool. And so the search continued. Names of another set of three candidates, this time, including my name, were presented to the Ifa Oracle. The other two candidates were Oyekunle Karunwi and Dr. Olaiya Soboyejo — an Engineer.
It should be noted that my name was not contained in the first list of the four candidates presented to Ifa Oracle for consultation. My name came in only in the second batch after the Ifa had suggested a further search. This was because I am the only child of a female descendant. This further reinforced my belief that my ascension to the throne is destined by the Almighty.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______161 The Ultimate Honour The divination came with the following result:
1. Adedapo Tejuoso — Odu Ogbe Alara
2. Oyekunle Karunwi — Odu Ejiogbe
3. Olaiya Soboyejo — Odu Ogbeka.
The interpretation of the above result is that Ifa Oracle is favourably disposed to my candidature and accordingly, it was upheld by the Nomination Committee.
Then came the next stage — which was the presentation of my name to the King makers for consideration. The King makers consisted of twelve members of Ago Oko Council of Chiefs. Their formal meeting to formally consider my nomination was held at lie Ogboni on December 24, 1988. Two officials of Abeokuta Local Government Council were in attendance — Mr J. O. Ewuoso (Administrative Secretary) and Mr S. A. Oni (Clerical Officer). At the meeting, the King makers unanimously endorsed my candidature.
Below are the minutes of the meeting of the King makers.
Ago Oko Council of Chiefs Meeting of King Makers of Osile of Oke Ona, held at lie Ogboni Oko on 24th December, 1988 at 10.30 a.m
Chief Emmanuel Akitoye Tejuoso (Chairman) Oluwo of Ago-Oko.
Chief Z. Abiodun Lisa, of Ago Oko.
Chief Michael Amolegbe, Odofi Oko.
Chief James Ogunsola, Oloregan Oko. www.obatejuosobooks.com______162 The Ultimate Honour Chief D. Sofidipe, Apena of Oko.
Chief Josiah Ogunsina, Olori Parakoyi of Oko. Chief Alfred Opoola Oliyide, Balogun Oko.
Chief Raimi Sowami, Otun Oko.
Chief Kasumu Adebakin, Osi Oko.
Chief Oluyombo Akoni, Ekerin Oko.
Chief Rasidi Adekunle Somorin, Asiwaju Oko. Ogboye of Oko (deceased).
In attendance:
1. Mr. J. Ewuoso — Administrative Secretary Abeokuta Local Government.
2. Mr. S. A. Oni — Clerical Officer
Abeokuta Local Government.
The Administrative Secretary of Abeokuta Local Government Mr Ewuoso enumerated the purpose of the meeting which was to elect the candidate to fill the vacant stool of Oba Osile of Oke Ona and also stated that the ruling house entitled to nominate candidate, Ayokan ruling house, held their meeting on 3rd December, 1988 and nominated Chief (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso for the consideration of the King makers.
After the explanation, Chief Oluyombo Akoni, the Ekerin Oko moved that the candidature of Chief (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso be endorsed by the King makers. The motion was seconded by Chief Z. A. Abiodun, Lisa of Ago-Oko and was approved unanimously by all the King makers.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______163 The Ultimate Honour Adjournment:
The meeting came to a close at 11.45 a.m on a motion moved by Chief R. A. Sowami, Otun Oko and seconded by Chief D. Sofidipe, Apena Oko.
Names and Signatures of people in attendance:
2. Chief Z. Abiodun Lisa of Ago-Oko.
3. Chief Michael Amolegbe Odofi of Ago-Oko.
4. Chief James Ogunsola Oloregan of Ago-Oko.
5. Chief D. Sofidipe Apena of Ago-Oko.
6. Chief Josiah Ogunsina Olori Parakoyi of Ago-Oko.
7. Chief Alfred Opoola Oliyide Balogun of Ago-Oko.
8. Chief Raimi Sowami Otun Oko.
9. Chief Kasumu Adebakin Osi Oko
10. Chief Oluyombo Akoni Ekerin Oko.
11. Chief Rasidi Adekunle Somarin Asiwaju Oko.
The final official ratification of my appointment was conveyed to me through a letter dated 15th February 1989, from the office of the Military Governor of Ogun State. The letter is reproduced below: *
www.obatejuosobooks.com______164 The Ultimate Honour OFFICE OF THE MILITARY GOVERNOR
SECRETARY TO THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT
OGUN STATE OF NIGERIA. P.M.B. 2058
ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE.
Your Ref. No
All communications should be addressed to the Secretary to the Military Government quoting:
Our Ref. No. CHM.2J3J503 Date 15.2.89
Oba (Dr) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, Osife of Oke-Ona.
Abeokuta Local Government,
Ake, Abeokuta.
Kabiyesi,
APPOINTMENT OF OSILE OF OKE-ONA
In accordance with Section 20 Sub-section 1 of the Chiefs Law, Cap.20, I am pleased to inform you that the Executive Council of Ogun State has approved of your appointment as the Osile of Oke-Ona with effect from 15th February, 1989.
2. I am to convey to you on behalf of the State Government hearty congratulations on this appointment, and to wish you long life, good health, happy, glorious and successful reign.
3. A notice of this appointment will be published in the Ogun State Official Gazette in due course.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______165 The Ultimate Honour CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES
THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA EGBA-EGBADO DIOCESE
(ANGLICAN'COMMUNION)
THE RT REV. T. I. AKINTAYO
Telephone: Residence ABEOKUTA 039/230933
Office: ABEOKUTA 039/231235 Telegrams: TESTIMONY, ABEOKUTA
Our Ref. EED/BS/89/44
16th February, 1989.
Your Ref.
Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso,
Osile Oke-Ona,
Abeokuta.
Dear Kabiyesi,
Mrs. Akintayo and myself are happy to wish you God’s WISDOM in your appointment as Osile Oke-Ona, Abeokuta. May your reign be of personal joy and happiness to you and family and of God’s service to your people.
We heard the good news on O.G.T.V. 8:30 news yesterday 15:2:89 and read in Daily papers this morning 16:2:89.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______166 The Ultimate Honour Mama Agba ku ori re. Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa to You and to HER.
May God grant you the Christian discipline and uphold you in this highest office of your life.
We assure you of prayers which you need most.
Mrs. F.R. Akintayo
PHONE: 861554
P.O.BOX111, MARINA.
LAGOS
CHIEF J. 0. ADEYEMI-BERO
AYINGUN BALOGUN MAIYEGUN
OF IBADAN
ARE ONA - KAKANFO
OF IBESHE, LAGOS.
BATUNWASHE OF ILE - OLUJI
17th February, 1989
Chief (Dr.) Adedapo A. Tejuoso,
Tejuoso Compound,
Surulere.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______167 The Ultimate Honour My Dear Kabiyesi,
I read in the Daily Times publication of yesterday Thursday, the 16th of February, 1989, the confirmation of your appointment as the Oba-Elect — the Oshile of Oke-Ona in Abeokuta Local Government Area. Please accept my hearty congratulations.
With the personal qualities you are endowed with, namely, education without intellectual arrogance, social popularity with simplicity of mind, and a sense of humour and ability to get on with people, I have no doubt in my mind of your successful reign.
May The Most High in his infinite mercies shower his grace and blessings upon you, your family and the entire people in your Kingdom. ,
Yours most Sincerely,
Testimonials
1. MRS TITIADEBIYI - Daughter
As his first child, I think of my father as a strict disciplinarian. He does not support the view that a child should be spoilt or overpampered because his parents have achieved some measure of affluence.
My father is a hardworking man. He does not want people to reap where they did not sow. Although his parents were doing well in business in those days, he still struggled and became a medical doctor. He did not rest on his oars because his parents had accumulated enough wealth. That is how he brought us up. Of particular interest is the education of his children to him.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______168 The Ultimate Honour By the special grace of God, I am an Accountant (C.P.A) also with an Economics degree. I want to assert that my dad was the instrument which God used to channel my educational course for me. My brother Lanre is also a Medical doctor.
Daddy is a very busy person but he still finds time to attend to his children’s needs. I thank God, I have a father like him and if I have to live my life all over again, I will still want him as my father. We, his children, are very proud of him.
2. DR. LANRE TEJUOSO - Son
I am proud to say that I have a father who loves and cares. Daddy is a disciplinarian to the core. I got to know this as a child. When he means to sanction you on a particular issue, he does not look back. He however does not miss the chance to let any erring child know the reason why he is being punished.
He is particularly keen about the education of his children. He does not joke with it. He makes sure that his children do not lack anything as far as their educational requirements are concerned.
Daddy is very unobtrusive. Any child i$ free to chart a course for himself. He does not impose his idea or wish on children. If you ask his opinion, he will tell you his frank view of what you want to embark upon and its possible consequences.
My father is a ‘workaholic.’ As a young man that I am, I still find it difficult to keep pace with him. It is not an overstatement that he could work for the whole of the 24 hours that make a day. This is not saying that he does not value his
www.obatejuosobooks.com______169 The Ultimate Honour leisure. As a matter of fact, he plays Lawn Tennis. He also attends a lot of social functions. He is a member of many social clubs and professional organisations.
I have no doubt that he will be a success on the throne. I know his new position as the Osile Oke-Ona Egba will offer him a better opportunity to be of further service and assistance to his community at the grassroots.
3. MRS OMOLARA TEJUOSO - Wife
I respect his maturity and the kind of sagacity he demonstrates over his matrimonial issues. He has succeeded in wielding us his wives together and we are all like sisters to one another. He treats us fairly equally in love.
I want to place a strong emphasis on his loving and caring nature. You need to be in any little discomfort to see he is very caring.
One funny thing about him however is that he is very secretive but he does not want you to hide any information from him. Again he cannot tolerate any person that tells lies. Whatever is the matter, just tell him and you will not incur his wrath.
4. MRS YETUNDE TEJUOSO - Wife
I want to remark his charm and elegance. He is always conscious of his public appearance. He is meticulous about his choice of attire. I am proud of him as a husband. Don’t tell him lies and you will continue to get on well with him.
He is a good manager of the home. I have been seeing what goes on in some other polygamous homes — the kind of hostility and implacable jealousy that are deep seated there. But ours is a unique example. All the wives related with one
www.obatejuosobooks.com______170 The Ultimate Honour another as sisters. Our mother-in-law, Mama as she is fondly addressed by us, is our rallying point. She loves all of us.
With the way my husband manages the affairs of the home, his businesses and his general comportment among his friends within the social circles, I have no doubt that by the special power of the Almighty Father, he is going to be a successful Osile. As an achiever, I am sure he is going to set a record that will take long years to break by any future Osile.
5. MRS LABISI TEJUOSO - Wife
I enjoy him as a husband. He is a polygamist. Yes. But he is a master of the art. His mastery is shown in the kind of cordial relationship that exists among the wives and the children.
My husband could be aggressive when you offend him and you fail to give an unqualified apology instead of which you tend to show some strong-head.
He hates lies. In fact that is his only sore point which I know and I have always tried as much as possible to be truthful to him. He does not believe in half- measure. He devotes the whole of his energy to whatever he is doing at any particular time.
He enjoys delicious and sumptuous meals. He does not like being alone when eating. He would want you to be by his side even if you are not taking part in the eating. This is how close he always likes to be with his family.
My sincere prayer is that God in his infinite mercy may grant him the strength and wisdom to make Oke-Ona a better place than he met it during his own tenure as the Osile.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______171 The Ultimate Honour 6. LEKAN OGUNDIMU - A friend
Though trained as a medical doctor, he has all the hallmark of a good manager. He is very witty. He thinks like an accountant and behaves like a lawyer. He has the ability to ask questions in such a way that will make him elicit whatever information he wants no matter how obscure such an information is or how difficult the custodian of such an information may prove to be.
As a childhood friend, I enjoy his humility, forthrightness and sense of humour. He has a way of throwing amusing jokes to lighten tense situations.
He is a shrewd businessman whose ultimate aim is to get result no matter how difficult. I am sure he is going to use the same technique he uses in business to manage the affairs on the throne. He believes so much in delegating responsibilities. I have this feeling that on ascending the throne, he is going to constitute a number of committees that will help him in the running of the town.
Dr Dapo Tejuoso is a devoted rotarian. He certainly is not the fork and knife rotarian who will only eat, drink and be merry at rotary meetings.
When he was the District Governor for R.I. D 911 for the rotary year 1986 — 87, I was the District Secretary. This means that I worked directly and closely with him. He was tenaciously committed to the rotary tenet which enjoins service above self.
We both believe in God. We prayed on every single decision we had to take at that time. During this period, I could see that he is a thorough person. He is well organised. He would insist that all our programmes of activities must be pre- planned.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______172 The Ultimate Honour I must admit that we had our moments of disagreement during our tenure as District Governor and District Secretary respectively, but we never quarrelled in the public. He was generous at times to bend on any issue I felt strongly about.
He met the District with 51 clubs, he ended his tenure with 96 chartered clubs and 5 provisional clubs.
Of note is his philanthropic gestures. He spends his money and time for people without necessarily allowing such people to know.
7. CHIEF AKITOYE TEJUOSO - Uncle
The morning shows what the afternoon will be and the afternoon in turn will show what the evening will be. Such is the life of Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso to me right from his birth up to his coming of age.
Dapo has from his childhood started showing perceptible signs of greatness. I have been monitoring his progress in life.
I am proud of him. He takes good care of his wives and children. He is doing all that is expected of a good father to the children. He trains them by giving them sound education to the best ability of every child.
When he makes up his mind, he follows what he wants to do. He does not believe in half measures. He pursued any course in which he believes to the best of his ability. This probably explains his motto “He touches nothing that he does not adorn.”
His father who was my younger brother was very much after my heart before the wicked hands of death snatched him away in 1968. When he was alive, we were like twins, the wide age difference notwithstanding. His mother, Chief (Mrs)
www.obatejuosobooks.com______173 The Ultimate Honour Bisoye Tejuoso is also a wonderful woman. She and her late husband lived in my house at No. 10, Queen Street Yaba, Lagos, for a very long time. She is doing fine in business. As the third Iyalode Egba, she has been doing her best for Egba. Now that there are no more inter-tribal wars that will warrant her provision of arms and ammunition like her predecessors, she is always ready to serve the Egbas in various capacities. When Christians are doing their thing, you will hear her name, when moslems are doing their thing, you will also hear her name.
I introduced Dapo to Freemasonry just as I did his father. He (Dapo) has attained a high spiritual height having passed thro'ugh many stages in the Lodge. Today, he is one of the principal figures in Freemasonry in Nigeria.
I want to point out that one of the teachings of the Lodge is to do to others as you want them to do to you. Dapo has been doing this and I know he will continue to do so. His strict adherence to the tenets of the Lodge will surely be of immense assistance to him on the throne as the Osile Oke- Ona Egba.
Dapo holds me in high esteem just like his father when he was alive. I have not on any occasion denied him of my useful piecesof advice and he has not got any reason to discard them.
I am proud to say that he has never disappointed either me or any member of the Tejuoso family. Whatever remains of me to spend on this terrestrial plane, I will not be far from him.
Now that he has become father to all of us by the dictates of his exalted office, our advice will be offered at the background. Such advice will no longer be offered in the open. You do not teach your father in the full glare of the public.
*Conducted and Compiled by the Editorial Department of Nelson Publishers Ltd.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______174 The Ultimate Honour Appendices
PRESIDENTS-ELECT TRAINING SEMINAR FOR R. I. DISTRICT 911 AT THE SHERATON HOTEL, IKEJA ON WEDNESDAY THE 9TH OF APRIL, 1986
The District Governor, District Governor nominee, Past District Governors, Presidents-Elect. Welcome to the Presidents—Elect Training Seminar in preparation for our year together 1986/87 in our newly redistricted area comprising Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria.
In the words of the Rotary International Assembly Motto itself conspicuously displayed at the entrance of the International Assembly’s Opryland Hotel in Nashville, U.S.A. I say to you “Enter to learn and go forth to serve”.
Today, you are Presidents—Elect; come 1st of July 1986, God willing, you will be Presidents of your respective clubs. What will you have to show for this in the end? What will you want to be remembered for? Remember, Love, is no love until you give it away; a song is no song until you sing it; Rotary is no Rotary until you share it. A President of a Rotary Club is not necessarily a successful President until he has served well his club and community, and left his indelible mark in the sands of time.
How then can I help you to be the best President your club has ever had? The only person that can answer this question properly is you and you should feel free to approach me personally or any of our P.D.G.s DGN, District Officers or Past Presidents to discuss this seemingly simple issue. However, before then, I shall here endeavour to give you some guidelines which may help you in the process.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______175 The Ultimate Honour Always remember to be yourself and not anybody else. Do not try to step into anybody’s shoes but get your own shoes made to measure.
Be a leader and not a boss. Set your own pace, your own time and your own style of governance, but all within the framework of our own Manual of Procedure (M.O.P.). Motivate and not castigate, nor relegate. Give credit at the slightest opportunity and not blame all the time. Remember you are a leader of future leaders. Give incentives and encouragements as often as you can. Lead by your own example. Always inspire and motivate your fellow Rotarians to want to do more. Set your goals and aim at achieving your targets. Encourage your board members and committee chairmen to do the same. Let the Rotarians of your club work with you and not for you.
Dream about success and work hard to attain it bearing in mind that your achievement is unlikely to be higher than your dreams. Most importantly be very knowledgeable about Rotary — You are supposed to expect to be the most knowledgeable Rotarian in your Club. Make the M.O.P. your most constant companion this year and the years to come thereafter. But remember, your wife or Rotary Ann may be jealous of this second companion of yours. To keep her jealously down, inundate or bombard her with literature on Inner Wheel clubs and the challenge for her to start off your Club’s Inner Wheel Club.
Be a delegator, a communicator, and an organiser. Listen to your Club members most of the time but be determined only to follow the voice of reasoning and wisdom. Rule by consensus but let prudence direct you and fortitude support you.
Be tactical and diplomatic but remain calm, rational and unruffled. Above all, be cheerful and humorous at all times. Never shelve your responsibilities,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______176 The Ultimate Honour procastinate nor pass the buck. Be methodical, understanding but efficient and purposeful. Let justice, goodwill and peace be the guide of all your actions.
You must avoid your speeches being totally accurate but completely useless as exemplified by the story of these two men who had been lost for days in a ballon in the sky and were just lucky to catch a glimpse of a man down below just coming out of his house. Hey there? Where are we? Anxiously asked one of the men in the balloon. Promptly came the answer from the man below: “You are about two hundred feet above my house”. How thoroughly accurate but useless and most unhelpful.
The district programme for the year will be dealt with more appropriately and extensively at the District Assembly which comes up at Ogun State Hotel, Abeokuta from the 15th to the 17th of May 1986. But for now, you will agree with me that the hall mark or mainstay of any programme is finance. Without finance nothing moves. Hence the Incoming District Treasurer — Rot Clem ’Kunle Olowokande — will present the District Budget for 1986/87 to you today for a thorough discussion. Thereafter, you will take it to your clubs to discuss it further and get your members ’ opinions and approval. The final discussion and approval God willing, will take place at the District Assembly at Abeokuta in May 1986. I have no doubt whatsoever, that once it has been approved there you will ensure the compliance of your clubs without further questioning.
You will ensure that all your incoming Club Officers, i.e. Incoming President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Directors of Club, Vocational, Community and International Services Committee as well as your Editor, Public Relations and membership development committees chairmen attend the District Assembly. That is, eleven incoming officers from each club (there would be
www.obatejuosobooks.com______177 The Ultimate Honour awards to the clubs with the best attendance). In fact, this Rotary Year promptness at response to requests or directives from the District will attract awards.
In this respect, the Rotary Club of Isolo has already won an award for returning its correctly completed questionnaire with the required attachments promptly. It may be the turn of your club next. Please be up and doing.
The installation of the District Governor has been fixed for Saturday, the 28th of June, 1986 at 11.00 a.m. at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Every Rotarian of this District is expected to attend with his Rotary Ann. There would be awards to the Rotary Clubs with the best attendance. Please ensure that you leave this date completely free of engagement for the District.
The cornerstones of our achievements in this District, during this Rotary Year, will be found in the fields of Polio Plus, Youth Exchange, Group Study Exchange, Qualitative
Membership Development, District Extension, World Community Service and other Rotary Foundation Programmes. We would also of course, major in some other activities of the four avenues of service. Our year should be the best year ever for Paul Harris Fellowships and two, three, four or five Star Generals. Remember, Rotary International has committed itself to spending the sum of US $2.8 million on the Polio-Plus Programme in Nigeria. There is no better method for us to reciprocate or show our appreciation.
Let us now turn our attention to Rotary International itself. The R.I. Theme for our year of office 1986/87 as you have already been told in the Post Cards I sent to all of you in January 1986 from Nashville, U. S. A. is “ROTARY BRINGS HOPE”. www.obatejuosobooks.com______178 The Ultimate Honour Please note that this is NOT the theme of the R.I. President-Elect M.A.T. Caparas but the theme of Rotary International itself. It is the duty of you and I to project and propagate this theme and convince others of its excellence, appropriateness, genuineness and its intrinsic value. Therefore, “Go tell it on the mountains, over the hills and every where, go tell it on the lands too that the Rotary theme is here”. What does this theme mean to you and I? Hope for what? And Hope for Who? What does the R.I. President-Elect M.A.T. Caparas hope to see us accomplish in our District this year by this theme? These are some of the questions we should ask ourselves and ponder upon. Rotary itself is not Hope. It is the service, the selfless service which you and I render or ought to render as Rotarians that brings Hope. Hope to the youth, the elderly, the disabled, the poor and needy, the sick and debilitated, the desolate and the drug addicted. Hope for the future, for care and support, for cure, relief and consolation, for food, water and shelter. The hope to remain alive and well. And of course, hope of usefulness to mankind in general and of a worthy course by Rotarians in particular.
The emblem that goes with this theme for our Rotary Year is the Rotary Emblem itself — the Wheel, the Rotary Pin — which you and I wear daily with pride. This has been chosen in the belief that our emblem should remain constant and not get mixed up by regular duplication or supplementation. The emblem of hope for the people therefore is our usual Rotary Emblem. Rotary Helps Others to Provide Expectations for mankind. (HOPE). Rotary also helps Rotarians to develop big Hearts for understanding, provide Opportunities for others and bring Peace to its community which in turn triggers off Enthusiasm in Rotarians and non-rotarians alike. This is what HOPE is all about. You should endeavour to give Health Opportunities to all through Publicity and Enthusiasm (HOPE). This is especially appropriate for our Polio-Plus Programme which should characterise
www.obatejuosobooks.com______179 The Ultimate Honour our year of office together. Make it your year’s slogan. Support fully the Polio Plus Programme in all its ramifications.
Every act of each Rotarian and each Rotary Club through the four avenues of service should always be such that would bring Hope to mankind in general and Rotary International in particular.
As a final advice, my dear Rotarian Presidents—Elect, you must remember to rule with love and candour and not in an arbitrary or autocratic manner. In so doing, you will not only gain the hearts of your fellow Rotarians but also their love, respect and loyalty. You should be firm in principle, easy of address but cautious in demeanour. Most importantly you must be exetnplary in character.
It is better and more honourable for you NOT to follow a path that has already been trodden by everybody else but to find your own path, tread it thoroughly with a pioneering spirit and in the process, leave your own indelible trail for others to follow as you go along. Do not allow yourself to be distracted, dissuaded or disturbed by constant interference from others. Do not try to please everybody at the expense of your year’s success. Remember, you will only pass this way but once. In this Rotary year of ours, if only one person needs to maintain his sanity in your club, that person should be you.
A restaurant once had a notice displayed to his customers to say NO CREDIT PLEASE:
It read thus and I quote:
“You ask credit, we no give, you mad. We give credit, you no pay, we mad. Better you mad”. I hope the point is well taken. However, in the circumstance, it
www.obatejuosobooks.com______180 The Ultimate Honour is best to allow everybody to keep his sanity to enable him maintain Peace and Understanding.
ROT. DR IN—COMI 1986/87 R.I. DISTRICT 911
SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 911 DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HELD AT THE OGUN STATE HOTEL, ABEOKUTA ON FRIDAY 16TH MAY AND SATURDAY 17 TH MAY, 1986
TOPIC: MY VISION OF OUR SERVICE YEAR
TOGETHER
Rotarian District Governor, District Governor Nominee 1987/1988, Past District Governors, District Officers, Presidents—Elect, Fellow Rotarians and guests.
Time! From time immemorial, TIME has been the greatest asset that man ever had; if properly utilised. But how it flies? Isn’t it wonderful? Isn’t it unbelievable that it is now over a year since you elected me to be your District Governor Nominee 1986/1987? Oh! Howl looked forward,with trepidation, to going to the International Assembly in Nashville to represent you by January 1986. Hasn’t it come and successfully gone? The seemingly insurmountable President’s Elect Seminar. Is it not now a thing of the past? Did we not all enjoy it and still have beautiful and memorable remini- censes of it? Will it not be the same for the District Assembly a few minutes from now? It goes to show that nothing is impossible if one puts ones mind and attention to it. So it must be with you Presidents’ and Officers’ Elect. The future is bright. You surely will be telling
www.obatejuosobooks.com______181 The Ultimate Honour the same story this time next year. No mountain is too high to climb. No task too difficult to surmount. All that is necessary is to set ones mind at it, and once one’s hand is on the plough, there should be no looking back. Fellow Rotarians, forward ever and backward never.
Do your best to use your talent. Don’t hold back and then be haunted by the lament of John Green Leaf Whittier, “For all the words of tongue and pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been’. Remember instead the challenge of the Poet Virgil, ‘You can, if you think you can’. You have the potential and all of you can be effective Club Presidents and Officers. But of course, there is more to leadership than talent. The component is ‘WORK’.
The price of success is work. Winston Churchill stated it more eloquently as “The price of greatness is responsibility”. Will Rogers stated it more cleverly when he said, “Even if you are on the right track, you can still get run over if you are standing still”. So, fellow Rotarians, we must constantly be on the move and in the right direction. Henry Wadsworth Long fellow stated it more beautifully with the Lines:
“The heights that great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight;
But they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night”.
All of us must toil because we have volunteered to be leaders. Work hard while it is yet day for the night cometh when no man can work. The success of Rotary in this District now rests squarely upon our shoulders; but light is the task where many share the toil. Team work is the name of the game. I can see success at the end of our road — For the clubs, for the district — but I can also see sacrifices devotion, dedication to duty and hard work ahead. They all go hand in hand.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______182 The Ultimate Honour Let me remind you that neither myself nor even any of you have the power to command anybody in Rotary. My vision is that of leadership by example, by friendliness through fellowship, by gentle persuasion and willingness to help in order to genuinely create interest in Rotary on all fronts.
I can see us as true leaders and not just managers or supervisors.
I can see us bringing hope to mankind in general and Rotary in particular. Remember, the R.I. Theme for our year of office 1986/87 is “ROTARY BRINGS HOPE”.
It is the duty of you and I to ensure that the aims and objectives of R. I. in putting up this theme are realised. We must be convinced of its excellence ourselves before we can convince others of its intrinsic values. I am repeating this now for the benefit of the other Club Officers who were not present with us at the Presidents Elect Training Seminar in April.
‘ROTARY Brings Hope’
Hope is an expectation of better things. It is the spark that keeps a man going, regardless of his station. Life without hope is nothing more than existence in despair. It is a state of mind that swells from within a person and is not for anyone to give. However, one who helps in the attainment of better things can cause such hope to come to another. The hope for this may be the return of vision that one may see the world again, or the lame may hope for freedom from braces so that he may freely move around. It may be for release from pain, a place to play, flowering of it makes life at least tolerable again. He who causes such hope to bloom in the life of another, doubly enriches his own. We have said it long ago in our Motto. “He profits most who serves best.” It is for this reason that so many men have been attracted to Rotary. They find in Rotary a way to a more www.obatejuosobooks.com______183 The Ultimate Honour meaningful life as they help Rotary bring Hope to people. They have come to take pride in our emblem, The Rotary Wheel that was first a wheel of commerce, then a wheel of industry, and now a wheel of Hope. Let us as leaders invite the world to join us in our quest, through Rotary, for children without polio, for food for all people; for life worth living; for a world of understanding, goodwill and peace.
We should endeavour to bring Health Opportunities to all through Publicity and Enthusiasm. In our year and in all the years to come, let us say it, and continue to say it, because it is true:
“ROTARY BRINGS HOPE.”
R. I. President MAT Caparas hopes to compile and publish after July 1986 true stories of projects by Rotary Clubs over the years that have brought hope or sense of social acceptance to the community and mankind in general. It will be called ‘THE GOLDEN BOOK OF HOPE.”
If you have such projects, submit details of the true story with pictures to me before the middle of June 1986 and I shall rush them to R.I. President MAT for recognition and or publication.
In your search for perfection, please remember that ours is an organisation of volunteers who have varying degrees of commitment and different calls on their time. Let us be thankful for whatever assistance comes our way. Any man who joins a Rotary Club expresses his oneness with us. We must appreciate even that first act are build on it. If he does not now participate in our service projects, it may be because he has other commitments that prevent him from doing so at this time. Or maybe he has not yet imbibed the spirit which makes one want to participate. In either case, we must patiently keep him interested in the good www.obatejuosobooks.com______184 The Ultimate Honour things we are doing, confident that he will in time decide to participate and be a good Rotarian. When he does, you will be firmer friends than ever, for joint service is the cement of friendship. We must endeavour to keep our old friends while looking out for new ones.
We must avoid membership losses through attrition. We must keep our programmes attractive and interesting. The R. I. President has promised that a Special Certificate awaits any District Governor’s Special Representative who helps in the formation of a new club as a recognition of a job well done. My vision is that there will be many of you obtaining this highly coveted certificate from the R.I. President himself. Do not be left out.
A new dimension is now to be introduced into Rotary. The R.I. Board has recently approved the Formation of Rotary minded persons, whether male or female who believe in Rotary and desire to help in its work; but are not financially able to join a Rotary Club, into what- we ’call “ROTARY VILLAGE CORP” or (RVC). In many respects, the RVC will operate much like a Rotaract Club and will be subject to similar restrictions. It may be^ viewed like a Rotaract Club in the village except that there will be no maximum age limit for members and it will be engaged only in vocational and community projects but may of course undertake projects with international service aspects.
As now envisaged, an RVC may in turn sponsor junior or auxilliary village corps composed of young people of the village or of adjoining ones where no RVC exists. All members of the RVC and the Junior Rotary Village Corps (JRVC) will in effect, be Rotarys partners in the rural areas which they will now be able to reach. Some Youth exchange students of R. I. have indicated willingness to be involved with these JRVC. Dr Funso Peters should please be on the look out.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______185 The Ultimate Honour Further guidelines on this programme are still awaited and you will be kept fully informed.
Another new development which will be the subject for another day is the Rotary Conference for Development (RCD) which is soon to be introduced by R. I. It is basically a Conference for Development of economic, social and educational projects for not only developing countries, but also developed ones. Plans are being developed for at least one such (RCD) this year in the world of Rotary. You will be kept informed.
You may be asking questions which express concern or indecision and you seem to be always searching for answers. You may be asking.
Am I an honoured individual or a scapegoat?
The wise man or the fool?
The architect or the demolition expert?
The one who provides inspiration or one who will struggle through the twelve months of the next Rotary Year facing a continual feeling of impatience and, ultimately, of drudgery, waiting for 30th of June, 1987 to come. Just as joining a Rotary Club does not a Rotarian make, you will find that becoming a Club Officer does not a miracle make. It is only the subsequent success from hard work that makes it worthwhile. No successful leader ever reached the pinacle of his success without being a dreamer and a doer. He never hesitates to assume the mantle of an advocate of the most testing ideas developed for the betterment of all humanity.
Can you meet your challenge during your year? My vision is Yes. Not only Can you, but you will also climb to greater heights than any previous President-Elect www.obatejuosobooks.com______186 The Ultimate Honour and Club Officers of your club. That vision or prophecy is already a truism if yours is a new club. Listen to the voice of reason. Take advice but you must be capable of sifting the advice you get and determining which is suited to your personality, lest you be inadvertently misled. What I mean here is self- explanatory in the following true story.
“Two friends had spent a very convivial evening on the town of London and were making their way homewards, very much the worse for drink.
‘My wife’ll kill me when I get home’ muttered one. ‘Nonsense’ said the other. “Do as I do. When you get home, take your clothes off at the bottom of the stairs, carry them up quietly, and creep into the bedroom without making a noise.”
They met for lunch on the following day and the first man said, ‘A fine mess you got me into with that advice of yours!’ *What on earth do you mean?’ asked his friend. “Well, I did exactly as you said, took all my clothes off at the bottom of the stairs, folded them neatly, crept upstairs without making a sound — and there I was, on No. 2 plat form at Baker Street Station.’
Isn’t that a good advice, but to a wrong person?
Thank you for your rapt attention Fellow Rotarians.
Teji/oso Incoming District Governor 1986/87
R. I. District 911.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 911
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HELD AT THE OGUN STATE
HOTEL, ABEOKUTA ON FRIDAY 16TH MAY AND
www.obatejuosobooks.com______187 The Ultimate Honour SATURDAY 17TH MAY, 1986
SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE IN-COMING DISTRICT
GOVERNOR 1986/87
ROT. DR DAPO TEJUOSO
TO THE CLUBS, PRESIDENTS-ELECT
My fellow Rotarians - In-coming Presidents, DGRs, once more, it gives me great pleasure to congratulate you on the successful Presidents-Elect Training Seminar we had together at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos on the 9th April 1986. I also would like to thank you, for having had time to be here today with your board members.
The year ahead brings with it its’ hopes, aspirations, great achievements and maybe, a bit of disappointment. But such is the game of life.
Let me briefly remind you of the R.I Theme for our year of office together 1986/87 - “ROTARY BRINGS HOPE”. What does this theme mean to you and I? Hope for what? And hope for who? Hope to the Youths, in the eradication of drug abuse and job opportunities offered them. Plope to the aged, the poor, the infirm, the disadvantaged and the outcast, by the charitable acts we extend to them, for the improvement of their qualities of life. Sound health, good environment, shelter and food will no doubt be positive factors that will improve the quality of life of us all. This ‘Elope’ can only be achieved through our own concerted efforts invididuallv and collectively. It is the selfless service which we render, or ought to render as Rotarians that brings hope. In this regard, let us put all hands on deck, and pull the ‘oars’ of Service together and reach out to touch someone else’s hand with our caring attitude, for, “He profits most who serves best”. www.obatejuosobooks.com______188 The Ultimate Honour You are the key men to bring hope to the operation of our various Rotary Clubs. A successful President initiates action and inspires all members to become involved; he is a self starter, a motivator. In truth, he is committed or ought to be committed to the ideals of Service. Thoughtfulness for others is the basis of sendee. Helpfulness to others is its expression. Together they constitute the Ideal of Sendee.
A good president should be able to delegate and lead by example. He must seek the cooperation of members, communicate and care.
Again, I would like to remind you as presidents of your various clubs that it is better to be a leader than a boss. You must have it at the back of your mind, that all members of your club have volunteered to give sendee to their community and to their fellowmen and in this regard, they should be treated with courtesy and actually attracted by our programmes. Your job as president will take time. You will have to budget at least 10 hours a week, perhaps more to the job of presidency of your club. You have to monitor effectively the weekly programmes. The programme should not be dull or unduly long. You have to encourage members to participate through job-talks. Your committee chairmen must be involved and of course have good guests speakers at your meetings.
Let us examine some possible areas of conflict:
1. Finance: This is crucial, so you have to work closely with the Treasurer and the Secretary, to ensure that all monies collected are banked intact. Ensure that the budget set up at the beginning of the year is closely monitored. Embark on projects that are meaningful to your community and see it through if possible.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______189 The Ultimate Honour 2. Weekly programmes: As I have said inter-alia, programmes must be varied and interesting. And all the important months, specially earmarked by Rotary International, are observed.
3. Perpetual or constant absentees: These people should be contacted to know whether they have family or business or health problems. The President and his board members should not hesitate to apply the Attendance Rule — when necessary — but first be sure you have investigated the circumstances thoroughly and the situation cannot be helped.
4. The President must be knowledgeable, and be able to impact that knowledge to members. He should make the Manual of Procedure and The Presidents Work Book his constant companions. Getting acquainted with Rotary ‘Q 8c A’ No. 038 EN, and Clip Sheets from Rotary International with the ROTARIAN will also serve to improve Rotary knowledge of the President.
5. Interpersonal relationships: This is a relationship difficult to define among members; the watchword is mutual respect, accord concordant and caution.
6. At board meetings: The president presides, to guide the meeting to a successful deliberation. Avoid being a dictator. The team work approach should be adopted. Manual of Procedure, The Club Constitution and Bye-laws (Please ensure your club has one) are very clear on most issues pertaining to Rotary— and for the avoidance of doubt, the President should make these available at all Board meetings.
The Board of Directors is the governing body, and cooperation with it, is essential. The Board is also a planning body, depending on the constitution of the club. They should meet regularly on monthly basis. It is desirable that they
www.obatejuosobooks.com______190 The Ultimate Honour should meet four times each year apart from the monthly regular meeting, for the purpose of short range and long range planning.
7. Committees: They must be carefully selected, and must have a clear understanding of their responsibilities. The President should be available to provide suggestions, but should not interfere unduly with committee opera- lion. Please be sure your club has a Polio-Plus Corn- miltec and a Youth Exchange committee. Committee chairmen, once chosen, and given clear definition of (heir responsibilities should be encouraged to perform such tasks allotted to them.
8. The Secretary: He can make the president’s job much easier if you delegate to him the administrative details. Close cooperation is of great importance here.
New Club Formation: New clubs must ensure proper nurturing for one year at least as the sponsor club. Your DGR will be most helpful here.
10. New Members: They must be well screened before admission — and once admitted they should be quickly absorbed into one of the 4—Avenues of Service to sustain their enthusiasm. Please ensure that they are properly inducted into Rotary by following strictly the programme of induction detailed in your Rotary Information Committee leaflet. There are no limits to what we can describe as possible areas of conflict. You yourselves will have the opportunity of giving more examples when the discussion starts. Our aim is to reduce or eradicate such anomalies. If something is wrong, let us straighten it out — that is why we are here.
Now, I would like to touch on the Governor’s visit to your club the purpose of the visit, preparation and achievement. The Governor’s official visit is made for the well being of clubs. The purpose of the visit (as a Rotary International officer), is to familiarize himself with the activities of the club, to get to know www.obatejuosobooks.com______191 The Ultimate Honour members intimately, to share the joy of service with members, to encourage and foster the ideals of service and promote mutual understanding and goodwill.
To reassure the President and the entire membership of that club, that the District Governor is a friend of that club. To share fellowship, hope and aspirations of the club. To impart knowledge where possible and more importantly, to learn from members of the club, and in particular to motivate and to bring the Rotary International President MAT Caparas’ visionary message for the year as it were to the club’s doorstep. And lastly to ensure that the clubs in our district are doing those things that are in conformity with Rotary International’s set objectives.
The District Governor comes to your club as a fellow Rotarian, a partner in progress, and not as a critic. He would therefore expect that the club has made adequate preparation for such visit. He would expect to have completed the club’s plans and objectives form (which you have already received) coupled with the financial budget for the Rotary year. Infact, this information neatly foldered should be sent to his office at least one month in advance of his visit. It will also be expected that members attend in adequate number to make such official visit a memorable day for all concerned. It is a day to exchange ideas. Please let him know well in advance if it will be a ladies night or afternoon as the case may be. It is not necessary nor is it wise to invite a guest speaker to such occasion as there is so much to do and to talk about, in order to avoid over-crowding of programme and boredom.
The THREE elements contained in the District Governors visit are:
First Element:
Meeting with the President and the Secretary. This is to discuss the club’s plans and objectives with the budget of the club, projects envisaged, and the www.obatejuosobooks.com______192 The Ultimate Honour membership development coupled with Rotary knowledge and awareness in the club and community, at an intimate level with the leadership of the club. To discuss such matters that will improve the club’s performance as a unit of Rotary International.
Second Element — Club Assembly
Meeting with the board of directors and various committee chairmen. This meeting is devoted to detailed analysis of the programmes and projects for the year — to ensure that they are in line with the District and Rotary International aspira agreed upon at the District Assembly. The President should see that written reports by various committee chairmen are official visit to the club.
Third Element — Club Meeting
Is really that of sharing fellowship with the entire membership of the club, their guests and other visiting Rotarians. The naked truth as it were, is to see the club at first hand. It is an occasion where the R.I President MAT Caparas’ message will be delivered. It is an occasion where the Rotary International theme for the year 1986/87 “Rotary brings hope” will be deliberated upon, analysed, publicised and emphasised. And of course, in true Rotary spirit — we shall share fellowship and exchange ideas.
In this regard, before I end my presentation, no president needs to lose his sleep, once he has coordinated and cooperated with his members to have done all that is required of him as a leader of his team and club.
I wish you the best of luck and a very successful year ahead.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______193 The Ultimate Honour SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 911
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY HELD AT THE OGUN STATE
HOTEL, ABEOKUTA ON FRIDAY 16TH AND
SATURDAY 17TH MAY, 1986
Topic: The Challenge of the Year Ahead
Rot. District Governor, District Governor Nominee 1987/ 88, Past District Governors, District officers, Presidents- Elect, Fellow Rotarians and guests. Protocol having been observed, I shall go straight to the point and discuss the subject for this morning which tends to be quite extensive.
Qualitative Membership Development:
A few months ago, I received a letter from the R.I. President-Elect MAT Carparas telling me that what we as a team, should focus on this year is membership growth and development with rewards for extension or new club formations. Of course, I promptly wrote back to him that our emphasis should be, not only on quantitative growth, but also, QUALITATIVE growth. I hope I was speaking for you all. In this respect, I have now introduced a new dimension to the affairs of the District by creating a new and autonomous District Committee which runs pari pasu, if not higher in rank than the committee of the four avenues of service. This is the District Information Committee. It needs a highly experienced District Officer to head it. I have found no other personality suitable enough for this post than our indefatigable, versatile, learned and very' knowledgeable Rotarian Banjo Solaru to be ably assisted by Rot. Ade Adefeso,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______194 The Ultimate Honour President- Elect Rotary Club of Ilupeju. The idea is to ensure the constant dissemination and assimilation of information and Rotary knowledge to all the Rotarians in the district, especially the new ones. I am sure the old ones too can do some up-dating and polishing since learning in rotary is a continuous process.
You should, therefore, expect quizzes or questionnaires to be sent to your clubs weekly or fortnightly as the Chairman may direct. Please note that it is your duty as officers of your clubs, to ensure that these quizzes are passed down to your members for solution and returns sent back to the District Information Committee regularly and promptly. This will surely enable us to grow more meaningfully and acceptably. An award will be given to the best club in terms of Rotary knowledge in the district.
District Extension
It is to be understood that Rotary needs hands. Someone shared Rotary with you by inviting you to join Rotary. Should you not reciprocate by sharing Rotary with someone else? Are we not commanded by R.I. on page 44 of the M.O.P that ‘It is better to risk the failure of a club than to withhold Rotary from any locality?’
Why then should we not comply and conform with the desire of our R.I. President and the R.I. itself to have a membership of 1.8 million by the end of our Rotary Year? We had one million members by February 1986. The spirit of co-operation and consonant action must prevail. We must live up to our expectations and the challenge of R.I. In this respect, I hasten to request everyone of you, Club Presidents- Elect, to make it your point of duty in your year in office to form at least one new club. It would definitely go a long way to make your year the success that you want it to be. You will be remembered for a long www.obatejuosobooks.com______195 The Ultimate Honour time to come for this singular effort. It may sound or seem difficult at first but it is quite rewarding once it is achieved.
You will be pleased to note that 21 out of the 30 Clubs that have responded to my questionnaire earlier sent out to all Club Presidents—Elect promised to form at least one new club each. Surely, the other 9 Clubs and the 18 that are even yet to respond must be doing some rethinking now. Your responses are still awaited. Infact, I assure you it is quite easy. I know, because our Club formed two new clubs in my year as President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja 1980/ 1981. They are the Rotary Clubs of Isolo and Ilupeju. If you have problems, I shall show you how. An award will be awaiting you for every new club you form. Of course you have now been assured of Qualitative Development. To help you, I have advised the District Governors Group Representatives to assist you in this rewarding task. This shows you the emphasis and premium placed on this aspect of our challenge ahead. Take good advantage of your opportunities and you will surely end up satisfied with yourself. There would be awards for each new club formed. I seize this opportunity to recognize the DGRs.
District Finances:
Your dues to R.I. and the district are of utmost importance. Your continued membership depends on the former whilst your continued entitlement to your membership rights depends on the latter or both. You should, therefore, promptly see to it, as soon as you assume office that this is not outstanding. Very shortly you will finally approve, one way or the other, how the running of your district is to be financed. The Budget will be presented to you by the Incoming District Treasurer Rot. Kunle Olowokande. Whichever way it is decided, please make
www.obatejuosobooks.com______196 The Ultimate Honour sure that your district this year does not become malnourished from financial starvation. You should, therefore, promptly pay up (without further demands) whatever your share is. That is the only way we can plan ahead to achieve success together. Prompt payments would attract adequate awards.
Youth Activities:
In recent times, our district has shown quite some interest in this field. However, there is a particular field which appears to have been neglected over the years, but which infact can be quite rewarding, if properly pursued. Its intrinsic value in promoting international understanding and peace amongst the youth of today and of course, the future generation is inexplicable.
I am here talking of the YOUTH EXCHANGE programme. The premium placed on this programme for our year is evident in the high calibre of the Chairman of that committee — Rotarian Dr. Funso Peters popularly known as ‘Baba Ewe’. You will remember that I had earlier on in my questionnaire requested you to appoint the Chairmen of your Youth Exchange Committees. Please furnish Rot. Dr. Funso Peters with these names urgently so he can work closely with them.
It is pertinent at this stage, to inform you that there will be a Youth Exchange Officers (YEO) conference at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel on the 30th and 31st of May, 1986 just before the R.I. Convention. Please ensure that your Youth Exchange Committee Chairman and yourself as President-Elect attend to obtain maximum information and full involvement. The cost to your club in this programme is quite minimal.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______197 The Ultimate Honour As usual, we will continue to improve on our other Youth activities/programmes like the RYLA, Rotaract, Interact etc. Each club should endeavour to have its own Rotaract and Interact Clubs formed. There would be an award for each new club formed this year and the best performance at RYLA. Further details will be spelt out to you soon by one of the officers in charge.
The Four Avenues of Service
Without neglecting our duties of our service above self, most of our time will be devoted to activities through these four avenues of service as usual. Later on in the day, the past District Governor Anofi Guobadia will talk to us about fellowship in Rotary. Fellowship and development of acquaintance would remain our comer stone and in fact, our stepping stone to international understanding, goodwill and peace. Remember, as a Rotarian, you do not only represent your vocation in Rotary but you also represent Rotary in your vocation. You cannot, therefore, afford not to be exemplary in character. The image of Rotary in your locality depends on you. personally and the community service rendered by your club. Either way, you are the key to bring Hope to your neighbourhood in general and Rotary in particular. I seize this opportunity to recognize the chairmen of the four avenues of service — Rots. Dipo Bailey, Tunji Fadayiro, Aku Omokhodion and Oliver Johnson.
Other Activities
I would endeavour to turn my News Letters out promptly and copies would be sent to all Club Presidents, Secretaries, Club Service Directors, Bulletin Editors,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______198 The Ultimate Honour District Officers and R. I. Officers. Extracts from my news letter should always be read out at your weekly meetings and of course be published in your clubs weekly bulletin. (Award will be given to the best Clubs with the best bulletins). At this juncture, I recognize the Incoming District Secretary, Rot. Lekan Ogundimu. You have all received the proposed itinerary for my official club visits. Remember, you are NOT supposed to invite any special guest or guest speaker on the day I visit your club officially. World Community Service will also be emphasised this year.
Inner Wheel Clubs
Behind every successful man, there is a woman. Behind every successful Rotary Club, there is an Inner Wheel Club. Why then should you neglect or fail to form your Inner Wheel Club? I implore every President-Elect to ensure that his club’s Inner Wheel Club is formed or kept going very actively this year. The Rotary Anns need our support and golden advice. We cannot afford to leave them alone entirely.
Inter City/District Meetings
The District Governors Group representatives will ensure that Inter-City and Inter-District meetings are organized this year. Please co-operate with them. It is our intention to run an Extension/Membership/Membership Development
Seminar as well as Rotary Institute this year. Please look out for further information on this and play your part nobly when the time comes. The
www.obatejuosobooks.com______199 The Ultimate Honour Extension Councillor is Rot. Harry Payne and the Membership Committee Chairman is Rot. R. A. Balogun.
Paul Harris Fellowship and Rotary Foundation:
This is an on-going and never-ending process. We have been contributing generously to this course over the years and I say a big thank you to all the generous donors. At this point in time, Nigeria is taking more out of the Rotary Foundation than it is putting into it. Remember the R.I. grant of U.S. $2.8m to Nigeria on Polio-Plus? Let us then continue to support this noble cause. Try and build up your Clubs’ Plateau. The greatest present each of you can give me when I visit your club officially is not only to become Paul Harris Fellows, but also, one star, two star or even rive star Generals. In this day and age, who says we do not need more generals? The Chairman of the District Rotary Foundation Committee will tell you more about this later. He is the Past District Governor Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi.
Group Study Exchange
This programme would take a great deal of our attention this year. For the first time ever our role in this programme has been tripled due to rule changes by R. I. and of course our own efforts. From the old syllabus (1985/1986), we shall be receiving the anchor leg of the Districts 686/911 programme.
You will recall that District 911 sent a team to Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.A. towards the end of 1985. Now it is our turn to receive their team which should
www.obatejuosobooks.com______200 The Ultimate Honour arrive here around the middle of October 1986. Further details will be sent to you.
As a result of you polling by post, I am happy to inform you that R.I. has now awarded us our own exchange for our own year. We have been paired with R.I. District 563 in McCook, Nebraska, U.S.A. As a result of Rule Changes, we are to send our team and receive their team in the same Rotary Year 1986/87. District 911 will send its team to Nebraska in the first half of 1986/87 and District 911 will receive the team from the State of Nebraska in U.S.A. District 563 in the second half 1986/87 which we would endeavour to plan to coincide with our District Conference (Chairman is Rot. J. A. Adepoju) which is presently scheduled for the last week in March 1987.
All sounds good but also smells hard work, very hard work, not only for the Chairman of the G.S.E. subcommittee and his team but also for each and everyone of us. It is our combined duty and our unanimous effort and team wrork that must be brought to play here. Your maximum cooperation is required from now on. The Chairman for this is Past President Michael Olawale-Cole. You all know of his ability and keen interest in Rotary in general and this District in particular. Please give him your one hundred per cent support. His job has been tripled and the efforts must also therefore be tripled. We cannot afford to let him and the District down.
Polio Plus
Here is where we need to excel this year for many reasons. God has been gracious unto us. The trustees of the Rotary Foundation have bestowed on us in Nigeria the huge sum of U.S. $2.8 million with which UNICEF is to purchase www.obatejuosobooks.com______201 The Ultimate Honour Polio vaccines on our behalf and deliver them to the Government in the pursuit of the R.I.’s programme to eradicate Polio from the world by the Year 2005 when Rotary will celebrate its centenary. It is my observation that Nigeria has not up till now justified the confidence reposed in us by R.I. in pumping so much money into Nigeria for this project. Many countries like Turkey, Paraguay and even Sudan have performed so well in this project that they got write ups in the Rotarian. Why should we be left behind? Why can we, not only be involved, but be seen to be very actively and intimately connected with this project. We have talked a lot about the money donated but we have not up till this point in time rendered any service in this connection to justify our motto of Service Above Self. We need to declare National days of immunization when Rotarians will be seen to be actively and personally rendering active service in local government areas, villages etc.
Are we doing enough in the field of publicity? Let us now try to consolidate our efforts and try to justify the confidence reposed in us. In this connection Rot. PGD Babs Ajayi will soon be taking us through the history and future of Polio Immunization in Nigeria. For more effective results in the fund raising compaign and our Polio implementation programme, our District has been divided into zones with Zonal Chairmen to ensure proper planning and effective execution. This will not only involve all Rotarians, but also our Rotary Anns, Rotaractors, Interactors and even non-Rota- rians as well. It will involve a lot of sacrifice on our part. Please be prepared. I recognize the Polio Plus committee Chairman — Rot. Adewusi Akintade and the Zonal Chairmen — Dr Aremu Leshi, Dr Okuboyejo, Dr Ajenifuja, Allin- son and Dr V. O. Awosika.
Conclusion:
www.obatejuosobooks.com______202 The Ultimate Honour Fellow Rotarians. This concludes the outline of our challenge of the year ahead. We should now go forth and pursue them with vigour in the hope that our year will be the best so far for our clubs and our district.
This is a big task ahead of us but it is a task that can easily be performed. Our interest should be vibrant, our involvement glaring and our enthusiasm evidently radiant. However, we should avoid being as enthusiastic as the Police Officer away from his headquarters. He received this very urgent message from his head office:
Dangerous criminal on the run. Escaped from prison. Four different profiles (pictures) of him enclosed. Reward awaits whoever gets him Dead or Alive.
The Police Officer then went desperately to work and on concluding his assignment sent this telegram back to headquarters:
Assignment completed (Further instructions and reward awaited). All four dangerous criminals shot dead whilst resisting arrest.
Signed: Enthusiastic Rural Police Officer.
Well, fellow Rotarims the message here is that we should take pains to outline our aims and objectives, set our targets and goals before we proceed to execute any programme of ours. The best results will then surely ensue. That is the only way to bring Hope to mankind in general and Rotary in particular,
Rot. Dr Dapo Tduosp In—Coming DMri^Govemor 1986/87 R.I. District 9
www.obatejuosobooks.com______203 The Ultimate Honour EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDED OPENING SPEECH OF THE GOVERNOR 1986/87 - R.I DISTRICT 911 - ROT. DR DAPO TEJUOSO AT THE EXTENSION/MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR ON MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER, 1986 AT THE AIRPORT HOTEL, IKEJA
The Moderator, Rot. Juli Adelusi-Adeluyi, District Governor Nominee 1987/88, Rot. Oluwole Folarin who will perform his duties under the presidency of Rotarian Keller, my very own President, Rot, Dr Wale Odeleye, my only boss in the District, other Presidents, District Officers, fellow Rota- i ians and guests. I have briefly introduced to you the moderator for this occasion in person of Rot. PDG Julius Adelusi- Adeluyi and I must say this is very apt becausewhenever we talk about Extension, in this country, he is the first person that comes to mind. I am therefore not surprised that he was the moderator at a similar Extension Seminar last year. He is the moderator again this year. PDG Juli is by profession a Pharmacist, Lawyer and entrepreneur — Chairman of Juli Pharmacy Nigeria Limited. A very distinguished Nigerian
Fellow Rotarians, as I already told some of you during my visits to Clubs, there are today 52 clubs in the District. When I started there are 51. I am happy to inform you that Rotary Club of Aguda was chartered on the 22nd of September 1986. That makes it 52. Up till last night I was still visiting some clubs. I have today visited 49 clubs in the District. I must say that in my visits to these clubs, I have discovered one thing that some of the old clubs, even though they are still managing to bathe in their old glory, the new Clubs are catching up very fast. As I said a few days ago in one of the Clubs I visited, if I were to choose the best 10 Clubs in this District today, 7 of them are likely to be Clubs that were formed within the last 3 years and I seriously mean that.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______204 The Ultimate Honour Again Fellow Rotarians, we are here, not only to discuss Extension but also to discuss Membership Development. I hope in due course, to also talk about attendance. The attendance reports have not been what they should be, and I believe we need to do something about this. I, of course, realise that the Summer Holidays might have taken a number of people away from their territories. Now one might ask what is the need for Extension. Have we not got enough Rotary Clubs here in Nigeria?
Some pessimists would argue that we do not need to continue to extend, but I believe I have managed to convince you that there is a definite need for extension in this district. Not only is there a need for external extension but there is also a need for Extension internally. The membership drive must continue. In my visit to the Clubs, I seem to have found a cure for membership development ailments in some Clubs in the district and I can name one or two examples of what I actually mean by this. About 6 weeks ago, I visited the Rotary Club of Mende, when I got there, I discovered they had a great problem of sustaining a viable membership level. They could hardly make the 20—member mark. They were very worried. They were in fact thinking of folding up but after our discussions and my motivation, they felt encouraged that they could and would try to survive. Then I quickly gave them the knockout punch by asking — “How many new Rotary Clubs will you form this year?” They thought I was not serious, but in the end, we started identifying the possible areas. They finally agreed to form one Club. However, about 4 weeks after I had visited them, to my surprise, the Rotary Club of Mende who could hardly make a 20- member mark brought me a Survey of the area called Okupe Estate accompanied by a list of 50 members already identified for that Club.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______205 The Ultimate Honour In fact, this is now going to benefit the membership drive of Rotary Club of Mende. I thought that was the end of the story. But to my surprise, I received yet another list from this same Rotary Club of Mende saying that they would be forming yet another Club — Mende South. Thirty-three names were listed for the formation of this New Club and this is a Club that could barely make 20 members only a few weeks earlier. I now think that what may be the cure to a lethargic Rotary Club is keen competition from a New Club.
A similar story can be told of the Rotary Club of Ilaro but tight now, they are in the process of forming Rotary Clubs in Idi-Iroko and Aiyetoro. They also have a list of about 33 members in each case. If we stop to grow, decay will set in, In eventual demise. We need more hands, and new ideas.
Fellow Rotarians, I can go on and on, but I think a word is sufficient for the wise. I have said that Nigeria has a population of 100 million, but there are only 6,700 Rotarians.
I hit definitely there are many more professional and businessmen than that in Nigeria. Although RI District 911 covers only Lagos and Ogun States, the membership strength is about 2,500. Definitely there is still a lot of room for Extension. You all know that Rotary is a Service Organisation rendering selfless service to the community and its people.
By the 1st of July 1982, there were only 29 Rotary Clubs and 1,200 Rotarians the whole of Nigeria under the governorship of our moderator, Rot PDG Julius Adelusi—Adeluyi. Within his one year of office as governor,we grew from 29 Clubs to 62.Clubs. An additional 33 Clubs in one year. (This, I believe is the world record for any governor so far). It was from that time that the impact of Nigeria Rotary Clubs started to -be felt not only locally but also at the level of
www.obatejuosobooks.com______206 The Ultimate Honour Rotary International. It was that phenomenal growth amongst other things that focussed attention on Rotary in Nigeria and made it possible for a Nigerian, in person of Rot. PDG Jon B. Majiyagbe to become a member of the five-man Rotary International Committee that planned the International Convention of Birmingham U.K. a few years ago.
Again, fellow Rotarians, the importance of our continued Extension can be found in the fact that about four years ago, there was only one district in the whole of Nigeria, (and infact 5 years ago, Nigeria was only part of a District). Today there are 4 districts in Nigeria just as there are 4 districts in South Africa. The importance of that as I have told you a number of time, is that in the past, Nigeria had no chance of producing an RI Director. But today, since we have 4 districts and South Africa still has only 4 Districts, we now have a chance of producing an R.I. Director, sooner than later.
Fellow Rotarians, we can now see why our work on extension must continue, We should not even now stop at only producing an RI Director. There is no reason why we cannot sooner than later produce an RI President. But of course, to do this, we have to compete with countries like the USA who have 143 Districts, Japan which has 27 Districts, Brazil with 27 Districts, Australia with 23 Districts, etc, etc.
The impact of Nigeria is beginning to be felt at RI. You will remember that Japan was hardly known in Rotary circles until just after the war when they more or less revolutionised Rotary in their country. They can today boast of having produced their first RI President in the person of Hiroji Mukasa 1982/83. If they can perform the feat, must we not try to revolutionise Rotary in Nigeria too?
www.obatejuosobooks.com______207 The Ultimate Honour You can imagine what Rotary would be in Nigeria if within the next 5 years, we can end up with about 12 viable Districts or more?
But fellow Rotarians, I have talked so much about Extension, we should be very mindful of one important fact. We must not sacrifice quality for quantity and you will agree with me that this District has been very mindful of this, hence we introduced a monthly quiz which has helped a great deal to improve the knowledge of Rotarians in this district. We also introduced the District Bulletin to keep you fully informed of goings-on in the district and other clubs. This District Bulletin is being distributed free of charge to all Rotarians in this district.
Similarly, we plan to start a self sustaining Rotary Regional Magazine for all the 4 Districts here in Nigeria. Hopefully, this would eventually cover the whole of black Africa as South Africa already has its own regional magazine.
I congratulate those of you who have been proposed to me * by your clubs as being capable of forming New Rotary Clubs.
You will be appointed as the District Governors Special Representatives (DGSR) after you have submitted duly completed and convincing Survey Forms. Club Presidents and Presidents—Elect should of course please take note that l hey are here to ensure proper nurturing of the new clubs, when formed, for one full year.
Fellow Rotarians I thank you very much for coming and I hope that this seminar will be of immense benefit to all of us.
Rot. Dapo District G
R. I. District 9
www.obatejuosobooks.com______208 The Ultimate Honour
SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF 1986 ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS SEMINAR HELD AT THE SEA SCHOOL, APAPA BETWEEN 14TH - 20TH DECEMBER 1986
The Military Governor of Lagos State, Navy Captain Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Distinguished Guests, Fellow Rotarians, Inner Wheel Members, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is with great pleasure that I address you on the occasion marking the beginning of a Week Seminar specially designed for further development and encouragement of youths drawn from various communities in Rotary District 911 comprising of Lagos and Ogun States.
The RYLA Seminar is unique. Through the granting of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards a number of young people from different home backgrounds, having different levels of education, religion, and are involved in various kinds of youth activities are brought together to work, to learn, and to discuss the problems of their generation.
The objectives of a RYLA Programme are:
(1) To further demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth.
(2) To encourage and assist selected youth leaders and potential leaders in methods of responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with adequate training through experience.
(3) To encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth.
(4) To publicly recognize the high qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______209 The Ultimate Honour (5) To expose youths to the art of self development and self reliance.
(6) RYLA seeks to establish a “FELLOWSHIP OF YOUTH LEADERS”.
The value of RYLA:
RYLA — Enables every Rotary Club to acknowledge the service of young people to the community. This is done annually.
— Motivates young leaders, and provides them with improved techniques of leadership. This enthusiasm and the improved techniques are brought back for use in the community from which the Awardees were sponsored.
— Diverts public attention from the deliquent elements to those who are willing to serve, thus giving the more responsible young people the much needed encouragement.
— Exposes a large number of young people and their families to Rotary ideals of service.
— Helps to bridge the “Communication Gap” between young and old generation, and has been seen to improve relationship with youth’s families and the community.
— Offers Rotarians, Rotary Anns, Inner Wheel Members a special opportunity to take part in developing effective leadership qualities and good citizenship among the young people of their communities.
— Is a complementary programme to other Rotary Youth activities and has been instrumental in the formation of Rotary Youth Service Organisations like Rotract and Interact Clubs.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______210 The Ultimate Honour — Reminds us of our youth activities Motto:- “Every Rotarian an Example to youths.”
I therefore congratulate those of you who are participating in this year’s RYLA Seminar, for it is a rare opportunity to have been selected to participate in the programme. You will therefore seize the opportunity of being here to further develop yourself and at the end of the Seminar become more serviceable to your communities, country and the World at large. It is in this vein that you will further demonstrate to the world that Rotary Brings Hope.
Rot. Dapo Tejuoso District Governor 86/87 R. I. District 911, Nigeria
ADDRESS DELIVERED AT THE FIFTH CONFERENCE OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 911 AT THE FEDERAL PALACE HOTEL, ON THURSDAY THE 26TH OF MARCH, 1987 TO MARK THE OPENING CEREMONY
R.I. President’s Representative, P.D.G. Basil Marhofer, other District Governors present, District Governors Nominee 1987/88/89. Our Guest of Honour, the Military Governor of Lagos State, Navy Captain Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Past District Governors, District Officers, Past Presidents, Fellow Rota- rians, Rotary Anns, Rotractors, Interactors, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
We have now arrived at the zenith (so to say) of our year together and we have cause to be grateful to the Almighty in every way.
Almost a year ago at the District Assembly, I told you I saw a vision. I ignited your imagination and encouraged you to work as a team rather than as individuals. You responded to my call. I challenged you not to allow yourselves www.obatejuosobooks.com______211 The Ultimate Honour to be haunted by the lament of Green Leaf Whither ‘For all the words of pen and tongue, the saddest are these’. ‘It might have been’. Instead, I charged you to be guided by the wisdom of the words of the Poet Virgil: “You can, if you think you can’. You all discovered you could and you have indeed proved that beyond any shadow of doubt.
You have paid the price of greatness which is responsibility. You have avoided being run down by being always on the-right track and constantly on the move. You have made progress. You have achieved and kept great heights, not by sudden flight but by toiling upwards day and night. You have been sufficiently motivated and you have demonstrated true leadership by example. Indeed, you have shared Rotary with others.
I dreamt of success and I told you that a man’s achievements are only always as tall as his dreams.
I saw a vision of success. I informed you. My vision has come true. Our mission in District 911 has been accomplished, our journey together is about to end but it has been filled with inspiration, sacrifices, devotion and dedication to duty, friendliness, hardwork, satisfaction and achievements. Above all, we have had the joy of fulfilment of the aim of our theme for this Rotary year. “Rotary brings Hope”.
I doff my hat for all you good fellow Rotarians for your spirit of team work.
If indeed I should be remembered for anything as Governor of R.I. District 911, 1986/87, I should like to be remembered in history as a Governor who saw a vision of “Unification in the diversity of Rotary in Nigeria.” On the 1st of July 1982, Rotary in Nigeria became one District under the leadership and Governorship of PDG Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi. On the 1st of July 1986, Rotary in www.obatejuosobooks.com______212 The Ultimate Honour Nigeria was split into four. Certainly, there can now be no end to this splitting which indeed is a good thing that surely spells growth and progress. It is however, important, for us not to lose our identity as Nigerians. We must endeavour to speak with one voice always. It is with this at the back of our mind that we have pioneered this Rotary Year the commencement of the publication of a Regional Rotary Magazine for Nigeria. It is therefore with the greatest pride and pleasure that I present this first copy of the maiden issue of the magazine styled ‘Rotary Nigeria’ to our R.I. Presidents’ Representative and our Military Governor of Lagos State for launching today. We hope to publish it quarterly for now. I must at this juncture give honour to whom honour is due by presenting to you the Chairman of the Rotary Magazine Committee for Nigeria — Rot. Dr. Sonuga of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 911.
In a similar vein of Unity in Diversity, since Rotary in Nigeria was split into more than one District, we are producing for the first time a District Directory which features all the Rotary Clubs in all the Districts throughout Nigeria. Its compilation had not been easy but the important thing is that it has been done. Again, I proudly present this maiden issue for launching today. I am sure you will agree with me until compares favourably with the R.I. Directory. It is imped that the future District Governors in Nigeria will see the need to continue the publication of just one Directory for Nigeria.
In the field of Polio-Plus, we have laid the necessary foundation. We have made our impact felt. The Government has given us the well deserved recognition which hitherto has eluded us. We have been acclaimed *as partners in progress with the Government. We have donated in cash and kind to llie Government’s E.P.I. Programme. Rotary International has car-marked US $2.81m to fight Polio in Nigeria. www.obatejuosobooks.com______213 The Ultimate Honour All the Rotarians in Nigeria donated through me a Giant K.P.I. trophy to the Nigerian Government in November 1986 in commemoration of the celebration of its second K.P.I. Anniversary. This trophy was won by the Ogun State Government.
R. I. District 911 successfully had two Immunisation Days on the 11th and 17th of February, 1987. The German Television crew from Munich and the Executive Director of the Polio-Plus Immunisation Task Force of R. I. (Immediate Past General Secretary of R. I.) Rot. Herbert Pigman were present.
A lot of thanks goes to Rot. Dr. Akintade (Charter President of the Rotary Club of Opebi) and his Polio-Plus Committee for the District. We also succeeded in getting the Minister of Health Prof Olikoye Ransome-Kuti to agree in principle that the Government will commence National Immunisation Days from October 1st, 1987.
Still on the subject of Polio, most of you will remember the Motion Picture called “OUT OF AFRICA POLIO REHA- BILATION PROJECT” which was shown to us at the last R.I. Convention in Las Vegas in June, 1986. This was a project of Reconstructive Orthopaedic Surgery where a Volunteer — Dr Joe Serra (an Orthopaedic Surgeon) of Stockton, California, USA went to Malawi and along with some dedicated Rotarians of the country carried out Reconstructive Surgery on some Polio-Victims. I immediately suggested to an Orthopaedic Surgeon friend of mine who was with me at that time to start a similar project in District 911 on our return home. He accepted the challenge and I am happy to say that he has since commenced the project and has already successfully operated on three such patients from Atanda Olu Nursing Home free of charge. The Volunteer
www.obatejuosobooks.com______214 The Ultimate Honour Orthopaedic Surgeon is Rot. Dr. Isola Abudu. We shall endeavour to make it a 3H project soon so as to get more people involved.
Still in the field of firsts, we have made history as a team in the sphere of Group Study Exchange. We have cause to be proud. We have worked hard for it. In the annals of Rotary in Nigeria and indeed Rotary the world over, it is usual to have just one leg of the Group Study Exchange Team in one Rotary Year. This Rotary Year our team has had three such legs as we sent a team of six to Nebraska USA in August 1986 and received a team from Alabama USA in September, 1986. We are at this point in time receiving the final and third leg from Nebraska USA. This has been made possible because we had a young dynamic Rotarian to lead the GSE Sub-Committee this Rotary year and this is Rotarian Past President Michael Olawale-Cole. I proudly present the visiting G.S.E. Team led by PDG Eldon Jasa who will be formerly introduced soon.
We have broken new grounds in the field of Youth Programmes. Apart from the usual one day seminar, RYLA, etc, we have for the first time in Nigeria formed an Interact District of our own in R.I. District 911. Last Rotary Year there were over 9,000 Youth Exchanges all over the world. Nigeria did not and has never participated. This year, District 911 has succeeded in joining the band wagon by sending three youths out on these exchanges: Miss Joy Eklaga has already travelled out to Canada and Master Busayo Odugbe- san to USA, while Master Chima Okechukwu Uchero will soon travel out to Australia.
We have also accepted to receive two youths from abroad as exchanges this Rotary Year. All these have been made possible by the team of Rotarian Youth leaders — Rot. Dr. Funso Peters, Victor Amaechina, Kayode Adebayo and Prof. Alaba Akinsete. Of course, one should not be very surprised at the excellence of
www.obatejuosobooks.com______215 The Ultimate Honour this administration with the regularity and best quality of the District Governor’s Monthly Letters, and the quarterly District Bulletin which is given to every Rotarian in the District free of charge. They are innovations to Rotary in this part of the world. What about the constant and massive in and out flow of correspondence from the District Office? I can assure you that somebody has been very much at the helm of affairs, somebody very dynamic and in fact had been styled by some of you as Mr Rotary himself. That is the agile and charismatic District Secretary — Rot. Lekan Ogundimu — Charter President of the Rotary Club of Surulere South.
Accountability has been the watch word of this admins- tration even though we inherited no kobo from any previous administration to date. We are self-starters and despite all these, we have produced and presented (twice already) to you regularly quarterly financial statements and balance sheets of our District. Thanks to the financial wizardry and thoroughness of the District Treasurer, Rotarian Clement Kunle Olowokande of the Rotary Club of Ikeja. May your shadow (money) never grow less. At this point, I should also say a big thank you to the Finance Committee whose Chairman is Rot.Goo die Ibru.
Talking about finance, I have cause to be grateful to all you good Rotarians of this District who have contributed a great deal to the Rotary Foundation funds (Paul Harris Fellows) this Rotary Year. I am particularly grateful to the Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Anthony Village (with its Charter President Odusote). With their first cheque of N29, 000.00 for Paul Harris Fellowship, I was enthused by the club’s generousity which gave me impetus to pursue the sales promotion of the Rotary Foundation Funds (PHF).
www.obatejuosobooks.com______216 The Ultimate Honour As you know, one has to pay the equivalent of US $1,000 to become a Paul Harris Fellow. Up to date, I have collected such payments from 506 people — (totalling US $506,000 equivalent to about N620,000 before SFEM) as opposed to people who paid last Rotary Year 1985/86 and the 272 people who paid over a 24 year period before the last Rotary Year 1961 — 1985.
I am particularly grateful to President Wale Odeleye and the members of my club the Rotary Club of Ikeja who topped the list of donors with payment for 50 people this Rotary Year.
I am also grateful to Rot. Oliver Johnson and his International Service Committee for the very highly successful, first ever, District 911 Paul Harris Fellows Night in November, 1986. To the other chairmen of Avenue of Service — Rots Dipo Bailey, Tunji Fadairo and Aku Omokhodion, I say a big thank you.
What about our untiring, indefatigable Rot. PP Bill Murray Bruce of the Rotary Club of Yaba as the Chairman of Scholarship Committee? He has made it possible for Scholarships to be awarded, foremost amongst which is the award to the Rotary Foundation scholar — Dr. Olusoji Adeyi, with full involvement of the International Committee of the Red Cross to which we have already given full recognition and appreciation. A BIG THANK YOU Sir PP Bill.
Our work on Rotary Extension has just commenced. The Extension Councillor, Rot, Harry B. Payne and the DGRS are now busily engaged. Thanks.
I cease this opportunity to recognise all the newly chartered Rotary Clubs here present and to commend to you the words of the Rotary Song (modified by me) on Extension and World Understanding in our District Conference Programme.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______217 The Ultimate Honour We have not sacrificed qujality for quantity. Thanks to the members of our Rotary information Committee with its Chairman — DGN 88/89 Rot Banjo Solaru and also our Membership Development Committee Chairman Rot. Chief R. A. Balogun. They ensured that we had a very successful Rotary Information Institute and Rotary Foundation Seminar at the University of Lagos in February 1987. This was co-ordinated for the first time by Rot. P.D.G. Per Bro- nner the head of the Zurich Office of R. I. himself.
My thanks finally goes to the Chairman of the District Governor’s Installation and District Conference Committee, Rot. PP John Ade Adepoju and its members who made the District governor’s Installation ceremony on the 28th of June, 1986 the huge success that it was both in the very large turnout and the huge financial success that it was (a net profit of about N40,000.00 was made).
We have already started seeing signs of a huge success for this District Conference. May your shadow never grow less. Thank you and God bless.
Governor 1986/R. I. District 911.
WELCOME SPEECH TO R. I. DISTRICT 911
PRESIDENTS -ELECT TRAINING SEMINAR
HELD AT OGERE OGUN STATE ON
WEDNESDAY THE 8TH OF APRIL 1987
The Incoming District Governor, District Governor Nominee, District Officers, Presidents—Elect, Fellow Rotarians. Welcome to this year’s Presidents —Elect www.obatejuosobooks.com______218 The Ultimate Honour Training Seminar. This has been a year of successes and you being very much part of the current year, we should continue to achieve more successes and grow from strength to strength with happiness.
The attendance this morning has been very encouraging. You must aim high to shoot high. As I said last year that the limit of your ambition — and achievement is usually a measure of the extent of your dream. You must therefore start dreaming of success from now on. No man is an Island on its own. A tree does not make a forest. We must all cooperate and work as a team. That is for the good news.
Now, for the not so bad news. We do not know how funds will be raised for next year — however a foundation has been laid this year for continuity and availability of funds. One administration runs into another. No doubt you will inherit the assets of your predecessors in office — but it is now up to you to ensure that there are no liabilities left behind for you to inherit.
My plan of action for the next Rotary year as the Nominating Committee Chairman by the kind permission of the Incoming DG Wole Folarin, is that Clubs that are not financial for the past 2 years should not be allowed to vote nor be voted for, nor be given any District awards nor privileges at the District Conference in March 1988. I am sure you will all therefore see to it that all these outstanding debts will be collected and paid to the District before the next District Assembly but definitely before you take office. The days of “we met nothing in the kitty and we left nothing” (which has been the slogan of the District up till now) are now over.
All the Presidents—Elect are enjoined therefore to ensure speedy collection.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______219 The Ultimate Honour Consolidation in making 1987/88 a year of consolidation, the Incoming DG Rot. Wole Folarin does not want you to rest on your oars nor kill possible viable clubs coming up. We have laid a very solid foundation for consolidation this Rotary year. Please continue it and build on it. Internal growth should be encouraged. It is not easy but it must be done. It is the responsibility of every Rotarian to bring new men into Rotary. You were invited into Rotary by someone. It is your turn to invite someone-else into Rotary. We must not stand still. We must avoid net membership loss through attrition. Apart from Paul Harris himself every other Rotarian was invited into Rotary.
Therefore reach out and share Rotary with others. Make every effective use of the 5 for one plan of your membership development programme. Give our In- coming District Governor Oluwole Folarin the 20% net membership gain he iS asking for in the Rotary Year 1987/88.
Thanks and God bless.
Yours
Rot. Dr Dapo Tdr District Governor District 911, Nigeria.
WELCOME ADDRESS TO THE ROTARY CLUBS’ OFFICERS OF R. I. DISTRICT 911 FOR 1987/88 AT THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY AT ASCON, BADAGRY, LAGOS STATE ON FRIDAY THE 8TH OF MAY AND SATURDAY THE 9TH OF MAY 1987
In-coming District Governor 87/88, Rot. Oluwole Folarin District Governor Nominee 1988/89, Rot. Banjo Solaru, District Officers, Presidents’—Elect, Club Officers—Elect, www.obatejuosobooks.com______220 The Ultimate Honour Welcome to this training school (District Assembly) for in-coming Club Officers for the Rotary Year 1987/88. It is a serious business and it should therefore be approached as such.
Today and part of tomorrow, you will be subjected to some serious lectures which, under normal circumstances, should not be entirely new to you. We have all been through this at one time or the other and I am sure you will all emerge successful (possibly with Distinction) at the end of your final exams (only the brilliant ones fail anyway).
I can assure you, you are going to be sufficiently inspired and highly motivated during these sessions that at the end of it all, you will want to reach for the moon in your level of achievements. Knowledge cannot be bought. It can only be acquired through this type of training and of course a little effort on your part to reach for your books and make them your daily companions.
As you will be inspired here today, so must you go forth there-after to make your plans, execute your programmes as successful professionals and businessmen, fire the imagination of your club members and. motivate them to such an extent that in your year of office the Rotary motto of ‘service above self’ will be displayed to the utmost in order to “Bring Plope” to our community. Afterall we are all Rotarians “United in Service and Dedicated to Peace”.
You must ensure that the spirit of Team work permeates your administration at all time.
My speech is not a long one, but at this point in time, I should give you some Rotary information.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______221 The Ultimate Honour I am happy to inform you that on Wednesday the 22nd of April, 1987, this R.I. District 911 at the Sheraton Hotel Ikcja Lagos, successfully organised the second International Service Organisations Luncheon (ISOL). (This was last held lour years ago). It was very well attended. About 12 such International organisations were represented.
The Soroptimist International was ably led by Mrs Ade- toun Bailey, Red Cross, by Dr Sinmi Johnson and Mrs Ajose. Boys Scout by Chief Agbaje, and Lions International by the Lions District 404 Governor (86/87) himself — Chief Lai Balogun. This is just to mention a few that were present. It is with pleasure that I announce that at that same Luncheon meeting the CONFEDERATION INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ORGANISATIONS OF NIGERIA (CISON) was formally inaugurated. Thanks to the efforts of the International Service Committee of the District ably led by Rot. Oliver E. Johnson. I hereby specially commend the efforts of Rotarian Oshun who strikes me as an ideal Rotarian.
Now, let us put the records straight: — In the Rotary year 1982/83 under the District Governorship of Rot. Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, I was asked to organise the 1st International Service Organisations Luncheon (ISOL). With the then DG’s consent, I quickly formed a committee of four with me as the Secretary and IDG 87/88. Rot. Oluwole Folarin as Chairman. Other members were Rots. Lekan Ogundimu and Odunlami. The first ISOL Meeting then took place at the Federal Palace Hotel. Victoria Island, Lagos.
An extract from my speech at the 2nd ISOL meeting held two weeks ago reads thus:
“But since 1982, for some inexplicable reasons, we have not had the opportunity of a repetition of this type of gathering. We have thus over the years and without
www.obatejuosobooks.com______222 The Ultimate Honour knowing it, deprived ourselves of a very effective forum of exchange of ideas, ideals, and a means of speaking with one voice in our efforts in providing our services, service above self, be it philanthropic or otherwise to our Nation. It is when we work together, this way, but certainly, without losing our individual identities, that the efforts of all the International Service Organisations towards the building of a virile Nation would be further enhanced and better recognised.
At this juncture, I want to recognise the contributions of our colleagues in other international service organisations towards the health, educational and social development of our country in these past years.
Related Experience
I also remember at this point, a club in Canada (Rotary Club of Frederiction, Canada) which within a short period in 1985 was able to organise other service clubs and organisations in Canada (53 of them) for the purpose of disseminating information and promoting service within their community. This was about three years after we in Nigeria muted this same idea at our 1982 International Service Organisations’ Luncheon. Within a twinkle of an eye, 53 local service clubs and organisations laid the necessary ground work towards the co-ordination and integration of the programs of member organisations for the benefit of the end- users of the service - THE COMMUNITY AND THE NATION AS A WHOLE”. However, it is never late to start.
In recent times, we have heard of the efforts of some service organisations initiating and completing gigantic projects in our communities. Not so long ago, Lions International donated a N600,000.00 fully equipped laboratory here in Lagos.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______223 The Ultimate Honour It is high time that the district as a body left its clear mark in the sand of time.
I want to assure you that in consultation with my successors in office (IDG 87/88 and DGN 88/89), we shall set in motion the machinery for the attainment of success in this respect. The Lagos State Commissioner of Health (Dr Desalu) who happens to be an active Rotarian feels very concerned about our not being in the forefront in these infra-structural projects. You will be kept informed of progress.
This District continues to grow quantitatively and qualitatively too. From 51 Clubs on the 1st of July I 987 we have grown to 78 Clubs by the 30th of April, 1987. As I am speaking to you here now, six more clubs (i.e. Ro- inry Club of Oko-Oba, Ikosi, Oshodi, Iju Hills, G.R.A. Ikeja and Ijora) must have been chartered by yesterday, bringing I lie figure to 84 Rotary Clubs, There are also four more already in the Pipe Line in Zurich (i.e. Isheri, Iperu, Iju Central, and Ogudu). This should bring the figure to 88 in another few days. No doubt your Resolution at the last District Conference and before is thus fully justified. Besides, my point that one locality may be able to contain the formation of two or three new clubs at the same time has also been proven.
To ensure that these clubs are viable and remain qualitative, I have taken it upon myself to officially visit (although I am not expected to by R.I.) virtually all the new clubs before my term of office runs out in order to assist my successor and make his task lighter next Rotary Year.
I feel highly elated at this juncture to note that one of the new clubs formed this Rotary Year, the Rotary Club of Ikate ably led by Rot. Bala Bako is said to be sponsoring today’s lunch.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______224 The Ultimate Honour The Rotary Club of Thomas Ajegunle ably led by Rot. Alhaji Mohammed Agbolahan, though chartered on the 26th of March 1987 has already put up a 4— Way Test Bill Board in its community and also constructed a mini-bridge which has successfully linked two hitherto isolated and separated communities of Thomas Olaniyan and Ajegunle Estates in its environ.
What better impact does any Club need to make on its community? I say well done. Keep it up.
The Rotary Club of Amu wo, ably led by Rot Austin Akosa, and only chartered on the 18th of March, 1987 has already made History by being the first Rotary Club ever not only in District 911 but also in Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa (as I am reliably informed by the Zurich
Office) to submit a completed application form of a Rotary Village Corps (R.V.C.) formation. This should be approved any time from now.
I congratulate you very heartily. But what reward can be better than a PIONEER CERTIFICATE personally signed by the R.I. President M.A.T. Caparas himself? This should be yours any time from now.
A similar certificate will still be awarded to any club that can form an R.V.C. before the end of the Rotary Year. It is easy. Ask Austin.
More grease to your elbows.
With these few words, I now declare this District Assembly open. Thanks and God bless.
Rot. Dr. District Gove; District 911,
www.obatejuosobooks.com______225 The Ultimate Honour TEXT OF THE SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE TURNING OF THE SOD OF THE EXTENSION OF THE ISLAND MATERNITY HOSPITAL, LAGOS, LAGOS STATE ON FRIDAY THE 19TH OF JUNE, 1987
Your Excellency the Military Governor of Lagos State — Navy Captain Mike Okhai Akhigbe, Obas and Chiefs, District Governor—Elect, District Governor Nominee, Hon. Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Government Officials — Federal and State, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, my Fellow Rotarians.
First and foremost, I congratulate very heartily, the Lagos State Military Governor, Navy Captain Mike Okhai Akhigbe during whose tenure of office this milestone in history is being reached.
We are gathered here today, for what I consider to be a happy occasion. This is because some service minded individuals, collectively known as Rotarians, have jointly and severally answered the call of their fatherland and their community to erect an edifice befitting this great country Nigeria.
I also know as a medical doctor that this 30 bed-three store Gynaecological Ward will help to alleviate the sufferings of some of our women. Our doctors, nurses and specialists will be able to perform their services efficiently towards their patients. It is our hope and prayer that those who seek medical help in this hospital will receive adequate treatment and be relieved of their pains and ailments.
We pray that the Almighty Father will bless all hands that perform operations in this hospital. And from this little acorn may grow a giant oak of selfless service. I know the Doctors care, but only God cures and no doubt the State Government will provide the necessary facilities.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______226 The Ultimate Honour My successor in office District Governor-Elect 87/88 — Rot. Oluwole A. Folarin, his successor District Governor
Nominee 88/89, Rot Banjo Solaru and my humble self will be turning the sod of this laudable project jointly with the Military Governor.
Interestingly enough, the man who motivated and shared this dream with us is unavoidably absent today. He is the District Secretary Rotarian Lekan Ogundimu. When he was discussing the project with me, we had no hope of realising it, but in our usual characteristic manner of doing things, he asked me to pray and sleep over it. While still deliberating on this, almost like a miracle, another fellow Rotarian, the Hon. Commissioner of Health Rot. Dr. Desalu called me to discuss the same idea. Dr Desalu expressed regret as a Rotarian that Rotary was lagging behind in terms of embarking on Infra Structural projects in the state as he had seen the activities of the other International Service Organisations.
Rotary began with a young American lawyer Paul P. Harris and three of his clients. Today we have grown to over one million Rotarians in over 22,000 Clubs in 447 Districts and 161 countries and geographical regions.
In Nigeria today, there are about 8,000 Rotarians in about 230 clubs in 4 Districts.
In R. I. District 911, there are now over 3000 Rotarians in about 90 clubs covering 2 states of Nigeria.
We have great dreams for our fatherland Projects that will bring about self sufficiency for the unemployed and improvement of educational standards will be embarked upon. Most likely, a Vocational Centre and probably a Library may be provided in other parts of this District within the next two Rotary Years.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______227 The Ultimate Honour The lessons we have learnt in Rotary, which we enjoin the leaders of this great country to emulate are cooperation and continuity amongst our members coupled with genuine concern for our fellow men — selfless service for he profits most, who serves best.
Finally, on behalf of all Rotarians in District 911,1 thank the Military Governor of Lagos State, Navy Capt. Mike
Okhai Akhigbe and his government for the opportunity afforded us to serve our fellow country men and women through this project. Thank you and God bless.
Yours in Rotary Service
Rot. Dr. Dapo Tejuos District Governor 86 R.I. District 911, Nigeria
SPEECH DELIVERED BY ROT. PDG DR DAPO TEJUOSO AT THE R.I. DISTRICT 911 CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY THE 24TH OF MARCH 1988 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS CAMPUS
TOPIC: THE ROLE OF INNERWHEEL CLUB
DG Wole Folarin, R.I. President’s Representative Andy Chande. Fellow Rotarians and Guests.
You would have noticed that I have cut down on protocol. Not so long ago, a friend of mine, a psychiatrist, in an attempt to eulogise his boss, also a psychiatrist and guest of Honour on the high table went on and on in protocol and finally ended up referring to his boss as: “My Lord Mental”.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______228 The Ultimate Honour You can therefore understand why I was anxious not to overdo it.
I have not prepared a paper for this Symposium for two reasons: First because I knew two experts on the subject
(a) Inner Wheel Member Bisi Solaru, Past Chairman International Inner Wheel District 911 and Current Director for Nigeria at the International Inner Wheel and
(b) Inner Wheel Member Stella Awani — Current Chairman International Innerwheel District 911 (now ably represented by the incoming Chairman Innerwheel member Mrs Remi Omotosho).
Would be speaking before me. It was therefore obvious that anything I wrote would have been a repetition or a duplication which I hate. I have been proved right by the erudite speeches you have just heard delivered by these two previous speakers. Mine is therefore essentially a mopping up job which I should dispense with in a minute.
The second reason for my not preparing a paper was to aboid the mistake a friend of mine inadvertently fell into not so long ago. He was to present a paper on the topic:
“THE FINAL ERADICATION OF WOMEN DISEASES FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH”.
The Printers Devil came into play and the Printer forgot to print the second line of this TOPIC completely. Of course my friend was highly embarrased because without him reading over, he presented and distributed the papers which then read: THE FINAL ERADICATION OF WOMEN.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______229 The Ultimate Honour What followed is better imagined.
What do women want in Rotary anyway? I am sure my friend, the R.I. President’s Representative PDG Andy Chande would probably have wished to tell them to wait and be contented with the proceeds of the Life Insurance when we are gone. Or maybe I am wrong.
Women surely have enough to do at home, for the children, at school, at religious institutions, and the several women societies like the Soroptimists, Zonta, Lioness Clubs, Inner Wheel Clubs (to mention a few) than to start wishing to hob nob with men in Rotary. Surely, it is bound to be boring for a married couple to spend the whole day together at home or at work and go to the same club again in the evening. A regular break is known to be a soothing tonic for the harmony and peace of the home. The role presently being played indirectly in Rotary by women is very highly priced and appreciated. You can imagine an R.I. President or a District Governor or even a Club President without a wife. You can imagine how disorganised and irritable such a person is likely to be. By the way, what are the husbands of Women in Rotary called? Rotary Jones? Would they be able to join the Inner-Wheel clubs or form their own, possibly, “Outer Wheel Clubs”?
It is a good thing that membership of women in Rotary is up till now only limited to USA. I am sure we will not wish to see it spread down here just like I am sure our women also detest the idea.
Even in the US we are informed that the women are leaving Rotary Clubs almost as fast as they are joining them. Probably because they soon discover that they do not quite fit in. Incidentally the few women in Rotary we are told prefer their husbands to be called Rotary Spouses rather than Ratory Jones.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______230 The Ultimate Honour The second part of the Topic for this Symposium is “THE ROLE OF INNER WHEEL CLUB”
Why am I the one to discuss this topic? My wife is not a Rotarian and I therefore have no ambition to become an Inner Wheel Member. In any case, I shall endeavour to now treat this subject with dispatch.
This topic, infact reminds me of the story of a Visiting Professor and his Chauffer (Driver). The latter had regularly, on a weekly basis, driven his boss, the professor to deliver the same lecture for the past thirty years. He had always been contented to seat at the back and listen to the lecture. On this fateful day, the driver mentioned to his boss that having listened so often to the lecture, he was sure he could in fact deliver it better.
They then agreed to swap roles and the Driver went to deliver the lecture (unrecognised). The Professor this time, sitting at the back of the hall as the “driver”. Indeed the Driver now turned Professor did very well and finished the one hour lecture in 45 minutes. That was his undoing as there was then enough time for questions. A very tough question then came from a member of the audience which the ‘Driver turned Professor’ had no clue as to the answer.
However, he was smart enough to castigate the questioner by saying: How dare you ask such a ‘simple question when in fact my “Driver” sitting at the back there can answer the question without sweat?
Well fellow Rotarians and guest, in case you intend to ask me any tough questions after this speech, my “Driver” (my Rotary Ann — an Inner Wheel Member) is right behind me here and ready to answer any such ‘simple’ questions.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______231 The Ultimate Honour Talking seriously the Inner Wheel club is a ‘sine qua non’ to any Rotary Club. It plays a very complimentary role. A Rotary Club that does not have an Inner- Wheel Club is not only doing a disservice to itself but also to its community.
Inner-Wheel clubs play very useful roles of complementing community projects that the Government and Rotary clubs cannot cover. A Rotary Club without an Inner Wheel Club is like a Rotarian without a Rotary Ann or a man without a wife. You know how boring or lonely that can actually be. Inner-Wheel Clubs have been known to handle such gigantic projects like building Libraries fully equipped with books for their communities. They have donated generously to Motherless Babies Homes (though NOT fatherless babies homes as they do not exist). S.O.S. villages, Old Peoples home. Even recently they donated the sum of N10,000.00 to the Polio-Plus funds.
Only last week an Inner-Wheel Club embarked upon a gigantic community project of building a COMFORT STATION (A PUBLIC TOILET) — The first Rotary Project in Chicago within its first very few years of existence.
What-else can Rotary Clubs do that Inner Wheel Clubs cannot do better? If that is so, why then are the Rotary Clubs not encouraging the formation of their own Inner Wheel Clubs?
Today, there are 100 Rotary Clubs in this R. I. District 911 when there are only 40 Inner wheel Clubs. Why the disparity?
Something drastic needs to be done about this and I hope that all Rotary Clubs will take this up promptly as a challenge and see to it soonest that for each Rotary Club, there is an Inner Wheel Club. I need not say more lest you start thinking that I am the sole agent for the promotion of Inner Wheel Clubs.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______232 The Ultimate Honour Thank you and God bless.
Yours in Rotary service
Rot. Dr Dapo Tejyoso
District Governor (1986/87 District 911, Nigeria.
R. I. DISTRICT 911 INTER DISTRICT COMMITTEE 1988/89: SPEECH DELIVERED AT THE DISTRICT ASSEMBLY AT ASCON BADAGRY ON FRIDAY 6TH OF MAY 1988
Rot. DG Wole Folarin, Incoming DG Banjo Solaru, PDGS, Fellow Rotarians and friends.
Inter District Committee! What is the relevance of this? One might ask, at this point in time!
Why must I be chosen to be the Chairman of this committee when in fact I should still be recovering and recuperating from the strains and fatigue of being a District Governor, enjoying the recluse and back bench position of an Elder Statesman (PDG) now that I am being replaced by another IPDG (Ancestor).
IDG Banjo Solaru knows best why he has chosen me but, I can only hazard some guesses.
A time, there was when most Rotarians in Nigeria could boast of knowing every Rotarian in West Africa and even beyond. Once upon another shorter time, he could only boast of knowing all Rotarians in Nigeria. Today, a boast like that would be just an empty boast because he would not know up to 5 per cent of Rotarians in Ibadan not to talk of those in Enugu or Zaria or beyond.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______233 The Ultimate Honour In this age when everybody is anxious for unity in Nigeria, when even the Federal Government now agrees that one’s place of abode could be regarded as one’s place of origin; when every Nigerian is expected to be his brother’s keeper. What can Rotary or Rotarians in Nigeria do to promote or be identified with this current thinking? What can we do to encourage fellowship or friendly relations between the Rotarians in places as far apart as Lagos and Maiduguri or Aba in Nigeria?
The answer, lies no doubt, in giving a pride of place and encouragement to Inter District Committees and Conference.
What is an Inter District Conference one might ask? It is a forum where all the Rotarians in the involved District (in this case, the whole of Nigeria) can meet, exchange pleasantries and ideas, plan together for the good and progress of their districts, (in this case, our dear country Nigeria) through Rotary and above all, share fellowship with fellow Nigerian Rotarians.
In the recent past, our District Conferences used to serve as our Inter District Conferences. The whole of Nigeria used to be one District then (1/7/82 to 30/6/84). Prior to that, Rotarians in Nigeria (even though only part of a District) used to get together at least once a year. I still remember vividly our Intra District Conference of 1980 in Ibadan where far reaching decisions were taken to the benefit of Rotary in Nigeria.
We seem to think more of things that tend to divide us rather than concentrate on those that unite us. This is bad for the unity, progress and peace of our great country. The need for Unity amongst Rotarians in Nigeria keeps staring us in the face, but we seem rather complacent and do nothing about it. What about for instance two eminent Nigerian Rotarians going to the Council on Legislation to
www.obatejuosobooks.com______234 The Ultimate Honour represent two different Nigerian Districts and both were reported to have spoken in diverse tongues and acted at cross purposes, thus demonstrating lack of unity amongst Nigerian Rotarians. What then would happen when, come next year, four other eminent Rotarians go to represent the four Districts in Nigeria at the next Council on Legislation? Should they not be seen as Nigerians speaking sensibly with one voice? Surely, the answer lies in an Inter District Conference which is not organised on an adhoc or one off basis, but on a constant and at least annual basis.
We may not aim at achieving the status of R.I.B.I. Even if we do, R.I. will not allow or encourage us but we can at least make it a forum where some Tar reaching and binding decisions can be reached and popular opinions and ideas formulated.
A number of things seem to be eluding us now as a whole due to lack of unity amongst us, apart from the fact that there may be amongst us some detractors who are for retardation rather than progress.
Things that come readily to mind in this respect are the issues of Re-districting, Youth Exchange, Regional Magazine Rotary Nigeria and a National project to mention a few. Take the issue of a National project for instance. As far back as the Rotary year 1982/83, we collected quite some money in this District to put up a National monument which would do Nigerian Rotarians proud but due to disunity and lack of cooperation, that project till today has not seen the light of day. There seems to be tendency amongst us Nigerian Rotarians to want to kill a project, no matter how good, once it was not initiated by me or you; It is very bad and this is where I doff my hat for Rotary Clubs like the Ikeja Rotary Club which to my mind has done one of the best projects so far in Nigeria — the building of
www.obatejuosobooks.com______235 The Ultimate Honour a Community Centre at Isolo. I cannot even now remember the President of the Club at the time when the project was initiated but I know it took about seven years to build. If those seven presidents had taken a similar attitude of kill it if you did not start it, then the Rotary Club of Ikeja will not be basking in the glory of that magnificient EDIFICE of a project today.
Let us adopt a similar attitude, not only at the district level but also at National level so we can do Nigeria proud. United we stand, but divided we certainly fall. This is where I believe I come in, and why our Incoming D.G. Rot. Banjo Solaru thought I was the right person to head this Inter- District Committee for the District. He probably believes that he who creates what appears to be a monster (especially if it is misunderstood) must surely know how to get rid of it or nurture it to advantage. I think he is right. I intend to nurture it to advantage, our deteractors permitting, and they must surely permit, knowing damn well now that we are on to a good cause.
Let us together put our houses in order starting from the top. Let us practise what we preach. “When something is wrong, let us straighten it out”. And something, surely, is wrong now. If not, why should any good Rotarian be against re- districting at this point in time? Why should any Rotarian wish to subject a fellow Rotarian District Governor to taking charge of 101 Clubs when infact the average number of clubs in a District is about 50. Why should any other District in Nigeria be against re-districting simply because his own District has only a few clubs and therefore could not be bothered whose District is overburdened? At a time when R.I. is insisting that Nigeria should be redistricted, why should anyone be against progress, this day and age. If our past District Governor Juli did not spearhead a rapid growth of Rotary in Nigeria in 1982, would we be in a position to produce an R.I. Director in the person of John Majiyagbe today? www.obatejuosobooks.com______236 The Ultimate Honour What is wrong in continuing to grow so that we may put ourselves in such a position as to constantly produce R.I. Directors henceforth. We should not forget that our ability to do this will be directly proportional to our ability to increase on a regular basis, the number of Rotarians and therefore the number of Clubs and District in Nigeria. It is very easy to say that we have grown rapidly in this District in a short time. But what is wrong in it? Should we not take advantage of it rather than make it a disadvantage? Should we not continue to grow (may be slowly for only a short while) while we are nurturing the existing ones. In fact, are we really nurturing the existing ones now? Is our membership strength not dwindling very fast? What are the Clubs doing? Sleeping? It is a well known fact that where growth stops decadence takes over. It is very easy for us to falsely blame our loss of membership on the current economic crunch. Have we ever stopped to examine ourselves as to whether we arc making our programmes sufficiently interesting to Rotarians to wish to sustain their interest in Rotary? Are we communicating and disseminating information sufficiently to sustain the interest of our members? Do we even understand and practice properly one of the mottos of R.I. — “Service above Self”?
1$ our leadership style sufficiently motivating to sustain the interest of the people (non-Rotarians) and then wish to be associated with you as a leader of Rotary? Otherwise, how do you for example explain the fact that a chairman and or Managing Director of a Conglomerate who has been in Rotary for sometime then suddenly decides to leave? Would you say he cannot afford the cost? Surely there must be some other reasons and this is why we must get together and re-think. We must change our orientation and be part of a positive progress. Consolidate, Yes, we must, but growth must not be staunted or infact retarded. Growth and consolidation must go hand in hand so as www.obatejuosobooks.com______237 The Ultimate Honour not to erode our previous gains. Membership loss through attrition is inevitable. This must be compensated for always by growth either internally or externally but preferably both.
When the history of your Club is written, the praises of a president who took over 30 members and at the end of his Rotary Year as President left 55 members will be sung over the hills and the mountains similarly, we will sing the “praises” of a President that took over 55 members and left only 30 at the end of his rotary year. (But this time, the song will be sung in a different tune and possibly under the mighty ocean). The population of Nigeria is 112 million (according to WHO’s latest publication) and there are only about 7,000 Rotarians.
The population of Lagos State and Ogun State — R.I. District 911 is about 9 million and there are today only about 2,500 Rotarians. This ratio when compared with the ratios in other parts of the Rotary world leaves much to be desired and simply shows that we have really NOT taken proper advantage of our catchment areas. We should always remember that Rotary is NOT an Elitist but a Service organisation. What 50 Rotarian hands can do, 100 Rotarian hands surely can do better. Here I doff my hat to the Rotary Club of Ikeja South who within a year of it’s being chartered (chartered 1986/87) instituted one of the most meaningful projects Nigeria has ever known — A cenotaph dedicated to peace — on the approach to the Ikeja Local Airport — which was unveiled by the R.I. President Chuk Keller himself. If we had stopped growth, how could a club of this calibre have come into existence? I am sure, at least, half of the population in this room joined Rotary within the last 5 years.
Would you say that you are not good materials for Rotary? What further evidence do you need to show the advantage of growth?
www.obatejuosobooks.com______238 The Ultimate Honour You should always remember that a good club is only a reflection of its leader while a bad Club is also a mirror of its leader. Be motivating and charismatic in your approach and you will surely carry your members along with you nicely whilst non-Rotarians will be yearning to become associated with you and your organisation. This should always be borne in mind in choosing your leaders and these points can further be elaborated to advantage at an Inter District meeting.
Youth Exchange Programmes can even be developed at an Inter District level and we can also take advantage of extending the horizons of our International Youth Exchanges rather than the current practice of restricting them to the localities of the host district.
An equally important issue which needs to be thrashed out at Inter District meeting is the issue of the Rotary Nigeria Magazine which fortunately has been accepted by Rotary International as a Qualified Regional Magazine in an experimental stage for 1988. The first issue should have been out since January 1988 but due to lack of unity amongst us, that first issue has not seen the light of day up till now. We are doing a lot of damage to our good image which has been built up over the last few years with Rotary International. The most painful part of it is that we are even now doing this to embarrass the R. I. Director who we have struggled for years to produce now that he will be assuming office from the 1st of July 1988. As I have stated earlier, what does it matter whose initiative it was to originate a good idea? Having identified the advantage and financial benefits of what has been so created, should we not all rally round and ensure that its advantages and benefits accrue in full to the District in the true spirit of Rotary — “Service above self”?
www.obatejuosobooks.com______239 The Ultimate Honour More needs to be done by all and sundry to maintain and build upon the good image which Rotary in Nigeria now enjoys at the Rotary International level. Disunity can only do more damages and nothing else, hence, we shall arrange to hold an Inter- District Meeting of all the Districts in Nigeria on or before the end of January 1989 and I hope all the Ro- tarians in Nigeria will endeavour to attend.
We must all try to be part of the builders of Rotary in Nigeria and NOT part of the demolition squad. Thank you and God bless.
Short History of Africa Badminton Federation
At the Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) of the International Badminton Federation (I.B.F.) in Malmo, Sweden in 1975, the motion to expel South Africa from I.B.F. was rejected. Dr Dapo Tejuoso who was the leader of Delegation of two from Nigeria got up and announced the withdrawal of Nigeria from that A. G. Meeting and left with the second delegate — Mr. Patrick Okpomo from Nigeria. They were soon joined outside the premises of the A.G.M by Mr. R. W. W. Rente who had also withdrawn his one man delegation from Tanzania from the AGM.
The three — Dr Dapo Tejuoso, Mr Patrick Okpomo and Mr R.W.W. Rente — then discussed the possibility of the rest of Africa (without South Africa) forming a Union. It was agreed and on getting back to Nigeria, Dr Dapo Tejuoso who was then the Chairman of the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria — with the approval of the other members of the ABAN Committee — requested the then
www.obatejuosobooks.com______240 The Ultimate Honour Secretary of ABAN — Mr Patrick Okpomo — to set about organising the Africa Badminton Federation.
The formation of the Africa Badminton Federation was thus initiated by Nigeria on the 25th January 1976, through circular letters by the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria, inviting other African countries to a meeting in Dar-es- Salam for the formation of the Federation.
The response from the African countries was encouraging and on the 29th of July 1977, the Africa Badminton Federation was bom at a meeting held at Bahari Beach Hotel, Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania. The meeting was officially declared open by Hon. Mustapha Nyangani (M.P.) Junior Minister for Health and Acting Chairman, National Sports Council of Tanzania. The birth of the Africa Badminton Federation was unique because it coincided with the first Tanzania Open Badminton Championship which took place in Dar-es-Salam from 27th to 30th July 1977.
By acclamation, all the delegates from Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Mauritius and Tanzania adopted the proposal of forming the Africa Badminton Federation forwarded to the Tanzania Badminton Association by the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria. Unfortunately, Nigeria was consciously absent at that meeting due to some unavoidable circumstances and the arrangements for its 3rd National Sports Festival.
Despite the absence of Nigeria at this inaugural meeting, she was still regarded as a founding member country of the Africa Badminton Federation.
Mr R. W. W. Rente of Tanzania was elected the first President of the Africa Badminton Federation, while Mrs M. Handan of Tanzania became the Secretary General. Other officers of the Federation included Lt-Col. Joe Kumi of Ghana 1st www.obatejuosobooks.com______241 The Ultimate Honour Vice President. Mr V. Kapit of Zambia, 2nd Vice President and Mr A. A. Shariff, of Tanzania , Hon. Treasurer. Nigeria’s Patrick Okpomo was elected in absentia as a committee member together with Dr K. Kyiamah of Ghana and Mr V. K. Maini of Kenya.
The idea behind the formation of the Africa Badminton Federation was to unite all the non-South Africa, African countries and thus promote the game of Badminton in Africa both in its organisation and manifestation. Also to promote the creation of those Associations not yet in existence. The Africa Badminton Federation as a continental body will thus also be enabled to be represented at the International Badminton Federation’s Council and Annual General meetings.
The first Executive Committee meeting of the Africa Badminton Federation was held at Savoy Hotel, Ndola on 13th November 1977 during the Zambian Open Championship held in Ndola. Six African countries including Nigeria were represented at that meeting.
The first Africa Badminton Championship was hosted by Ghana from 10th — 20th April 1979 in Kumasi. Nigeria did not participate at this championship because of the conflicting messages received from Ghana. The two trophies contested for at the championship were donated by His Excellency, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Nwalimu J. K. Nyerere. Three African countries participated: These were Tanzania, Kenya and host country Ghana. Kenya won the men’s team event, while Tanzania clinched the women’s team event . Soon after this competition Mr R. W. W. Kente came to Nigeria and in the company of Mr L. A. Ayorinde had some useful discussions with Dr Dapo Tejuoso who was then temporarily out of Badminton. Some far reaching decisions were taken and Dr Dapo Tejuoso was then requested by Messrs Kente
www.obatejuosobooks.com______242 The Ultimate Honour and Ayorinde to donate a trophy to ABF for the Junior Championships. The former obliged by humbly accepting the offer.
The 2nd Africa Badminton Championships was then held in Beira Mozambique and Nigeria took part in the Championship. Four trophies were at stake — Dr Julius Nyerere — 2 cups for men and women team events, June 25th Mozambique’s cup for the Mixed Doubles event and Dr. Dapo Tejuoso’s Cup for the Junior Team event. Mr. L. A. Ayorinde of Nigeria was the Chief Referee for the championships. He was assisted by Messrs D. M. D. Silva of Mozambique and A. A. Abad of Tanzania. Nigeria won three out of the four trophies. These were Dr. Julius Nyerere’s Cup for the Men’s Team event. June 25th Mozambique Cup for the Mixed doubles Team event and Dr Dapo Tejuoso’s Cup for the Junior Team event.
The Annual General Meeting of the Africa Badminton Federation was held on Thursday June 26 1980 by the Executive delegates from Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Dr Dapo Tejuoso of Nigeria was elected the 1st Vice President while Mr L. A. Ayorinde also of Nigeria was elected Secretary General of the Federation. Other officers elected were Mr R. W. W. Kente of Tanzania who was returned unopposed as the President of the Federation and Mr Abdul Aziz-Termamad of Mozambique who was elected 2nd Vice President.
The 2nd Annual General Meeting was held in 1982, at the Conference room of Ikovi Hotel, Lagos and was attended by delegates from Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. The following officers were duly elected for another 2 years.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______243 The Ultimate Honour Technical Sub-Committee
(a) Surg Cdr Yinka Omololu
(b) Mr V. K. Pavangadkar
(c) Mr M. D. Da Silver
(d) Mr A. A. Shariff
Publicity Sub-Committee
(a) Mr. H. Bisanga (Tanzania)
(b) Mr Adeoye Mabo (Nigeria)
All the above officers were returned unopposed at the Annual General Meeting held in Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania on Friday 24th August 1984. This was the period when the 4th Africa Badminton took place under the auspices of the Tanzania Badminton Association. Nigeria did not attend. The detailed results of the Championships were not immediately available but would be published in due course.
The 1986 Annual General Meeting which should have been held in Lusaka Zambia during the month of June was cancelled at the last minute by Zambia.
Since then no other meeting was held as countries could not host the Championships for financial constraints. It is however worthy of note that the International Badminton Federation (IBF) has since recognised the efforts of A.B.F. and A.B.A.N. by the recent honour of MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD (M.S.A.) (First of its kind in Africa) conferred on Dr (Chief) Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso in June 1988 — Kualar Lumpur, Malaysia.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______244 The Ultimate Honour We are finally very grateful to African Petroleum Ltd who is now hosting the August (7th — 13th) 1988 5th Africa Badminton Championships.
Rot. Dapc District G
R. I. District 911, Nigeria.
GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN BADMINTON FEDERATION - DR (CHIEF) DAPO TEJUOSO 7TH - 13TH AUGUST 1988
I seize this opportunity on behalf of the African Badminton Federation (A.B.F.) and the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria (ABAN) to welcome you all to this 5th Africa Badminton Championships under the auspices of the African Badminton Federation and sponsored by African Petroleum Ltd.
We note with regret that it is exactly four years ago (1984) that we last held this type of championships which was meant to be held every two years. This no doubt was due to the prevalent economic recession which seems to have spread all over Africa and the third world in recent times.
Zambia which took it upon itself to host the African Badminton Championships and the ABF Annual General Meeting two years ago (June 1986) had to unavoidably succumb under the stress of this same economic crunch. This in fact could have happened to any other African country. We are therefore particularly grateful to African Petroleum Ltd who has single handedly undertaken to sponsor this 5th African Badminton Championships on behalf of the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria (ABAN) who was acting on behalf of the African Badminton Federation. (ABF). The cost of this Sponsorship is in excess of One www.obatejuosobooks.com______245 The Ultimate Honour hundred thousand naira (N100,000.00). In this day and age of the well known Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) and dwindling businesses, only companies with very solid foundation like AP Ltd can cope without feeling the strain on their finances. Our prayer is that AP Ltd may continue to muster strong and grow from strength to strength (Amen).
One of the objectives of the African Badminton Federation in organising these championships is to encourage and foster unity and friendly relations amongst African Countries while providing healthy competitions for Badminton players, senior and junior alike. This, no doubt, will enable them to develop their skills in the game with the hope that, sooner than later, some of them may become World Champions.
Some of you players may probably be visiting Nigeria for the first time. I am sure you will find the country fascinating and our people very warm and friendly. Nevertheless, please endeavour to follow file rules and regulations that govern your visit and the tournament.
Players should put in their very best performances while also bearing in mind that we cannot all win. More importantly, please always remember that the Referees decision is final.
The glory of ABC is not in winning but in taking part. I am particularly requesting all officials to be fair but honest and firm in handling matches. You should do unto others as you would wish they do unto you. Please ensure that you act in a manner that will enhance the smooth running of the games and in such a way that will mutually benefit the players, the spectators and above all, yourselves.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______246 The Ultimate Honour We extend our compliments and best wishes to the Amateur Badminton Association of Nigeria who in conjunction with the organising committee of ABF organised this wonderful championships. We are here grateful to Mr Lancelot A. Ayorinde who has helped in compiling the History of the African Badminton Federation (ABF) as presented in this programme.
Of course, we cannot forget to thank the spectators, especially the non- Badminton playing ones, who have come to grace this occasion with their august presence. Remember that AP Ltd has promised to award token gifts to the first batch of spectators to arrive and stay here everyday throughout the competition. Please, be punctual. Do not lose your opportunity to always take something home. You never know how valuable and useful it may be.
Finally, we send hearty greetings to all the other various groups not here mentioned especially the members of the
Fourth Estate of the Realm (The News Media) who have worked so hard in the preparation and organisation of this competition. We shall of course rely very heavily on your continued support and accurate reporting throughout the period of this championships and even beyond.
What indeed can we do without you? May your shadow never grow less. I am sure we can always count on your support.
Thank you and God bless.
Chairman Association of Nigeria
President — Africa Badminton Federation.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______247 The Ultimate Honour INSIGNIA/COAT OF ARMS
This insignia/coat of arms was designed by Master Alexander Akin wale Caulcrick a 15 year old boy currently in Class III at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos and nephew of Dr (Chief) &: Mrs Adebola Bailey. He won 7 prizes at the School’s last Annual Prize Giving Day.
I am very grateful to him.
Legend
Compartment 1:
The Crucifix depicts my religion (Xtianity) whilst the book under the crucifix in the same compartment represents a testament of faith to all religions.
Compartment 2:
The Palm Tree with the Oba at the top; the palm — kernels and jubilant people on the ground reflects a spiritual gentleman’s vision (a few months before my ascension to the throne) of what he foresees will happen during my reign over Oke-Ona Egba. It also affirms my interest in agriculture.
Compartment 3:
The Stethoscope and the Snake (a medical insignia) denotes my profession as a medical doctor.
Compartment 4:
This compartment refers to my occupation as an industrialist before I was called to the throne.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______248 The Ultimate Honour Compartment 5:
This is a reflection of my birth sign which is the borderline between Aquarius and Pisces. It is my hope (by the Grace of God) that there would be plenty of food to eat during my reign.
Imagine this personal insignia or coat of arms to be a man; the crown on his head, the beads (iyun) round his neck and
www.obatejuosobooks.com______249 The Ultimate Honour ORIN FUN OBA OSILE DR ADEDAPO TEJUOSO
OSILE ROYAL ANTHEM
s s d s Kabiyesi m m m m Oba Osile d s d s s 1 s Egba Oke Ona msssmms sdrr
Adewale Omo Lumesi s s d m d d —
Lumesi Malana, m:—s s: s s s Ade a pe lori i,: m s d d:—m m Adedapo; Omo d s. s.
A tuba,
1 s s d d t du Malana Omo Odo
: —: —s:s:d:d:l:s: — (2ce) Bata a pe lese:— 2ce s s f m r: —1:—
Tejuoso o o o s d, r:— s.s.l:—d:d: — d:— tuse, Igba re a ro ju u :
www.obatejuosobooks.com______250 The Ultimate Honour Composed by Venerable Archdeacon Olufemi Olomodosi
Provost — Cathedral of St. Peter,
Ake, Abeokuta.
www.obatejuosobooks.com______251