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The Ultimate Honour

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The Ultimate Honour


The Ultimate Honour

Dapo Tejuoso

The Ultimate Honour


The Ultimate Honour


© Dr. Dapo Tejuoso

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be re-produced ortransmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permissionof 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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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.

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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 —

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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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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

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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.

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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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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).

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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,-

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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

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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,

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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

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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).

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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!

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

=================================

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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!

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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

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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

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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

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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”

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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.’

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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

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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?’

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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).

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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,

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‘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

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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.

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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

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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,

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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)

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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,

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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?

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*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

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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

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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

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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

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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’!

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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).

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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,

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.

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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

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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!

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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.

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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

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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.

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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”.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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: *

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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,

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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

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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”.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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”.

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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,

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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

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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

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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.

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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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:

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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?

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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

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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.

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(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.

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— 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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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).

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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.

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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

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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.

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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,

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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,

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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.

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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.

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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”.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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?

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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

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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?

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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”?

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.


Chairman Association of Nigeria

President — Africa Badminton Federation.

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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.

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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

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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 :

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Composed by Venerable Archdeacon Olufemi Olomodosi

Provost — Cathedral of St. Peter,

Ake, Abeokuta.

the ultimate honour - oba tejuoso books · gbagura and egba. these four decided to settle under the...

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