Afrigather A former chairman of Ikoyi Membership, Lagos, Chief Akinbayo Adenubi, speaks with GODFREY GEORGE about life at 80, rising up in Lagos and associated points
What does it really feel wish to be 80?
I clocked 80 on November 11, 2022. All I can say is that that is merely all concerning the calendar, if one is fortunate to have good well being. Seventy years was a giant landmark then, however now, we thank God, we’re getting older. After I obtained to 80, I simply stated, “Properly, I’m right here”. It feels nice to be 80. It’s because one is aware of concerning the common life expectancy stage of Nigerians proper now. So clocking 80 is sort of a feat. It might be me taking part in God if I say I anticipated to be 80. I by no means dreamt I’d be 80 however I’m grateful to God for sound well being. After I grew to become 79, I grew to become a bit anxious and I used to be actually hoping that I’d clock 80. When it got here, pleasure stuffed my soul.
How did you rejoice it?
I used to be very lucky that I had a really small operate in my home. It was unplanned however my youngsters organised it and I danced for greater than two hours. I stroll round my estates 4 instances per week for, no less than, one hour each week. I play golf twice each week. If I’m fortunate, I do it thrice per week. My train routine has been very strict. All the difficulty of exercising day-after-day is finally paying off. On that day, I obtained a whole lot of presents. Family and friends got here round they usually had been completely satisfied for me.
At 80, what offers you probably the most sense of achievement?
I wouldn’t wish to pinpoint any specific merchandise however I take into account myself extraordinarily fortunate to have very strong household help. My spouse, youngsters and grandchildren make me really feel so fulfilled. And I’ve additionally had the privilege to serve in a whole lot of voluntary organisations. I used to be a boss of the Ikoyi Membership someday in the past. Though it has been a very long time, each time I’m going round there, they are going to be hailing me, “Chairman Emeritus!” It makes me really feel so good. All alongside, I used to be elected an honourary member, a particular sort of membership. I’ve been a dedicated particular person all my life.
In 1978, I moved from Ibadan to Lagos to work because the Director of Research for the Nigerian Institute of Bankers. I labored for 4 years after which grew to become the Registrar for 14 years. Though I retired 26 years in the past, I couldn’t have requested for extra. I’ve additionally had the privilege to function the President of the Nigerian Institute of Administration. All these alternatives to serve mankind make me really feel good. What makes me very completely satisfied is that on the event of my eightieth birthday, the institute, which I had left over 26 years in the past, positioned a one-page advert in PUNCH Newspapers to rejoice me. They stated they had been celebrating a quintessential chief and his contribution to the institute and all that. I’ve a duplicate right here. Such issues make me so fulfilled. In any case, I used to be paid for my providers, loved the job and had implausible members of workers who labored with me however they nonetheless got here round and gave me a money donation and nonetheless introduced me with a present. It was so surreal. It was an honour. It simply reveals that my contribution to mankind was recognised.
Service to mankind has at all times been fascinating to me. Even within the property the place I stay, I’ve had the chance to function the chairman, and it has been implausible. All over the place I’ve had the chance to serve makes me really feel fulfilled.
What are a few of your most cherished reminiscences rising up?
I’d say my mother and father and my shut pals had been a essential a part of my journey as a toddler. My father had such an important affect on my life. I didn’t understand it – or possibly I didn’t admire it – till about 10 years in the past. My father was a trainer and I needed to be a trainer very badly in order that once I was within the college, throughout trip, I taught in a main faculty the place he (my father) was the headmaster in Lagos. After I completed college, I nonetheless went on to show, even though my colleagues had been making use of to affix UAC, the civil service and different multinationals. For me, I simply needed to show.
By which of the colleges did you train?
I’ve taught in any respect ranges of schooling. I taught at Igbobi School. I used to be there for 4 years. From there, I went to the College of Ibadan and the then the College of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo College, Ile Ife). I spent one yr in Ife and three years in Ibadan. In a while, I got here again to Ibadan in 1978-79. I additionally taught at a polytechnic earlier than I left Ibadan for Lagos. In reality, once I got here to Lagos, I didn’t apply for any sort of job; I utilized to be Director of Research. So, I used to be the one in command of interventions, programmes and so forth. I used to be there till I used to be later appointed as a chief govt.
For this reason I say my father had an important affect on my childhood. My father wasn’t a person of very many phrases but when there was any man of integrity that ever lived, my father was. When he was headmaster, he made positive he engaged his lecturers in small monetary contributions. He spent 25 years as headmaster the place he headed that social intervention scheme, and nobody ever accused him of taking a Kobo. I learnt find out how to save from my father. He won’t have referred to as us and instructed us precisely find out how to save however we (youngsters) watched the best way he carried on in his tasks as a person.
Not surprisingly, a yr in the past, I wrote a guide about him. It was about 70 pages. I simply needed to have a duplicate. So, I printed only a few that I despatched out to my very shut pals. The title is “My Father, My Hero”.
There may be this saying that 20 boys can’t be pals for 20 years. How fortunate have you ever been in retaining your childhood pals?
Actually, I’ve been blessed. I’ve had pals from my childhood which are nonetheless my pals now. They’ve stood by me and I’ve stood by them. I left Ibadan greater than 50 years in the past however there are individuals who I left there which are nonetheless my very shut pals up to now. I’ve an previous boys affiliation for my secondary faculty, Methodist Boys Excessive College. We meet usually and even our wives knew after we met as a result of we wore the identical costume and we trusted each other to a fault. I’ve a finest buddy, too. I do not forget that each time I obtained into bother, I’d name him and he’d be there. If he obtained into bother, he’d name me and I’d be there too. I’ve been actually blessed to have very uncommon pals.
I even have individuals who grew to become pals later, like former governor Segun Osoba. He even got here for my eightieth birthday, and I felt good. He had a good programme however he got here. One other buddy of mine, Senator Badamosi, an industrialist, additionally got here.
How have you ever been capable of hold this friendship twine for this lengthy regardless of the gap and years?
The reality is that some folks you meet in life are for a lifetime. Irrespective of the gap or years aside, you already know that they’re there for you. A few of these pals I’m speaking about are overseas completely however we’re nonetheless very close-knit as we was once they had been nonetheless in Nigeria. We converse on the cellphone usually. I keep in mind one in every of my pals who left the nation and settled in the US for nearly 50 years. He got here again a number of months in the past and it doesn’t appear to be he ever left this nation. Childhood pals are treasured. Many don’t perceive this until they get very a lot older. The buddies you make as adults will not be as tight-knit as childhood friendships. I’m so completely satisfied you talked about this childhood side of my life as a result of that is likely one of the most attention-grabbing components of my journey in life. If any of us is sick, we don’t should be instructed, we now have to contribute cash to make it possible for particular person survives. We don’t place ourselves on a excessive pedestal.
Did you develop up in Ibadan?
No, I didn’t. I used to be born and bred in Lagos. I’m a correct Lagos boy.
What’s the most important change you might have observed in Lagos now that was absent within the metropolis again then?
A variety of issues have modified. I’m 80 years previous now and issues will need to have been very completely different once I grew up. In 1962, as an example, Surulere was a village. I grew up on the island however my mother and father needed to transfer to Surulere. I didn’t wish to be a part of them. Surulere was referred to as New Lagos at the moment (laughs). There was no Eko Bridge. There was only one previous Carter Bridge. Within the 50s and 60s, every little thing was so clean.
I schooled within the Methodist Boys College in Lagos however I lived on the Island. We trekked each morning a distance of three to 5 kilometers to our college. We didn’t suppose we had been being made to undergo. In any case, my dad had a automotive however I didn’t thoughts that he couldn’t drop me off at college. At any time when I inform my youngsters this story, they at all times ask, “Was your father that depraved?” (laughs). I at all times make them perceive that it’s a completely different technology completely. All of us walked to high school; it was regular for us. Even within the solar or rain, we walked to high school and we walked again residence.
Lagos 70 years or 60 years in the past was a unique sort of metropolis. There was no Third Mainland Bridge. Yaba was what they referred to as Backyard Metropolis. That was the place most members of the Nigerian elites stayed. Solely the whites and some bourgeoisie may keep on the Island.
After I joined Ikoyi Membership then, it (membership) was 90 per cent white. The protocol to get in at the moment was one thing else. The membership is an efficient instance of what Lagos was within the 50s and 60s. Federal Palace Lodge was one of many largest motels then. Lagos was so small and there was no site visitors. It was manageable. As a result of it was small, we felt it was lovely. Though each my mother and father had been from Ijebu, that they had their two toes right here. I’ll by no means declare to be a Lagosian however Lagos is residence for me. My youngsters and grandchildren are right here. Ibadan is simply too quiet for me. Funnily sufficient, my spouse was the one born and bred in Ibadan. After I went to Canada just lately, I simply needed to come back again residence.
Which do you favor; the Lagos of then or that of the now?
I’ll reply your query not directly. The Lagos I described to you earlier was the Lagos of the previous, and we’ll by no means have it once more. I studied in London within the 50s however once I went again virtually 20 years later, London had modified. It’s a matter of time, not a matter of desire. If I’ve to decide on, I’ll favor the as soon as lovely, small and manageable Lagos, however that’s not practical. I nonetheless love Lagos – chaotic, traffic-filled, and so on. I do know the place to go, when to go, and find out how to go there. The one downside in Lagos now could be poor administration by our authorities. They are going to say Lagos is the most effective state in Nigeria, and the richest, I agree. However the services within the metropolis can now not ‘carry’ the residents. Lagos is rising quicker than the managers can deal with. They’re doing their easiest however the metropolis is just too huge for them.
The place had been you when Nigeria grew to become an unbiased nation in 1960?
Oh! I can’t neglect. I left secondary faculty in December 1960; Nigeria grew to become unbiased in October of the identical yr. We didn’t know what independence meant by way of being free and the like however we had been excited as a result of we noticed a brand new life. There was one ceremony carried out on September 30, 1960. There have been a whole lot of gunshots within the air. I can always remember that. It was pleasure throughout there. It was an excellent time for Nigeria. We had been there when the Union Jack was introduced down and our new flag was hoisted. We sang the nationwide anthem, not this present one. There was one earlier than this present one. It was a landmark in my life. I used to be only a few months shy of being 18 years previous or thereabouts, I feel.
Has the nation lived as much as the expectations you had when the nation grew to become unbiased?
I feel we now have executed effectively. I name myself an incurable optimist. Now we have executed effectively, however we are able to do so much higher. I stay in Surulere proper now on an property that’s unique. It was unthinkable earlier than. The issue with this nation is useful resource management. My prayer now could be that democracy ought to proceed. Now we have the best to decide on who will like. Now we have to look extra at safety; it’s a key concern.
You talked about that your spouse grew up in Ibadan once you had been in Lagos. How then did you two meet?
We met as pals. I’ve seen folks say that once they met their wives, they only knew they had been going to be married. It was not the identical for me. I’ve been married for a very long time, for greater than 50 years, and for me, I feel love grows over time. The older the love is, the extra you get to understand it. Initially, we had been married; we had been nonetheless attending to know one another. It was within the marriage that we grew fonder and fonder of one another, and that has been what has saved us. The sensation grew to become stronger, greater and higher over time. That’s the fantastic thing about all of it. All the kids have gone away and it’s simply each of us. At any time when I’m going out, she is trying ahead to having me again. It’s so marvelous and candy.
What are a few of the classes that marriage, household life and fatherhood have taught you within the years that you’ve got been married?
(Laughs) Have you learnt why I’m laughing? I’ve attended many weddings the place the chairmen of the events will step up the rostrum and be mendacity to the couple about what marriage is and isn’t. The reality is that marriage grows on one. There isn’t a textbook on marriage wherever that may put together one sufficient to be married. Whenever you get married, you see one thing completely completely different from what you knew earlier than. The factor isn’t any man ought to take their spouse with no consideration. Be one another’s buddy. As soon as this occurs, you might have made it. A lover can get offended and kill you however a buddy can by no means kill you. There may be one other factor I’d love so as to add – by no means ever hit your partner, it doesn’t matter what.
How do you retain match?
I play a whole lot of video games proper from my time on the College of Ibadan. I went to the fitness center for greater than 40 years. Now, I play golf, and I do it twice per week, by God’s grace. I used to be so good at sports activities that, earlier than I grew to become the Chairman of Ikoyi Membership, I used to be the chairman of the sports activities part of the membership. Video games are a essential a part of my life, and I don’t have to plan for them. If I do video games, I do them very comfortably. We do our greatest to be sturdy.
Nigeria is approaching an electioneering season in a number of weeks. What recommendation do you might have for Nigerians earlier than going to the polls?
In 2015, when a brand new authorities got here to energy, we felt the nation was going to crash. Did it crash? Elections aren’t a matter of life and dying. Could the most effective man win. The voters ought to do not forget that we now have households again at residence who need us alive. We should not betray their belief.
