Elder statesman Kolade, an icon turns 90

Today, elder statesman, Dr. Christopher Kolade turns 90. An eminent citizen, diplomat, broadcaster extraordinary, career civil servant, academic, boardroom guru, a leader par excellence and indeed a man worthy of honour anywhere. He is rank zerox of high integrity. If anyone is asked to mention five individuals in the Nigerian space on integrity, he will definitely be among the first five. We wish him happy birthday and many happy returns.

From early life in a small town of Erin Oke, sometimes called the heart of Ijeshaland, he is the son of an Anglican Clergy. He proceeded to Government College, Ibadan. Notable classmates were Wole Soyinka, Oladipo Akinkugbe, the two “Harrimen”; latter was a buzzword coined by late Professor Akinkugbe in an anglistyled version of the two brothers from Warri in the same class – Hope and Leslie Harriman. From Ibadan after high school, he went to Fouray Bay College.

He started a long and promising work life as a Colonial civil service officer in Western Nigeria as Education Officer. From there to WNTV/WNBS, first TV broadcast station in Africa. He rose to become the Head and later seconded to head the Radio Nigeria Federal Broadcasting Services in Lagos.

When anyone today talks of Nollywood, historians will be kind enough to put the name of Christopher Kolade in the proper perspective as the man at the center of the very first movie made in Nigeria. It happened in 1965 in a small town of Ilawe, Ekiti, titled “Taiwo Sango” starred by German Klaus Stephan and Elsie Olusola, aka Sisi Clara in the popular TV series “Village Headmaster.”

He left Radio Nigeria as boss at the Broadcasting house headquarters in Ikoyi in his mid 40s to the private sector, Cadbury Nigeria as CEO. He rose to the board and has become to be later known as the most sought after corporate guru for start-ups, old blue chip firms as Board member or Chair. He took time to teach Corporate Governance at the new Lagos Business School. He is a recipient of many honorary degrees in Nigeria and abroad and has been Pro Chancellor of many Nigerian universities.

He would tell us “I never applied for any job other than the first interview in the Colonial era Civil Service in Nigeria.” That summarises the kind of person he is. He was never a job seeker. That tells a lot about his carriage. He is often asked to come and head one agency, one national assignment or the other.

He was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He is equally known well to quit any position whenever integrity is being called to question. A rare Nigerian indeed.

My interphase with him was when we were looking for eminent Nigerians to be on the Advisory board of a diaspora medical organisation. We were truly looking for non-medical individuals, tested and highly respected in the land who know the terrain in Nigeria and perhaps equally well, all the “landmines” in the country.

He gladly accepted alongside with other people of integrity such as Ambassador Arthur Mbanefo and Professor Adenike Grange. Of course, we need a medical person on the Advisory Board also for a physician organisation with a Board of Trustees of 10 physicians and a non-medical individual as Chair, Lady Maiden Ibru. We are very grateful for their support and wise counsel.

A friend once asked: “ Why do you guys have diplomats on your Advisory board? “ I gave the first answer that in a tough terrain like Nigeria, we need such men. I then went further to share an old anecdote learnt from my grandmother. There are very few problems in life that diplomacy and patience cannot solve. The person agreed. Diplomats are good problem solvers no matter how complicated! It has been a great honour and life privilege to have been close to Senior Citizen Christopher Kolade past seven years to this day.

From former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations (the Odu the III of Onitsha) and emeritus Pro Chancellor of many Nigerian Universities, “ACIM” initials; past Nigeria’s Health Minister, Professor Adenike Grange, AG; and CK who we celebrate today!

We have kept a tradition of letting go after age 90 for our Advisory Board members to mellow down and get needed slowing down on busy schedules. Chief Mbanefo retired few years ago and for CK arguably today. Age for ladies is a cultural issue. All we can say is AG isn’t retired yet! We make sure we equally call her on her birthdays, which is January.

So, we all toast Happy Birthday to elder statesman CK wishing him a very Happy Day at 90, good health and more mentorship to we much younger folks. To our father figure, CK, one thing we know now, Life truly begins at 90!! Almighty God’s blessings and high appreciation for all you’ve done for us and the country.

Muchas Gracias as we say in Spanish. Shoroye lives in Palm Desert, Southern California, United States with his family and serves as Vice Chair, Trustees, Nigerian American Medical Foundation International.