In my over 40 years of existence, I’ve on several occasions watched and witnessed as a ‘no’ eventually yielded its position to a ‘yes.’ As a matter of fact, that’s actually one of the most profound lessons that life has taught me.

See, the world has made me to understand that heaven has a way of conspiring to grant our heart desires. Or like my boss, Mr. Kunle Bakare, used to say, ‘The world steps aside for the man who knows where he’s headed.’

A memorable example, if you permit me, will suffice here. It was my encounter with the hugely venerated former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one-time Chairman of Cadbury, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who just went to be with the Lord.

As the editor of Encomium Weekly, one of the persons I really, really wanted to interview was Kolade. And the reason is simple: all the top people I had interviewed then, from Prof. Pat Utomi to Mr. Tunde Lemo and so on, kept mentioning him as their role model. In fact, it was while taking my leave after one of those interviews that it occurred to me that an interview with ‘this mentor to many’ won’t be a bad idea, after all.

So, I set the machinery in motion. I was still juggling how to crack and accomplish that mission when days later I opened one of the dailies and saw an advert announcing that Kolade would be going to the Goldengate Restaurant, in Ikoyi, Lagos, to give a lecture and I immediately filed it in both my memory and diary.

READ ALSO: Christopher Kolade: BON mourns death of founding father

On the day of the lecture, and without any invitation, I arrived at the venue very early; about an hour to the announced time, and of course well dressed. By the way, serious people rarely arrive events late. They are also mindful of their looks. But I digress.

About 30 minutes to kick off time, and from where I was sitting inside my car, I saw Kolade sauntering in, clutching what looked like a file, and unaccompanied. Instantly, I jumped down from my car, leveled up with him but despite repeated attempts to assist him with the file, as we made our way to the lift en route to the hall, he politely refused.

Now inside the hall, and as he was looking for the engineer in charge to cue his paper and confirm that everything was okay, I unmasked my identity. Looking calm and collected, and in his always perfect diction, he said to me: ‘Young man, I’m here for a lecture and not to have an interview…’

As I tried to explain, he turned and faced the engineer who was engrossed and battling to get his lecture ready. Of course, I refused to leave. In fact, I just stood ‘kampe’ behind him. And when they were through, after nearly 15 minutes, he asked where he could wash his hands and I volunteered immediately to direct him the place.

Done with that, he came out again and met me still standing, arms akimbo, at the entrance. Wearing what looked like a smile, for the first time since I started ‘troubling’ him and shaking his head, he said to me, again in a soothing voice: ‘This young man that will not take no for an answer, yes, what exactly do you say you want from me?’

I stammered: ‘An interview…very short… ten or fifteen minutes would be okay.’ And then he said: ‘No…only five minutes…I’m here for something else, but your persistence is making me change my mind…’

Dear friends, the long and short of this story, like we say in Nigeria, is that the much sought-after interview finally held. Dr. Kolade’s ‘no’ eventually became ‘yes.’ But more than that, instead of the five minutes the great man had allocated to me, we ended up talking for about 30 minutes! Yes, most of the other guests arrived late and I couldn’t help maximizing that opportunity as well.

My persistence and perseverance paid off in the end. Indeed, everything is possible for those that believe. And, of course, with God!

May his soul rest in peace.

*Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of important books like The CEO’s Bible 1 and 2, Success Is Not Served A La Carte, Anything and Everything Journalism, Conversations With Showbiz Stars, Encounters: Lessons From My Journalism Career, My Story of Many Colours, etc.

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BON made the remark on Thursday in a statement issued by its chairman, Abdulhameed Salihu Dembos.

Kolade died at the age 92.

Until his death, Dr. Christopher Kolade was the most senior Nigerian broadcaster who headed the then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, as Director General between 1973 and 1978

He served in various capacities to stabilise broadcasting in Nigeria.

He was a prominent member of the committee set up by former president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, to resolve the imbroglio between the federal government and the Lagos State government on the TV frequency matter between NTA and Lagos State Television as well as the chairman of the NTA restructuring committee.

Kolade was among the top media executives that established the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, BON, prior to the staging of the All African Games hosted by the Nigerian Government in 1973.

BON said he lived an inspiring life as a leader who served with integrity.

It said although he had gone the way of all mortals, Kolade left indelible print in the history of broadcasting not only in Nigeria but in the continent of Africa.

“He will forever remain a reference point in the evolution of broadcast media in Africa,” BON stated.

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He was 92 years old.

In a tribute to Kolade who died on Thursday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu expressed sadness over the news of his demise.

In the statement he personally signed, the president described Kolade as “a custodian of our enterprise history, especially concerning corporate governance and human resources management.”

He said he was a principal figure in reputable institutions like the Lagos Business School.

“He was among the finest of men. He was exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, diligent, and had unimpeachable integrity.

“Dr. Kolade was not only a boardroom icon, serving as one-time chief executive and chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, but he was also a patriot and an uncompromising advocate of transparency and accountability in governance.”

Tinubu said he served Nigeria dutifully, with honesty and great dedication.

He said from working as a colonial-era education officer to serving as Nigeria’s high commissioner to the United Kingdom and director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, “Dr Kolade left ineffaceable stamps of distinction in every endeavour, whether in the boardroom, on panels, or public office.”

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“I recall his many humanitarian interventions through the Christopher Kolade Foundation, especially his support for sickle cell patients, a cause to which he donated a chunk of his earnings.

“Dr. Kolade’s passing is agonising, yet we must celebrate his life and legacy. He lived an exemplary life and immortalised himself in his uncommon service to our nation and humanity.

“He will remain an inspiration for us and for many generations. He was a representation of the true Nigerian, selfless and resilient. May God Almighty, whom he served so faithfully, grant him eternal rest.”

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The R and A Hotels is the venue of the event .

The reunion planning committee, headed by Comptroller Kayode Kolade, put finishing touch to its arrangement for the event on Thursday.

Kolade said he was sure that members would have a great time come February 22, adding that the event would be fun-filled and hitch-free.

“We have been working on this for the past months and we are happy to be where we are today, ready for the event proper.

“There are interesting programmes we lined up just as we also intend to bond and enjoy ourselves as friends. We thank all our members who have donated in various ways to support the programme. They have been wonderful,” Kolade said.

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The President of the ACAOSA ’87 (A’Levels), Hon. (Dr.) Yinka Ogundimu, also noted that the executive of the body had directed members to turn out for the programme.

Ogundimu said: “We have high standards for all our activities and the Saturday event will also be a further testimony to that fact. I want members to be more active on our platform because we have loaded activities for this year.”

The reunion games, throw back notes, news reading and lots more on Saturday February 22nd at the R and A Hotels, Ikeja.

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After an intensive virtual meeting held on Thursday, the EXCO charged the reunion body headed by Rasheed Kolade to ensure the February 22 meeting was fun-filled and hitch-free.

The President of the ACAOSA ’87 (A’Levels), Hon. (Dr.)  Yinka Ogundimu, pointed out that it was important to make the meeting worthwhile after waiting for over two years after the first reunion meeting.

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Ogundimu said: “What is worth doing at all is worth doing well. We just have to tidy all areas to ensure we have a great union party which memories will linger for a long time.

“We have some other programmes to execute and all will be finalized in the months ahead but we will start with the reunion which is the very first for this EXCO.”

Reunion committee boss, Kolade, also stated that all arrangements had been concluded to stage a great event come February 22nd.

“We have also told members to come with their spouses to further add to the glamour and togetherness at the event. There are many other plans on the cards for the member to enjoy on Saturday. We expect a fantastic event better than the first one because we have put in a lot of work to get this far,” Kolade noted.

The final meeting of the reunion body is slated for Sunday.

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The reunion committee of the body headed by Rasheed Kolade on Sunday held a virtual meeting where most of the arrangements were concluded for the event slated for R and A Hotels in Ikeja.

At the well-attended meeting which lasted about 90 minutes, the committee was delighted to have completed over 85 per cent of what to be done.

“We wanted to do this earlier but due to some logistics, we moved it to February 22nd and I am happy we are on course.

“My committee members have been amazing just as we also enjoy the support of our EXCO led by Hon Yinka Ogundimu.

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“This time, we expect the event to be an upgrade of the first reunion.”

Kolade added that as part of plans to make the event special, members are to come to the forthcoming event with their spouses.

EXCO President of ACAOSA 87 set, A’ Levels, Ogundimu, a former Lagos House of Assembly member,  said on Monday that he was impressed with the progress made so far by the reunion body.

“They started work just this year and we are in a stage of just completing the entire preparations.

“The EXCO has absolute confidence in the planning committee and we are happy with their work just as we also appreciate the inputs of our colleagues in diaspora. Some of them join our virtual meetings and they have been contributing their quota,” Ogundimu said.

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The first reunion meeting took place in Ikeja in 2021 and only recently the reunion sub-committee of the executive body held its first meeting with the target of bringing the entire body together again.

At a meeting held in Ikeja under the chairmanship of Rasheed Kolade, the reunion sub-committee divided itself to play various roles in preparation for the reunion tentatively billed for January 2025, pending the ratification from the executive body of the ACAOSA Class of 87.

Barrister Jide Bakare was named to head the planning committee while Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Lateef, is head of Security just as Solomon Adeosun heads the finance committee.

The president of the ACAOSA Class of 87, Hon Yinka Ogundimu, was also present at the meeting as a guest and observer.

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Kolade charged his members to work hard and make the second reunion meeting an upgrade of the first one.

He later presented the Photo Book and programme of the first Reunion meeting to Ogundimu.

Ogundimu however commended the body for staging a highly interesting first reunion meeting three years ago and changed the members to double efforts to do it again.

The former Lagos House of Assembly member said: “We did not pick members of this body by accident, we deliberately picked top people in their respective fields to bring experience to bear in staging the meeting to move the association forward.

“I assure you of the full support of the EXCO in all your operations.”

The first reunion of the body took place at the R and A City Hotel Ikeja on December 11, 2021.

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“I hold the firm view that the surest way of combating and defeating bad behaviour in our community is to strengthen good behaviour in all the places where we find it.”

        – Dr Christopher Kolade

Sometime in April this year, my phone beeped, and it was Dr Christopher Kolade on the line. I had barely said ‘Good morning, Sir’ before he stunned me with an apology. He considered it improper that he was only calling when he had a ‘favour’ to ask of me. I was tongue-tied. Such a revered Elder-Statesman having me in mind over anything at all, to the point of calling, is a huge favour. I should be apologising, in the first place, for having not been in touch with him.

What was this ‘favour’ anyway? Dr Kolade wanted to see if I could assist a UK-based Author who had approached him about book publishing. He didn’t assume a position of superiority because he is an Elder, a national icon for that matter. To think of the fact that his request was a potential business opportunity for me. Yet, he was courteous and respectful as always.

That, for me, sums up the person of Dr Christopher Kolade in a nutshell. It is that sense of courtesy, a commitment to decency and civility that he, as an exemplar of his generation, has remained committed to, irrespective of how far away we have travelled away from these values.

Respect for others is a virtue he strongly subscribes to. As he once told me, “…God looks at people as his most precious and important creation. So, people ought to regard people as important creation of Almighty God. People ought to be respected and treated with consideration.”

That, for me, sums up the person of Dr Christopher Kolade in a nutshell. It is that sense of courtesy, a commitment to decency and civility that he, as an exemplar of his generation, has remained committed to, irrespective of how far away we have travelled away from these values.

“I respect people. I have a very healthy respect for people, probably because of my background and my relationship with God. Only God creates people, human beings don’t. And whatever a human being is going to become, it will derive directly from what God has created him to be.”

For those who have not had the privilege of a direct relationship or engagement with Dr Kolade, they might wonder what it is really that always has his protégés, especially members of the Cadbury Alumni, speaking of him in such glowing terms. Whereas they often speak from the place of their experiences with him, I see it in the importance he places on people and giving people a chance.

On his management philosophy, he said to me: “I saw my role in the management of people as that of taking the person and saying, ‘Really, I don’t know how high this person can go. I have no idea what the ultimate can be. But it is my role to help this person to get there. I am not going to push them there, but I must create situations that facilitate their journey… create opportunities, but secondly and most importantly, create challenges, because we don’t grow unless we stretch. You have to stretch in order to grow. And you can only stretch when the thing you are trying to attain is not exactly within your reach right now. So, in creating challenges, sometimes, you will see that those challenges become opportunities.”

So, first and foremost, it is the dignity and respect that Dr Christopher Kolade, even as the Boss or Leader, brings to the table that earns me the respect and admiration from many. With him, there is no compromising on courtesy and civility. His words are measured. His mastery of the two languages – Yoruba and English, impeccable. His delivery smooth and precise in the manner of the well-honed Broadcaster that he was. His manners, civilised and polished, most likely formed before his years as a Diplomat.

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For Dr Christopher Kolade, like some of the great men of his generation, there is an understanding of the place of self-respect and self-restraint. There is a grounding that he has of the philosophy and values of Omoluabi, which finds expression in the way he has chosen to live on the basis of simplicity and a keen sense of integrity. With him, there is nothing like a sense of entitlement. It is always about respect for others, service to God, country and humanity.

So much has been said, over the years, about Dr Chrisopher Kolade. His record in Broadcasting, Management, Diplomacy and other facets of his life, not forgetting charity, is eloquent. For him however, there is no situating whatever he has been able to accomplish outside of God.

For those who have not had the privilege of a direct relationship or engagement with Dr Kolade, they might wonder what it is really that always has his protégés, especially members of the Cadbury Alumni, speaking of him in such glowing terms.

He said to me, “I remember, one young man asked me at a certain stage – You’ve had this career, you’ve done this, you’ve been in business, did you plan it like that? And I said, “No, I did not plan it like that. The only thing I asked God for, from the beginning was – God, make me an Education Officer. I want to be an Education Officer to teach in school and so on and God heard my prayer. At that point, I did not even know what Broadcasting was. I didn’t have any inclination to be in business. No inclination to go into diplomacy. Just make me an Education Officer. God did that and I was an Education Officer for 5 years, only 5 years, and then God moved me from one thing to the other, by opening doors of opportunity for which I felt I had the ability to make something of. But he had to open those doors of opportunity. So, for me, this is critical to the person I have become…I am sure there are other things that I might have tried successfully, but I never went there because the doors that were opened to me were the ones I went through.”

He says that it could have only been God. Few will argue with that. Fewer will argue with Dr Kolade on anything, even if they do not agree. The true measure of the man is the respect he has earned for himself in the way he has conducted himself.  Strong on principles. Solid on values. His sense of courtesy, decency, integrity, civility and integrity is rare, hard to come by. His fidelity to values that are at the verge of going extinct in our land is one reason he is an inspiration to some of us. What a man! What a life! Happy 90th Birthday to Dr Christopher Kolade.

*Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian Communications Consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise. Twitter: @simboolorunfemi

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