In the early 70s with Nigeria just emerging from the throes of a vicious civil war, I was settling into Lagos life in the sedate atmosphere of the Akoka University campus. I was enrolled in one of the elite primary schools, The University of Lagos Staff School by virtue of my parent’s employment with the University. On a brisk Monday morning an unfamiliar face sauntered into our classroom, a fair complexioned boy with triangular shaped hair, parting at the sides dominating the top of his head.
The boy had the courtesy of a double promotion, gained from the lower reception class. Whilst it was the regular frantic clearing of the thick and lush green bushes that concealed the swamps in close proximity to the school that usually captured my imaginations, the boy, Oluyinka being more focused and had his mind on other things as he continued to advance year on year, trotting from class to class maintaining his hold on the first position.
He gained admission with ease into King’s College, Lagos, obtained a scholarship and I joined him two months later in the College. It is by sheer coincidence I joined him in the same House, Panes. At college he displayed acumen on the field of sports, Hockey and Cricket, representing the College and even Lagos State. He was also a keen Cadet Unit member rising to temporary Lt. and 3 i c. He had a foray into the realm of politics contesting and winning the post of Assistant Scribe of the Student Council, in a vigorous campaign, which I coordinated.
He was recognised as a leader of boys, his bearing and comportment always betrayed him and for that he was appointed Assistant Prefect of Panes House. His sheer brilliance ensured that his O’ levels ended in distinction with outstanding JAMB results. He went on to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Great Ife) to study Medicine and I followed two years later and choose to read Law. I drowned myself in the rumbustiousness of student union politics but he immersed himself in his studies.
On his 21st birthday dinner party held in his honour and attended by his father the retired Major-General Olufemi Olutoye, the second graduate to become an officer in the Nigerian Army, I managed to give a rousing toast to ’Yinka. In response he responded graciously that I would have been the next President of the Students’ Union if I had not been in my final year.
It is from here our paths diverged, he went to the US and I to the UK but he has never failed to keep in touch. When I acted as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Lead City University, Ibadan he visited me with his wife, Olutoyin another accomplished scholar in the field of medicine. They visited not long after he had performed the groundbreaking feat of operating on a foetus outside the womb and returning it back to be born again. He lives in far away United States and I in Nigeria but we have kept a remarkable friendship over the years, I preached Christ to him as a boy and we prayed the prayer of acceptance. I visited him on many occasions at his parent’s residence in Obanikoro. Though of princely Ido-Ani heritage he has always been a gentleman laced with humility and never betrayed his illustrious pedigree. He stands tall in faith and shines brightly in his profession.
We celebrate the achievement of one more laurel today that of the National Merit Award 2020, it is long overdue, it is most deserving and it is very inspiring. I say Floreat!
Olu Ojedokun
