The Life,Times of Oba Olateru Olagbegi ll

The great Oba with over 140 children whose father had 300 wives five of whom remained virgins at his passing.

Destiny, being a harbinger, has an uncanny hand, in the affairs and conduct of human life. Oba Olateru Olagbegi II, was Olowo of Owo, between (1941-1966) and later (1993-1998). Owo is an ancient city in the present day Ondo state of Nigeria. The town- Owo derives its name from its first ruler named “Ojugbelu” because of his pleasant manner.   He was a respectful, amiable and humble monarch. This was how the name of the town “Owo”, which means “respectful” was derived.

Oba Olateru Olagbegi II,
In Owo, there are three principal ruling families or houses- Ogunoye, Ajike and Olateru Olagbegi.   In recent times, there were six Olowos- Olagbegi Atanneye I (1913-1938), Olowo Ajike Ogunoye (1938-1941), Olateru Olagbegi II (1941-1968), Olowo Adekola Ogunoye II (1968-1992), Olateru Olagbegi II (1993-1998) and the present monarch, Olateru Olagbegi III (1999-date).

OLAGBEGI FALLS VICTIM OF WESTERN CRISIS

Sir Olateru Olagbegi II, (Olowo of Owo), born in 1910, was appointed the Olowo, of the ancient city of Owo, in 1941 and ruled for 25 years, before he was deposed in 1968.

His dethronement from power and exile was as a result of the fall out of the Western Regional crises, which fractionalized the Action Group into the Awolowo and Akintola camps at the Jos Conference of the Action Group Party in 1962.

Members of the Akintola Group were virtually expelled from the party. The Action Group, which was launched in Olagbegi’s Palace in 1951, was led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. A battle of wits, between the two gladiators- Akintola and Awolowo, saw Oba Olateru pitching his tent with Akintola. Another prominent Owo citizen and acolyte of Oba Olateru Olagbegi- Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin, pitched his tent with the Awolowo group.

OLAGBEGI AND AJASIN

Michael Adekunle Ajasin and Olateru Olagbegi were initially colleagues, friends, soul mates and pathfinders in the growth and development of the city of Owo.

Michael Ajasin was born on the 28th of November, 1908. He was a teacher and a School Headmaster in Sapele, present day Delta State, before he was admitted to Fourah Bay College Sierra Leone, in 1943 where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in History and Economics in 1946.

After a successful completion of his University Degree, he went to London, where he obtained a Post Graduate Diploma in Education in 1947.

Olateru Olagbegi was instrumental to the community scholarship granted Ajasin to pursue his educational feats. On the 12th of September 1947, Ajasin was appointed Principal of Imade College Owo, founded by his friend Oba Olateru Olagbegi and was Principal until December 1962, when he left to become Founder, Proprietor, and Principal of Owo High School, from 1963-1975.

As Principal 0f Imade College, Michael Ajasin was still very active and prominent in the Community politics of Owo, the Regional and National Politics of the Western Region and Nigeria respectively. Through the support and encouragement of his friend, the Olowo Olagbegi II, he was elected Member of the Federal House of Representatives, representing Owo Federal Constituency, between August 1954 and 1966, when the Military overthrew the Civilian government in the First Republic.

OLAGBEGI, AJASIN AS SWORN ENEMIES

Olagbegi and Ajasin as a result of the political feud became sworn enemies. Olagbegi was a prominent member and leader of Akintola’s NNDP (Demo) and Minister without portfolio, while Ajasin was a Federal Legislator. The Military putsch of January 1966, encouraged the Owo community to organize persistent revolts, riots and mayhem against Oba Olateru Olagbegi II and this forced the Adekunle Fajuyi government to suspend him from the throne in June 1966.

OLAGBEGI SUSPENDED, FAJUYI KILLED

A month after Oba Olagbegi’s suspension, Fajuyi was killed in a counter coup that also saw to the killing of the then Head of State- General Agunyi Ironsi in Ibadan on the 29th of July, 1966. On the 15th of December 1966, the suspension order on Olagbegi was revoked by the new Governor, Brigadier Adeyinka Adebayo, but Olagbegi could not, however, return to his domain due to unfavorable security reports and the new government would not want to be seen as imposing Olagbegi on his people.

On the 14th of February 1968, Oba Olagbegi finally made the move to return to the ancient city but was violently resisted by his arch rivals in Owo. In the early morning of that day, Oba Olagbegi accompanied by some of his friends from Ibadan- Mr. Oduyoye Majekodumi (father of Honourable Babatunde Oduyoye, former deputy whip in the House of Representatives, National Assembly from 1999-2007 and member of the House of Representatives, representing Ibadan North West and South West Federal Constituency of Oyo State) and one Prince Ojo; but instead of allowing Oba Olagbegi’s free movement, Oduyoye, and Prince Ojo were arrested by the Police and Olagbegi was escorted by the Police back to his home in Ibadan.

GOVERNOR ADEBAYO BANISHES OLAGBEGI TO OKITIPUPA

Later in the day, Governor Adebayo announced in a state broadcast, that he was instituting an enquiry into the disturbances in Owo, following Olagbegi’s return. Quite Interestingly, within 24 Hours of the announcement, the governor also announced an order deposing Olagbegi from the throne and banishment to Okitipupa.

One February 16 1968, Olateru Olagbegi was taken to Okitipupa guest house where he stayed for one year and one month. He left Okitipupa on the 18th of March 1969. The government set up an enquiry led by Mr. Bode Kumapayi   whose report up till today, has not seen the light of day. The deposition and subsequent banishment of Oba Olagbegi in February 1968 was a turning point, sad tail and dark eclipse in the history of Owo.

ARSON AGAINST OLAGBEGI’S PROPERTY – WHAT HE LOST

As a result of the violence, arson and destruction in Owo, about 99 houses belonging to Olagbegi’s supporters, as well as his personal houses were destroyed with fire.

Olagbegi’s properties that were destroyed were as follows:

Storey Building at 23, Oludasa Street Owo, worth £3000, personal effects destroyed worth £6042.2S, properties of 15 Oloris and other 10 properties worth £5000, properties at Old Maternity Home-King’s Terrace worth £400, Three Storey Building, at Olagbegi Street, Owo- Old Maternity valued at £3000,   storey building at Oke Ogun (near Esso)-partly damaged, worth £1000, Storey building at Oke Ogun (near Imade),- partly damaged.

Also destroyed were storey building at Ikare Road, worth £3000, partly damaged. Storey building at St Mary’s College Road-partly burnt, also worth £3000, three Storey Building at Imalefealafia Ibadan, worth £3,500, farm huts at Isho- 12 rooms worth £500, destruction of farms worth £1000, two Land Rovers burnt worth £4000, 15 bicycles burnt worth £405. The total value of properties destroyed was valued at £36, 548.2S

HOW OLAGBEGI MADE HIS MONEY

As Olowo, Olagbegi’s annual salary was £1,116 a year. He, however, did not rely on this income alone, he was a big farmer and the proceeds from his plantations-cocoa, coffee, citrus and palm trees, helped him to educate his children, who were numerous, the welfare of his family and also make financial contributions to the progress of Owo. Olagbegi also, earned rents from his buildings, which he built with the sweat of his toils. He was throughout his life, a lover of table tennis and lawn tennis, which he also passed on to his children.

Sir Olagbegi’s properties and those of his relatives which were damaged, were estimated to be worth more than £100,000.

ADEKOYA OGUNOYE EMERGES NEW OLOWO

Less than a month after Olagbegi’s deposition, Oba Adekola Ogunoye, ably supported, by Chief Adekunle Ajasin emerged the new Olowo of Owo. On the 7th of August, 1968, an instrument, titled Olowo Chieftaincy Declaration was introduced by the Western Region Ministry of Local Government, to give legal backing to the installation of Oba Ogunoye.

Several administrative moves were made by Olagbegi and his supporters to restore him back to the Royal Stool quite unsuccessfully. In 1977, Olagbegi again attempted to return to Owo, but this move was also fiercely resisted by his antagonists when Ondo State was newly created.

OWO DIVIDED

Protests by his antagonists, went to the government, warning against the return of the ex-Olowo. Evidently, there were two schools of thought in Owo, namely: – One supporting the return of Sir Olagbegi to the throne and the other irrevocably committed to preventing his return to Owo.

The military government of Wing Commander Ita David Ikpeme, set up a Commission of Inquiry, known as Ondo Chieftaincy Review Commission, headed by Justice Adeyinka Morgan, Former Chief Justice of the Western State, to undertake a review of Chieftaincy Laws of Ondo State.

Other Members of the Commission were Dr. Femi Anjorin- (later Professor) Department of History, University of Ife, Chief J.O Akindolire from Ile-Oluji and Bode Kumapayi-Permanent Secretary in the Civil Service of the State. The Commission began sitting in Owo on the 28th of November 1977. The Commission could not complete its assignment, due to the ill health of the Chairman-Justice Adeyinka Morgan.

Sir Olagbegi came to Owo for the first time in 11 years, to submit his Memorandum. His arch-rival and antagonists also gave evidence before the Commission.  Quite interestingly, Olagbegi’s foe, former friend and soul mate, emerged the first Executive Governor of Ondo State on the 1st of October 1979.

AJASIN EMERGES ONDO GOVERNOR

Chief Michael Adekunle Ajasin was a very principled, highly disciplined man, who lived a Spartan life. He was an undisputed political leader in Owo and had paid his dues in politics, rising from the lowest rank as a Ward Councillor, District Council Chairman, Deputy Council Chairman, Federal Legislator, and Vice President of the Action Group.

In 1951, he wrote a paper that was to become the Educational Policy of the Action Group advocating free education at all levels. To his singular honour, he was known never to have jostled or fought for any political position, but those offices came to him quite naturally.   It can only be imagined what Owo Kingdom would have been, without the Ajasin and Olagbegi crisis?

Olagbegi, as Royal Father was influential, celebrated and dignified. It was their joint influence, (Olagbegi and Ajasin) that made the Action Group to be inaugurated in 1951 at the Olowo’s Palace. On the 6th of September, 1980, Ajasin as Governor of Ondo State, appointed Justice T.A Oluwole, to continue where Morgan in 1977, as Chairman of the Owo Chieftaincy Review Commission, stopped. Oluwole submitted his Report in February 1981, without reinstating Sir Olagbegi as the Olowo.

OLAGBEGI’S COURT BATTLES

On the 5th of February, 1981, Sir Olagbegi filed a suit at the Akure High Court, challenging his deposition Order in 1968. He was represented by Chief Rotimi Williams S.A.N, ably supported by other lawyers, including Olagbegi’s son-   Victor Folagbade Olagbegi, now the Olowo.

He averred that the order which first suspended him in 1966 and deposed him in 1968, was unconstitutional and illegal. Olateru Olagbegi II lost this case on the ground that the 1979 Constitution does not have provision to review a Right that was stale and that Olateru ought to have challenged his deposition then and not to have waited for 15 years to seek redress.

The presiding judge who was at that time the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olakunle Orojo struck out Olagbegi’s application, with a N1000 cost against him.

Prince Folagbade Olagbegi, the lawyer son of Olateru, called to the bar in 1968, appealed the matter before Justice Mamman Nasir, who was the President of the Appellate Court and with other Justices- B.O Kareem, S.J Eteh, J.A. Agbaje and B. Okagbo.

The lead judgment of Justice Mamman Nasir, upheld the judgment of the lower court, that the 1979 Constitution had no retrospective effect to deprive the incumbent Olowo- Oba Joseph Adekola Ogunoye and the government of their right.

The Appeal Court further awarded the cost of N800 against Olateru Olagbegi as appellant, and thus ended for a while the legal battles to secure the return of Olagbegi to the Royal Stool.

However, quite fortuitously and providentially, what Olateru could not achieve through legal battles, he achieved through patience, endurance, perseverance, doggedness, resoluteness, uncommon faith and belief in his eventual return to the throne.

OGUNOYE’S MYSTICISM, DEATH AND OLAGBEGI’S RETURNS TO THE THRONE

Olowo Adekola Ogunoye died in November 1992, after reigning as Olowo for about 25 years, paving the way for Olateru to return to the throne.

Oba Joseph Adekola Ogunoye, was a Monarch, believed to be endowed with mystical, mythical and magical powers. Oba Adekola Ogunoye was a no-nonsense man. If he cursed, same would come to pass. At a time, a man beat up his wife, at Ehin Ogbe and the wife came to report to Olowo, who invited the husband to His Palace.   He came in, but stood at the entrance of the Palace and said “yes!?” The Palace chief then told him to kneel down in obeisance to the Olowo, but he refused, claiming that his own Oba has not returned; (apparently referring to the deposed Olagbegi). He then used abusive words against the Olowo. The Monarch, apparently angered by the blatant show of disregard and disrespect to the Royal Stool, cursed him and said he would be killed by a Buffalo.

On the fifth day after this statement, a Buffalo killed him.

The Igogo festival is usually held annually in Owo in September and lasts for about 17 Days. During this festival, the Olowo dresses in Coral Beads Crown and also, plaits his hair like a woman and dances round the city. Olowo Ogunoye was so frightened of the eventual come back of Olateru Olagbegi to the throne and would not, most times, hold the Igogo festival, because of the belief that, perhaps, while dancing round the city, Olagbegi would have taken over the palace. Such was the level of mutual distrust, antagonism, and fear that pervaded the city of the Owo during 25 years of Oba Ogunoye as Olowo.

The Governor of Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olomilua approved Olateru Olagbegi’s return, which he did triumphantly in 1993.

Olateru Olagbegi, reigned again for about 5 years, until he joined his ancestors in 1998, leaving his lawyer son, Victor Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi, to succeed him in 1999. The Olateru Olagbegi family is one of the largest and educated families in Yoruba land.   Oba Olateru Olagbegi was reputed to have had over 140 children, and that about 121 are University graduates.

Oba Olateru Olagbegi’s father, Olagbegi I, was also reputed to have had about 300 wives, and that by the time he passed on, five of his wives were virgins. Owo has the largest Palace in Africa, which was also declared a National Monument by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Olowo’s Palace has as many as 100 Courtyards. Each courtyard had a specific function and was dedicated to a particular deity. The largest of the courtyards, was said to have been about twice the size of a football field. The courtyards were beautifully paved with ornamentals and broken pottery. The palace seats on about 9.5 Acres of Land.

Owo’s current reigning monarch- Victor Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III, born on the 26th of June 1941 was the eldest child and first son of the late Olateru Olagbegi II, whom he succeeded as Olowo of Owo in 1999. A Barrister-at-Law, he was called to bar in 1968 he had four children through his wife Barrister Bisi Olateru Olagbegi (Nee Cole) now late and until her passage, a human rights activist.

Oba Victor Olagbegi had his initial Law practice in the Chambers of F.R.A Williams until 1975, when he joined the Nigerian Law School as a lecturer. He was also between 1981 and 1983, Special Adviser, Legal Matters to the Second Republic Vice-President- Dr. Alex Ekweme and after the collapse of the Second Republic, he went back to the Law School, from where he retired as a reader in 1991.

Olowo Victor Olagbegi III was former Chancellor of the University of Benin, Chancellor, University of Abuja and is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Olowo Titus Olateru Olagbegi II initially reigned for 25 years, left the throne for about 25 years and came back as Olowo for about five years, before he was finally succeeded by his son.

Oba Olagbegi II, despite all the travails and vicissitudes of life, remained throughout his life, a distinguished Monarch. He was elegant, dignified and throughout his chequered reign as Oba, had the carriage, poise, charisma, aura and splendor of Royalty all around him. It is now a duty call for the Owo people, to continually celebrate this unusual Monarch- a cat with nine lives!
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Owo: Inside Africa’s Largest Palace

Owo: Inside Africa’s largest palace

By Hakeem Gbadamosi

The ancient town of Owo, in the present Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, came to being at about the closing of the 10th century and its 1,000 years of existence would be celebrated in 2019. Owo was regarded by many as the political Mecca of Yorubaland before the attainment of Nigeria’s independence. This was particularly so as all political roads led to Owo and all political gladiators from the old Western region saw Owo as a veritable locale for the realisation of their aspirations. The formation of the Action Group which transformed from Egbe Omo Yoruba, took place within the ancient Owo palace.

Many years after, especially after the nation attained independence, the Owo palace had gained ascendancy as it got to be regarded as the largest and biggest in the whole of Africa. Given this recognition, it was named one of the national monument centres of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The palace of the paramount ruler of  Owo Kingdom, which has housed no fewer than 27 kings, was built in 1340 when the then Olowo of Owo, Olowo Irengenje who was said to have made significant achievements during his reign, moved the palace from the Ojuti Asegbo to its present site. The place according to history has more than 1,000 rooms and courtyards known as Ugha while some of the courtrooms served as shrine and worship of ancestors, also housing many monuments and artefacts.

This could be one of the reasons why the National Museum Centres is situated within the palace. The palace is located at the centre of the town with a central market directly in front of it.

Speaking on the significance of the palace, the Olubola of Owo, Chief Olusola Ogunleye, said the ancient palace “still plays a significant role” despite the existence of the new palace of the Olowo. He said the palace of the olowo had as many as 100 courtyards on a 180-acre of land with each courtyard having its specific function while some were dedicated to specific deities. He explained that some of the courtyards are used for public assemblies and festivals and most of these courtyards were built with strong pillars supporting them.

Chief Ogunleye said the Olowo is the principal occupant of Aghofen (the palace) and the people of the area are expected to provide the needs of the traditional ruler.

 
Igbimo Aleli, where oaths were administered
Conducting Nigerian Tribune round the courtyard, a palace Chief, the Owamodu of Owo, Chief Tola Owatowose, said the palace symbolises the integrity of Owo Kingdom while he said some people voluntarily carry out the maintenance of the palace to show their allegiance and respect to the king and the kingdom.

The Owamodu of Owo said most of the courtyards had collapsed or caved in but said about 17 of the courtyards are still in existence. Some of the courtyards include the Ugha Moron, which is a special courtyard where past Olowos were buried. He explained that this courtyard is set aside for the worship of past ancestors and kings. He equally added that the king usually visited the courtyard once in a year during the celebration of freshly harvested kolanuts, emphasising that women were not allowed in the yard except the queen—Olori.

One of the largest courtyards in the palace is known as Ugha Okonren. This courtyard is specially designed for men and was usually used for the gathering of male folks. The next to the men’s courtyard is the Ugha ehin ode where every chief had their own allotted seat according to their hierarchy, in descending order of importance while the Olowo occupied the central seat.

Some of the courtyards were exclusively reserved for the king’s use which included Ugha Akomaduse. Here, the king was expected to relax and hold interactive sessions with his high chiefs. It was a place where the chiefs were expected to pay homage to the king in the morning. The place where the king lived was known as Ugha Gwakun. Inside this yard existed Odo uli courtyard where the king had his meal, while he had his bath at Ugha Agwe courtyard while the Ifa oracle was consulted on behalf of the king at this courtyard too.

Also, Ugha Inogwa was the traditional ruler’s relaxation spot after the day’s work and this place was cleaned on a daily basis by his wives who had to be naked while scrubbing or cleaning the courtyard.

Chief Owatowose said the present Olowo still used some of these places till date. For instance, the Olowo visited the courtyard to dress and undress for the annual Ighogho Festival. He explained that not all chiefs were allowed to enter some of these courtyards.

The wives of the king also had special courtyards within the palace and these places were out of bounds for men except the Olowo alone. The Ugha Oluwabunmile and Ugha Yeyeluwa were particularly reserved for the head queen. Other courtyards of the queens included Ugha Tere, Ugha Gbedu and Ugha Okelade. Food and gift items were shared in these courtyards. The palace also has a special courtyard for preserving food items for the use of the palace; it is known as Ugha Ogba. Foodstuffs presented by the people to the king are preserved in this barn.

At the palace, there are different sizes of drinking cups known as agho. The type of cups depends on the grade or the hierarchy of the chiefs and this is only done during festivals. The Olowo also has a chariot which he used to move round the town during special festivals.

According to the palace chief, relatives of the king and his wives lived in the palace but he quickly added that princes and princesses were not allowed to live in the palace during their youthful days, adding that when married, they were moved out of the palace.

Male servants who lived within the palace were castrated but the head of the servants if not castrated lived outside the palace wall but had to be at the palace before the cock crow and would also be the last to leave the palace.

Chief Owatowose also took Nigerian Tribune to the Igbimo Aleli, where the king and his chiefs were gathered on special occasions. Apart from the king and his high chiefs, there is a place within this courtyard specially reserved for the administration of oath. He said the place was created for oath taking and it was to prevent crime in the town.

The palace chief who said the palace which used to house over 1000 people experienced some decay after the deposition of Oba Olateru Olagbegi II, who was removed by the government then. He listed some features which were noticeable at the old palace before he was deposed to include the lawn tennis court, fish pond with golden fishes, and some others. He however said some part of the 180-acre land had been given out to usher development to Owo. He said the present Government Primary School beside the palace and the new mega school were part of the palace before it was given out.

According to him, “though some of these courtyards have collapsed but we preserved some of the things in it. This palace is the biggest and largest in Africa but little or no attention is given to this heritage. Some government officials had been here and promised to give the old palace a facelift but they never fulfilled their promises.”

An indigene of Owo, Richard Olabode, stressed the need to preserve the old Olowo palace, saying “monuments are a vital part of any country; preserving them is the duty of the government. This can be achieved by establishing a synergy with the people of this area because these are places which remind us of our ancestors. Owo palace is one of the historical places in Africa as it remains the largest palace in the whole of Africa but government needs to shift attention to this place as it stands to bring more money to the coffers of government as one of the tourist centres in the state.”

Indeed, the architectural designs of the ancient palace of the Olowo testify to the affluence and power that Yoruba traditional rulers of the past wielded and the respect their subjects accorded them.

PROF. OSINBAJO CELEBRATES SUCCESS STORIES OF SEVERAL YOUNG NIGERIANS

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

HOW YOUNG PEOPLE OUTSIDE POLITICS ARE BOLDLY BUILDING THE NIGERIAN NATION, BY OSINBAJO

*VP celebrates success stories of several young Nigerians

*Calls for the Nigerian bridge to connect ethnicities, dialects, religion, politics and generations

"My point is that we can contribute  in profoundly transformative ways to changing our society by just doing our bit with excellence."

Full text of the speech by His Excellency Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON at The Platform event of the Covenant Church, Iganmu, Lagos, today 1st May 2018.

Nation-building in its classical sense refers to the formal and informal  processes by which political leadership attempts to build a national identity, a national ethos, a national spirit, especially in ethnically and religiously diverse societies.

But it is my thesis that while government’s role is in casting the vision and creating the environment for nationhood, the real building of nations  is done and best seen through the efforts and accomplishments of many outside of political leadership.

Men and women in business, agriculture, education, entertainment and the arts, who by just doing their business diligently, or serving faithfully or making sacrifices contribute to building the economies and  social systems that  ultimately build the  nation. 

This afternoon I will share some of the stories of young people many of whom I have met who by just doing their own work faithfully have contributed to  building our economy, increased our national pride and confidence, created opportunities for others, as well as, inspired others to be the best they can be.

My point is that we can contribute  in profoundly transformative ways to changing our society by just doing our bit with excellence.

Let me begin with the exceptional role of young Nigerians in innovation and technology . On the 17th of April, I did a tour of technology businesses and hubs in Lagos.

Paystack was my first stop, here is a safe payment system, which offers seamless money transactions between businesses and their customers. It was established in 2016 by two young Nigerian alumni of Babcock University; Sola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi.  Within the first three months of 2018 they have processed over N3billion  and generate about N40billion annually for Nigerian businesses.

The company is today powering over 9,000 businesses that did not exist two years ago, creating over 25,000 jobs. Paystack has over 50 employees all under 35 years old.

I was also at Andela ,  a multinational company specializing in training software developers, co-founded by Nigerian born Iyin Aboyeji, & others like Ian Carnevale, Jeremy Johnson and Christina Sass. The company estimates that in the next 10 years there will be 1.3million software development jobs and only 40,000 computer science graduates to fill them.

The company’s vision is to change the future of Nigeria and the African continent by developing talent and potential in Nigeria.  Today, the company has 1000 employees world wide.

To enable that to happen government’s role is to mainstream technology startups to be able to benefit from the incentives of industry.

Kola Oyeneyin’s  Venia Business/ Hub, is one of the earliest business hubs in Nigeria. Here, he has provided an effeicient environment for many startups. Most of who use each others skills and technology cooperatively . 

But the pioneer of Nigerian hubs is clearly the Co-Creation Hub or CC Hub founded in 2010 by two young social entrepreneurs, Bosun Tijani and Femi Longe. It provides a platform for using innovative technology to solve social problems. Nearly 50 Nigerian tech driven businesses were incubated in CC hub. Some include now famous and dominant players like Budgit, Wecyclers, Genni Games, Lifebank, Gomyway, Vacantboards, Traclist, Autobox, Stutern, Gritsystems and Mamalette.

All these businesses were started by young men and women under thirty-five. One of the startups  that came out of Venia Hub is Flutterwave founded" in May 2016 by Iyin Aboyeji and a team of engineers and former bankers. This is a payment technology company that has since processed $2billion worth of transactions on its payment platforms.

Tayo Oviosu‘s Paga, is in a class by itself. It is the leading mobile money transfer service in Nigeria. Paga has 11,000 agents across Nigeria and 6 million users. The company has a staff strength of 200. By facilitating payments for goods and services in this way, Paga has enabled several businesses and transactions.

In healthcare, many young people are solving huge problems with ease.  Temi Giwa’s  LifeBank and Ola Orekunrin’s  Flying Doctors are two startups using technology and innovation to fill critical gaps in our healthcare industry.  Lifebank works on the blood shortage problem in hospitals and save lives by speeding up blood donations and delivery to hospitals in Lagos. Their Lifebank app connects donors and hospitals and they ensure delivery of blood within 55 minutes.

Ola Orekunrin’s flying doctors, is the first air operated emergency medical service in West Africa. Her company provides air ambulances from a pool of 20 aircrafts and highly trained medical personnel for emergency evacuations.

The building of a self reliant nation must mean that the Nation should at least be able to feed itself. The response of many young Nigerians to the President's call to "grow what we eat, eat what we grow," and also diversify our economy is responsible for the phenomenal growth we have experienced in the past three years in the  Agricultural sector.

The transformation in productivity and increase in investment that Nigerian talent and entrepreneurship have brought to agriculture is truly remarkable.

Farmcrowdy is a digital agriculture portal that crowdsources funding for farms across Nigeria. Founded in 2016 by Onyeka Akumah and three other young Nigerians, it operates like a mutual fund; pooling together money from multiple investors to establish farms and hire smallholder farmers to cultivate them, and then paying the investors dividends from the harvests from these farms. In December 2017 it succeeded in raising US$1m in funding. From November 2016 till date, over 3000 rural farmers have been able to keep a job, expand their farm operations and increase their revenue as a result of intervention by Farmcrowdy.

Such farmers include Sunday Ohimai who is a cassava farmer in Edo State, Esther a maize farmer from Dorowa-Babuje, just outside Jos, who recently improved her small acreage to a hectare and Uka Eje ‘s Thrive Agric in Abuja, who uses the same business model as Farmcrowdy also,with great success.

Four years before Farmcrowdy, in 2012, Yemisi Iranloye founded Psaltry, a cassava processing company in the rural town of Ado- Awaye. The starch it produces from the processed cassava is now used by several leading Nigerian food manufacturing companies, including Nestle, Unilever and Nigerian Breweries – as they increasingly replace imported starch with locally-sourced varieties. Psaltry was one of the companies that found growth opportunities in the midst of the recession, as companies cut down on imports and explored locally available substitution. In 2015 its revenues grew three-fold, and in 2016 it began building a second production line.

Abdul Fatah Sadiq Murtala, 25, is from Batagarawa local government in Katsina state. He founded Brio Green Agro Nigeria in 2016. It builds greenhouses and  hydroponic systems. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants in the growth chambers without soil. Brio Green is producing Animal fodder feed in a climate-controlled facility year round using this technology,. Brio Green Agro supplies farms and ranches with fodder feed.

Kola Masha’s Babban Gona supports smallholder farmers in Northern Nigeria with financing, agricultural input, training and marketing. Masha is leveraging his experience in both the private and public sectors to deliver solutions that are changing the lives of thousands of struggling farmers like Umar Magaji, a 35-year-old farmer, who owns 1.5 hectares and, as of this year, leases another 2.5 hectares. He plans to lease a further 2 hectares next year.

Thanks to Babban Gona, he says, his yields are two to three times what they once were. He has refurbished his house, bought a motorcycle and enrolled his children in the village school. He is hopeful he can perform the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia within the next two years.

Angel Adelaja, founder of Fresh Direct, has perfected an innovative approach to farming, in disused containers, without soil and with very little water. What she’s doing could very well be the start of an urban farming revolution in Nigeria.

Also while visiting the Workstation Hub in Victoria Island I had the pleasure of drinking Sola Ladoja’s fresh juice-'Pick me up'  made by his start up Simply Green. Simply Green is a farm- to -bottle raw organic cold press juice company. Using organic and technologically harvested practices, meaning no chemicals or pesticides are used in growing their fruits and vegetables.

In  beauty and high fashion, there is very little doubt that young Nigerians have captured and in some instances, dominating  local and international imagination. So the ground breaking pioneering works of Deola Sagoe and Lisa Folawiyo has spawned a whole new generation of Nigerian designers confidently using Nigerian and African prints  to make bold and unmistakable statements in high fashion. So today, Deola Sagoe has transformed the traditional  Yoruba Iro and Buba, by using laser cut Aso-Oke to create the now famous Komole, the toast of brides across the country.

Lisa Folawiyo has on her part taken beaded African prints to new levels of creativity and both have inspired a new generation of designers like, Andrea Iyamah, and 31 year old Amaka Osakwe,  Maki oh! (started at 23) is celebrated in Vogue magazine and last year in the New Yorker as  West Africa’s most daring designer. Her use of adire in many collections  is  an intentional ploy to boldy redefine elements of culture.

Orange Culture, Mai Atafo are also literarily making waves in Men’s clothing.

In the beauty industry, Tara Fela-Durotoye, founder of the House of Tara and Banke Meshida, BM-PRO stand out as pioneers who have influenced a whole generation of beauty experts,  and beauty products and opened a new vista in bridal make up. Tara’s training of hundreds of beauty experts and franchising of her House of Tara has created a whole new indigenously Nigerian beauty industry.

This has created thousands of jobs for beauty experts and retailers. So now we see more ladies with their contours and highlights popping (on fleek - trend for good make up) Shomaya, (Elaine Edozien Sobanjo) Joyce Jacob have also  introduced Hollywood glamour to the Nigerian wedding make up industry.

By the way, what celebration today can beat the Nigerian wedding? from the make-up, dresses, to the decor, catering, cakes, party planning, and the photography; a whole new industry has developed  by creative young people making an otherwise memorable event, even more memorable and linking ethnicities across the country in fashion and ceremony.

Today everyone Yoruba, Ibo, Hausa, many others from different  ethnic groups wear Aso Ebi, and their wedding ceremonies are becoming increasingly similar, not by a uniformity that results in loss of culture or tradition, but by a creativity that brings a standard while accentuating tradition and culture. The whole nature of the moderation, yet preservation of the traditional engagement ceremony is such testament to the depth of thought and creativity that has promoted, perpetrated and internationalized our tradition and values.

The Nigerian wedding is becoming so popular that the film "Wedding Party" was a major international  commercial success.

It is perhaps in the literary arts, especially the written and  spoken word  that we see the difficult issues of nation building most poignantly confronted by young people.  A new generation of literary torchbearers have emerged. Talents like Chimamanda Adichie, Helon Habila, Teju Cole, Chika Unigwe, Chigozie Obioma,  Chibundu Onuzo, Abubakar Ibrahim, Eghosa Imasuen, Ayobami Adebayo, Elnathan John and many more, poets like Titilope Sonuga, Dike Chukwumerije,  picking up the baton from the Soyinkas and Achebes.

Their works expose the complications and the solutions to the issues associated with the mentality of persons in the post colonial state, a multi ethnic multi religious, society and underscore the question and process of emerging from these records and histories and building a nation therefrom.  The reflection and introspection, their talents, boldness, precision, undiluted expressions and call to action invoke in us all is exactly what nation building and greatness is made of.

They are not timid, and represent a growing class of sophistication and confidence that confront lingering post-civil war and even post colonial aches and pains. They highlight the hypocrisy of  ethno-religious barriers often set by the elite for selfish advantage and expose the underlying selfishness and failure of statesmanship that exploits fault lines for political and personal benefit. They highlight the cancer of systemic corruption and how it has eaten into the fabric of our society and cost us lives, years and retrogression.

These writers and poets explore, explain and humanize the difficult issues around social justice, the humiliation and delegitimization that poverty brings, and the failures of the rule of law. 

In Chimamanda Adichie’s "Half of a Yellow Sun," one of the main characters, a University Professor, tells his houseboy: “There are two answers to the things they will teach you about our land: the real answer and the answer you give in school to pass. You must read books and learn both answers. I will give you books, excellent books. They will teach you that a white man called Mungo Park discovered River Niger. That is rubbish. Our people fished in the Niger long before Mungo Park’s grandfather was born. But in your exam, write that it was Mungo Park.”

This reminds me of one of the proverbs that Chinua Achebe popularized: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” – an affirmation of the truth that nation-building is to a large extent about storytelling and the importance of telling our own stories and writing our own histories.

Aniete Isong’s "Radio Sunrise" is a scathing indictment of bribery in the Journalism profession. That the watchdogs of our democracy are sometimes mere captives of corrupt politicians and that news and its analysis may often be paid for.  There is no doubt that grand corruption remains the most enduring threat to our economy.

Just to give an example, Three Billion US dollars was stolen in the so called Strategic Alliance contracts. Three Nigerians were responsible. Today 3 billion dollars is 1trillion Naira and our budget is 7 trillion!  When oil was selling at 100-114 dollars a barrel, the government spent N99b Transport and Agric got N15b and N14b respectively in total three ministries got N139b. Today with oil prices between $60 and 70 per barrel, Power Works and Housing in a year got N415b, Transportation N80b, and N65b for Agriculture totaling N560b.

How come we can do more with less income?

We are investing in infrastructure: started Lagos- Kano standard gauge railway, the Mambilla Hydro, the second Niger Bridge and so on. If you control corruption you can do more with less.

Dike Chukwumerije, reminds us in his powerful poem the Revolution has no tribe that our destinies as Nigerians no matter our tribe or religion  are inextricably tied together. What affects one affects all. Suffering  neither knows  tribe nor tongue.

He says:

"Do you not know that poverty is not an Ijaw man?

He will not spare the rest of us and afflict only the Ishan

He will step over the river and come across the border

So, when the drums sound let everybody answer

Do you not know that corruption is not from Nekede?

He will not hear that Ife had no dealings with Modakeke

He will wake up all of our children at night with hunger

So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

Do you not know that our enemies have no face?

They are indigenes of no state, they come from no place

and, if this boat capsizes every one of us will go under

So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer

Do not say, “I am an iroko”, when the forest is burning

Do not say, “I am an obeche”, when the forest is burning as

Our differences will not prevent us from perishing together

So, when the drums sound, let everybody answer."

Nations are also built by the contributions of public servants, those who work for governments despite the relatively poor remuneration.

Damilola Ogunbiyi was 28 when as the first female General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, she supervised the building of the 5 independent power plants in Lagos State and was responsible for providing solar power to over 200 schools and primary health centers in the State. Today still under 40 years old, she is the first female Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, responsible for providing uninterrupted power to 37 Federal Universities and seven Teaching Hospitals.

She has started the project to provide power to Nigeria’s largest markets. Aready  the first phase of the project has been completed in Sabongari market in Kano, and the construction phase has been completed for the  Ariaria market in Aba. 

Afolabi Imokhuede handles the Npower programme, a major feature of the Federal Government's Social Investment Programme. The programme engages 200,000  graduates across all the States and the local governments . Its applications came through a portal developed by Softtcom,  a company of young Nigerian engineers. The process is completely transparent and you don’t need to know anyone to be engaged.

Tochi Nwachukwu is the Special Assistant to the President on power privatization responsible for transmission, Ime Okon is a Senior Special assistant to the President advising on railways, roads, airports and other infrastructure projects,

Mariam Masha, a medical doctor, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on IDPs and Bisi Ogungbemi, both have been working with IDPs in Maiduguri since August 2015. Recently they have been managing a newly built learning Centre and home for 1500 orphans in Maiduguri.  There is also Mohammed Brimah who works on the North East Humanitarian technolgy hub, where ground- breaking innovation to tackle humanitarian challenges are developed.

But often forgotten are the  excellent teachers in primary and secondary schools. Take the wonderful ingenuity and dedication of Emeafor Roland Chigozie, a secondary school teacher in the FCT, who has earned several awards for extraordinary efforts in raising our next generation. This Micro- Biology and Chemistry graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, was named the best science teacher and recognized specially for exceptional performance in preparing FCT students in quiz and projects exhibitions.  He also recently received another award for contributing to the 774 Young Nigerian Scientists Presidential Award competitions. As a chemistry teacher, the success rate of Emeafor's students in the past 5 years of WAEC and NECO Exams ranged from 87% to 92%.

There is also Doreen Osarobo Omoregie, a school teacher from Edo State, currently working in the FCT. She is a graduate of Chemistry Education, and she deserves this mention just because she consistently goes beyond the call of service in discharging her responsibilities. Even as a youth corper serving in a primary school, she organized a workshop for teachers on the use of primary science kits. She was soon able to take her school towards winning the award for the first best state school in Nigeria in science. Miss Omoregie herself was best science teacher in her school for three consecutive years. Quite remarkably, she was able to use her knowledge in producing items like soap, sanitizer, disinfectants etc which were used to protect students and teachers during the Ebola crises.

I am amazed at the incredible work they do.

These are the true nation builders, teachers, farmers, entrepreneurs, public servants, who work in this country,  pay taxes, bear the hardships, but remain focused. They are the determined ones who never lose hope that change even if slow is possible and the only option, even when painful and unpopular. They are prepared to do their own part day by day. Their own dreams of greatness and their hardwork are the building blocks of our Nation.

 

And how about the young men and women of the police and  armed forces who lay their lives on the line daily to protect us ? The story of Late Colonel Muhammad Abu Ali, has been told often. As commander of the 272 Task Force battalion. His battalion was responsible for the recapture of Bama, Baga, Monguno and later Konduga in Borno State. He was decorated for bravery and excellence. He had become a terror to Boko Haram insurgents.

But  he and four other soldiers were killed in an ambush. He was 36 years old, survived by his wife and three children.

The story of late Sergeant Chukwudi Igboko went viral when he confronted armed robbers in a daylight robbery at a Zenith bank in Owerri, Imo State. He killed one of the robbers,  the robbery was foiled but he and another officer Sgt Sunday Agbo died of the gun shot injuries they sustained during the attack. Both left wives and children. It is to these  men and women who fight to defend our nation from terrorism, and crime that we owe the preservation of our

nationhood .

Some do not die but lose their limbs, their sight or hearing. The  widows, widowers and children  of these brave men and women bear the pain and anguish of loss by themselves for many years.

And then there is the entertainment sector, whose main advantage lies in how it transcends tribe, tongue and location to bring joy to the screens of millions of Nigerians. Think of how much bliss the music videos of Clarence Peters and the bestselling comedies of Ayo Makun, Basket mouth, Akpororo, Chioma Emeruwa( Chi gal) Falz the Bad guy,   Funke Akindele (Jenifa), and the multi talented comedian singer Kenny Black have brought to audiences at home and abroad.  They proudly fly our flag and make us proud. But one of our favourites at the villa is Senator MC Toguwaye, "his excellency the President." His impersonations of the President has him nearly falling off his chair with laughter. And then there is the newest generation, emerging as we speak on Instagram and WhatsApp. Lasisi Elenu (‘Somun just happen right now!’), Williams Uchemba (“You know I don’t like what I hate”).

Stand up Comedy in  Nigeria  owes much to the pioneering efforts and mentor ship of Ali Baba. He literally created a whole industry. AY Ayo Makun is not just successful he has continually given a new generation of comedians a platform with his AY live shows.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said. “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity”.

Few will deny the incredible dividends that  Nollywood has brought to Nigeria. Jason Njoku and his wife, Mary, owners of Iroko and Rock TV pioneered live streaming of Nollwood movies, taking Nollywood to the world. They have also provided opportunities for hundreds of production personnel and agents.

For a lot of these, it is to Mo Abudu, founder Ebonylife TV which airs in 49 countries, and a prolific creator of high quality Afro-centric entertainment content, that pride of place must be given.  Mo Abudu has continuously sought to change the negative perceptions of Africa by telling Africa stories from an African perspective. Her project the "Wedding Party" became the highest grossing Nigerian movie.

Wherever you go in the world today, on airplanes or in department stores you can hear Nigerian music. The credit for taking Nigerian music to the world must go to stars like Tiwa Savage, Davido, Olamide, Wizkid, Waje and so many others. Their creativity and talent has benefited our nation’s image and put a spring to the steps of so many young and aspiring entertainers.  The credit for the discovery, grooming and production of many world class Nigeria acts and records, and building true Nigerian brands is to the likes of DonJazzy (Marvin records), and Banky W’s E.M.E.

As government our business is to create the environment for entrepreneurs to do business, so we are working on access to cheap credit, and on providing infrastructure,  especially power,  greater broadband penetration.

But the task of nation building is never done. The builders confront new problems daily. Today we are confronted with the remnants of Boko Haram terrorism, with farmer/herdsmen clashes, and the potential of ethno religious conflict, we have to feed ourselves, provide millions of new jobs, as every day more people are added to our population. The job of the builder is not to complain or escape, but to confront and solve.

What can we do together to ensure that we don't spend the rest of our days looking forward to the past, frozen by inaction, resolved to doing the same things over and over, and hoping for better results?

I believe the solution is in building the Nigerian bridge. This bridge will not be built of steel or bricks and mortar, but it must be made of the strongest materials of all, our will to excel, our commitment to build a new society, men and women of a new Nigerian Tribe.

This is a bridge that connects us across tribes, ethnicities and dialects, a bridge that connects us across religion, politics and generations. Every one can travel on this bridge, this strong and steady bridge, a bridge that rises from innovation and traditions that span the troubled waters of our past. A bridge that will withstand the powerful forces of fear, division and exclusion.   A bridge that can take the traffic of our best ideas, our creativity, our human and material resources daily to the destination of our national dreams. The bridge will be built with the wisdom of the elderly and the strength of youth. All of us deserve some accolades!

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