Truth From Inside Michael Omolayole Hall, UI

….Fall-outs from the 8th NBC/Yemi Sonde Broadcast Stakeholders Forum             

BY OLOYE ‘LEKAN ALABI

The above-named annual ceremony took place on Thursday, November 23, 2023 inside the  University Of Ibadan Alumni International Michael Omolayole Hall. 

The hosts, since 2015, were the Nigerian Broadcast Commission (NBC) and Mr. Yemi Sonde, respected broadcaster, a former President of the  Freelance And Independent Broadcasters Association Of Nigeria (FIBAN) and owner of the YES 101 FM, Ibadan, Oyo State. I chaired the cerebral function.

The theme of the forum was: “The Role Of The Mass Media In National Development”. Many distinguished broadcasters, electronic media moguls, government media arbitrators, journalists, academicians etc attended the highly-stimulating 5-hour session.

One of the rapporteurs was the international egghead, Professor Oluwole Albert, the Head of the Peace and Conflicts Resolution Department of the University of Ibadan, who, while presenting his paper,threw the distinguished audience back in time, when he disclosed that he had sometime in 1984, while a youth corper at the old Oyo State Ministry of Information, Ibadan, had formally approached me for a copy of the highly- restricted weekly itinerary of the  second of the four Governors(1 civil and 3 military) of the old Oyo State whom I served as the Press Secretary, from 1983 to 1989. In keeping with protocols, Professor Albert said I politely declined his request.

But, the main point of Professor Albert’s delivery at the recent forum was his agreement with my declaration that Nigeria, as constituted, is NOT a nation, but a country of nations, over 100 of them.

In my opening remarks as the Chairman of the occasion, I referred to three of Nigeria’s dead political leaders, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who publicly shared their views that Nigeria of their time was; “A mere geographical expression” (Awolowo); “The 1914 Amalgamation was the greatest mistake by the colonialists” (Ahmadu Bello) and “Nigerians themselves know that we are not one” (Tafawa Balewa).

I further opined that the media could continue to forge the needed unity of the country, provided Nigeria is run on a workable and acceptable peoples Constitution.

What is the connection of the erudite, respectable doyen of corporate magenent,Dr Michael Omolayole,with all these?

The former Chairman/CEO of the British-owned conglomerate, Lever Brothers Plc, Dr. Omolayole is a graduate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria’s first and best university (75 this year). Before his retirement from service, long ago, Dr Omolayole’s voice was well-received and respected globally when it came to management. And he never strayed into unknown/unexplored terrains. The Alumni Association Worldwide of his Alma Mata honoured Dr Omolayole by naming its Hall, on the UI campus, after him. The truth about the realistic stature of Nigeria as a country, therefore, couldn’t have resonated from a better venue.

 

CAPTIONS     

Pic 1:

Group photograph of the Forum stakeholders on the high table at the 8th NBC/Yemi Sonde Broadcast Stakeholders Forum held inside the Michael Omolayole Hall of the UIAAW, recently.               

 

Pic 2:

My humbleself, High Chief ‘Lekan Alabi, Maye Olubadan of Ibadanland and the first Culture Ambassador of the National Museum and Monument, Ile-Ife, Osun State (right) greeting Dr. Michael Omolayole, doyen of management at a public function in Lagos in 1998.I was then the Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited.