Erin-Oke, Osun State, Nigeria – This early Thursday morning, Naija lose one of im padi as Christopher Kolade, di big oga wey don rule for boardroom and media, don waka go meet Ma Papa. E don live for 93 years, and at this age, we fit say, na time for am to retire from this earth wahala.
Born for 1932, for Erin-Oke, Osun State, Christopher no be ordinary padi. Im papa na Anglican missionary, and na that kind home foundation wey give am the strong sense of duty and service wey all of us dey see today. After im finish secondary school for Government College, Ibadan, e carry own self go Fourah Bay College for Freetown, Sierra Leone. Dem say education na di key, and Kolade don prove am well well!
As a broadcaster, e sabi how to spread di news wella; in fact, e even serve as di Director General for Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. Na him sabi how to make things shine for microphone! E run Cadbury Nigeria Plc for some time as di Chief Executive and Chairman. Na here, wetin dem dey call ‘brand loyalty’ come enter Naija vocabulary because of di sweet way dem dey package Cadbury products.
No stop there! Kolade no just sit down dey zazz, e represent us as di Nigerian High Commissioner for United Kingdom. Talk about a man wey carry Naija voice through di world, abi na wetin you go call am?
As colonial-era education officer, e don touch plenty lives. E don teach corporate governance and human resources management for Lagos Business School (LBS), plus leadership & conflict management for School of Media & Communication (SMC). I mean, wetin we go do without dem skills? E even dey serve as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman for di Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. Na real padi wey carry education for head!
E don open a lot of doors for many people wey dey follow im footstep. For some years, Kolade dey champion business integrity through im position as di chairman for Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE. E sabi say for Naija, integrity no be just word – na di way of life.
As we dey mourn this great man, we sure say tears fit dey flow, but we also go celebrate as dem carry am enter di hall of fame. In many ways, e live for our heart and him legacy go dey shine like fresh palm wine this side.
A true Naija elder, Kolade now don rest from all di struggle of dis earthly matter. E go de miss pass as we dey carry im story enter tomorrow.”
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