OYO101: “Dr. Lateef Ayinla Adeniran And The Secret Of His Enduring Success” !! By Muftau Gbadegesin
OYO101: “Dr. Lateef Ayinla Adeniran And The Secret Of His Enduring Success” !! By Muftau Gbadegesin.
A little while Nigerian Nationalists pressed harder for political autonomy from the shackles of British imperialists; the breeze of another enduring history was already blowing in a far away West African country.This time, it’s the coming to life of a legendary future historian at an unprecedented historic time. Indeed, the culmination of this historian earthly arrival at a time of heightened National consciousness is at best described as a symbolic interactionist gesture to the continuous, and spontaneous quest for freedom, Independence and autonomy.
Not quite surprising, this historian will go on to remind people with faint knowledge of history to wake to the realization that the fight for freedom, and of Independence for that matter was one of sweat, struggle and solidarity – one that must be placed above all primordial sentiments and prejudices. Hence, for the next six decades and more, this historian will hoist the flag of National renaissance, reminding people who already take the wins of the past with a pinch of salt – to learn from the moments of lift that birth not just hope to the hopeless, but a country where all and sundry can lay claim to – the one on which serves as their sanctuary in thick and thin.
The day is October 13, 1956. It’s in the French controlled Cote d’Ivoire, a country known for its exotic ivory, cocoa, coffee and that will in the future headquarter the eighty-one member African Development Bank. This country, Republique de Cóte d’Ivoire, like Nigeria would later win the arduous battle for self-determination on August 7, 1960 from French colonialists; thus making it to the league of autonomous entities free from the chains and manacles of white man rule. At the heart of Ivory Coast Northern region lies Korhogo, the seat of both savanes District and Poro region. And it is in this city, sixty-five years ago, that this historian, Dr. Abdullateef Ayinla Adeniran would inhale his first earthly air.
In a way, the time of his birth, place of birth, and circumstances of this man in million may be somewhat historic and spectacularly symbolic, but this man, whose rich life, enduring legacy and academic output would etch his name on the scroll of history is a man with that hard-won badge of historic honor. From iconic Ivory Coast straight to the Giant Gold Coast.
The City of Diamonds
Korhogo sits quietly in the Northern region of Ivory Coast.It is the city of both Savanes District and Poro region. It is also a commune and the seat of and a sub-prefect of Korhogo department. This city is reputed to produce goods such as cotton, kapok, rice, millet, peanuts, corn, yams, sheep, goats and DIAMONDS. In 1956, this city must have churned out diamonds in large quantity, but the one shining human diamond it may not be of aware of is Dr. Adeniran: the newly born future scholar to Nigerian parents. This new born would later explore and subject himself to the rigours of academics, nitty gritty of impacting knowledge, and hard task of molding and transforming lives with a view to touching lives positively, inspiring others while getting himself a fitting place in the galaxy of scholars.
In a similar vein, this man’s conquest will make the continent of Africa shine brighter, beautiful like diamond and remind the world of the promise and prospects of what an African, in Africa, is capable of. In a world of intellectual dogfight, Dr. Adeniran will stand gingerly armed with pen, paper, and brain to slay dragons of ignorance, slaughter monster of arrogance and beam light into the heart of darkness. Here is a man of all seasons, who will rescue souls from the pangs of ignorance while adding flavor to the reservoir of knowledge through timeless stream of sharp thoughts evidenced in publications both in and outside of the continent.
The Tale of Two Coasts
Between 1961 and 1969, Dr. Adeniran had moved from one coast to another. After spending six years in the coast of Ivory, and with elementary education beckoning; Gold Coast as it was called became the first to nurture the spirit, soul, heart and body of this future historian. The choice of Ghana for this fundamental task was itself strategic as it is historic. On March 6, 1957, Ghana became the first black African country to free itself from the troubles of colonial masters. And by that, it sets a desirable precedent for the entire Black race to stand up for freedom. And by 1960, the freedom song emitting from Ghana had metastasized to the hearts and horns of Africa thereby sending shiver up the spines of the Europeans. With little options left, the white overlords began to listen to the voices of freedom and the cries and hues of Independence.
So, between 1961 and 1967, the journey of a thousand miles to becoming an African historian began precisely at L.A Primary ‘A’ school, Walewale, Ghana. And between 1967-1969, the young Adeniran had enrolled into L.A Middle Day School, also in Walewale, a restful town and capital of West Mamprusi Municipal in the North East region of Ghana. It is here the solid foundation that will hold the mansion of wisdom is being slowly, gradually and painstakingly constructed.
Back to the Fatherland
After a taste of life in the two coasts of Ivory and Gold, it is time to step into the fatherland, Nigeria. But coming to Nigeria is not to end the light of erudition burning higher but to keep its flame afloat. And it is no surprising that Dr. Adeniran’s first move on getting to Nigeria was to enroll into that citadel of knowledge, Irepo Grammar school, Igboho between 1970-1974. Here it is worth noting the historical significance and relevance of Igboho, the only surviving Old Oyo Empire in the anal of Yoruba historical pathway.
In his groundbreaking work, titled The Alafin in Exile: A study of the Igboho period in Oyo history published in 1965, Robert Smith reported that “During the reign of Alafin Onigbogi, probably in the early sixteenth century, the Oyo capital, Oyo-ile, was abandoned to the Nupe from across the Niger. It was reoccupied only after an exile lasting some three-quarters of a century. During their exile the Alafin settled at several places in the marches of Borgu and Yorubaland, and finally founded a new capital at Oyo-Igboho”.
This newly established capital in about 1555 was to be the country home of Dr. Adeniran. And it was here his journey to the world of ideas starting from from rural Ghana, to his country home then to Ibadan, Lagos, Ilorin, among others hit the ground running. Along that unpredictable yet exciting journey, he came in contact with notable and reputable scholars whose input help shaped his worldview in a way that will and continue to benefit humanity: Professor J. F Ade Ajayi, Professor Ijaola Asiwaju, Professor Akinjide Osuntokun among other eminent intellectuals.
39 Years In One Day
“My heart is full of gratitude to Allah”, an emotionally fulfilled Dr. Adeniran says on Thursday, 7 October, 2021 at the first Public Lecture which marked the start of another exciting chapter of his life “My joy has run full circle. I reflect and register my sincere appreciation to all well-meaning people whose spiritual and moral support, has taken me this far”. It’s 39 Years since assuming duties with burning passion in this same foremost college of education which has transitioned into a seedbed of teacher education. In the course of this primary interest, the elated historian averred, I looked forward to imparting knowledge. In the process, he says, a generation of students have one way or the other, passed through my academic influence.
Inside that expansive Board of Trustees (BOT) auditorium on Thursday, 7 October, 2021, with about half a thousand heads, listening raptly, Dr. Adeniran unfurled his academic magic, taking the audience to the far end of history, to the antiquities, and to the contemporary yet germane topics of the day. Not one to shy away from responsibilities, Dr. Adeniran walked listeners through the curves and contours of his engagements starting from being the founding member, and the Reporting Secretary of The Oyo Patriots (TOP): a community-oriented group that ensured the retention of then Saint Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo when sister Colleges of Education: Wesley College of Education, Ibadan, the Colleges of Education, Lanlate, Iwo and Osogbo were phased out with fiat, under Colonel Oladayo Popoola as Governor of the Old Oyo state.
A New Kind of Emotional Shield
At the time he assumed duty at Saint Andrew College of Education, Oyo (which has changed name twice to OYSCOED and now EACOED) as a lecturer, education was still rocking the bed of Nigeria humanity while playing vital role in her National development. But now, with various destructive policies and politicization of recruitment process of academics, Dr. Adeniran looks back at the turn of things for the worse in the education sector. And here he says, one risks the temptations of viewing issues on academics as following a linear progression. That people committed to deep reflection, would continue to live above board, and guard their profession from being tainted from within. In a sense, the rot from the larger society, he notes, has infected the academia, thereby undermining the integrity of academics, thus particularly lowering the quality of those within the system under discussion.
What is success, Now?
Perhaps it will help to steal the word of Viktol Frankl, the Austrian Psychiatrist whose seminal work on how to transform suffering to stepping stone of success to understand the underbelly of how this academic juggernaut, historian, scholar, father, teacher, mentor, a gentle guide and guardian angel has survived the various life inescapable setbacks, personally and professionally in his 39 Years of meritorious service to God and humanity while still staying happy with remarkable and astounding success to his name.
Don’t aim at success, Viktol Frankl says in Man’s Search for Meaning, the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long-run, I say!—success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it.
OYO101, Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion on issues affecting Oyo State, is published on Saturdays. He can be reached via muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com and 09065176850.
