Personality in Focus
Odinkalu Dismisses Ahmed Bako’s Lecture As Worse Than Anti-Climax
Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Mr. Chidi Odinkalu, has come hard on Professor Ahmed Bako, describing his recently delivered inaugural lecture as an exercise worse than an anti-climax.
In a lengthy writeup that reviewed the totality of Bako’s lecture, Odinkalu revealed as follows:
Thanks to (all) who have offered up views on Prof. (Ahmed) Bako’s Inaugural.
I was honestly minded to un-look after reading it twice for reasons that will follow shortly. But given the depth of your effort, I want to offer a limited and deliberately narrow complement.
For a relatively short Inaugural Lecture delivered on the eve of retirement after nearly 45 yrs teaching & researching Nigerian history, this text is riddled with distressing errors of text, context, sub-text, & texture.
I say nothing of errors of intellectual method – it explores no alternative explanations or interpretations for its limited sourcing & evidence. So the lecture seems to be embarrassingly devoid of basic intellectual curiosity too.
One major error that caught my eye on p. 13: “The Igbos embarrassed modern education….” I presume he meant to say “embraced”.
That is 10 pages after he puts Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the category of Igbo “separatist” groups on p. 3. It goes on…. If this was an error of commission, it’s evidence of prejudice. If it is one of omission, it is worse than embarrassing. Either way, it is totemic of the lecture.
All over the text, you see such and worse embarrassments.
On pp. 45-46, in support of his suggestion that the Igbo drove host-community competitors from the marketplace, he cites a rental incident, claiming that rent in 1974 and 1986 was in ££:
“My view is that because of ethnic solidarity, Igbo traders gradually marginalized or even displace (sic) large number of Hausa traders. A typical example of a Hausa man displaced by the Igbo was Alhaji Abubakar Makwarari. He became a textile retailer in 1974 in a stall he rented from Alhaji Salisu Barau Zage at the cost of *£6,000* per annum. In 1986 he was ejected due to his failure to pay the new rent of *£30,000* . Chief David Obi Oknokwo (sic) paid the stated amount and occupied the stall. Many other Hausa traders such as Lawal Sulaiman (Minister), Alhaji Yahya etc were displaced by the Igbo who were ready to pay high rents….”
On the face of this text, this is evidence of his pursuit of a pre-determined single narrative: Alhaji Salisu Barau Zage who on this evidence shafted his own brother in order to collect the Igbo man’s money lacked agency or responsibility. He fell victim to the presumed sorcery or wickedness of the blighted Igbo man.
That is a segue to the substantive issues. Underlying his thesis is the claim that the Igbo embraced education for purposes of domination and not development. Avoiding for the moment any contest over meaning here, he provides no authority or evidence for this claim. He takes this over the top on pp.39-40: “What needs emphasis during this time was the fact that searching for economic power and dominance make the Igbo to be desperate and aggressive. Desperation is what make (sic) them to not only be disliked by host communities in several of the areas of their dominance in Northern Nigeria but to pushed (sic) some young Igbo into criminal activities.”
He asserts this as fact with no effort to back it up with evidence, authority, or comparison. And the text is littered with such carefree attitude to prejudice as fact.
He also complains somewhat about the insularity of the Igbo and how that has been a source of blowback. But yet he also explains – without appearing to know that that was what he was doing – that this was an outcome of colonial-era segregations which effectively rendered Sabon-Gari into an ethnic ghetto.
Interestingly, the exception to the treatment of Sabon-Gari as a ghetto was Mal. Abacha Maiduguri, the father of Gen. Abacha. That is no accident because the Kanuri were also outsiders among the Karnawa and that has some antiquity. That is another story altogether.
On the whole, the lecture is worse than an anti-climax. If this is what passes for history and what has been taught for over 4 decades, one can only lean back with the jaws askew.
But I also don’t want to be too unkind about the lecture. The man has done his best. Now and again, there are some accidental nuggets in parts of the paper (such as the reference to the Ajie Ukpabi Asika interview of 1971 or the Newswatch interviews with survivors of 1985 but they appear entirely accidental and not followed up or developed. So, it is a useful read and a useful source of intelligence: If a university professor supposedly specialized in history offers this up, the rest can be imagined.
In the end, an Inaugural in my view and experience is essentially a celebration of a thread of intellectual forage. The reason I was minded to un-look is that I will not knowingly rejoin to a paper to which it is impossible to attribute a quote of more than one sentence without two [sics].
Of course, there is no rejoinder to the fact that the Pound was abolished in Nigeria in 1973 and, therefore, that in 1974, rent in Kano was not rendered in £££.
And if he believes that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a separatist organisation, that is his view. But that would, presumably also, be applicable to Arewa, or the Egbe or MBF or any number of ethnically defined associational groups in Nigeria; which would then beg the question: why does the Igbo one call for any form of his attention if he is not going to make the effort to distinguish those others from Ohanaeze.
If a man – or anyone at that – has spent over 40 years of his life spouting this kind of stuff even with the best of intentions as seems evident on the face of this paper, I will take pity on him and pity even more the students who endured it.
Writers across Nigeria, under the auspices of the Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW), have united in commemorating the 94th posthumous birthday of one of Africa’s greatest literary icons, Prof. Chinua Achebe. Achebe, renowned globally for his groundbreaking novel *Things Fall Apart*, remains an enduring symbol of literary excellence and cultural preservation.
In a statement issued by Wole Adedoyin, the President of SYNW emphasized Achebe’s unmatched contributions to African literature and his role as a beacon of inspiration for writers across generations. Adedoyin highlighted the Society’s unwavering commitment to honoring Achebe’s legacy through creative and impactful initiatives.
One of the key tributes mentioned is the *Chinua Achebe Annual Literary Festival and Memorial Lecture*, initiated by the Anambra Chapter Coordinator of SYNW, Izunna Okafor. Now in its 9th edition, the festival has become a significant platform for celebrating Achebe’s works and discussing his influence on modern African literature.
Cynthia Maduekwe, the President of the Nigeria Society of Campus Writers, also spearheaded the *Writers Tour*, another initiative aimed at engaging young writers with Achebe’s literary philosophy. This tour exposes aspiring authors to Achebe’s timeless themes of cultural identity, colonialism, and societal transformation, ensuring his legacy continues to inspire future generations.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) reaffirmed its dedication to Achebe’s memory through these longstanding programs. Writers across the country were encouraged to reflect on Achebe’s life and works, sharing tributes and essays on social media platforms to further propagate his vision of storytelling.
Adedoyin lauded the efforts of writers like Okafor and Maduekwe, whose initiatives keep Achebe’s legacy alive.
He also urged literary organizations and institutions to continue collaborating to sustain Achebe’s impact on African literature and culture.
“Prof. Achebe’s work transcends literature. He gave Africans a voice on the global stage, presenting our stories with authenticity and pride. Celebrating his 94th posthumous birthday is a reminder of the power of storytelling in shaping society,” Adedoyin stated.
The SYNW also used the opportunity to announce plans for a series of upcoming events dedicated to Achebe in the coming year, including essay competitions, poetry readings, and book discussions. These programs aim to further Achebe’s vision of nurturing literary talent and promoting African narratives.
As the literary community celebrates Achebe’s life and achievements, his timeless words resonate: “Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”
Achebe’s legacy continues to inspire writers to tell their own stories, preserving the richness of African culture for generations to come.
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers concluded by inviting literary enthusiasts to join in celebrating Achebe’s enduring impact, emphasizing that his legacy is a shared treasure for all who value the power of words.
Personality in Focus
UBA Appoints Henrietta Ugboh Independent Non-Executive Director As Owanari Duke Retires from Group Board
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Henrietta Ugboh as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
The appointment has been approved by the relevant regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria.
UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, CFR commenting on the appointment, said, “Henrietta Ugboh brings a track record of professional success, integrity and leadership, which will further strengthen the UBA Group Board, underlining once again the Group’s commitment to robust corporate governance.”
Ugboh holds a degree in Economics and Statistics from the University of Benin, an MBA from ESUT Business School, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Program. She has over 30 years experience in banking with Citibank and is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA).
Elumelu added that with her considerable experience and expertise, which includes commercial banking, credit, and risk management, the UBA Board is delighted to welcome Mrs Ugboh to the Group Board, “We look forward to her invaluable contribution to the Group, as we continue to execute our unique growth strategy across Africa and globally.”
The Board also announced the retirement of Mrs. Owanari Duke, an Independent Non-Executive Director, who joined the UBA Group Board in October 2012.
During her tenure, Mrs. Duke provided distinguished leadership, serving on Committees of the Bank including the Board Governance Committee, Board Audit, Governance, Nomination & Remuneration Committee, Board Credit Committee, Finance & General Purpose Committee and Statutory Audit Committee.
On behalf of the board, Mr. Elumelu expressed UBA’s deep appreciation to Mrs. Duke for her dedication and significant contributions to the Group, wishing her the best in her future endeavour.
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and related banking services.
Personality in Focus
Tinubu Hails FirstBank’s Immediately Past CEO, Adeduntan on Exceptional Service
By Eric Elezuo
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has congratulated the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of the FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan as the bank holds a splendid Sendforth party on his behalf for a meritorious service.
The president’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
The statement reads in full:
PRESIDENT TINUBU CONGRATULATES DR ADEDUNTAN, AS FIRST BANK CELEBRATES EX-GROUP CEO
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Dr Adesola Adeduntan, the retired Group Chief Executive Officer of First Bank Nigeria Limited, for his exceptional service at Nigeria’s oldest bank.
In celebration of Adeduntan’s remarkable tenure, the 130-year-old First Bank will host a special send-off ceremony this weekend, expressing gratitude for his contributions over the past nine years.
President Tinubu commends him for steering the bank through transformative growth, which includes expanding customer accounts from 10 million to over 42 million and elevating Profit Before Tax from N10 billion in 2015 to an impressive N300 billion in 2023.
These milestones, the President said, reflected Adeduntan’s visionary leadership and commitment to excellence.
The President expresses his appreciation for Adeduntan’s willingness to serve the nation in various pivotal roles, including his contributions to the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and other prominent institutions. His extensive expertise in the financial sector has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s economic landscape.
President Tinubu also lauds the bank’s solid internal management ethos, which is responsible for the seamless transition from Adeduntan to the current CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu.
President Tinubu wishes Dr Adeduntan continued success in all his future endeavours.
