Mr. Jubril Omotunde and Mrs. Olukemi Omotunde, who got married in 1954, share their life secrets with MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN

 When were you born and where did you have your education?

Husband: I was born in November 1928 in Abeokuta, Ogun State. I attended Ebenezer Baptist Day School, Abeokuta from 1934 and later moved to Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta for my secondary education.

Wife: I was born in 1932. I had my primary education at Abeokuta Convent School but did not attend secondary school until I travelled to the UK to study.

What is the secret to having a happy married life?

Husband:  To stay happy in marriage, you must marry someone that you understand. You have to marry the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh. Understanding in marriage is important to having a happy home. Couples must avoid constant disagreement so it is necessary to marry someone you can relate with freely because marriage is give and take. Disagreement will come in any relationship but it must quickly be dealt with before it destroys the bond between the husband and his wife. It is also important that the couple must be genuinely in love with each other, share common goals and be ready to accommodate each other even when there is a disagreement. These are the important ingredient of marriage that we have kept intact. They are the secrets of our union for many decades.

Wife: I do not object to what my husband says. Anything he says is fine for me. He is never wrong and to him, I am always right. He respects my opinion and keeps me straight when I am losing an argument.

Apart from these essential ingredients of love, what other qualities have kept you in love for almost 60 years?

Husband:  We do not allow disagreement and quarrel to go out of hands. We control our anger and allow emotions for our relationship to rule our love life.

We don’t try to ascertain who is wrong and who is right. The most important thing for us is how we are going to move on from a difficult point. We don’t keep each other’s wrongdoings in mind. My wife knows that if I say yes, my decision is final because I must have looked at the issue at hand from different angles. There is mutual respect between us; she does not argue too much also understands how important it is to express her opinion on family issues.

Wife: It is my duty as a wife and mother to put the house in order. Before making an important decision, I must seek the advice of my husband. If he is not at home, such decisions must wait until he returns home. I know my husband’s body language, so when I notice that he is not looking happy, I ensure that I make him happy by touching his heart and discussing the issue that is giving him sadness.  The only reason why I’m in his house is to make him happy, so I must give him anything he wants from me.

How long was your courtship before you decided to walk down the aisle?

Wife: We met in 1951; after I completed my standard six education.  I met him through a friend and when he started showing interest in me, I fell in love with him and that was because I like him. Five years later, we got married and began to raise a family.

Husband: When we met for the first time in 1951, I was struck by her stunning beauty, intelligence and calmness.  I began observing her attitude towards me because I did not want to offend her or prey on our first time together. Although I fell in love with her immediately, I was careful not to ruin a chance of another meeting. We remained as friends for four years and in the fifth year, I proposed to her and she agreed to be my wife.

If your parents had objected you marrying her, what would you have done?

Husband: That would have been a difficult situation but the truth is that nobody can determine who I marry, my parents wouldn’t have chosen a wife for me. Their interest in my love affair should be who I chose to go out with, her family background and all other special qualities that a woman must possess before getting married. If they had objected my marriage to her without strong reasons, I would still have gone ahead with the wedding plan.

Wife: I didn’t know anything at the time I got married. But if my mother had said I shouldn’t marry him, our relationship would have hit the buffers.

What’s your view on the notion that a woman’s place is only in the kitchen?

Husband: No, I don’t believe that. A man has to always assist his wife in the kitchen. If the women are to leave the responsibilities of keeping the home to their husbands, the strain of the burden will be glaring. We both share the responsibilities. So, while she assists me financially; I take pride in helping her in the kitchen. It’s in our culture to do things together always.

What mistakes do men commit when they are searching for wives?

Husband: Some men don’t look well before marrying a lady. They don’t take time to study the lady. That is why the period of courtship is very important. You don’t just see a beautiful woman and marry her immediately. Beauty alone shouldn’t be the reason for choosing a wife.  Men who jump into marriage will not be happy at the end and when joy is missing in a relationship, it’s a waste of time.

Do you think it is wrong for a wife to earn more than her husband?

Husband: Salary should not be the reason for disagreements between a couple. Where there is love, the husband should not be affected by his wife’s fat salary. They should see it as an advantage. It means more money for the family. And the wife shouldn’t tell people the financial status of her family.

What is your husband’s best food?

Wife: He has no choice of food. He eats anything I cook for him since I know what he likes.

You don’t look your age.

Wife: I should have looked younger than this, but I have a lot of things going on in my mind and they affect my looks.

Husband: I remain happy no matter the condition I find myself. I laugh over everything even when the going is tough. Financially, I don’t compare myself to others. I eat good food and I don’t eat heavy food.

You must have watched your wife grow old over the years, does it have any effect on your romance?

Husband: No. I still love her like the day we first met. I always tell her that I don’t think I would have been happy with another woman. She is special in everything. There is no woman like her. She is so gentle in nature. She doesn’t get annoyed easily or for too long. She is obedient and ready to do anything I tell her. She is wonderful. I’ve never regretted marrying her.

How was life in England?

Husband: I was so happy and people liked me. My white friends did not want me to return to Nigeria. But because my children were in Nigeria, I couldn’t afford to leave them.  Foreigners are straight forward and well-mannered. They are not like Africans. I enjoyed living with them. I never regret spending part of my life in England.

And how was your experience as an employee of the West African Examinations Council?

Husband: I started work at WAEC in 1970. I started on Grade eight.  I was employed as a building construction engineer. This was the course I went to the United Kingdom to study and being employed to do what I loved made me happy.  Also, they didn’t understand the nature of my job, so they left everything for me to handle. I became my own boss.

In all, I spent 20 years in WAEC. It was a wonderful experience. No one ever questioned my performance. I told them what to do in terms of hiring a building or renting an apartment. It gave me the desired freedom.

Prior to my employment at WAEC, I worked with the Nigerian Railways Corporation. I had a nice time. But I didn’t spend a long time there because I wanted to travel to the UK to further my studies. Some of my colleagues discouraged me, but I didn’t listen to them. When I came back from the UK, I bought a car and a house; meanwhile they were still riding bicycles.

Where did you work?

Wife: I was a teacher before I met him. Later on, I travelled with him to the UK to study secretarial studies.  I didn’t stay too long in the UK because of my children. I had to come back and take care of them. My first job after my return was at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a typist.

How do you unwind after the day’s work?

Husband: I walk a lot. At my age I can trek from Dopemu to Oshodi in Lagos Sate. I enjoy walking long distances because it’s a good form of exercise. I also enjoy playing games and helping out with house chores. I value a clean environment. I sleep a lot and eat good food. I don’t like visiting people; I prefer to relax in my house. I also don’t hold grudges; I easily forget when people offend me. I just thank God for the good life he has given me.

Can you recall some of the social activities during your days as youths?

Husband: I enjoyed wrestling. It was my favourite sport. The wrestling I’m talking about is not the type of wrestling which is common on our television now. Our type of wrestling was original and it required the strong to enter the ring.

It was very common in Abeokuta in those days. It was a fun sport but it demanded endurance. At the end of the day, whoever won would be carried shoulder high and celebrated by people around the town.  The winner got respect because people would recognise him as a real man of strong will and power.

I also enjoyed dancing. I was a good dancer when I was young. Those days, we paid so much money to get into a dancing studio. It was a lovely experience.

Wife: I wasn’t involved any social activity. I got used to staying at home with my mother who thought me so many things about womanhood and taking care of the home.  My parents enjoyed having me around them and I enjoyed their company a lot too.

Before you moved to the UK, what were you doing in Nigeria?

Wife: I was a teacher at a government school around Mushin area of Lagos State. I was there until I moved with my husband to the UK where I added to my academic knowledge.

Was there any sign that your absence from the family while in the UK created a social or moral vacuum?

Husband: No there was no vacuum created by my decision to move abroad.  Even when I got back from the UK, I was still close to my children. There was no gap at all.

I was working at a company called City Architecture Office in the UK. When they found out that my family was in Nigeria, they wanted me to bring them over, but I couldn’t. There was no one to take care of the children, they were still very small. Bringing them over would mean hiring a nanny. It was expensive.

Who funded your trip to the UK?

I was responsible for all the expenses. I was working with Nigerian Railways before I left, so I saved some money for the purpose.

What special experience did you have during your trip?

Unlike now when there are flights going abroad on daily basis, we did not have such things in those days. What we had were passenger ships. But the experience was far more interesting than travelling in aeroplane.

I travelled to the UK in a large passenger ship that took off from the Apapa port. It was such an interesting voyage which lasted 14 days. We passed through many countries and had stop-overs in some of those countries. It gave us the opportunity to meet with the people there, learn a few things about their culture, food and even language.

How about your children?

Husband: I have four children. The first child works with the Lagos State Government at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja. One of his children got married on Valentines’ Day and I was there to play my role as grandfather. I enjoy celebrating with people so I had a good time at the party. I have another child who is a teacher but I lost the third sometimes ago. She was married at the time of her death. My fourth child is a poultry farmer who recently completed a from the Ogun State University.

What comparison would you draw from social and family values in your days and today?

Obviously, values have changed badly in our society. In my time, respect was important. Children valued their culture and tradition but now, it’s the opposite.  In my time, we appreciated family union and the values in it. There was a close bond between all members of a family and children respected their parents and their opinions on all matters. These are things we are missing today in our society.

Researchers believe that consuming fewer calories can slow down the ageing process and stave off age-related diseases such as dementia, cancer and Type 2 diabetes.

Two studies have now hailed the benefits of slashing how much you eat with the evidence pointing to the need to cut food intake by as much as 40 per cent.

Scientists at the Institute of Healthy Ageing at University College London have been studying genetics and lifestyle factors, particularly diet, to develop treatments to combat the effects of growing old.

Their research in flies and small animals like mice and rats, that share many of our genetic traits, point to an improved lifespan of up to 30 per cent. It would mean an extra 20 years in human terms.

Dr Matthew Piper, whose work is forming part of this year’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, said, “If you reduce the diet of a rat by 40 per cent it will live for 20 or 30 per cent longer. So we would be talking 20 years of human life.”

In the second study, a team from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in the US found that dietary restriction in flies causes enhanced fat metabolism in the muscle and increased physical activity, both critical for extending life.

Scientists have pointed out that people also need to increase their amount of exercise. They have admitted the research on lowering food intake is all theoretical at the moment. Dr Piper said: “There is no timeline on when it could be used for humans.”

Research has shown how drastically cutting your daily intake can have a major impact by counter-acting cell damage which triggers age-related diseases.

One study revealed a low-calorie diet decreases insulin levels and reduces inflammation in the body. This can not only help prevent Type 2 diabetes but has also been linked to improving memory and staving off dementia as well as improving heart function.

At least three million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes and 850,000 suffer it without being properly diagnosed. More than 80 per cent of them, about 2.5 million, have Type 2 diabetes.

Culled from: Sunday Express.

In 2009, life expectancy in America was 79.2 years, according to the Population Reference Bureau. The PRB also reported in its February 2011 bulletin that the percentage of Americans over age 85 is expected to rise rapidly. Luckily, physical exercise keeps octogenarians healthy even as they age. Consult your doctor first if you are over 80 and plan to begin an exercise program.

Overall benefits

All types of physical activity are as beneficial for octogenarians as they are for younger people. Exercise helps reduce your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes. It can increase endurance and muscle strength for daily activities such as carrying groceries or climbing stairs. Exercise reduces depression, can help you sleep, promotes flexibility and balance, and can help with the swelling and pain from arthritis.

Aerobic exercise

Increasing your heart rate through aerobic exercise is one of the most important kinds of exercise. It improves your body’s ability to take in oxygen and move it throughout your body. Any type of activity that raises your pulse rate and forces you to breathe more deeply counts. Brisk walking, swimming or biking are all possibilities.

Strength training

In the late 1980s, researchers from Tufts University put elderly and frail residents from a nursing home, whose ages ranged from 86 to 96, on a high-intensity strength-training regimen twice a week. The results, published in the “Journal of the American Medical Association” in 1990 reported that the men and women increased their strength by 175 percent and increased their scores on walking speed and balance by 48 per cent.

Concerns for octogenarians

As long as you consult first with your doctor, there is no reason not to exercise. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services makes it official — it is never too late to exercise and every little bit helps. The agency’s 2002 report confirms that the adage “Use it or lose it” reflects scientific fact. The DSHS recommends at least 30 minutes of exercise at least five or more days each week for everyone, including older Americans.

Personal stories

Grace, a 91-year-old woman from California, walks, plays tennis, does yoga and lifts weights. Ruth, who is 87 and from Connecticut, attends exercise and balance class, walks, and lifts dumbbells for 20 to 40 repetitions. Robert, age 80, of Indiana, exercises five times a week at his local gym, using the treadmill, the stationary bike and the stair climber. And William, 85, of Massachusetts, uses aquatic exercise, including deep-water running, to maintain flexibility and stamina.

 - Source: Livestrong.com

Born on June 13, 1930, Mr. Julius Olufemi has had a blend of smooth and turbulent experiences. He shares his story with GBENGA ADENIJI

 How did you keep the record of your date of birth?

I was born in Ilepa, near Ifo in Ogun State in 1930. There were ways of keeping records at that time although they can’t compete with what we now have.  I read up to standard six. My mother loved keeping dates of event and I was her only child. When I was born, she wrote the date somewhere and kept it. She told me when I went to enrol in school and also added that I was born on a Tuesday.

Where were your parents from and how did your father react to having you as the only child?

My parents came from Ogun State. Although I am the only child of my mother, my father had many wives and raised more children through them.

How will you describe your growing up in Ilepa?

I did not know much of the town as a child because when I clocked two years, my parents moved to Lagos State. So I grew up to know Lagos as home, in fact, I did not know other place the way I know Lagos.

Would you have preferred spending your childhood days in Ilepa or Lagos?

I knew little of my place of birth because I left early so I cannot really describe life in the town. In Lagos, I lived with some relatives and friends of my parents. Despite that, I was well-trained. It was as if I was with my parents. I went to St. Patrick Catholic School, Lagos Island and later, St. Patrick School, Yaba. We usually trekked in groups to the school by taking short routes.

What striking events can you remember as a pupil of those schools?

Truancy has been among pupils from time immemorial. But in my days, it was not as widespread as it is now. We feared our teachers and we dared not look into their eyes; they were that revered. If we saw any one of them coming, we would never allow our paths to cross. It showed how much we respected them as role models. Today, such discipline has disappeared from our schools. Pupils now confront their teachers and disrespect them at every given opportunity.

Parents in those days wanted the best for their children so they expressed great interest in their education. There were few secondary schools approved by the government at the time. Apart from notable schools like the Kings College, Queens College, Holy Child College, Methodist Girls High School, Eko Boys High School, Baptist Academy, St. Gregory College, Methodist Boys High School, CMS Grammar School and Igbobi College, other schools had low standards while some were not approved by government.

Unlike now when parents send their children to any school without verifying the standard, our parents chose the best schools for their children. So we had parents, who despite not having any education, struggled to ensure that their children attended schools in the class of Kings College and Baptist Academy.

Can you remember the style of dressing that was in vogue during your time?

We used to sew some local attire for all manners of occasions. It cost three kobo per yard. There was also a white shirt and black trousers. Anybody that wore that one then was always the toast of ladies. But I have never used a tie.

Why didn’t you wear a tie?

Suits are very expensive then and that could have been the reason that turned me off from knotting a tie.

Why didn’t you read beyond the standard six?

Schools were not entirely free in those days because the missionary ran them and to maintain the high standard they set, they needed a token of parents’ contribution, so we paid a tuition fee. But my parents could not afford that fee beyond the level of education I attained. So I stopped schooling after obtaining the standard six certificate. But even at that, that little education can’t be compared to what we have in most secondary schools of today. It was quality education given by committed teachers in an environment suitable for learning. These are the missing links today.

What did you do after your primary education?

I enrolled as an automobile mechanic apprentice and worked for some years before I got another job.

What about your professional career?

I got a job at a German company which specialised in the selling of cars. It was not much of a job but it was a good start and it kept me going. I was around 22-year-old then and I was being paid £2 as my monthly salary.

Did you think of saving some of your income for education?

The £2 salary was meagre in all ways and insufficient for my upkeep. I trekked to work most of the time but sometimes when I felt weak, I would take a bus or taxi to work. Even with that sacrifice, I was only left with money which was not enough to eat and clothe myself.

How did you spend your first salary?

A Yoruba adage says the youth normally waste their first earning but I did not waste my own first earning.  I spent it on essential things that I needed in order to make a successful transition to the adult world. I was no longer living with my parents and relatives, so I had no one beside me to turn to if I wasted the little income I was earning.

What were the challenges you faced as an independent person?

I had accommodation problem because I did not have a stable job. The German company I first worked with was not firmly established at the time. We were often disengaged for one reason or the other. Whenever they ran out of raw materials, the management of the company would ask us to go home. It could run for months without pay so living alone was a big test for me but I endured it.

What were the terms stated in your appointment letter when you were hired by the company?

Well, we can call it casual agreement because there was no security guarantee on the job. While I was there, and with all the problems I experienced, the thought of getting married frightened me. I always thought of how I would feed my family if I were to get a wife with such income that offered no future or safety.

But three years after, God answered my prayers because I was employed by PWD in Ijora Causeway as a messenger. The white men who owned the company took interest in me because of my positive attitude to work. I expressed interest in many aspects and perhaps, through my hard work and readiness to learn new things, the white men included me in the list of employees to be trained as caterpillar drivers.

It was a new challenge that offered me confidence because after the training, I looked at myself and revelled in the feeling that I had become a skilled worker. It came with respect from my employer, co-workers and friends. With a new identity and my life getting a direction, I got married in 1959.

How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife like any other person and there was something special about our meeting. She was actually not the woman I planned to marry. She came into the picture after my then girlfriend disappointed me.

Can you still recollect what led to your parting ways with her?

It was straightforward and irreparable split. When a lady you wish to marry gets pregnant for another man, there would be nothing left to salvage in such a relationship except to let go. That was exactly what happened. I could not have held on after what she did. I moved on with my life and continued the search for my own wife.

Having established a relationship with her, you must be deeply pained by what happened.

It’s no easy to part ways with someone you love so much. I loved her and never thought that our relationship would end the way it did. I was so disturbed because we were members of the same church in Yaba area. Apart from having all the qualities I wanted in a woman, she was from Ogun State where I also come from and it was my desire to marry a lady from my state.

Unfortunately for her, the man that impregnated her had two wives already. She later came to beg me but I had made up my mind to forget about her and move on with my life

So how did you move on to find your wife?

Some decisions are not for man to make; God sees what man does not understand.  One day, a friend called me and told me that he would like me to meet a friend of his fiancée who is from Ekiti State.

In our first meeting, it struck me that I might have met the woman I had been looking for. But there was a great barrier because she was not interested in starting a relationship with me.  Despite all my efforts to make her see reasons why we were made for each other, she never returned my affection, so I let her go. But we met again in 1959. We got married the same year.

Tell us about your marriage and the challenges in it?

We lived together as husband and wife with lots of love and expectations. But we had problems in raising children. We had a few actually but only one of them survived.

How did you cope with the problem?

It’s a difficult part of my life history but I married again and had nine children from my second wife. Seven of them survived.

Do you still sit with your friends for social activities?

We are all old now so our bones are too weak to engage in things we took pride in doing many decades ago. I thank God for my life because some of my old friends are now in pitiable condition. I am still strong enough to move around and take care of myself but many others can no longer do these. But I still meet a few of them whenever we go for pension verification exercise.

I learnt many years ago to be calm no matter the situation I find myself. Do not compare yourself with anybody. If you are rich, thank your God, if you are poor, thank Him still. Always feel happy because it is good for the health. Anybody who worries too much cannot have good health.

Do you have any special food that you eat?

Naturally, I eat any food that is good. But recently, doctors advised me to desist from taking starchy food. I also like eating beans because of its richness in protein.

Do you engage in exercise to keep your body in shape?

I liked trekking long distances when I was younger but I no longer do that now. I just rest and help people in any way I can. I also sleep very well and sit outside my house for fresh air, I do that a lot also.

What was the relationship like with your children when they were growing up?

We had relaxed atmosphere around us but I am a disciplinarian and because I knew what our children could turn into if not well-trained, I did not entertain any silly habits. I trained them to exhibit excellent morals anywhere they go.

Today’s parents should be full of prayers. They should always ask God to assist them in training their children. They must let their children know that life is not a bed of roses. Only God can help parents in the area of training kids.

Born in Ikirun, Osun State, 96-year-old Mrs. Kosenatu Abimbowo says she has enjoyed every bit of her life and no longer fears death. She tells MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN about herself

 How was growing up like in those days?

I was born on July 15, 1916 in Ikirun, Osun State. It was a long time ago and most of the things we now have in the world did not exist during my childhood.

There were schools then but they were few and I never attended any of them. I had friends who attended schools at that time and I appreciate their knowledge but I was gifted in many ways. Although, missing formal education created a big gap between my world and others who attended school, I made up for it in many ways. God has blessed me with good memory and ability to succeed in everything I do.

How did you know your date of birth since you did not go to school?

I was born at a certain time of the year and with that landmark, I cannot forget my date of birth. Moreover, my parents told me.

How do you cope with the changes around you brought by civilisation and education?

I follow events and listen to the changes. I am flexible so I moved along with my environment; missing nothing and accepting what should be accepted in the new world.

What are the social activities you enjoyed when you were much younger?

I enjoyed telling stories; I’m a good story teller. Back then, I would gather children on the streets, sit them down and tell them stories.

You have lived for almost a century which is rare. Do you miss anything from the old world?

I missed the social aspect but old age does not demand any of it now. We are conquerors of the old time and winners in the new age.

What about you brothers and sisters?

I came from a polygamous family so counting the number of children in the family was not important. I think I had 10 siblings but I am not sure, I lost count a long time ago because we were so many in my family.

Do you know where your siblings are now?

Ah! I doubt if they are still living. I was told sometimes ago that I am the only surviving child of my parents.

Since you did not go to school, what did you spend your youth doing before you got married?

I learned trading from my parents and relatives. Cocoa business was booming in those days. It brought lots of money but you need patience, perseverance and focus. If you were not determined, you would fail in cocoa business. As the farmers tended to the crop, those dealing in the business of exporting it were patient also.

How successful were you as a trader?

I made big money and reinvested it in the business. I can say that I was a wealthy business woman at that time. Apart from cocoa, I was also dealing in kolanut and palm kernel.  I started the business at a young age so by the time I became a woman, I was already rich because I did not waste my profit. But things changed and cocoa business no longer brought the financial satisfaction because there were no more farmers planting the crop so I retired 30 years ago and moved to Lagos. People now want fast money but cocoa does not guarantee that. I was closing in on my 70th birthday when I quit the business. You can say old age also contributed but the truth is that cocoa business suffered in Nigeria and many traders had no choice but to move to other businesses, although some were not lucky because they lost their savings and life investment to the misfortunes of the cocoa business in Nigeria.

You said you were rich early in life. Can you quantify that in today’s term?

That will be difficult because I retired 30 years ago.

But I bought property without tasking my husband for support and I supported him when he needed my assistance. We were able to train our children to the university level and gave them good things of life when they were young.

How many children do you have and where are they?

I had three children, but one died. The first born is in Osun State now, he is a big farmer. My other child, who is a politician, is in Lagos.

What would you attribute your longevity to?

I will put God’s favour first, then my family. There is great joy in seeing your children multiply. When I see my great grand children, my joy knows no bound. That keeps me healthy and alive.

At my age, I do everything for myself. I do not allow anyone to wash my clothes and even the plates I use. I am always involved in house chores. When I wake up in the morning, I sweep the house without feeling any pain. I go to the garden regularly to tend to the vegetables and do the weeding.  Being idle was something I hated since my childhood days and I still have my disgust for lazy people. I make myself active all day long so I remain a strong woman despite my age. I am gradually living into a century but it’s a gift that God has given my family.

What do you do before going to bed?

Since I moved to Lagos, I don’t sleep without watching the 10 o’clock news. I need to know what is going on in the country. Then after the news, I will watch one or two movies or wrestling. I enjoy watching wrestling.

What is your favourite food?

I really don’t have a favourite food but I’m very mindful of what I eat. Although in the morning, I like taking hot pap, it makes my day bright and makes me healthy.

You must have set some goals for yourself as a young woman. How will you rate the attainment of those objectives?

As a young woman, it was my target to be financially comfortable and be rich early in my life. I did not want to lack the good things of life and I thank God that more than 70 years after, I can count myself among those who are able to achieve their life goals. I am indeed a fulfilled woman. If I die today, I will die a happy woman. I have had a wonderful life, I don’t regret a thing in life. In my family, I am one of the most successful children.

Can you describe yourself in three words?

I am hard working, caring and compassionate. Hard work is the only way to avoid poverty. It does not kill.

What do you feel about women who are house wives?

I don’t like the idea. A woman should be independent, but her independence should not make her disrespect her husband or her marriage. She must be able to contribute to the running of her home and the only way to do that is for her to earn an income from a decent job because there is love in sharing. It is a fact that every man wants a woman that will not be a burden on him.

Where is your husband now?

He died 10 years ago. He was a successful man who was rich also. But there were times he would need assistance and I helped out.

How will you describe children of nowadays?

Children of today are very inquisitive and intelligent. They are good with phones, computers and other gadgets. Sometimes, I wish I was born in this present age. It really pains me that I don’t know how to handle a phone. I also wished I had gone to school to complement my trading skills.

What are the negative traits that you notice in the children of today?

There are so many things that the children of today are taking for granted. They also go away with many unpleasant attitudes. They get distracted by material things too easily and they don’t put value on respect. Obedience and respect go together but children no longer pay attention to little values that add quality to their existence. It did not happen in my days.

Would you say that you were beautiful in your youthful days?

Of course I was a beautiful woman endowed with good things.

Do you have any proof of that?

Men flocked around me in those days. Some found ways of establishing friendship with me while others sent friends and relatives to me just to be my friends. But I was a busy young woman who did not notice the existence of those men or their motives. My social life was conservative and dating men never crossed my mind. This was partly because I was living with an uncle who was very strict, he didn’t allow me to go out of the house without his permission.

Did you come up with a plan to escape from his grip once in a while?

No, I didn’t know how to do it. My friends used to do it, but I was too scared to try.

So when men insisted on being your friends, how did you create time to listen to them?

I did not give in to their tricks. I would shout at them to leave me alone when they got too close to me. I went out one day with some friends and they tried to arrange a boy to come and propose friendship to me. I did not realise what they were up to but when he came to me, I told him to go away because I did not want to have anything to do with him. He felt embarrassed and left. So no matter the trick, I was always ready to resist any attempt by boys to get too close to me.

But how did you then meet your husband?

I cannot really explain it but my uncle played a big role in our relationship. He actually introduced my husband to me in Osun State and I later developed the likeness and love needed to sustain the relationship. I so much loved him but death took him away from me. After his death, I felt a part of me going away forever.

Do you still keep friends?

All my friends are dead.

Have you ever explored the world outside Nigeria?

I have not had the opportunity to visit other countries. But each time I watch those places in the television, I notice how beautiful they are and wish I had had the chance to visit in those days. But I still hope to travel and see those beautiful countries one day.

Your son is a politician. Did you support his choice?

I don’t like politics because I think it’s a dirty game. When I got to know that my son is into politics, I fell ill. I cried to God to help me protect him. Politics is a very dangerous field, they kill people a lot. I don’t want my son to die and that is why I am begging him to leave politics.

What challenges have you faced in life?

Well, I encountered more of emotional challenges. I always wanted to have many children, but I couldn’t. I also wanted to have a girl. Then another traumatic experience I had was when my twin brother died. I don’t think I’ve gotten over his death. Whenever I buy things for myself, I buy for him as well and keep somewhere. I also have a carved image of him that I keep with me. I’ve told my children that when I die, the carved image should be buried with me.

What is your advice to young couples?

I will warn husbands most especially not to go into polygamy. When you marry a second wife, you compound your problem in life. One man, one wife is the best marital policy.  I can’t understand why a man will want to marry more than one wife.

Women should learn to take care of their husbands. They should understand their husband’s body language, what he likes and what he doesn’t like.  This will reduce arguments and bring peace to the family. Young couples should avoid quarrelling, especially in the public. They can sort out their differences without shouting or fighting.

What do you think of mother-in-law living with her son who is married?

Most women don’t like living with their mother-in-law. But without the mother, the husband would not have come to this world. Wives should learn to love their mother-in-laws in order to have peace in their homes. If you keep fighting your mother-in-law, it will affect your relationship with your husband.

You have seen it all. But is there anything that can make you cry?

I’m a very emotional person. If anyone dies around me, I still shed tears for the loss.

It was one of the biggest regrets of her life, and, at the same time, it was something she had to do.

When Mary Bezuhly Peregrim was 15 years old, she was forced to drop out of the Old Forge School District when her parents sent her to New York City to join a housekeeping service to help support the family while times at the coal mines were slow. She was a young woman who had never spent more than a weekend away from her hometown and was thrown into a city of millions.

But that wasn’t the whole reason why she did not want to go.

Mrs. Peregrim, who lives in Manahawkin, N.J., loved school. She was a good student. She would watch as her six younger siblings graduated high school, longing for a diploma of her own.

“I always, always had school on my mind,” Mrs. Peregrim said.

It was on her mind June 17, the night before her 96th birthday. Earlier in the week, she had seen on TV that a man who served in World War II was just awarded an honorary diploma.

“I said I always wanted to go to school and graduate, but this is no time to graduate,” Mrs. Peregrim said.

Andrea Foley, Mrs. Peregrim’s daughter, thought the timing was actually perfect. Ms. Foley had contacted the Old Forge School District a few days earlier, asking about honorary diplomas. The next day, a motion for the awarding of an honorary diploma to Mary Bezuhly Peregrim was unanimously passed at the district’s school board meeting.

One FedEx overnight shipment later, Mrs. Peregrim opened her birthday gift.

“I got so excited; I didn’t even talk,” Mrs. Peregrim said of the moment when she opened up the blue Old Forge folder. “I thought they were kidding me; I just thought they were making it up.”

They weren’t making it up.

“To think that I got a diploma, I feel even younger,” Mrs. Peregrim said, adding that she never feels her age.

The woman who watched as crowds of people walked past the windows of the houses where she worked on their way to Yankee Stadium to see players named Ruth and Gehrig play, was holding a diploma in her hands.

The woman who bounced from job to job for the better part of seven years in a city she never cared for, earning $20 a month while only keeping $5 to pay for her own food and stamps, was able to realize a dream.

The woman whose only luxury as a teenager was a library card was, finally – at age 96 – a high school graduate.

“I have the best family,” Mrs. Peregrim said.

 - Culled from: Time-tribune.com

Alice knows. She’s 89 and she works at her health. She is a widow and lives alone.

My husband and I just spent some time visiting my mother-in-law, Alice, and we were pleased to see that she is taking such good care of herself. We are among the lucky ones, as Alice has no cognitive problems. She still drives. I got in the car with her and did my “ride along assessment.” She’s still safe.

She keeps track of her many medications and takes them exactly as prescribed. She gets on the treadmill for 25 minutes every morning. She eats what’s good for her. Her weight is normal. She doesn’t smoke. She drinks very moderately. She does her pool exercises.

Alice understands that being healthy as an 89-year-old takes a lot of vigilance and work. What I respect is that she is willing to do the work. She’s been having some trouble with leg pain, which was diagnosed as a problem with the fibrous band along the side of the thigh (“IT band”). It probably started years ago when she had both knees replaced. As it affected her walking, she asked a doctor for some advice.

He suggested physical therapy, along with some stretches she can do at home. She got right to it. She got out of the car after the appointment and was doing the stretches as she waited while my husband and I stopped at a coffee place. As we walked back, cups in hand, we saw mom, standing by the car, one hand on it for balance, bending forward with legs crossed as directed, and working at her stretches already. Go, Alice!

Alice is determined to remain independent. She was married for 62 years and misses her husband terribly. But, she plays cards with friends, takes two classes each year at the local university extension, and reaches out to people. She makes an effort to address her lonely times. She learned to use a computer at age 86, with my patient husband teaching her.

Every day, a friend of hers sends out jokes by email and Alice reads them and laughs. She’s a pretty good joke teller, too. And if she needs information, she googles it, just like we do.

She loves her Kindle. She reads a lot and thinks it’s the greatest invention ever.

Life for Alice is not perfect, but it’s pretty good indeed. She’s planning a cruise for the family to join her for her 90th birthday celebration next year.

What can the rest of us learn from all this? We can see that there is wisdom in the prediction that “we can prevent about 80 percent of heart disease, about 90 percent of diabetes, and about 70 percent of stroke if we make the right food choices, get physical activity and don’t smoke.”

Those are the words of Walter Willett, chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and professor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School. Alice is proving him right.

Alice just got back from a checkup with the doctor. She reports that her blood work is normal and other health measures are all looking good. She’s going to do a course of physical therapy for the leg pain. She’ll fit it in between social events and her date with a new guy she met recently.

I hope any of us who live to be 89 can live our lives as Alice is doing!

Culled from : Forbes.com

89-year-old Mrs. Fatimoh Thanni, tells MOTUNRAYO ABODERIN about  her early years

How will you describe the social aspect of your life when you were a young woman?

My social life was moulded by activities in the schools I attended. Not many children of the time had the opportunity to attend formal schools, but my parents ensured that I got the best education that was available at the time.

I was born on April 2, 1923 into the family of the late Kadiri Otukoya Ariyo of Moborode quarters in Ijebu-Ode and Mrs. Ayisat Taiwo Ajoke Ariyo of Esure, Ijebu Mushin. In 1929, my mother took me to St. Peters School, Ijebu-Mushin.

I was a bright pupil and all my teachers loved me because I always worked hard. I am old now but I can still remember some of the teachers that taught me at CMS School. They were Mrs. Guldolf, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Abour. They were all from Europe. At St. Theresa’s Convent Catholic School in Ijebu-Ode, some of the names of my teachers were, Mother Bernadeen and Sister Mary.

While at the St. Theresa’s, I was among the six girls chosen to be part of the newly-formed Girls Guide in the school. On the day of its inauguration, the then Ijebu-Ode monarch, Oba Daniel Adesanya Gbelebuwa II, was the chairman. The Girls Guide was an interesting group where members were taught the art of assisting people with stress-related problems and other health issues. It was a respected group that got accolade, from the people in the town.

Can you still remember other members of the group?

It was a long time ago. I can only remember Elizabeth and Mary as members of the group. We were great friends back in those days.

Did you start work immediately after your secondary school education?

I graduated from CMS Girls School in Ijebu-Ode with an excellent result. At the time, getting a job was not difficult especially for bright pupils. I was immediately offered employment as a teacher at the old McDonald School, Imepe, Ijebu-Ode, where I taught for two years.

How was teaching experience?

It was one of the most respected jobs in Nigeria at the time. Pupils look up to you as a model and parents trust you for your knowledge and ability to teach their wards what they did not know. So it was an interesting experience.

What target did you set for yourself outside teaching?

Although I enjoyed my short time as a teacher, I also had other things in mind. I have always loved the textile business so in 1938, I enrolled as an apprentice as a fashion home in Ijebu-Ode. It was owned by Mrs. Adesola Mafe of Olode Street, Ijebu-Ode. It was a sewing institute where apprentice were taught the art of textile business.

What about your siblings?

I have two sisters. The first was a teacher who is dead now. My other sister is a retired nurse. I came from a polygamous family so we are many in the family.

How about your love life?

I got married to my wonderful husband, Adullahi Thanni in 1941. He died in 1992.

How did you meet your husband?

I was introduced to him by a friend. At that time, there were two ways of wooing a lady; it’s either the guy approached the lady to make his feelings known or he went through the parents of the girl.

What qualities in men of those days interested the ladies?

Because Lagos was seen as Europe or America in those days, men who came to Ijebu-Ode from Lagos often had advantage over local men.

What was the feminine social circle like in those days?

It was about the most interesting part of my development from childhood to a real woman. I had a group of friends with whom I formed a social bond. We dressed in the same way and attended parties together. We also gave different names to our clothes.

When it was time for us to get married, we would dress very well and apply good make-up any time guys who were working in Lagos came to Ijebu-Ode for the weekend or to celebrate during the Christmas or Eid-el-kabir. Like I said, Lagos was like Europe or America at the time to us so we revered guys who came from there. Every lady’s dream at the time was to travel to Lagos or marry someone who worked or lived in Lagos. Guys from Lagos were rich and good-looking. They would choose the most beautiful ones among us and then go to our parents with their relatives to seek their consent and perform the traditional marriage rite later.

Did your husband come from Lagos to marry you?

Not at all. We moved to Ibadan after we got married.

In your group, what did you talk about?

We discussed a lot of things but often, our discussion was dominated by gossips about men. We talked about the Lagos boys, what they wore, their style and other things about them.

How did you look as a young lady?

Beauty has many faces and mine was not bad at all. I loved wearing trousers and all the latest fashion in town. I also enjoyed partying and dancing. These were the qualities that made men to run after me, I had a lot of admirers.

I had a good voice so I sang too. I remember some of the songs they taught us in primary school. I remember the song, ‘one in royal David’s city stood lowly cattle stay.’ When Queen Elizabeth visited Nigeria in 1956, pupils were taught many songs and my daughter was one of the leaders of the group. She gave the queen a flag during the visit to Ijebu-Ode. I still teach my grand children some of the poems I was taught in school.

Are your friends still alive?

Some of them are alive like Mrs. Shonibare, Mrs. Idowu Osunsan and my best friend, Mrs. Taibat Ibitayo.

What is your relationship with them now?

You know we are old now so the strength to pay visit regularly is no longer there. The bones are weak now. I still visits my best friend once in a while but we talk almost every day on the telephone.

You said you were an apprentice at a fashion home …

After my short career as a teacher, I went into textile business. Through the support of my mother, I became a successful business woman. I started the business at the popular Gbagi market in Ibadan, Oyo State, until my husband was transferred to Lagos. Apart from the textile business, I was a major distributor of the Nigeria National Supply Company products. I was also dealing in petroleum products until I retired in 1990.

Did you retire because of old age?

I was still strong when I retired. I still had strength in me but my grand children needed my presence and I was ready to offer it. I purposely retired to take care of them.

How many children do you have?

God blessed me with a daughter who lives in Lagos. But God has also multiplied my fruit as I have grand children and great grand children.

Who is your favourite world leader?

I love Queen Elizabeth because she came to Ijebu-Ode during her visit to Nigeria. It was during the Empire Day. I still remember the song our children sang for her. One of them was, ‘God save our queen with long life…. long reign over us, God save our queen.’

How did you sustain love in your marriage?

First, every man should take his time in choosing a wife. You must marry someone who understands love. A wife must know how to take care of her husband. Whenever he comes back from work, help him remove his clothes and if he desires, give him a good massage. Make him feel welcome. Sit down by the table when he is eating and make sure the home is peaceful always. There will be time when misunderstanding will come but you should not let the children know about it. If there is difference in social class, it must not reflect in the marriage. Even if the wife is earning more than husband, the man must always strive to play his part as the head of the family.

How best can a woman gain her husband’s heart?

She must sacrifice her time to cook good food for the family. All men like good food. If you don’t want another woman to take away your husband, learn how to cook well.

At 89, what is responsible for your long life?

God has kept me strong through the years. Then I eat just twice a day. I love walking round the house and I wake up at 4.30 every morning. I do a lot of indoor exercise by walking around the house singing. I eat my breakfast then and read the newspaper. I read only the PUNCH newspaper and my children know that they must put one on the table for me every day.

What is your favourite food?

I like eating Ikokore with a hot cup of tea.

What interests you in a newspaper?

I like reading the cover stories and the obituary sections. I love following the movement of the economy. For the obituary section, it makes me appreciate life and to know who has died.

Do you have optical challenges reading the newspaper?

I have bright and clear eyes. I don’t use glasses and I read very well. Being able to read clearly at this age is a miracle because when I was much younger, I used glasses to read.

How will you assess President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration?

Well, he is trying his best. However, he should improve the nation’s electricity. He should also provide better medical packages for old people (laughs).

What regrets do you have in life?

During my marriage, I lost a number of children. At that time, it was called Abiku, but it’s now I realise that they could have died as a result their genotype. That period of my life was the toughest. But I thank God for giving me victory.

Describe yourself in three words?

A mother, a pillar and supportive.

How will you feel if you grow old enough to become the oldest person in the world?

God is the giver of life. He is the one that can determine how many more years I have left. I pray to live for many more years.

Born on March 13, 1913 in Okun-Owa, near Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, twin sisters, Taiwo Olukoya and Kehinde Ogunde, tell  OLUFEMI ATOYEBI and GBENGA ADENIJI the story of their life as they clock 100 years

How did you know your age?

Kehinde: There was proper documentation to that effect. Our children also keep records of our ages. One of them recently celebrated 70 years and it dawned on me that the two of us must be very old.

What currency were you spending when you were trading?

Kehinde: We were spending pounds. That was the valid currency during that period.

You have lived across two centuries. How did you react to the many changes it has brought, including currency changes?

 Taiwo: We knew there was new currency because people started spending it. The old one was no longer tenable, so we started using the new currency. We were old when the latest change was made to the naira but we know the difference.

Kehinde: We change with the world. It is difficult to tell how it happened but we move with it all the time even though we had little education.

What are the kinds of food do you prefer to eat?

Taiwo: I do not have any special food. There is no food that is special to me. Once a food is good, I eat it but it must be well prepared.

Kehinde: Since we both grew up as twins, we like the same food. There is no particular food we eat. Like Taiwo said, whatever food that appeals to us must be good enough for us to eat. We eat food such as rice, beans and of course, ikokore which is common in Ijebu land.

Can you still recall those things you did while you were young?

Kehinde: Our growing up was normal like every other child. Our father was from Ijebu-Ode, royal family, so we spent part of our childhood in Ijebu-Ode but when we attained the school age, our parents enrolled us at St. Barnabas Primary School, Okun-Owa. We did not study for too long because after our primary education, we started trading in ceramic plates in Lagos, which was a big business in those days.

Who introduced you to the business so early?

Kehinde: We did not learn the trade formally. Even though we did not study beyond the primary school, we were successful businesswomen. God blessed us with talent of the trade and the strength to compete in the market. Ceramic plate was popular in those days and many women traded in it at the time. We had a younger one who assisted us in finding a store in Berger, Lagos when we decided to move to the city.

How successful were you in the business?

Kehinde: We became rich young women and because we were twins, people liked to do business with us. We were honest with our customers so they did not have any reason to doubt our sincerity.  I built two houses in Lagos and another two in Ibadan while Taiwo built three houses in Ibadan.

What were the challenges you had in your business due to lack of proper education?

 Taiwo: There was no difference. We coped with every challenge that came with the business and moreover, we were focussed on what we were doing.

At what age did you marry and how did you meet your husbands?

Taiwo: I got married at the age of 21. My husband, Olukoya, was in Ilesha when I was told about him. His aunt, Iyalode, called me and said that he would like me to marry Olukoya, who was working as a cashier with UAC. She was a respected woman in Ijebu and the family is well-known in the land. After the marriage, we settled in Osogbo, Osun State, and God blessed the marriage with good children who are excelling in their chosen careers today. Some of them later travelled out of the country to study and work there. My husband was born on February 14, 1910 and he died on August 7, 2007.

Where are the children now?

Taiwo: My first child was Olusegun, who is now late, then I had Adebola, who is a successful businessman in Nigeria. Iyabo is married to Adewuyi. She studied and worked in the US before retiring as a matron in a hospital. She is around now but she frequents the US for personal reasons. Adeyemi came after her but he is late also. Opeolu works and lives in the UK, the last time he called, he said he is in London. Babatunde is the youngest of all my children who lives in the US.

What trade did you settle for when you got married?

Taiwo: I continued with my ceramic plate business in Osogbo. But when my husband was transferred to Ibadan, I moved with him and continued with my business there. From the proceeds of the business, I started building houses in the city. Kehinde also joined me in Ibadan so we had a joint venture. We were so popular because of our identical looks and it helped our business.

Kehinde: I got married at the age of 20. One of our family members told me that there was a married man called Olukoga who was looking for a younger wife. He worked with the Nigeria Railway Corporation. The person told me that he was older and I said I would marry him if he would be responsible for the care of our children and the family. I based my submission on the belief that even if I were financially incapable to train our children, he would be there for them.

We got married and were living happily as husband and wife. I had three children for him but only one survived. The other two children died of convulsion. One of them actually died in Ijebu-Ode when I came for a family function. He went into convulsion and we could not save him. When my husband heard of it, he came from Ilorin to meet me. I was still a young woman when my husband died and he left me with the pregnancy of our last child, who died two years after his birth.

You later married Chief Hubert Ogunde. How did you meet him?

Kehinde: Ogunde met my twin sister one day and asked about me because he knew me as a young woman. Taiwo then told him that I had just lost my husband. He got my address and came to look for me. He later proposed to marry me and since I was single and still young, I agreed to be his wife. I met his other wives and children after our marriage.

What was the relationship between you and Ogunde like?

Kehinde: We lived together as couple and I had a great time with him. He was a great man but he died too soon. Unfortunately, there was no child between us. That was the painful aspect of it all. When he died, I decided to commit everything into God’s hands.

How did you manage to live with Ogunde and his many other wives without friction?

Kehinde: I was careful in the house because I knew what brought me into the household. I had lost children and a husband, so it was natural that I took it easy in Ogunde’s house. But there was no disagreement among the wives. He was intelligent and had a natural talent to lead. I was close to many of his children and I was a good friend with the other wives. In fact, Ogunde’s children joined hands in organising our centennial birthday. When I saw many of the children when they came for our celebration last week, I was really happy because many of them were young when I was with them. I could not even recognise some of them, but they know me very well.

Did you also act in any of Ogunde’s play as many of his wives and children did?

Kehinde: No, I did not feature in any of his plays. But I was involved in another way. I sold tickets during the shows and travelled with him constantly to give him support. There was usually a large audience each time any of his plays was on.

Which of your friends are you still in contact with?

Taiwo: All the friends I knew from childhood are dead now. One was my namesake, Esther. There was also Alice who was close to us. Some of them died early in life. Some barely made it to 60 before they died. It is by the grace of God that we are 100 years old and still healthy. We give God the glory.

Kehinde: We are too old to look for friends or visit them. Like Taiwo said, we could be the last surviving people from that group of friends that started playing together more than 90 years ago.

Apart from trading in ceramic plates, what other vocation did you learn?

Taiwo: I once enrolled as a sewing apprentice at a fashion institute. But after graduating and working for some time, I noticed that the profession was not generating much money compared to trading in ceramic plates, so I abandoned it and faced the trade fully.

 What kind of games did you engage in during your early years?

Kehinde: We hardly had time to play games because we were always busy helping our parents. In fact, the only group we belonged to was the choir group of the Saint Barnabas Church, Okun-Owa. Each time there was an activity in the church, we were always around to sing. Other choir members and the church members would be singing treble and only the two of us would be using alto.

There was a teacher in the church called Mr. Gabriel. He would encourage us to attend choir practice and teach us the songs for the Sunday services. We had beautiful voices and whenever we sang during the church service, all eyes would be on us because we sang with the same voice.

Can you remember one of the songs you sang in those days?

Kehinde: There is one that goes thus: “The word of grace, the good message, has survived.’’ It was a popular song in those days sang during special occasion.

How did people react whenever they saw the two of you in those days?

Kehinde: People treated us well because we are identical twins. Some individuals sometimes would stop us to say hello and give us money. We used to accept them with gratitude because we knew that it was their way of appreciating us.

When did you quit trading in ceramic plates?

Taiwo: We quit the trade many years ago.

You are old now but how do you supervise the houses you built?

Kehinde: We have tenants in the houses and our children have taken over the maintenance of those houses. They still bring rent to us.

Taiwo: The houses are now for our children but they still bring rent to us.

What kind of training did you give your children?

Taiwo: Our idea of training children is not to spank but to show them love when they go wrong. We constantly made them to see the need to exhibit good behaviour and composed attitude anywhere they go. They did not disappoint us in this regard. And today, this is manifesting in their way of life and the way they interact with others.

I also prayed to God to open the mind of my children so that they would accept Him and all the training they have had.  This is a key element in the training of children. The way they were trained is what now guides them in the training of their own children. I am really happy about this.

 How did you dress as young girls?

Taiwo: Kehinde and I wore the same attire, even till now. If any of our children buys anything, it must be for the two of us. No child will buy anything that is not in pair because our children know that we wear the same dress. But when we were in our early years we used to put on up-and-down dress, high-heel shoes, jewellery and whenever we wore native attire, we complemented with headgears and beads.

How did you cope when both of you got married?

Taiwo: There was no time I went out without Kehinde. We were always together as young girls. It was only when we got married that we could say things changed a bit. But during our childhood days, we were always doing things together. We still love each other and if I had to buy anything for myself, I must buy for my sister too.

How do you settle your quarrels?

Kehinde: We always speak with one voice because we are too fond of each other. We have no reason to disagree. Our friends in those days knew that the intimacy was so strong and many of them envied us. We did everything jointly and were always happy being together. As we grew older, the closeness became stronger.

Latest research has found that following the simple steps and making small changes to daily routine are the key to a long and healthy life.

The lifestyle rules were originally created to help people cut the risk of heart disease. But new study shows the seven steps have an even greater impact – and can also slash cancer risk by half.

One lead researcher said the message was: “It’s never too late to change.”

The seven steps are: staying physically active, sticking to a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, maintaining good cholesterol levels, keeping blood pressure down, controlling blood sugar levels and not smoking.

Researchers found that people who stuck to six or all seven of the factors reduced the risk of cancer by 51 per cent, compared with those who met none of the factors.

Following four of the steps led to a 33 per cent risk reduction. Sticking to just one or two goals resulted in a reduction of one-fifth.

Lead author of the US study, Dr Laura Rasmussen-Torvik, said: “This adds to the strong body of literature suggesting that it’s never too late to change, and that if you make changes like quitting smoking and improving your diet, you can reduce your risk for both cardiovascular disease and cancer.”

The American Heart Association originally created the “Life’s Simple 7” list to help people cut their risk of heart disease.

However, in the Association’s journal Circulation, Dr Rasmussen-Torvik, said: “We were gratified to know adherence to the Life’s Simple 7 goals was also associated with reduced incidence of cancer.”

Assistant professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Dr Rasmussen-Torvik, said the study could help health professionals “provide a clear, consistent message” about the most important things people can do.

The study of 13,253 people spanned 20 years and involved establishing their health factors and reviewing hospital records. It found that 2,880 developed cancer, mostly of the lung, colon or rectum, prostate and breast.

Dr Helga Groll of Cancer Research UK said: “This study is a good reminder that a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of more than one type of disease.

 “Quitting smoking is the single best thing you can do for your heart health,” Amy Thompson, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said:

The research comes after a Lloyds Pharmacy study released last month revealed that most Britons do nothing to help them avoid heart disease.

Heart disease kills 80,000 Britons a year and is responsible for one in nine deaths of women – three times as many as breast cancer. There are 2.7 million people in the UK with heart disease.

About 16 million Britons have high blood pressure – a major cause of cardiovascular disease and death, causing 60 per cent of strokes and 40 per cent of heart attacks.

The recent Global Burden of Disease Study revealed that in the developed world, Britons are far more likely to die from treatable diseases.

The report, published in The Lancet, said the conditions causing most years of life lost were: heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, colorectal cancer, breast cancer and self-harm.

•Culled from www.express.co.uk

In this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI, 81-year-old Alice Olumide, speaks on her childhood, growing up with her uncle and first meeting with her late husband

Where and when were you born?

I am from Awori Ota in Ogun State. My parents later settled in Orile Idi Ogun near Alakuko, Lagos State. I am 81 years old and I was into farming early in life and did not have the opportunity to go to school.

Since you are not educated, how did you know your age?

I have been conscious of my age from my childhood days. I can’t really recall the exact year again because there was a time some boys stole a box in which my birth documents was kept. The box also contained some of my jewellery. But my brother, Emmanuel Akinyele, who is the chief (baale) of Akinyele area in Orile Idi-Ogun near Alakuko, Lagos State, has the records of the births of other siblings including myself. He has been counting and telling me my age ever since.

How did you spend your childhood days?

While I was growing up, every day was spent productively. My father was a farmer and my mother assisted him in the cultivation of lands, planting of crops and selling of farm produce. So, I was born into the business of farming and it took no time before I became involved in it.

I particularly took interest in the selling of kolanuts and palm kernels. We were seven children in all. I was still assisting my parents in the selling of palm oil extracted from palm kernels and kolanuts when some of my siblings left to live with some of our maternal relations in Ebute Meta. I was left with my elder sister to help our parents. Most times, my sister and I would hawk beans and when we returned, we would fetch water before going for what is today known as tutorial classes, nearby our house.

Were your parents in support of your siblings’ decision to live with family members?

Living with family members was common in those days. My parents did not object to it because such decision bond relations, unlike today when most families keep to themselves without accommodating their extended relatives. Though we were going for lessons, there was a time we stopped attending the lesson to concentrate on our father’s farming business.  I also left my parents to live with one of our relations in Ilogbo, in Ota, Ogun State.

Why did you leave your parents?

One of my uncles was also a farmer like my father so I decided to go there and work for him. I wanted to make something out of my life since I believed that I would make some money there. It was not that I could not save money when I was helping my parents but the inquisitive nature of adolescence overwhelmed me to travel like my other siblings.

What was the experience like there?

I did all kinds of work in my uncle’s farm. I soaked cassava to make garri, corn to make pap and harvested palm kernels. I would later take them to Ifo market to sell.

Did it cross your mind that you were doing more than you received in income?

Even if it crossed my mind I did not give it a thought because I was the one who took the decision to move out in order to stand on my own. It was when I was with my parents that I felt that I was doing, too much work for nothing. My uncle taught me how to work hard. And I never took ill.

How were you spending the money you made?

I saved some of them.

Why didn’t you use part of your saving to fund your education?

The money I saved was not that much. If it was much, I would have opted to live alone and leave my uncle. Besides, I was no longer young then and my focus was already on how to establish my kolanuts, garri and palm oil business.

How often do you see your parents while staying with your uncle?

They kept in touch as most parents would naturally do. Once they were sure I was doing fine, there was no problem. On my part, I started taking cooked food to them when I got married. I decided to do that as my own way of appreciating them as my parents. I could not buy edibles food for them because as farmers, they had much of that.

What type of clothes did you wear when you were young?

I often wore skirt and blouse. Also, I used to weave sandals. I cannot do that again because of my age. In those days, my social life was not flamboyant because my concentration was on how to be successful.

How did you meet your husband?

I had returned to my parents’ house then. One day, I was at home when one of his sisters, Ebun, who was close to my family, called me and told me many things about him. She said he was living at Ebute Meta and working at the Military Hospital, Yaba. Before she told me, I had been hinted by some of my family members when I was in Ilogbo that my parents had approved of him to be my husband.

What was your reaction? 

I did not say anything initially until he came to our house one day to meet me. I remember that I just arrived from the farm with my sister that day when he called me and asked if I knew Ebun. I said yes and he told me that she wanted to see me. I followed him there and it turned out that he was the suitor and only played that trick to talk to me.

Since everybody in my family was aware of his intention, he was bold to say it. He told me he loved me and would be happy if I could be his wife. He also said he learnt I was being wooed by one elderly man. I told him that even though it was true, I would only marry a man that was young like myself who I would join hands with to build a future. At the end of the day, I refused his marriage proposal.

Why did you refuse his proposal?

I refused on the ground that he hailed from a village. He was from Konifewo village in Ota, Ogun State. I considered that place a village and I thought he was a bush man. I later learnt he was born in Ebute Meta and his father had a house in Ekoro, Abule Egba, in Lagos State. I later agreed to marry him.

What made you change your mind?

His sister was persistent. She counselled me that I should not reject him because of his village. She said Konifewo would become a town someday and it came to pass. We started making marriage plans and he would come every two weeks to our house. We later got married at a CMS church where my parents worshipped. I cannot recollect the exact year I got married again. But I was just above twenty years then.  I moved to Ebute Meta after our marriage and my husband joined Adebowale Electrical Industry in Oshodi and from there to Sundry Industry, a subsidiary of the company before he retired to farming in Konifewo.

How was your union? 

It was wonderful. I really enjoyed my marriage to him because he was a funny and quiet man.  I was selling rice to soldiers at Sabo area after my marriage. We had misunderstandings but each time we differed on any issue, he would allow me to have my way even if he would afterwards allow his to prevail. There was no dull moment with him. He never raised his hands to beat me. Whenever I was annoyed he had a way of calming me down through his rich sense of humour. God blessed us with 11 children but only five survived. The rest died of convulsion resulting from fever. We made herbs and administered it on them to no avail. There was nothing we did not do to save them. The development weighed us down and we resolved to move on, taking solace in the fact that God knew why it happened.

What training did you give to your children?

Since I was raised through hard work, I was determined to inculcate same in my children. Education was one thing I did not compromise but before they went to school each morning they must shell palm kernels.  My husband was educated and he wanted his children to go to school and receive quality education.

I do not know how to spank a child but I fed them with words of advice. I was also determined to build a house from the profit that came from the hard labour which I started early in life.

Did you eventually realise that dream?  

Through the grace of God, I was able to build a house in Agege area of Lagos.  I bought the land for N6,000.

Was it a joint venture with your husband?

No. It was not. I did not tell him I bought a land until I finished building the house on it and was planning to paint it. When I took him there he was shocked. He could not believe I started such a project without his knowledge. I convinced him that it was for us and our children. I had no hidden agenda for doing that.

Why did you do that?   

I did not tell him to make sure I achieve the dream without anything stopping it. It was something I had wished for since I was young.

Is there any difference between how you were trained and the training children receive nowadays?

There is a whole lot of disparity. Western culture has infiltrated  many aspects of our social life today. These days, children cannot do the kind of work we did during our time. We sometimes trekked long distances and we could not look our parents in the face when they spoke to us.

Do you have any special food?

I don’t have any special food. I only eat semovita, beans and I like hot tea.

How do you relax?

I relax by chatting with people or sleeping. I have also come to realise that if I don’t do one form of work or the other like sweeping, I often feel bored. I think this is due to the fact that I am used to working. I don’t like watching television because I see it as a distraction and time-waster.

What is your advice to parents?

They should endeavour to train their children properly. Parents need to let them know the importance of education. They must constantly tell them that only good education can guarantee their sound footing in life.

Are you still in touch with some of your childhood friends?  

Many of them are dead and some that I still see look look older than their ages.

When you reflect on your life, do you have any regret?

It was painful when I lost my husband after he took ill. He was a very nice man. My major regret was my lack of education. I often say if I were educated, I would have gone abroad for further studies when I was young. I used to tell my parents so. But I thank God that through farming, I was able to make headway in life.

Everyone wants to live a happy, healthy, and active life. No matter what your current age, there are things you can do to improve your overall physical health, and your mental well-being. By following some simple lifestyle changes, you can live a longer life and one that is healthy without complications. Challenging your brain to stay active is important, and it can help increase your lifespan. A healthy diet as well as exercise and good hygiene can work in synergy to ensure you live longer and have minimal health problems. Just by making a few changes and doing some easy things to better your life, you will see an improvement in physical stamina, health, and happiness.

Eat good food

Believe it or not, there are many healthy food you can include in your diet that can actually boost brain activity. Fish is undoubtedly on the top of the list. Various types of fish and shellfish contain natural omega-3 oils that have been known to help with brain function. Implementing fish in your diet is good for the brain and the heart, and can also aid in weight loss. Other food containing antioxidants such as acai berries, coffee, and green tea are all other delicious and nutritious foods that can stimulate the brain’s function. Natural food such as nuts, bananas, and even sugar in its natural form have been known to help keep the brain functioning at its optimum potential.

Play brain boosting games

Studies show that the brain is a functioning muscle much like the other muscles in your body. If you do not use it on a regular basis, it can become tired and worn out. By actively thinking and doing things to keep your brain active, you are ensuring longevity and things like memory retention.

Maintain good hygiene practices

Practicing good hygiene should be something everyone does, and paying attention to your personal hygiene is extremely important. Not only does this practice make it easier to function in society and be near others, it is also essential for your health. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and preferably after meals and at bedtime. Research shows that good grooming practices can help you live a longer life.

- www.goodlife.com

In this interview with OLUFEMI ATOYEBI and GBENGA ADENIJI, 85-year-old Mrs. Bosede Awobokun, relates the story of her successes and challenges as the only child of her mother

 Where and when were you born?        

I was born on November 6, 1927 in Sagamu Remo, Ogun State. It was on a Sunday. The place is now known as Ijebu Remo.

You are accurate with your records. What level of education did you attain?

I keep records of all events around me. I have what is today referred to as secondary school leaving certificate. I first attended Saint Paul’s Primary School in Sagamu before proceeding to Remo Secondary School, Sagamu. It was then the first co-educational school in West Africa. We were the foundation members of the school and most of us were mature pupils. We had classmates who were as old as 25 years. That was in 1946. It was a decade after we graduated that Mayflower started a mixed school. Incidentally, my husband was in my class and we were good friends.

Was it not difficult to learn at such age?

It was not difficult because learning requires determination and focus. We all had the qualities. In those days, a standard four pupil would teach pupils of higher class of nowadays. There is no more learning today. In standard five, we were already learning Pythagoras Theorem and geometry. In standard six, we were doing secondary school subjects. The teachers were also very committed unlike some of the ones these days that will bring goods to school to sell when they are supposed to be teaching.  I think government is trying to bring back the glorious era of teaching which the many years of military rule destabilised.

What sporting activities were you good at while in school?

I was good at athletics. I was not found in any relay race with girls. It was with boys to show how sporty I was. None of the girls could beat me. In a competition at Race Course, Lagos in 1950, I came first in 100 yards race. Nobody could break the record until 1954. I held it for four years. Apart from athletics, I was also involved in religious activities because I once studied at a theology school.

Do you still see some of your old friends?

I still see a few of them. When I was young, I had only boys as friends. I never moved with girls except my relations. Girls gossip a lot and I am not interested in such habit. Though men gossip these days too but in my days, it was limited to girls. I am still in touch with two of them who are based in Ikenne, Ogun State. I saw them the last time I visited there.

What was the style in vogue then?

We wore mini skirt but not as skimpy as we have it today. We also put on high heel shoes. Fashion goes and comes, it is not static. During our days, we would heat stretching comb on a stove to stretch our hair and make it look like that of the Europeans. Electric stretching comb later replaced it. Lace materials were not much in vogue then, instead, we had aso oke, which is still relevant in today’s fashion.

As a child, what challenges did you face? 

As my mother’s only child, there were some things she did not allow me to do. I was never allowed to fetch water or go to the farm. But I always sneaked out with some of my male friends to either go to the farm or to fetch water from the brooks. I also went to get firewood with them.  There was a day my mother was crying because I went to fetch water from the river. She wanted to spoil me but I stood against it.

After your secondary school education, what did you do?

The first thing I did was to go to Ibadan, Oyo State, to work as a nurse. I worked at Jericho Nursing Home. We were working with European doctors and nursing sisters.  When the authorities of the home saw my dedication to duty, they decided to send me to England for further study in nursing. But when I told my mother, she refused to let me go because I was her only child. I told them about my mother’s position and they were surprised because most parents would be glad to see their children travelling abroad to study.

In June, 1949, the first nursing school in Ibadan called Nursing Preliminary Training School was established. I enrolled at the school but continued as a nurse. I was attached to Adeoyo State Hospital and was to cater for a sick woman who was in a private room. Each time I went to school, I would rush back to check on her, to know how she was faring. But one day, I came to the hospital and was told that she was dying. I rushed to her room and called her name, ‘Amuda,’ three times; she did not respond. She had meningitis and I was sad that she died despite all my efforts to save her. I felt that I couldn’t continue with nursing because I felt disappointed that a life was lost despite my effort to save her. That day, I tendered my resignation. The doctors and nurses tried to convince me to stay but I had made up my life.

What did you do next?

I came to Lagos where I got a job with Post and Telecommunications Company. I worked at the Statistics Department for training where I used a machine called Power Samas for counting. I left the place to join my husband in England in 1956, a year after he left Nigeria. There, I worked with the British Railways, handling a machine used in verifying and punching tickets.

Life in the UK at the time was different from what we have today. Most Britons didn’t take their bath regularly in those days. They used handkerchief to clean their faces, visiting the bathroom many times a day and their hair smelled badly. But before I left home, I would have had my bath. So I would continue working while many of my colleagues who were white went on break to clean their bodies.

My employers appreciated my work and decided to send me for further training. I eventually went to Marylebone College to study commerce and another school in Southampton where I got a diploma in commerce.  I did shorthand, typing and other related commercial courses. When we returned home in 1961, I was employed by the Federal Government and worked with the Ministry of Justice, where I worked with the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General. From there, I worked at the Parliament building in Lagos. It was a hectic work and I would sometimes be there until 2am. I always ensured that the lawmakers’ votes and proceedings were in order before going home. But after the 1966 coup, I requested a transfer and was deployed to the Nigerian Ports Authority where I served the chairman for 10 years. I was also involved in the NPA’s training school where employees of the authority were trained. However, I had been thinking of life after government service since I joined the Parliament.

What retirement business did you think of?

I thought of starting a bookshop business and I began from the garage of our house on Adelabu Street, Surulere, Lagos.

What inspired the idea?

The idea came after I noticed that some books in the box we brought from overseas were the same. I decided I was going to sell them. I started with novels from Macmillan and I hid them under the beds of some young people staying with us since I did not want my husband to see them.

One day, some pupils came to buy the books and my husband told them that they had come to a wrong address. I quickly told them we had novels and he was surprised as I brought them out from under the beds. The bookshop expanded later as I ordered for books from Evans, Oxford and Heinemann publishers in Ibadan and from Longman and Macmillan publishers in Lagos. My store was called Baba-Odu Bookshop which was my father’s nickname. He earned it because of his skill in ‘ayo olopon’ (a game played in carved wooden box).

How did your husband react after discovering your new trade?

My husband was a very quiet man; he did not disturb me as I marched on with the dream. He was the first Nigerian to be employed in Dunlop Nigeria Limited. He was the first to be manager and director in the company and he established the company’s depots in Nigeria.

Why did you name the bookshop after your father?   

My father had only one boy. I was the last child and the first child is a girl. When he died in 1969, I borrowed £300 for the burial but during the ceremony, which featured Sunny Ade, I received exactly the same amount in cash gift. It was the money that I used to start the business, so I honoured him by naming the store after him. From the huge profit I made from the business after returning from a trip to the UK, I completed my house in Sagamu.

What were the challenges you faced as a mother?

My fourth child was without a child for 10 years. I had to pray for her and it was a big challenge for me. I was always sad. In 2011, one of my children called me from Ibadan that my daughter had put to bed. The news was so gladdening that I ran outside and called on people to come and dance with me. It was like a moment of temporary insanity.

What are the habits you imbibed from childhood which you still practice?

I never allowed anybody to cook for me and I still cook my food and blend my fruits the way I want them. Even when I was sick and on the wheelchair, I still managed to go to the kitchen to cook my food.

I love driving and I still drove into my 80s. When I was driving, nobody could overtake me except I allowed it.

When did you stop driving?

I eventually stopped in 2010. I drove to church at 82 and people were anxious. Those who wanted to ride in the car with me came down when they realised that I was going to be the driver. Some later travelled with me and I drove them to their various homes that night.

When my children heard about it, they came around and expressed their displeasure. They were so annoyed with what I did. I understood their position because they are good and caring children.

How did the relationship between you and your husband end in marriage?

That is something we couldn’t explain. We did not even know how it happened. I just knew that when he proposed, I could not say no. There was a man who attended Abeokuta Grammar School that my parents proposed that I should marry. But I refused because I wanted somebody around my age. Moreover, I had known my husband for a long time and we related like friends. Our children never heard about our quarrel because we settled them in the bedroom.

What do you miss most about your late husband?

We were like brother and sister. I miss the closeness of not having somebody to talk with or share things with.

Is there any type of food you like eating?

I eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. I blend carrots, cucumber, water melon and pine apples and put them in bottles. They are the things I sip in the morning before any meal.

What is your advice to youths?

They should not be in a hurry to achieve anything.  When they rush to attain anything, it will end in a big crash.

Eighty-seven-year-old Akinwande Johnson, tells GBENGA ADENIJI how honesty earned him promotion and respect from his superiors as an accountant

 Where and when were you born?

I was born on August 7, 1925 in Ifako, Agege, Lagos State. My grandparents came from Ogun State and settled in the area in 1885 as farmers. They were part of the royal family of Gbagura. My parents were also farmers and later cultivated large portion of lands in the area. The place is now developed but it used to be a bushy location where only few people loved to reside.  My parents had five children and I am the oldest.

Were you also going to the farm with your parents?

I had interest in farming but my parents did not allow me to be fully involved as a child. They wanted me to go to school. But because I loved farming, I tried to combine both regardless of what my parents preferred. There was a day my mother saw me tapping palm wine. She started to weep that I wanted to kill myself. It was one of my uncles who cautioned her not to discourage me from farming because nobody could predict what I would become in future.

What type education do you have?

I first attended Ifako African Church School and Agege Central School including Eko Boys High School. I was in standard five before my uncle, Isaac Ogunbanke, took me to Sapele in Delta State in 1940. He was transferred to the place as a sanitary inspector.

Were your parents not worried that you were going to Sapele when you had not completed your education?

It was only my mother that was alive during that period. I had stopped schooling then. So, the coming of my maternal uncle was timely. He only wanted to assist my mother so that I could continue my education. When we got to Sapele, he enrolled me in Salvation Army School. After sometime, he was transferred back to Lagos and I had not completed my higher elementary then. I was still in standard five. What I did was to return to Agege Central School upon our return in 1944 to complete standard five and six.

Did you not experience any challenge as a pupil changing from one school to another?

I did not experience any form of challenge. There was no problem because of my ability to assimilate easily and adapt to any environment. Even though I was young then, I saw the development as part of learning process.

After your education at Agege Central School, what did you venture into?

I got a teaching appointment after completing standard six. I started teaching from 1946 at the same Agege Central School. I was called upon to join the school workforce after I emerged second in the standard six examinations conducted among the best schools within the then colony area. I taught in the school for three years during which I got married before joining Leventis in 1949.

What subjects were you teaching?

I taught general subjects but I am very good in teaching accounts. While I was teaching, I was also taking correspondence from Benet College, London, in preparation for Cambridge examination. In 1949, I went to write Cambridge examination and learnt that Leventis was recruiting. The company was then looking for accounting personnel. Accounting was one of the courses I was studying at Benet College.

How did you learn that the company was recruiting?

I was writing Cambridge examination then and we usually didn’t write examinations in the afternoon. Since I had no examination to write that afternoon, I went to meet my cousin who was an accountant with the Nigerian Railway Corporation. I later followed him to visit his friend who was a store keeper with Leventis.  He introduced me to him and after sometime, we got talking. My cousin’s friend later said there was a test being conducted at that moment to recruit account personnel. He told me that with the little he had heard about me and from our discussion it would not be a bad decision if I joined other applicants. I went upstairs where the test was taking place and met a European who I later learnt was the examiner.

I introduced myself to her. She then gave me some writing materials. After writing for about 10 minutes, I submitted and went downstairs to meet my cousin and his friend. They asked me what happened and I said I had finished the test and submitted my script. My cousin’s friend said it was unlikely I wrote the test because others had been writing it several minutes before I arrived.

What happened later?

The following week I was writing Botany in the Cambridge examination when my cousin came to look for me. After the examination ended, he rushed into the hall and embraced me and said Leventis had offered me a job. The company contacted me through his friend because I gave his address in my contact details. When we got to the company, I saw the European woman, who was the examiner on the day of the test, and other officers of the company. They congratulated me and said I did well in the test and that I had been offered employment as account personnel.

I told them that there was no way I could take up the job because I was still teaching and that I only took study leave to write the Cambridge examination. I was wondering how I would now tell the school I was leaving after it showed such understanding. They convinced me that I should consider the offer and I would later tell the school why I took the decision to leave.

How did the school react when you indicated your decision to leave?

Before the expiration of the study leave granted to me by the school, I had started working with Leventis. I later went there to inform the management of what happened. I was allowed to go even though it was a painful decision for them to take. I was very resourceful to the school.

Was the salary package part of what made you accept the employment offer?

Initially, it was not the salary package because the school was paying me £4 and 10 shilling and Leventis offered me £4. But being a well-established company, I was assured of a future there. It was after the probation that the salary was increased to £6. I could not have earned such even if I had put in about two more years in school as a teacher. The salary of the school head then was not even up to £6.

How did your wife react to your decision?

The decision was taken in our best interest since we already had a child to cater for. Our first child was born on April 3, 1950. My wife knew that any decision taken would be in our collective interest. She was a nurse and I met her through a friend at a place some of our friends normally gathered to discuss national issues.

It was not long before we became friends and we later got married. Our marriage was blessed with three children: two girls and a boy. The first is a retired secretary, the second a nurse while the third one studied agriculture.  We enjoyed a very wonderful union and hardly quarrelled until her death some years ago after she took ill.

What was it like working with the white as a young man?

It was an enjoyable experience. I was in charge of the company’s creditor’s department. The department took care of the payment of all the products that the company bought locally. Later, I was in the administrative department. Whenever the company sent any of the Europeans to Nigeria, I was the person that would handle the person’s accommodation and other things. At a point, the company found me so trustworthy that it made me a signatory to its cheque books and documents.  I worked there from 1949 and retired in 1996 as a senior accountant. I was the first black man in the company to attain that status. I was with the company for 47 years.

What were the virtues that kept you for so long in the employment of the company?

I was very dedicated to my duties to the extent that I never for once left my office for anything until I had closed for the day. I was honest and straightforward. There was an event that changed my story in the company. The chief accountant forgot £5,000 in the strong room and I was the first person to enter the place. The safe was locked and the cash was left on it.

That day, someone came from Defacto Bread to claim some money which Leventis was yet to pay them. The company used to buy bread from them and for about four years, they did not come to claim their money. When our auditors came, they advised us to write off the money. I was surprised when the man, who was a European, entered my office that day with a claim paper.

He told me that their auditors discovered that our company owed them some certain amount of money. Hence, he was asked to tender the claim paper at our office. I told him to come back so that I could go to the strong room and pick the ledger. That was how I saw the money on the safe. Immediately, I went to the assistant chief accountant and told him what I saw. He was a European too and when the chief accountant heard what I did, he was surprised. He unknowingly left the money there while rushing to the bank. A.G Leventis himself came from abroad when he was told of what happened. I was promoted and given a big loan. Before the incident, I was trying to raise a loan of £10 to pay for my first daughter’s school fees who secured admission to Abeokuta Girls Grammar School.

What fashion was in vogue during your days?

For clothes, we mostly wore native attire to social functions and baggy trousers to office. The reigning hairstyle then was bushy style. It changed over time though. I am not a party man and always stay indoors with my family.

Do you have any favourite food?

Yes. I like tea and bread.

If you had not become an accountant, what would you have been?

I had always wanted to be a medical doctor. But the death of my father destabilised me as a young man. The family had no money then and people took advantage of my plight by promising my mother that they would help me. But all their promises were in vain. There was one who promised to send me to school; I only ended up cooking for him for some years. It was really frustrating. I ran away from there one day and went to meet my mother before my uncle came to pick me to go with him to Sapele.

Why didn’t you sell some portions of the land your father inherited to pay for your education?

Land was not viable in those days. Nobody was willing to part with money to buy land. My mother only cultivated cocoa and kolanut on the land. After selling them, she would use the proceeds to cater for the household.

Where were your other siblings during the period?

Everybody was struggling for survival during the period. It is sad that today, I am the only surviving child of my parents. My siblings died in one circumstance or the other.

Do you still see some of your childhood friends?

I do not see them because many of them are dead.

Each time you remember your late wife, what comes to your mind?

Nothing, I only pray for her and console myself.

What is your advice to parents?

They should endeavour to train their children properly so that they do not become burden to the society. I always tell my children not to live a life of illusion and that they also need to be self-dependent.

In 2011, Charles McGee suffered a stroke that took a toll on his health. But you’d hardly know it.

While McGee has scaled back some since the time he was a teacher, gallery owner and prolific artist, the 87-year-old continues to make his own work, develop his style and maintain his presence on the art scene.

McGee paved the way for black artists in Detroit. His figurative paintings and abstract sculptures pop up all over the city, where he has lived since 1934. His active life in the region’s art scene has included teaching, board involvement and winning the Kresge Eminent Artist award in 2008.

“I have worked hard,” McGee said, “but it’s been a labor of love.”

McGee was just 10 years old when he moved north to Detroit from South Carolina. At the time, he didn’t wear shoes, had never seen an electric light and couldn’t read. Starting school behind his peers compelled him to take hold of any opportunity he had to learn.

“The hunger and the thirst that I felt for school perpetuated the dogma in me to excel in whatever I was doing, regardless of what it was,” McGee explained.

Dr. Julia R. Myers, who teaches art history at Eastern Michigan University and organised a 2009 show of McGee’s work, believes that hunger affected the artist’s work for decades.

“(Until the 1970s) he was always kind of catching up, he worked really hard,” she said.

McGee’s constant drive to move forward keeps his work engaged, adaptable and relevant. His artworks span everything from painting to large metal sculptures.

“That is one of the most impressive things about him that he does work in so many media” Myers said.

In his 80s, McGee taught himself to use a computer to design and commercially cut out pieces for his sculptures. He talks animatedly about Dibond, an aluminium construction material he realised would work well for sculpture because of its lighter plastic core.

“Necessity is the mother of invention, right?” McGee explained. “One thing I enjoy about using different materials is finding solutions. If you saw my studio, you would see there’s a plethora of material of all kinds … everything, even parts of the building itself.”

It’s important, McGee said, to do whatever is necessary for a piece of artwork. For him, that even includes consulting with structural engineers.

McGee is currently juggling several projects. He’s also planning a work for Grand Valley State University, as well as a drawing for an upcoming show at the Detroit Artists Market.

DAM is an important place for McGee. He curated “Seven Black Artists” at DAM in 1969, one of the first shows in Detroit to bring real attention to the city’s black artists.

 -Culled from huffingtonpost.com

In this interview, 87-year-old Adelani Adebowale, tells GBENGA ADENIJI about his life, joys and regrets

 Where were you born?

I was born on June 14, 1925 at Ikereku, Abeokuta, Ogun State. My father was a rich cocoa farmer and my mother traded in kolanuts and other farm produce.

How did being the son of a cocoa farmer influence your upbringing?

Cocoa money only helped my education to a certain level. In those days, only children whose hands could touch their left ears were allowed to enrol in primary schools. I started primary school at Ikereku Primary School in 1934. I took ill soon after that and had to stay at home until 1936 when I started school again at Olorunda Primary School. I completed elementary school in 1940 and I had to start looking for a secondary school to attend. The only one in Ogun State was Abeokuta Grammar School. Majority of those in secondary school then were adults who had taught before and had children. In December 1942, I took the entrance examination into Abeokuta Grammar School and was admitted into preliminary standard four in 1943.

In 1944, we were promoted to Class One and I can still remember the names of some of the pupils in the front row because the back row was occupied by those who were mature. Those in the front row included Bankole who became a medical doctor, myself, Oloyede, Osoba and Prof. Wole Soyinka. Mr. Oduniyi was our class teacher.

Soyinka was so brilliant, funny and the youngest among us. He did not stay long with us because he left for Government College, Ibadan, after we were promoted to Class Two. We were fond of each other at the time. Each time I see his picture, I am always glad that we are still alive despite all odds.I eventually left the school in Class Six (Cambridge Class) in 1949.

After you completed secondary education, what did you do next?

I moved to Lagos to stay with an aunt who was married to a Lagosian. She liked me so much and insisted that I should live with her.

Did your parents approve of the trip?

My parents did not object to it. Besides, I was of age then and the next thing was to start working. In those days, before you leave school, you would have employment waiting for you. Initially, we were told to wait for a while and it did not take long before we were assigned to federal establishments. I was posted to the Nigerian Railway Corporation on November 21, 1949 and from there, I was sent to the corporation’s traffic training school. On April 1, 1950, we graduated from the school.

What type of work did you do at the NRC?

My job was to check passengers on the trains who had no tickets. Anyone caught without a ticket would be issued a receipt.

Can you remember any time you caught a passenger without a ticket?

There was none. Those of us doing the job were happy young men. Every young and beautiful woman wanted to interact and identify with us. Our uniforms were so clean and smart. We did not play with our jobs. The British never tolerated such. In 1955, I was deployed to the Nigerian Ports Authority, Apapa. By that time, activism had started building in me. I was beginning to see reasons why I should support noble causes and intervene in the plight of fellow workers. At NPA, I joined the Railway and Ports Transport Staff Union as an executive member. I became the general secretary of the union. In 1962, I became the general secretary of the Non-expatriate Officers’ Association. The Europeans also had a similar association in the place.  That was where I worked till 1976 when the Olusegun Obasanjo administration came to cleanse the establishment. Before that time, I had been promoted to the senior service position by the Europeans.

What was your experience as a union leader?

It was a big challenge because some of the workers were loyal to the management and pretended to support the union. There was a time I was addressing the workers and policemen came to whisk me away. The workers did know that the police only took me to a police station in Onikan and asked me to sit down. After sometime, I was returned to where I was earlier addressing the workers. By then, the workers had gone to Marina and had started destroying everything in sight because they felt the police took me away to kill me. When it was time for promotion, I was told that the money that would have served as my salary after promotion had been used to compensate those whose property got destroyed by the workers. It was the Europeans that later worked out my promotion because I was working hard.

Were you married then?

Yes I was married. I had my first child in 1952 when I was posted to the ports. My parents did not believe in court marriage. They only put emphasis on the care of  children.

How did you meet your wife?

As young men, we made friends with young ladies everywhere we went. She owned a cafeteria close to the ports and that was where my friends and I used to eat. I met her there, we became friends and later got married.

What attracted you to her?

It was her friendly nature that attracted me. Many young ladies loved me when I was young. I am a very straightforward person who hates mischief. With the help of my parents, I was the only one among my friends who had a house and many of them always visited me.

Did you work elsewhere after you left the ports?

When I left the ports, I started a shipping company. I registered the company and started travelling to the West Coast areas. I was importing cement into the country and making enough money to pay my workers. When the government banned  cement importation, the business suffered. I shared the company’s assets with the workers as their pay-off and told them to move on with life. My interest shifted to the training of my children. They were given the kind of home training that Yoruba tradition recommends. They were taught how to respect elders and how to relate with friends.

Apart from the moral training you gave your children, did you also influence their choice of careers?

I did not influence it. The only thing I did was to advise them on how to make the right choice. God has blessed me with good children who listen to me. They are my confidants and my best friends. Many of my children are technocrats working in the UK, US and Nigeria. Three of them are lawyers. One of my greatest moments was when one of them was called to the British Bar. I attended the ceremony and the master of the scroll announced my presence as the only African in the hall.

What were the challenges you faced as a young man?

The first major challenge I faced was when I left primary school and was to proceed to secondary school. My father told my mother that he was not going to finance my secondary education unless my mother did. He said there were still children of other wives waiting to go to school and that he had given me enough education by sending me to primary school.

My mother, Mrs. Marian Adebowale (nee Shonola), had to fund my secondary education by selling kolanuts.  Getting secondary school education then was like going to the university. The total amount my mother raised was £1 and 10 shillings, which was a huge amount. The love my mother had for me was what propelled her to raise the money for my education. When she gave me the money, I paid the tuition fee, bought uniform and books. She gave me food and other things I needed in the school.

Were you able to repay her kindness?

God assisted me to do that because she was a very wonderful woman. Immediately I started working, I took her to live with me. She cared so much for many of her relatives.  I also trained many of them on her insistence. One thing about her was that she was always around me in order to train my children regardless of whether their mother was around or not. I knew I owed her dearly. That was why I tried to do whatever she requested of me before she died in my house in 1984.

What was the reigning fashion for men in those days?

In school, it was mandatory to wear a shirt which must be tucked in our trousers or knickers. We kept our hairstyle low. At Abeokuta Grammar School, we wore khaki coats and shorts. It was compulsory for us to button our shirts or risk six strokes of the cane. In the office, it was either we wore a jacket atop a sparkling white shirt or knot a tie. If it is native attire we wore, it must go with a cap. We never dressed shabbily. Nowadays, if I see youths sagging or not tucking in their shirts, I feel unhappy. In our days, we did not reveal our pants for people to see on the streets and whoever did it would not be considered a gentleman.

Do you have any special food?

I really do not have a special meal. I can eat any food as long as it is delicious and well-prepared. I neither drink nor smoke.

What’s your social life like?

I am a very sociable person. I was the welfare officer and assistant general secretary of the Lagos State chapter of the Association of Egba Chiefs and Environs. I was also a member of many social groups. I was a member of Island, Apapa and Ikoyi clubs. I joined Island Club in 1966.

Do you have any regrets?

Life has taught me that the man you wasted your energy to protect could be the same person that would make things difficult or impossible for you. I have always wanted to be a lawyer. But many factors prevented me. When I was a unionist, I was sent to the University of Ibadan to study Industrial Relations.    In 1967, I enrolled for Law at the University of Lagos and everything was going smoothly. But I did not complete the study. So, I was happy when three of my children chose to study law.

When I was young, I wanted to become a lawyer to address the injustice prevalent in our society. There was a day I was in court and my lawyer had not arrived. The magistrate started harassing me and his behaviour annoyed the late Gani Fawehinmi who was in court that day. The magistrate said he was not opposing me but that my lawyer was delaying the case by not arriving early enough. I knew what to say but could not say it because I was not a lawyer.

What kind of music do you listen to?

I like music that helps me to do serious thinking about life. Before any music can make meaning to me, it must be meditative and philosophical. There was a time some members of my family came to hold a meeting in my house and I sang one of Lagbaja’s songs that says, “No do, No do, No do gragra for here.” My friends laughed and said I was singing a modern song. To me, it does not matter whether a song is modern or not, what matters is that such songs must have good message.

What advice would you give to youths?

Youths must always remember the children of whom they are. They must try not to hurt anyone in words or deeds. I dislike people who make promises they cannot fulfil.

Like every other teacher, Agnes Zhelesnik wakes up in the morning, goes to school, and stands in front of a classroom full of kids. The only difference is she happens to be 99 years old. This makes “Granny,” as her students lovingly call her, the oldest teacher in the country.

Zhelesnik teaches children to cook and sew during her home economics class at the Sundance School in North Plainfield, New Jersey. Recently, her students threw her a birthday party to celebrate the big 99. The celebration included student performances, cake, and 99 red balloons.

“Some people are younger than us and they stay home, but I don’t have to stay home. I just get up and come here, and the children see me, they want to know what we’re making today.” Zhelesnik said to the Cable News Network.

How does Agnes continue to teach at 99 years old? It’s because of the kids, she says in the CNN interview. “My advice.  Be happy, I guess. Do what you have to do to take care of kids.”

She added, “I love the children. They’re my best helpers. That’s the only reason why I come here, is the children. The children are the greatest. You know, you have your own, but when it’s these kids, they’re just something else.”

After spending 60 years as a homemaker, Agnes began teaching cooking, sewing and costume-making in 1995 at the age of 81. She decided to instruct at The Sundance School, where her 61-year-old daughter, also named Agnes, is also teaches, because they had an opening.

There is speculation Agnes may retire next year at the age of 100, which would see her join Olivia Neubauer in the exclusive centenarian educators club. Neubauer, who passed away in November at the age of 100, had been teaching since 1964. Neubauer died in November following days of hospitalization for fluid in her lungs.

She has been a part of this world for nearly a century, but at 99 years old, Zhelesnik is not ready to retire.

• Culled: CNN

Ninety-nine-year-old Tijani Adamson narrates his experience as a colonial police officer in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

C an you give us an insight into your background?

I was born on May 29, 1913 at Andrew Street, near Ika Street, Lagos Island (shows his birth certificate).  My father, Adamo Gborigi, was a carpenter. My father was from Kogi State. My mother, Oriratu Alake, was into laundry business and she was well known in the area.

Did your father encourage you to learn carpentry?

My father did not really persuade me to learn carpentry when I was growing up. I used to watch him do his carpentry job. When I was of age, I was enrolled in an Arabic school close to our house. After I left the Arabic institute, I attended St. Peters Primary School and the Christian Missionary Society Grammar School, Lagos. I completed my secondary education at CMS in 1931.

After your secondary education, what did you do?

It was easy then to find a job after leaving secondary school. The first thing I decided to do was to look for a job that would allow me to raise some money. It did not take long before I got a placement in Harbour and Marine Works in Apapa, Lagos. Although the money was not much, it catered for some of my needs.

What were you doing there?    

I was attached to the engineering and diving department. It was an interesting job because it afforded me the opportunity to know about things related to shipping. I did not stay long in the place because I was only interested in getting some level of experience after secondary school education. Immediately I was able to save some money, I quit the job so that I could join the Police Force in 1936.

Did your parents support your decision?

Of course, they did. They were very happy about my decision. In those days, it was a thing of pride to be admitted into the Force. Most parents would be too glad to have their children become police officers. In my case, since when I was in secondary school, I had always wanted to be a police officer. Each time I went home from school and saw a police officer, I knew it was a job I would eventually do after finishing school. So, my focus was on how to join the force even when I was working at Apapa Wharf.

How was policing in those days?

As a policeman during the colonial era, I did general duties. We called it ‘beat.’ It involved patrolling some areas. A police officer would be attached to an area and it was his duty to protect those residing in that place. We carried batons as our weapon and not guns. We did not use patrol vans and patrol was done on foot. The use of guns was strictly protected. We were never allowed to use guns anyhow except during emergencies. No one could carry guns in public the way police officers do nowadays. Despite the fact that we used batons as weapon, thieves ran away from the police. If there were emergencies, people would call on the police for help. We responded quickly to distress calls. Sometimes, we used a whistle to call on our colleagues for reinforcement. If it was a fire incident, we would provide help to the victims before the arrival of men of the fire service.

What was police uniform then?

We wore a black jacket and knickers complemented with sandals. The jacket had eight shining silver coloured buttons.  From afar, when a torch was beamed on us, people would recognise that policemen were approaching.

What was the relationship between the police and the public then?

The relationship between the police and the public was very cordial. The public saw the police as their protectors. They gave the police full respect. In fact, each time a police officer was walking on the street, children would gather happily on the road and sing, “Police officer and his baton.”

In response, the police officer would continue to march on with his baton held tightly in his hand.

How much were you paid as a police officer?

Most of us who were police officers then joined because of the desire to serve our fatherland. We were not particular about money. Also, things were very cheap. When I was under training, each recruit was receiving 11 pence per day. There was no monthly pay then. But in those days, six pence would feed a family of three.

What challenges did you face as a policeman?

I suffered so much as a policeman. I was always travelling from one area to the other. There was a time a riot broke out in Badagry and a team of policemen was sent there to quell it. I led the team. It was when the colonial government introduced tax and the people said they were not going to pay it. In the fracas, the rioters killed one of our men. We were able to overpower them and seize their guns. It was a very tough assignment because we were to ensure that the situation did not get out of hand.  Also in the process, we were to protect the people even though they were determined not to yield to government’s order. In the end, they paid the tax. After the payment, each tax payer was issued a receipt to be carried everywhere they went and shown upon demand.

Were you married before you became a policeman?

Yes, I married my first wife before I joined the police. I met her when she came to stay with one of her family members in Lagos. At a point, she returned to Oyo State but before then, we had been engaged. When she returned, our families met and we later got married.

How many years did you spend in the police?

I spent 33 years. I resigned in 1969 after attaining the post of Assistant Superintendent of Police.

What do you think is responsible for the loss of that glorious era of the Nigeria Police Force?

Well, I was not a Nigerian police. I was trained by the British and worked for them. I know that police officers during the colonial period received a different training and orientation.

When you retired, what did you venture into?

Immediately I resigned, I knew I was going to an establishment to become a security officer. Whenever a police officer resigned then, he was sure to get a place in a company that would require the services of an ex-service man.

Police officers who were due for retirement often had three options. There was the judicial department where one would serve as third grade magistrate. The University of Ibadan was the second option where the officer would be employed as a chief security officer. The third offer often came from private companies looking for security officers.

When the Inspector General of Police, Kam Salem, asked me which one I preferred, I chose a textile firm called Bhojson. The IG told me that they wanted a retired police officer. There was a time the company was about to pay salaries and robbers invaded the place. One of their directors named Orege, who put up resistance, was killed.

It was after the incident that they wrote the Force to request for a retired police officer. I worked at the company for 20 years as a chief security officer. The company wanted me to assist them on cases of forgery, pilfering, loading of goods without way bill and stealing of goods in connivance with the security guards.

Did you apprehend any worker in the practice?

Many of the employees were caught for criminal activities. There was a time one worker was caught for wrapping some textile materials on his body before wearing his clothes on it. Before I left the company, the management gave me a letter of commendation.

When you left the company, did you join another one?

As soon as I left the textile company, I decided to give myself rest. I did not do anything up till today. My children have been taking care of me.

Did you encourage any of your children to join the Force?

I recall that at the brink of my retirement, the IG asked me to bring my son for recruitment into the Force. He was in the university then and he said he was not interested in being a policeman. I then went to my sister and asked her if she would want to send her son for the police recruitment. She gave me her son named Mahmood Ali. I took him and another boy named Surajudeen, now deceased, to the IG.  Ali was successful in the recruitment exercise but the other did not perform well. So, instead of dismissing him, I pleaded with the IG to allow him to work at the driving unit and become a driver since the unit only requires skill.

Ali rose to the position of assistant commissioner of police before he retired. I decided to assist people into the Force for them to contribute their quota to national development.

What kind of training did you give your children? 

God assisted me to train them well through quality education. My first son is a lecturer. He teaches abroad.  I have an engineer, artist and cloth designer.

Since you witnessed Nigeria’s past and present, what will you say about both?

When I look at the history of Nigeria, the only regret I have is that it lacks sincere rulers. Everybody goes into governance for personal benefits.

Do you still see some of your friends in the police?

I do not see any of them anymore because many of them have died.

What were your hobbies as a young man?

As a police officer, I played football, lawn tennis, cricket and hockey. I was a member of Nigerian Police 11.

How sociable were you in those days?

 There was a social club I belonged to called ‘Merry 13.’ The members were not only from police but from other professions.

How do you relax?

My only form of relaxation is prayer. I talk to my God on daily basis about my life and my children.

Do you have any special food?

Yes, I do. I like pounded yam, garri, amala and fufu.

What is your advice to youths?    

My advice to youths is that they should take things easy because life is very simple. They should cut their coat according to their cloth.

An extraordinary 80-year-old study has led to some unexpected discoveries about long life. In 1921, a Stanford University psychologist named Lewis Terman recruited 1,500 elementary school students and began an academic inquiry that would last eight decades. Terman followed his subjects into adulthood until he passed away in 1956. Other scientists then picked up where he left off, and in 1990 psychologists Howard Friedman and Leslie Martin began poring over the wealth of data in search of factors that seemed to contribute to lengthy life spans. In The Longevity Project, Friedman and Martin reveal that some age-old wisdom – work less, avoid stress, exercise hard- is plain bad advice. From their findings, they pulled some surprising tips.

Give more to live more

It’s no secret that people with a strong social support system tend to live longer. But it turns out that it’s not what your friends and family do for you. It is what you do for them that counts. Among Terman’s subjects, the men and women who liked to lend a helping hand – the ones who cared for their neighbours, the ones whom others turned to for advice — lived the longest.

Run the rat race

Everyone fantasises about a job that isn’t stressful, never follows her home, and complements her personality and interests. But the ideal work life won’t necessarily extend your life-life Study participants who persevered toward accomplishment despite high levels of stress and responsibility lived longer than the people who worked at their “dream jobs.”

Train without pain

Forcing yourself to follow grueling fitness regimens can shed inches, but it may not add years. In the long term, you’re more likely to stick with low-impact activities you truly enjoy than rigorous workouts you dread. Moderate swimming, a leisurely bike ride, and hour-long walks with the dog do as much good for your health – and survival – as an eight-minute mile.

Fret a little

Think good things and good things will happen, right? Not necessarily. Friedman and Martin found that too much optimism could be as detrimental to longevity as high cholesterol and hypertension. Always assuming the best, they say, may leave you unequipped to deal with the worst — such as trauma or illness. A little worry keeps you warmed up for the curveballs life throws.

 -Culled: www.huffpost.com

Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo shares her challenges as a mother and how she successfully trained four boys in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

 What was your childhood like?

I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on February 16, 1933. My father, Thomas Aiyegbayo, was a ranger from Osun State. He was one of the earliest rangers in the Western Region. My mother was from Ilaro, Ogun State. I attended Durbar School in Oyo for my primary education. Then, I went to Methodist School in Oyo and from there, I went to Sagamu Girls School, Remo, Ogun in 1946. We were taught by teachers who emphasised cleanliness, hard work and seriousness.  It was later that I proceeded to Teacher’s Training College in Sagamu. After I completed the programme, I went back to the school to teach.

Why did you return to the school to teach?

It was not something I planned on my own. The principal of the school liked some of us because we performed brilliantly well in the examination. So, some of us were selected. I taught in that school for two years. It was while I was there that I met my husband, Opeoluwa Osinbajo.

Was he also a teacher in the school?

He was not a teacher in the school. He came on a visit and he saw me. I knew him before that day and when he saw me, we exchanged greetings and he began to visit me in the school. It was later he told me he that wanted to marry me. And because I had known him before, I did not refuse his proposal. He was from Ikenne, Ogun State.

I actually agreed to his proposal because I knew him as a gentleman. He was a very good person. Besides, he was a friend to my sister’s husband. During that time, he was a student at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo State. He was not rich then but I admired him for his other qualities.

What did your parents say when you told them about him?

I told them that I knew him very well and could vouch for his character. They told me to invite him to our house and I did. When he came, they were impressed with his behaviour and they endorsed our marriage. But our wedding did not hold immediately after he met my parents because it was not long after that that he travelled to England for further studies. He actually travelled abroad to be trained as a civil engineer. When he was there, he kept in touch. It was when he returned from England that we got married on December 28, 1954.

How was the union?

Our living together was very nice. It was a splendid union. He took me as his daughter because he was about 14 years older. He took very good care of me. God blessed our marriage with five wonderful children. We first had four boys and I prayed to God that I needed a girl. God graciously answered my prayer. I gave birth to a girl seven years after my last son.

What was the experience like bringing up four boys?

It was very tough raising four boys. That is why I am called ‘Mumisco.’ A mother with all boys will have to behave like a boy herself if she intends to train them properly. When they started growing up, I made it compulsory for them to say their prayers every morning. Whether they liked it or not, it was an activity that must be done. They would grumble but I did not budge. It was not easy training them. But we knew that someday, everything would be okay. And it turned out that way because all of them are doing well in their chosen careers. Two of them were once Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice in Ogun and Lagos states.

Can you recall any of the tricks they played?

One of them went out one day. I did not know but when I went to his room, I discovered that he had gone out. He returned the next morning. My husband was upstairs sleeping when I came downstairs to wait for him. He came in later wearing his night dress and holding his clothes in one hand. When he opened the door he saw me and I asked where he was coming from. He was surprised to see me and started crying when I said I would tell his father what he did. If his father knew what he did, he would beat him and refuse to send him abroad for further studies as he had promised them he would do after their university education. He prostrated and begged me. Since then, he did not do such again.

Did you influence the career choice of any one of them?

We did not influence the choice of careers of our children. Our duty was to guide them in making their career choices. My husband believed in allowing his children to do what they have capacities for. When he returned from England, he established the first electronic sawmill business in Ebute Metta to show what he had interest in. By the time we got married, I had stopped teaching. It was the sawmill business that we jointly ran. We would buy timbers and mill them for sale. The business flourished until his death in 1996.

What happened to him?       

He was just slightly sick and doctors advised that he should have some rest. He was at home resting all the time and one night, he called me that I should lead the prayer. I saw that he was dressing and I asked him where he was going. He said he was going nowhere. As I was about to round off the prayers, he shouted Halleluiah, became silent and died.

What happened to the business?   

It is no longer in operation because my children are not interested in it. And I do not intend to leave it without somebody to manage it.

Are you involved in any other business now?

I established a school in 1992 because of my passion for kids. My husband assisted me in building it. It was established to train children without consideration for the financial gains. We have five scholarships for pupils in the school.

Are you still involved in running the school?

I want to donate the school to a Christian body to run. I do not want to administer any business after I have turned 80. I feel contented at 80 and give God thanks for His love and mercies.

What do you do each time you remember your husband?

Sometimes I cry, but most times I pray because we were so close. When he died, I thought everything was going to end. But God has been holding me.

Is there any difference between the moral training during your days and what we have now?

Let me start with the way ladies dress today. During our days, we never exposed any part of our body. We wore dresses such as gowns but they never exposed sensitive areas. Our shoes were not as high as we have today. One thing I have noticed is that most of what we wore then is now common today, but worn in a different way. We had our ways of dressing. Everything has changed. We didn’t stare at an elder’s face whenever we were being addressed. Today, children don’t respect elders again. I warn my children never to look me in the face whenever I am talking to them. But if you are looking in another direction while an elder talks to you, it shows a sign of respect for that person.

Do you have any special food?

I do not have any special food. I eat whatever I know is well-prepared and delicious. Also, I go for medical check-up regularly. I prepare my meals. I do not allow anybody to do that for me. My husband, until his death, never allowed house maids to prepare his meals. It was something we agreed on long before our marriage.

How do you relax?

I go to England every year to relax for some months. Another form of relaxation I engage in is by going to church. I also attend weddings and birthdays but I do not attend wedding receptions. I only attend receptions if the host is my close relative.

What special training did you give your children?

I trained them to have the fear of God and be responsible children.

Do you still see some of your childhood friends?

Some of them are dead. But I still see some. One of them, Stella, also clocked 80 recently. There is another one, Funmilola, who will be 80 soon.

What is your advice to parents?

My advice goes to the mothers, especially those who have boys to train. They must be very vigilant because sons are full of tricks unlike daughters. If she is sleeping, she must not sleep with her two eyes closed because they can sneak out. I ensured that I always went to their rooms to check on them and pray for them. Mothers must pray for their children always. Also, they should take care of their husbands because they are like children to us. Men are like children and any woman who wants to enjoy them must behave like mothers to them. Even when a man is 40 and he marries an 18-year-old, the wife is his mother. That was how I treated my husband.