Where did you spend your early life?

I was born in 1921 in Cameroon but I really cannot recall my childhood days in the country. I had my primary education in Cameroon. But I can vividly remember that in 1939, a Nigerian and senior teacher at a government-owned Teacher Training College in Kake, Kunba Division, Daniel Awomolo, brought me to Nigeria to further my education. He and my uncle, Motomby Woleta, who was the head of the college, were friends.  Awomolo was embarking on his annual vacation then.

Did your parents support the trip?

It was fate at work and I was yearning to find a place to continue my education. God destined me to leave me Cameroon and come to Nigeria. The trip was approved by my parents because it was meant to help me seek greener pastures. As a young man, I was looking for how to acquire good education to better my lot. In fact, to show how happy my mother was, she poured palm wine as libation at the beach and invoked ancestral spirits to guide us through the journey and bless us in Nigeria. We came to Nigeria in a boat.

What did you do when you arrived in Nigeria?

When we arrived in Nigeria, Awolomo enrolled me at the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State. I had a great time in the school because I made some good friends there. I was in the school till December 1943. I later went to Yaba School of Pharmacy. But in my third year, which was my final year in the school, I met Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and that encounter made me to change my mind about wishing to become a pharmacist.

Why did you abandon the course?

One day after lectures, I attended a lecture Zik delivered at Glover Memorial Hall, Marina, Lagos. He spoke in a passionate manner to the audience. His eloquence and resolution regarding the struggle for independence moved me. His sincere position impressed. Zik’s speech changed my view. I later approached him that I would like to be trained as a journalist under his media group. I felt that way, I would be able to contribute my quota to the goals of nationalism which he advocated. That was why I abandoned the course and became a reporter-in-training at the West African Pilot.

What did your lecturers say about your decision?

My decision made them very sad. They could not understand why I took the decision to abandon the course because I was doing well. The lecturers could not understand why a promising student decided to terminate his course midway.

Was it easy changing from pharmacy to journalism?

Since I set my mind on becoming a journalist, I ensured I learnt the rudiments of the profession. When I was a reporter-in-training, I was made to learn all that was necessary to excel on the job. After some time, I got promoted as Managing Director of the Port Harcourt-based Eastern Nigeria Guardian which was one of the titles in Zik’s media group.

In 1952, I became a director in the Associated Newspapers of Nigeria-under which the titles in Zik’s Group were published and controlled. In the same year, Zik nominated me to lead a three-man delegation from West Africa to Britain. Our mission was to study how the British media operated.

Before we ended the tour, Zik had arranged with his friend and experienced journalist, Sir Max Aitken, to attach me to his media group to study the rudiments of newspaper production and management in the UK. I was unaware of the arrangement until we were set to return home. It was then Aitken told me of what Zik arranged with him concerning me. I could not return with the rest. I ended up spending three months in the UK, visiting London, Glasgow and Manchester.  It was a wonderful experience for me because it opened my eyes to many things about newspapering. But when I returned to Nigeria, the administrative change I met at Zik’s Group left me with no option than to resign.

What was the administrative change?

Upon my return, an American Negro, Ms. Eunice Johnson, had been appointed to replace A.K Blankson as general manager/ editorial director. I had worked with Blankson and it was he who recommended my posting to Port Harcourt. Since Zik was then involved more in politics, I feared that I could clash with the new general manager.  I likened the situation to the emergence of a new Pharaoh who did not know Joseph. In that case, I was the Joseph who was the favourite of the old Pharaoh symbolised by Blankson. The option was to leave the company to forestall any misunderstanding with her. Zik was a wonderful man. He remembered details and was a good writer. I did not want to offend such a person. There were attempts to convince me to stay, but my mind was made up.

Did you make attempt to let Zik know your position?

I did not see him. He was too high up for me to see and be asking why he took the decision to change the company’s management. The interaction he often had with me was because he liked me. I thus could not carry it far by questioning why my boss took the decision.

Where did you go next?

In 1954, I joined the Daily Times as Assistant News Editor. The Daily Mirror Group of London had acquired the Daily Times in 1948. It was the then General Manager, Percy Roberts, who introduced me to the then news editor, Alhaji Babatunde Jose. I became so close to Jose to the extent that in 1957 when he became editor, I was appointed his deputy and upon his appointment as managing director in 1962 and chairman in 1968, I was also named his deputy. In 1956, I was seconded to Ibadan as Western Regional Representative. I left the newspaper as deputy managing director. There was no discrimination despite the fact that I was a Cameroonian. This was what encouraged me to naturalise to a Nigerian citizen. My wife did same too.

Were you married before you left Zik’s Group?        

I met my wife, Janet when I was a man. I had been posted to Ibadan when I met her. I was discussing with a friend of mine that I was going to Cameroon to cover a story. It was the then general manager of Daily Times that sent me to do the story. She overheard our discussion and asked if I could give them a lift to Cameroon where her uncle lived. She was with her cousin and they were going to Cameroon because their university — the University of Ibadan — was shut due to lecturers’ strike. When we got to Enugu, we lodged in a hotel to continue our journey the next day. But the next day, we heard on the radio that the strike had been called off. I decided to drive them back to Ibadan from Enugu. She told me later that my action surprised her and that it showed her my kind of person. I decided to drive them back because I felt it was wrong to leave them in Enugu to find their way back to Ibadan. That was the reason I offered to take them back. That incident brought us together. I dedicated time to the relationship and we eventually got married on March 26, 1960.

How old is your wife?

She is 76 years old.

What is the secret of your union?

My wife is very devoted, caring and honest woman. These are the qualities that have kept us together till date. She has been with me through it all and her love has continued to strengthen our love.

Can you recall some major stories you wrote as a journalist?

I did many good stories. But I cannot remember any particular one because I am very forgetful now.

What do you detest most in people?

I hate drunkenness. I dislike people who drink too much alcohol.

What habits did you keep as a young journalist?

During my days as a journalist, I used to drink beer and smoke cigarette in moderation. But it did not take long before I quit the habits.   

Do you have any hobby?

Yes, I used to swim. When I was younger, I loved swimming. I often went with some of my friends to a public swimming pool located in Ikeja to swim. 

What is the secret of your old age?

There is no particular secret. It is the grace of God and nothing else.

What is your favourite food?

I like wheat and yam flour. Also, I like Ogbono soup.

Did you encourage any of your children to study journalism?

I did not because I know that each individual has his preference and capacity. I believe in allowing children to study courses of their choice. I had four sons but only two are left. None of them took interest in journalism. One studied Information Technology and the other studied computer. The first lives in the US, while the other resides in Ghana.

What advice do you have for young journalists and youths?

I will advise journalists and youths to be loyal in whatever they do. Loyalty is not something that one picks up from a book. It is cultivated and whoever imbibes it will go far in life. In my own case, I was very loyal to my bosses and dedicated to my duties. If one is loyal, it will not take long before one discovers that it opens many doors. It may not pay you immediately but one day, you will surely reap from it bountifully.

Eighty-six-year-old Olanike Adejunmobi talks about her 35 years experience in teaching in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI

Where and when were you born?

I was born on May 13, 1927 in Ogbomoso, Oyo State where my parents, Olanrewaju and Grace Dairo, came from. My parents raised me in a Christian way as Baptist.  Few weeks after my birth, they moved to Lagos State. My father later bought a land around Igbosere and started developing it. He was a customs officer while mother was a teacher who dedicated most of her time to the training of her three children.

Which schools did you attend?

I attended schools established by the Baptist Mission. The first was Baptist Academy Nursery and Primary School which was then on Broad Street, Lagos. During that time, we were taught by Americans because few Nigerians were in the teaching profession. I left the school in 1939 and moved to the Baptist Girls School, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State which my mother also attended.

I later went to Baptist Women’s Training College. I was among the first set of students to sit for the higher teachers’ training education in the school. Other students only sat for the elementary examinations. I graduated from the school in 1947.

After graduation, what did you do?

Those of us who did well in the examination were posted to different schools.

Where were you posted?

I was lucky to be in Lagos because I had hoped to return home. In 1948, I was posted to Reagan Memorial Baptist Girls School, Yaba as a Grade Two teacher. There, I taught in the infant section of the school. This was so because during my time, we had two methods: Infant and senior methods. I was interested in the infant method but many of my colleagues did not pick it because the school’s principal at the training college, May Perry, who taught the method was very strict. She was very thorough about it.

Each time we showed her our work, she would not be satisfied because she was extremely diligent. I thank God today because what she taught us then is what I am benefiting from now.

Why were you not discouraged since it was tough learning the method?

I love teaching children, since when I was young. I know that they are not easy to teach and one needs to master the methods to use to teach them in order to achieve the best. One cannot teach children the way you teach learners who are adults.  All that is required to do in their adults case is to read and explain during the class.

What was your first teaching experience like?

It was a memorable one. I used the method that I had learnt. The parents of the children commended me and the school principal was also impressed with my teaching. I was in the school for some time and taught at some other schools which included Ade-Oshodi Memorial Baptist School. I taught for 35 years before retiring as Head of School Three now known as Eko Akete, which has been relocated to Campbell on the Lagos Island.

Before your retirement, did you acquire more academic certificates?

I did some courses in Nigeria before travelling abroad to study at Bristol University, United Kingdom. I studied a childhood education-related course. I am an expert in that field. Children are the foundation of any family. If a child is not given the right foundation, he or she will grow up and become a burden to the society. Children are like buildings. If their foundation is not solid, no matter what is erected on them, they will eventually collapse.

What is the difference between teaching in your days and now?

I always complain to those close to me that many of the teachers now are not dedicated to their duties. Many of them are not prepared to teach. They only love money. I think what is responsible are the crash programmes run under the guise of satellite campuses. It is all about money and no serious academic work.

Did your mother influence your interest in teaching?

It was not that she influenced my career choice. I love teaching. I like being with children. Before I went to teachers’ college, I was also around children in church and took interest in their activities. My mum was more of a businesswoman. She did not teach in many schools. But I can also say I got encouragement from her because each time I came home on vacation from school, I noticed that she was very hardworking. She used to sell pap and we usually went to Ebute-Ero to assist her to carry corn which she would use to prepare pap. She was also a very neat woman. I also remember that my father used to tell me whenever I came home that I must try my best and perform well.

What kind of training did your parents give their children?

My parents were disciplinarians. They did not compromise home training. My mother, in particular, ensured that we imbibed good habits and proved to be good children anywhere we go. She also emphasised cleanliness and diligence.

How did you meet your husband?

We met when I was still in the school. He was then attending Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State. My school and his, used to engage in music exchange. Adekunte Adejunmobi was a member of his school’s choir and they came to perform in my school the day we met. We were in our own chapel and I never knew that he took notice of me. It was after the performance that his elder brother, who was a teacher in my school, invited me to his office to help him close his office windows. Without knowing that there was a plan, I entered his office and as I was about to close the windows as instructed, I saw him seated on a chair in the office looking at me.

What did he say to you?

He told me that he loved me. Since I was still in school, I did not show any interest in what he said. In fact, I was then not ready for any relationship. I decided not to say anything because of my teacher’s presence. Immediately I got to where my friends were, I narrated the story to them in details by making mockery of the entire situation. He was however persistent in sending messages to me through his brother until he left the school. He was later trained as a druggist and chemist.

And because he worked for the government, he was always transferred from one place to another. His brother became very close to me to the extent that people thought he was the one courting me. But between us, we knew the person I was actually dating.  We got married in 1951 and many people were surprised that it was not the brother I married.

Why did you later accept his proposal?

I was out of school then and of course, I had become mature. Besides, there were some other suitors. I don’t know if I accepted to be his wife because he was the son of a church cleric or because of the kind of schools he had attended.

How was your marriage?

It was a blissful union because he was a very loving husband. He cared so much for his children until his death. My husband was transferred to different countries before his retirement. When he retired, he worked for some pharmaceutical companies with his certificate before his death. Our union was blessed with three children: two boys and a girl. The eldest son resides in Lagos, the second son is based in the United States and the last of them is also a teacher who is taking care of the school I established.

How did he die?

He was down with stroke and it later resulted in his death. My husband was a very intelligent man.

What do you miss about him?   

I miss his caring nature and gentleness.  I cannot remember any day we had an argument over any issue. If there was an inkling of disagreement, my husband would wear his clothes and walk out of the house. He never gave room for any argument.

Were you also strict in training your children?

He was a gentle father. I emphasised cleanliness and orderliness in the house.  I never allowed the children to dress irresponsibly because we were never allowed to dress shabbily or irresponsibly during my time. We were smartly dressed in a modest manner.

Since your retirement, what have you been doing?

Immediately after retirement, I established a children school and it is what I have been running for the past 31 years.

How do you relax?

My form of relaxation is by attending church activities. I derive joy in doing that. Also, occasionally, I attend social functions such as weddings and funerals. For weddings, the host must be close to me. I do not like wearing aso ebi at all.

Do you have any special meal?

I like amala and gbegiri because of where I am from. But I do not like pounded yam. Rather than eat it, I prefer to eat yam.

Are you still in contact with your former colleagues?

I do not see them but I belong to a union of old people. We try to engage in humanitarian services and help one another.

What is your advice to the government concerning education?

I want the government to ensure the return of teacher training colleges where teachers will receive quality training to improve education. That was the way it was in the past. Teachers should also read broadly in order to add value to education.

A former employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Effiong Amasi, who is now a community leader in Urue Offong/Orugo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, attributes his longevity to a healthy diet in this interview with ETIM EKPIMAH

How was it like going to school in your days?

People were born with natural intelligence in those days. They only needed little monitoring to excel in academics. Science existed in our daily life then, so, we only needed little guidance to succeed in that field. My parents wanted the best for me so they took me to school as soon as I came of age and I became an engineer later.

What motivated your decision to become an engineer?

I did not plan to become an engineer when I went to school, circumstances led me to the profession. My school principal played a great role in my success as an engineer

I left Methodist Boys High School, Oron, as a brilliant pupil. I was in standard four when I gained admission into secondary school. I lost my father when I was in form four. But the principal of my school, who was a white man, encouraged me to write the London Matriculation Examination immediately after my father’s death because he believed in my academic ability.

I did well in the examination and I was informed by the principal that I had been admitted to read marine engineering in Liverpool, England. He showed so much interest in my academic career; he was like a hero to me. Five other pupils were also admitted for the same course but at the end, I was the best.

When I finished from the college, I secured a job in the institution, which opened the door to other opportunities for me. I saw things from a different perspective and decided to study aeronautical engineering also. When I returned to Nigeria, I worked briefly in a company, where I was in charge of engines and instrumentation. But I had the urge to return to England for more education.

I later enrolled at the Leicester College of Advanced Technology, England. When I came back to Nigeria, I got a job at the Nigeria Tobacco Company in Ibadan.

But something happened at the Marine Department in Apapa Wharf, Lagos. A lecturer that I met at the Yaba Higher Technical College, the highest institution then in Nigeria, and an expatriate at the institution, traced me to NTC in Ibadan. They told me that they had a problem in Lagos and that I should help them solve the problem. I was one of the best in gas turbine and boiler in Nigeria then and my knowledge from two respected institutions in England put me ahead of many of my counterparts. My service was in great demand in Nigeria. I agreed to go to Lagos with them to fix the problem and they were happy I did.

I also worked in Port Harcourt, Zaria, most of the northern region, and later Ghana.

How was your stay in England?

I had a pleasant stay in England. I went there as an unmarried young man and the parents of a white lady wanted me to marry their daughter. I refused by telling them that I came to England to study. My education came first and I did not want anything that would distract me. I was certain that I could marry any woman of my choice when I finished my study. But we remained friends.

I was sent abroad by white men who wanted a bright future for me. They trained me and I did not want to disappoint them. That was why they had confidence in me.

Where did you meet your wife and how about your family?

I met my wife, Arik, in Nigeria. I have many children. My first child is Okon who has a doctorate degree. He works with a bank in Abuja.

My last daughter, Arit, is married to a white man in the United Kingdom. She also has a doctorate degree. She is the Dean, Faculty of Human Resources and Management, University of Glasgow, England.

I also have a second wife called Eno. But she left me for Prof. Edet Esang, the former Minister for Works and Housing. Few years after they got married, the husband died.

I have another wife called Nkoyo, she has three children for me, Daniel, Emmanuel and Joseph Amasi. When we got married, I was getting old so the parents thought that I might not be able to father a child again. But I proved them wrong with the three kids.

What was the fashion in vogue then?

Tradition demanded that young girls be kept in fattening rooms, where they would be prepared for womanhood.

Girls were also sent to fattening rooms in preparation for marriage. In the room, they would be taught how to live as women and beautify their bodies. That was why women of those days made better wives.

People don’t have time to keep girls in the fattening rooms now to make them more beautiful. People are too busy nowadays so we have thrown away the tradition.

The types of clothes worn then are no longer in vogue today. Today, our girls go naked on the streets. They now dress to show parts of the body that should be kept away from every eye.

How would you describe your active days as an engineer?

I had a rare skill as an engineer and I still possess the skill. When I was still in service, I worked in four engineering departments; marine, aeronautics, automotive, and allied mechanics. It boosted my value as an engineer and this was because I developed myself over a long time. I had an eventful career because of the broad knowledge I acquired in England.

For how long did you practice?

If you are talking of the companies where I worked, then the list is unending. But the last company to secure my services was Shell Petroleum Development Company in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as a mechanical specialist. I retired from the company 16 years ago.

Were you ever offered a top job by the Nigerian government?

I did not have to look for government job or appointment because I was too busy. I was a field man and I enjoyed the freedom to work. Moreover, I was employed by the best companies in Nigeria and was working with the best machines around at the time. I had many companies waiting for me to take up their job offers, so a government job was not attractive to me. I was comfortable with what I was doing.

Did you aspire to establish an engineering company?

The financial demand of starting an engineering company was huge and I could not shoulder it. I actually established Asimaco Technical Company, but I had to abandon the project for full employment because the system in the country then was not favourable for private company owners to flourish.

We had no oil at the time. There was nothing available to give you the needed revenue to sustain such company. What I did was to accept the offers to resuscitate some companies that were experiencing hard times. One of such companies was Veno and Plywood Company in Calabar.

At 80, you still look sharp and agile. What is responsible for this?

We ate fresh and natural food when we were young and I controlled my diet, up till today. Vegetables and fruits are some of the best diets that can make a man live long. Unfortunately today, people do not observe good diet. They eat without caution.

Our people no longer want to prepare food like draw soup and plantain leaf with cassava flour which is rich in nutrients that are needed by the body. In the past, draw soup was prepared with crayfish, prawns, periwinkles, fish, oysters, snails, fish, brown beans and vegetables. It was a wonderful meal for us. It gave us power and enriched the body.

In the wildlife, apes, which still eat this natural food, have the power to fight even lions. There were warriors in those days, who could take on lions. This was because of the natural food they ate.

But today, people are living on the fast lane. They eat fast food prepared with ingredients that could harm the body system. Life was slow in the past, but meaningful and peaceful. I could climb an orange tree, stay there and take as many oranges as I wanted before coming down. Where are the orange trees today? It’s been replaced with juice flavour which gives the wrong impression that what we drink is actual orange.

But isn’t the quality of life today  an improvement on the past?

You may call the people of those days primitive, but their body system was fantastic. The clay pot and the calabash they were using to cook and drink water were cleaner than the plates and glass cups people are using today. They had no chemical substances in them.

What was your favourite sport?

There are sports activities today which are good exercises for the body but in those days, we trekked long distances to school, farms and back to our homes. We played our own form of football and tennis, using orange as the ball.

People who lived in the past had no good roads so walking kept them healthy. They had their own sport too. It kept them in good shape. People prefer to drive around in their cars today than walk. How then will people live long again?

People who live in hard condition have natural immunity. They are hardly afflicted with diseases. Men who married many wives in those days had the natural power to live with them because they consumed natural diet. They also lived long. The children of those days depended on their mothers’ breast milk which guaranteed outstanding intelligence. But today, we give the children dairy milk and you can see the kind of persons they grow up to become.

An 80-year-old Japanese mountaineer, Yuichiro Miura, who climbed Mount Everest five years ago, but just missed becoming the oldest man to reach the summit, has finally claimed the title.

Miura reached the summit days before his rival, 81-year-old Nepalese man Min Bahadur Sherchan, is due to set off on the same climb.

Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of Miura’s daughter Emili talking with them via speaker phone in Tokyo, clapping when her brother told her they had reached the top.

“I made it!” he said over the phone. “I never imagined I could make it to the top of Mt. Everest at age 80. This is the world’s best feeling, although I’m totally exhausted. Even at 80, I can still do quite well.”

The climbers planned to stick around the summit for about half an hour, take photos and then start to descend, Miura’s Tokyo office said.

Nepalese mountaineering official Gyanendra Shrestha, at Everest base camp, confirmed that Miura had reached the summit, making him the oldest person to do so.

On his expedition’s website, Miura explained his attempt to scale Everest at such an advanced age: “It is to challenge (my) own ultimate limit. It is to honour the great Mother Nature.”

He said a successful climb would raise the bar for what is possible.

“And if the limit of age 80 is at the summit of Mt. Everest, the highest place on earth, one can never be happier,” he said.

However, if Sherchan is able to follow him, it is possible that he will only hold the coveted title for a few days. Miura’s daughter, Emili, said he “doesn’t really care” about the rivalry. “He’s doing it for his own challenge.”

The situation was not too different five years ago, when, at the age of 75, Miura sought to recapture the title of oldest man to summit the mountain. He had set the record in 2003 at age 70, but it was later broken twice by slightly older Japanese climbers.

He reached the summit on May 26, 2008, at the age of 75 years and 227 days, according to Guinness World Records. But the record eluded him because Sherchan scaled the summit the day before, at the age of 76 years and 340 days.

Sherchan, a former Gurkha soldier in the British army, first began mountaineering in 1960 when he climbed Mount Dhaulagiri, the 26,790-foot high peak in Nepal, according to his grandson, Manoj Guachan. Always an adventurer, and unbowed by age, he walked the length of Nepal in 2003.

 www.telegraph.co.uk

In this interview with OLUFEMI ATOYEBI and ARUKAINO UMUKORO, business magnate, Bode Akindele, who turns 80 today, speaks on how he built a successful business empire

Tell us about your youthful days.

The Nigeria of today is quite different from the one I grew up in. Life was peaceful in those days with no barrier between northern and southern Nigeria. We all regarded ourselves as Nigerians.

My father, Pa Joshua Laniyan Akindele, was a chief tax clerk for the whole of the Western Region. His position was equivalent to that of the chairman, Inland Revenue, today

My mother was Rabiatu Adedigba. She was a businesswoman, and I think she was the first woman to go to Mecca in Ibadan in those days. At that time, there were no aircraft, they took train from Ibadan to Kano and from there, the journey would continue at the back of camels and donkeys. Sometimes they continued on foot. It could take up to three years to make a round trip.

How would you describe the influence of your parents in your life?

I have to thank God for the kind of parents that I had. They were disciplinarians. Even though my mother was not educated, she had a firm grip when it came to discipline. If they said something, you could not question, change or protest against it. My first daughter can best describe my mother, because they went out a lot together. For instance, if you are offered anything, you must not take it without her permission.

My mother never left me alone. Even though she was far away, she was constantly supporting me with money. She was a successful businesswoman so she could afford what I needed. When she was to choose a deputy, she chose a Hausa woman. The grandson of the woman is still working with me. So I was close to my mother even though she was far away.

How were your school days like?

My school days were also different from what we have today. I started by helping my brother carry his school bag to Baptist School, Idikan, Ibadan. We lived in Mapo and we had to trek the distance. When I eventually enrolled in school, I was already part of the system.

What were the differences between the admission process of your days and now?

In those days, there were strict education rules. Your test scores determined where you should start from. You could start from the basic beginning or preliminary, where you spent more than six years. You would have to put your hands over your head to touch your other ear before you were admitted. This was what prevented me from going to Grammar School and Boys High School, Ibadan. I passed the written tests, but when they asked me to place my hand, it could not reach my ear. So I had to settle for Lisabi Commercial College.

I did not know that God was preparing me for something great in life. All my friends were in Grammar School or Boys High School but I had a different kind of education, which was strictly commercial.

Can you still remember some of your friends?

Some of them are alive, others are dead. One of them is Justice Adekola, who later became the Chief Justice of Nigeria, founder of the PUNCH Newspaper, the late Olu Aboderin was my friend, and quite a few others.

How did going to a commercial school make a significant impact on your life?

In those days, most parents wanted their children to become lawyers and doctors, so commercial education was not so popular. The subjects were different; it included business and commercial training. Top accountants and business people went to commercial school. That was where I received the training that would later help me build a successful business.

Today, what we have are technical colleges and polytechnics. That was where they transferred the commercial subjects to. There are some universities today which offer commercial education. But it is essential for a country to have it. It helps economic growth which lawyers and doctors may not understand clearly.

In your biography, ‘I Did it God’s Way,’ you gave so much credit to your mother for encouraging you to become a businessman. Can you shed more light on this?

In those days, the economy was not as big as it is today and parents had great influence on the career of their children. They had a way of manipulating them to do what they wanted. My friends and I thought about going to the UK to study law. But getting a passport required a long process then. I was given money to obtain a passport like my other friends who were already preparing to go.

Before then, I had already started a small business in primary school. For instance, there was a powder we used to mix with sugar, which I was selling then. Later on when I was in the college in Abeokuta, I started going to other schools to sell to them and I was making profit.

I realised that becoming a civil servant which my father would have liked, was not what I wanted to do. My business in college had developed into something good. My mother had a factory in the North where they prepared dried meat for the market in the South. One day, I told her to appoint me as one of her agents. She was sceptical at first but I convinced her and she started sending the product to me. I sold the first consignment and quickly sent the money to her. When I considered my profit, I knew that I could do better in other businesses.

Instead of getting a passport, I used the money to place an order for a sewing machine and sold at good profit. When I was placing the order, I used my commercial class skill by placing an order for a sample of the machine. So the company told me that I should pay just half of the cost while they would bear the rest. I paid £9 and sold at £21. The war had just ended and the Japanese were beginning to copy original products from Europe. But good product sold at high price.

How did you arrive at the name Modandola Group?

That was one of the names of my mother. If you’re familiar with the business terrain, there is a similar name in Italy called the Modandori Group. But Modandola is Yoruba. The story was that my mother’s parents had been praying for a female child before she was born. And when she came, they said this one would become something in life and gave her the name Modandola, which means, ‘God, if you give me the wealth, give me a child that can take care of it’.

You wrote in your biography that you declined a better job offer to take up one that paid less. Why did you do so?

My father was very powerful in the Western region in those days. He was in charge of all the taxes collected by community’ leaders, from where he paid them commission. So, they respected him.

He wanted me to become a civil servant like him, particularly when I came out of commercial college. Then, I was writing about 90 words a minute in shorthand and typing about 120 words per minute on the typewriter. So when I came to the Resident’s Office in Ibadan, they said they were looking for an assistant secretary. And my father was not one to throw his weight around. He would not give you any letter because he wanted you to earn whatever you desired to get.

About 40 applicants wrote the test and I was the best. I was offered £13. I also did the test for a job at the Western Nigerian Union of Importers and Exporters. You would not get a license to import or get foreign exchange if your company didn’t belong to the association. I was also offered a job there at £6 salary. I accepted it because it pointed to my future. Civil service did not appeal to me.

They took me to the building they wanted to use as headquarters, which had been renovated and they had ordered a lot of business magazines from abroad. They were supported by the London Chamber of Commerce, and many international bodies. I realised that I would be in charge and would learn a lot from reading all these papers.

But the problem was telling my father about my decision. He sent for my mother and told her that I had done something no one must do in our family by rejecting a better offer. My mother cried, but I explained the reason for my decision and got a friend of my father to explain to him.

At what stage did you become an independent businessman?

I was around 20 years when I registered my first company. I sold everything, including medicine, which I got from a pharmacy in Lagos. I also sourced for goods from anywhere in the world. After resigning from where I worked, I didn’t want to work for anybody again.

I built my first house (in Ibadan) at the age of 26 and it took me three months to complete it in 1959. When you are focused and honest, you will be successful in life.

Did you raise your children the way your parents trained you?

Some of my influential friends have criticised my strict way of training my children because they think children of nowadays should have freedom. It is not allowed in my house. When they say children of nowadays must have freedom, I say no to them. This is where we disagree as friends. I have derived a lot of benefit from the way I was brought up by my parents and I would not do less for my children.

Since you became successful early in your life, how did you keep your friends who were not so fortunate?

I have a special grace from God. I have interactions with foreigners because after I did some training in 1962, the whole Western region was too small for me to operate. So I moved my headquarters to Lagos in order to go national. I established 16 branches in the North, buying pepper, ginger, shear nut and other things. I shipped them abroad to sell and make profit.

So I had interactions with very prominent families and good companies. When you expand your business to the extent I reached many years ago, smaller business proposals will not appeal to you. These are the businesses I introduced my friends to and they make money through them. I have never demanded returns from them.

ARAMED Medical Centre is a huge structure in Ibadan. What led to its establishment?

My mother was a successful businesswoman and a philanthropist. She helped many people. ARAMED stands for Alhaja Rabiatu Adedigba Medical Centre. That is the healing ministry of Bode Akindele Foundation. It was founded to continue from where my mother stopped. We thought about what we could do to honour her legacy after she passed away. Patients are poor people who cannot afford treatment. They are treated free at the hospital.

There was a professor, Oyewale Tomori, at the University of Ibadan who used to be the head of virology department. He wrote a letter to me that we should help save 300 children or they were going to die. I invited him and he explained that foreign donors and sponsors have stopped giving free vaccines to Nigeria because it was considered that we are a rich nation. By buying the vaccines, he said more than 300,000 children would be saved in Nigeria.

It cost $16,000 but he refused to take the money, He said we should help pay to the company abroad and bring the vaccines to Nigeria. I did so and I was surprised that the ceremony that greeted the coming of the drugs was more than the money I spent. It meant that with more money, we could save millions of life. I was thinking of a dispensary but ARAMED idea came and it was fantastic. The Bode Akindele Foundation also purchased vaccines for Nigeria for many years.

What keeps you going?

I want to leave the world better than I met it. In our own days, there were no short cuts, you had to work hard. The business I do here, I would not say is small compared to what I do abroad. I was one of the leading men who acquired a company in Europe. When you’re a black man presiding over companies abroad, you would be inspired. But then, you wonder if our rulers don’t go abroad and see the development taking place there, and when they do, they implement it in the wrong way.

Why are you not taking part in Nigerian politics?

I am too busy to be involved in politics. I travel around the world and politics would have taken that from me. I was actually involved at a time when I supported a friend to become a governor in the North. But that was as far as I could go.

When are you going to retire?

I am retired. If I wasn’t, I won’t be sitting down with you now. You retire by slowing down. I have reduced my business interests but I cannot hands off completely.

How close are you to your other siblings?

I am the 16th child of my father and I have other siblings after me. When we cooked food in our house, you would think there was a party going on. We were very close because we were from the same father. Like I said, before I enrolled in school, I was already going to school with my other siblings. It prepared me for the life ahead.

I am from a family which, by all standards at that time, you could call us a top family in the society. But we tried as much as possible to help others.

At the end of the Second World War, commodities were hard to come by. Sugar and salt were being rationed, but we had sugar in our house. So whenever we went out, we would take a few cubes and exchange it with some quantity of salt from our neighbours.

One of my brothers had a problem in Ghana and he returned home to Nigeria. As God would have it, my business had grown and every place in our house in Mapo was filled with foreign goods that I was importing then. My aunt came to me and said we should help him out. I couldn’t refuse my big sister who literally spent everything she had on the family. I had to help because of the family bond. So the family is one despite the fact that my father married more than one wife.

You still look young at 80. How do you exercise?

I don’t do physical exercise. My body is trained to be active from what I have been doing over 60 years. By exercising my mind with ideas and taking part in business activities, my body will remain active and fit.

What would you like to be remembered for?

I would like to be remembered as somebody who came to life and left it better than he met it.

Foremost cultural musician in Akwa Ibom State, Uko Akpan Umana, still leads his Uko Akpan Cultural Group at 80. He tells ETIM EKPIMAH the reasons why he refused to move to the city despite his fame

 Where are you from and what is your level of education?

My village is Afaha Obong, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

I have never attended any school in my life. When I was a young boy, the emphasis was on farming. The primary school we had then was in Ikot Ekpene, but many parents could not afford to send their children there because of the distance. The roads were mere tracks so many children at the time did not have the opportunity to receive education except those who grew up in the city where schools were established.

Are you sad that you did not attend a school?

I am happy with what God has given me in life. Though I did not go to school, I advise every young person in this country and beyond not to play down the importance of schooling. Education is the best thing that any parent can bequeath their sons and daughters.

I however implore the youths not to see office jobs as criteria for schooling. I appeal to every educated person to learn an art or a trade in addition to education. It gives wide option and empowers the society.

Without education, how have you been able to remain relevant in an age where education is key? 

I have lived for a long time and I am consistent in what I do. I sing, dance and teach the young ones the skills I have learnt over time. Education is good but knowledge is more important. My knowledge has offered me the opportunity to be educated over the time. I move with the world and develop as the world changes.

My songs are drawn from pure inspiration which has nothing to do with education. They came to me naturally; sometimes it is when I have finished singing them that I realise the quality. They don’t have to be written in any book, my memory can accommodate my work even at 80.

How about your family?

I had three wives but I lost one of them. The others are still living with me. I have daughters and four sons but one of them is dead.

Two of my sons are graduates of the University of Uyo while the other one is physically challenged. My daughters are all married with children.

Can you compare your musical lyrics with today’s music?

The difference is that I don’t sing to make money. My music is a gift from God and it was given in order to serve Him and men. The lyrics of today’s musicians are not good enough. Most of them are insult to our women because they encourage prostitution in the society. It is dangerous for the future generation. We sing to build the society not to disintegrate it or insult other members of the society.

What is the message of your music?

It depends on the time and what is happening. During the Civil War in Nigeria, many musicians sang to encourage the killing but I sang to end the war. Peace captures the essence of life and there is no tension that war eases. It fuels killing and maiming. War is never an answer to any disagreement.

Every musician has his style, ideas and philosophy. We treat situations differently and because my aim is not to make money with my music, I sing about love, peace and stability. I sing about unity in every family not how to divide them. My music preaches how to live as one and in peace. Breaking the country is not the theme of my music.

At 80, you are not showing any sign of slowing down. What is the secret of your strength?

It is true that I am still strong at my age. Apart from the activities I do on stage and in music class, I have a farmland where I still work and a palm oil processing mill.

The secret of longevity is with God. He endows man with long life. I don’t allow anger to overcome me. You may be angry when you feel somebody has deliberately wronged you. To live long, you must forget all worries quickly. It’s good to call whoever offends you and settle the matter with the person instead of keeping malice. But if he does not care or ready to accept his guilt, why bother yourself? You can ignore him and go on with your life.

Most deaths and murder cases in the society are the results of sustained anger. Wickedness, hate, anger and aggression grow when man cannot forgive and forget. These are some of the factors that hinder life. I learnt to control my emotions many decades ago. Before I take any decision, I will question myself: Is it the best for me and the man next to me? What will be the consequence of my action? If I cannot satisfy myself with positive results, then I check myself.

Is there any way diet can lengthen man’s life?

Yes, that is one reason many of us will not relocate to towns or cities. We prefer to live in a natural environment where fresh fruits and vegetable are readily available. Here we eat just fresh food: you can’t compare the banana here with those fertilised ones in the city. Most of our food are grown locally; you just have to eat rightly. Besides, I do not eat when it is late. As man grows older, he should consume more fruits, vegetables and fish. Red meat should be the least diet for the elderly.

How do you relate with your female dancers?

The only relationship existing between us is this job that has brought us together. I have wives and children who are even older than most of my dancers. I have to respect them.

When it is time to practise or to perform at a show, I will call them and after the show, I share the money we realise and come to my house.

I have a strict policy of making sure that I do not expose my wives and children to my band. Family and the band are two different entities. My wives are treated as wives and my female dancers are treated as members of my business group. None of my children takes part in the group activity because they chose their own path. The lesson in this is that young musicians of today should separate business relationship from intimacy when dealing with female members of their band.

I do not owe any member of my band a dime. They have their own lives to live just as I am living my own. They have their own families to cater for, they have to pay their children’s school fees, take care of their parents and build their future. So, if you want to succeed, you must not owe your workers the money they have worked for. I regard my female dancers in the same way I consider my male dancers and drummers. To me, they are all the same.

Why have you not explored the advantage in the city?

Where else will suit my way of life? I live in a wonderful world that suits my body and philosophy. I don’t have to run around again.  The problem is that most people all over the world like to live false lives. If you do not have something to do in the city or town, why move there in the first place? Most people who move to the city without a plan end up committing crimes. There are many things one can do to survive in the village.

Now Nigeria is not self-sufficient in food production. Why go to towns and cities? White-collar jobs are not for everybody. Education is good but it will not give everyone well-paid jobs. It is only meant to train man’s brain and mind to bring about things that will add to the society’s glory and advance human course.

We need to reconsider our priorities in this country. All the civil unrests across the country may not be unconnected with people’s orientation. Movement of the people from the villages to the towns and cities will only add to the already congested population in those areas.

When was your happiest day in life?

My happiest day is when I celebrate my birthday in June of every year with all my grandchildren and my band coming together. I have many grandchildren but I know all of them.

How many people have you trained so far?

I have trained a lot of people since 1947 when I started active singing. My apprentices are all over Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

What do you think accounts for the increase in the number of HIV victims in Akwa Ibom State?

I will blame greed for the increase. There is no amount of condom that can prevent the spread of HIV. The condom can tear during intercourse. Besides, some people who are infected can deliberately tear the tip of the condom in order to spread the infection. The only solution is abstinence; each person sticking to his own partner.

Have you ever performed in state house functions?

I have been performing at government functions before the creation of Akwa Ibom from the old Cross River State. I sang about Calabar-Itu Road when it was constructed and inaugurated by the former President Sheu Shagari. The road ended the risk and rigour of getting to either side of the river separating the two states. The road has now collapsed. I also sang during the FESTAC ‘77 and many other state functions in Abuja, Lagos and many other states. The present governor of Akwa Ibom State,  Godswill Akpabio, invites my band to every occasion in the state.

When strangers mistake him for a man 30 years younger, Ron Williamson doesn’t turn a hair.

He explains that he is in fact 80 – but his luxuriant dark-brown mane refuses to show any sign of age.

The secret of his follicular success, he claims, is two fold – good genes and a healthy blob of his favourite hair cream.

‘I have used Brylcreem all my life,’ said Mr Williamson, a former social worker, at his home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

‘I even used my dad’s when I was tiny. I have kept the same hairstyle more or less through the years.

‘There were a couple of times I tried to change it. In the days of mods and rockers I attempted to slick it back, but within hours it popped up again.

‘Most people assume I am younger than I am because my hair is still dark. They say I am in my 50s or 60s, but I think they are just being kind.

‘My beard is greying now, but that only started three or four years ago.’

Images of Mr. Williamson throughout his life show him with the same full head of dark hair.

Mr.Williamson, a father of four and grandfather of nine, said: ‘I honestly don’t know what the secret is, but I think it’s good genes.

‘My father and grandfather both had a full head of hair in their late years. Four years ago I had treatment for prostate cancer which included chemotherapy. I lost all my body hair but not the hair on my head, which was strange.’

Mr. Williamson, who has been married to Maureen for 34 years. He is a keen walker and last year fulfilled an ambition by travelling south to complete the entire Thames Path, covering almost 200 miles over 16 days without aid or back-up.

It is estimated that four in five men in their 80s suffer from some degree of baldness.

Keith Hobbs, clinical director of the Battersea Scalp and Hair Clinic, said: ‘He is certainly doing pretty well to have a full head of hair and not be looking grey. It’s pretty rare for someone his age, but it seems like both his parents gave him very good genes.

‘As for keeping his head hair during chemotherapy, the amount of loss depends on the drug used, the dose, and the person’s individual reaction to it.

‘Sometimes the hair loss is so slight as to be hardly noticeable.

Source: dailymail

When strangers mistake him for a man 30 years younger, Ron Williamson doesn’t turn a hair.

He explains that he is in fact 80 – but his luxuriant dark-brown mane refuses to show any sign of age.

The secret of his follicular success, he claims, is two fold – good genes and a healthy blob of his favourite hair cream.

‘I have used Brylcreem all my life,’ said Mr Williamson, a former social worker, at his home in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

‘I even used my dad’s when I was tiny. I have kept the same hairstyle more or less through the years.

‘There were a couple of times I tried to change it. In the days of mods and rockers I attempted to slick it back, but within hours it popped up again.

‘Most people assume I am younger than I am because my hair is still dark. They say I am in my 50s or 60s, but I think they are just being kind.

‘My beard is greying now, but that only started three or four years ago.’

Images of Mr. Williamson throughout his life show him with the same full head of dark hair.

Mr.Williamson, a father of four and grandfather of nine, said: ‘I honestly don’t know what the secret is, but I think it’s good genes.

‘My father and grandfather both had a full head of hair in their late years. Four years ago I had treatment for prostate cancer which included chemotherapy. I lost all my body hair but not the hair on my head, which was strange.’

Mr. Williamson, who has been married to Maureen for 34 years. He is a keen walker and last year fulfilled an ambition by travelling south to complete the entire Thames Path, covering almost 200 miles over 16 days without aid or back-up.

It is estimated that four in five men in their 80s suffer from some degree of baldness.

Keith Hobbs, clinical director of the Battersea Scalp and Hair Clinic, said: ‘He is certainly doing pretty well to have a full head of hair and not be looking grey. It’s pretty rare for someone his age, but it seems like both his parents gave him very good genes.

‘As for keeping his head hair during chemotherapy, the amount of loss depends on the drug used, the dose, and the person’s individual reaction to it.

‘Sometimes the hair loss is so slight as to be hardly noticeable.

Source: dailymail

Contrary to popular belief, video gaming is a growing hobby enjoyed by every demographic in our society; men and women, young and old. To illustrate this point, the BBC has done a wonderful video interview with Hilda Knott, an 85-year-old gamer.

During the interview, Knott explains why she still loves to play video games: “Finding something new in the game. Getting on to the next stage or the next event, and then having the achievement of finishing it; because a lot of them, as well as adventures and fighting, are puzzles, working out how to do something and when to do it.”

Knott agrees that playing video games helps to keep her mind active, and talks about playing Grand Theft Auto IV with her auntie, who is now 94. “We had a hilarious time,” she said.

The 85-year-old gamer uses a PlayStation 3 (with a PlayStation Plus subscription too) hooked up to a 65-inch television, and can be seen playing the incredibly tricky tactical role-playing game Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten during the video report.

It follows a similar story, published just last week, about a 68-year-old gentleman who has six – yes six – characters on World of War-craft maxed out at level 90. In addition, he reportedly has four other characters above level 80. That’s hundreds of hours of game play time, and a whole lot of respect from the staff here at TNW.

That doesn’t quite beat Kathleen “Kit” Connell though, who after turning one hundred, still plays the Nintendo DS for games such as Scrabble, Family Fortunes and Art Academy.

“It’s absolutely super, I can’t speak highly enough of it. I don’t know what I would do without it,” said Kit in an interview with the Telegraph newspaper. “I’ll play it in the evening, then I’ll have a break and a cup of tea, then I’ll go back to playing my Nintendo.”

Keep playing, gamers young and old. We salute you.

Source: www.thenextweb.com

Eighty five-year-old Taiwo Olaide Johnson narrates how she lived with her husband for 36 years without a disagreement in this interview with Tope Omogbolagun

Where did your parents come from and which school did you attend?

My father was a prominent man from the Olowu family in Idumagbo area of Lagos while my mother came from the Kosoko family of Lagos, so I am a true Lagosian. I was born on September 18, 1928 in Lagos at a time when life was slow and peaceful. There were few schools at the time when I was born and being the daughter of parents who loved education, I was enrolled at the Methodist Primary School and later attended Methodist Secondary School.

When last did you visit the schools?

I don’t even know if the schools still exist. It was a long time ago and many schools have since merged and now exist under new names. What I know is that at the time when I was young, the missionaries were establishing schools in Lagos.

Do you miss your youth?

This is natural but I feel very strong and agile. I still remember events of the past, important dates and my date of birth. My mind is still sound which makes me remember names also. The only problem I have is that my legs are weak but I have a physiotherapist that threats me.

How was the relationship between girls and boys in those days?

We had respect for each other. We met at social events but peer groups were sometimes determined by sex, but not at all times. In school, we discussed and played together. But generally, we maintained the normal gap that existed between opposite sex at the time. Civilisation has bridged that gap now, although it came with its benefits, children of nowadays take undue advantage of the situation.

How did you meet your husband?

I met him when I was living with an aunt called Lady Ademola, who is now late. He visited our house regularly and that was how we became friends before he proposed to marry me.

How did friendship turn to love and later marriage?

It was simple because of the situation we found ourselves. I was a hard working and modest young woman who lived with an aunt I respected so much. The Yoruba tradition and culture were rich in the way a girl transforms to a young woman and it’s just unfortunate that the values are being overlooked now. In those days, these features must be visible, especially when relating with the opposite sex. I am sure that my husband must have noticed these traits in me because he came to our house often. So it was not hard for him to decide to marry me.

Did you immediately accept his proposal?

He was a very hardworking young man like me, who never got intimidated by what other people had. He was always contented with whatever he had and he was also caring. He never walked away from his responsibilities and in those days, he talked a lot about the future. I realised that he was a kind-hearted man who would love his family. We got married on September 14, 1956. It is normal for a couple to disagree on issues, but people still do not believe that I never quarrelled with my husband until he died.

How did you achieve this in your marriage?

I think the reason for this was that we were made for each other. Our thoughts were always one. It’s easy when the two parties understand one another. I did not compete with him over the leadership of the family. I was very submissive and supportive of my husband.

How many children are you blessed with?   

We have five male children. They are Olumide, Oluyele, Oluyemi, Dayo and Olufemi. They are all married with children.

Do you have any regrets for not having a female child?

We have no regret at all. My boys are the best any parent would wish to have as children. They are men now living with their families. Girls are known to be emotional towards taking care of their parents. The belief is that they do it better. But my children have risen to the occasion. They do more than most women would do because I trained them to be kind and generous.

Although I have no female children, my sons’ wives and their daughters are my children too. I now have five daughters-in-law, so why should I complain that I have no daughters? God has blessed me with what I wanted from Him.

How were you able to cope with training five boys?

When you have five boys to train, you must be ready for a hard time.  But I was not alone in it. God stood by me and my husband never left me alone. He was always there to instill discipline. He played the father’s role and I played the mother’s role in the family. Because of the unity that prevailed in our home when we were training these boys, it was not as hard as people thought it was. They listened to us and were excellent in their studies. The most important thing is to ensure that your children have the fear of God. My children were brought up that way.

We encouraged love in the family by eating together from the same plate. When my work was in the way of giving proper training to the boys, I quit my job to concentrate on the family. I became a full-time housewife when they were growing up and returned to work when they became grown-ups. It was a sacrifice that worked and I thank my husband for supporting me.

Where did you work?

I worked as a receptionist in a family planning organisation owned by my father-in-law in Lagos. That was where I got the knowledge of midwifery. Because he did not have a daughter, my father-in-law treated me as his daughter. When I returned to work, I was employed as a midwife.

What was your husband’s occupation?

My husband was a senior staff at the National Electric Power Authority, now Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

He died in an armed robbery attack in 1992. On the day he died, we were at home after dinner when some gunmen came in and attacked us. My children were at the back of the house and they did not know anything was happening.

They hit my husband’s head with the butt of the gun and left him in pain. We took him to the hospital for treatment but he died. My first child was already working at the time so the organisation he worked for took care of the bill.

How have you been coping without your husband?

His death brought sadness and sorrow to me but the family and most especially my children have been supporting me in great ways.  I am blessed with great people around me. The vacuum created by my husband’s demise has been filled by my children. Some of them were still young when their father died, but I was able to train them through the help of my husband’s family. Above all, God stands by the family at all times.

One of your sons married a Ghanaian. What was your response when he introduced her to you?

I did not oppose his choice of a woman. I just prayed that God will be with them and bless their union. As a parent, it is my duty to support my sons whenever they take great step in life. My parents-in-law accepted me when their son introduced me to them as his wife. I knew how happy I was on that day. Why should I make a woman my son has chosen to be sad?

Their marriage is blessed with lovely children now, which was my prayer on their wedding day. I love her as my daughter. I have never influenced the choice of my sons’ wives. The only choice that I would oppose was if a white woman was presented by any of them. We are Africans and we should embrace inter-marriage between the tribes on the continent.

How have you coped with a daughter-in-law who does not understand your language?

Love stands in place of every gap that a situation brings. She is now a Nigerian and having stayed in Nigeria for some years, she now understands our culture and language.

Does she prepare Ghanaian food for you?

She prepares a lot of Ghanaian food in the house and I love eating them. She is a great woman who trains her children in God’s way.

What is your favourite food?

I really do not have any special food, just like my late husband. I just love to eat vegetables, with lots of melon, assorted fish, crabs and crayfish. In those days, there was a woman who sold them on our street, but I don’t know where she is now. It was not expensive at the time, but now, with N2,000, you cannot even cook enough food for a whole family. I miss those days.

Would you wish that each of your children have more children than you?

I have no control over the number of children they wish to have. I have five of them but it is left for them to decide how many children they want. You cannot compare the economy in our days with what we have today. Raising children is now expensive, especially the cost of education. They don’t have so many and I think the economic factor might have played a role in their decisions not to have many children.

What do you do to unwind?

I really do not have anything serious that is keeping me busy. But I listen to music every night before going to sleep.

You are a twin and your mother had another set of twins after you. Would you have wished to give birth to twins?

I don’t know. It is God that determines that. Maybe it runs in some families also. But I hope my grandchildren would give birth to twins.

Retired mechanical engineer, Joseph Osifoh, tells Olufemi Atoyebi how he kept his ambition alive despite many distractions

How will you describe the community where you were born 82 years ago?

I was born at Okuame in Onwa East Local Government Area of Edo State. It was a long time ago and the road networks that exist now were not present in those days. There were bicycles and very few vehicles. The road that linked the village to the town was constructed by the villagers, using cutlasses and hoes. The few social amenities that existed at the time were all done with communal effort.

Did the community have schools?

There was no school and market in the community. The Catholic missionary school was in the main town, which is about three kilometres from my village. The market was also located in the town. We trekked to the town each time we went to the market. A few people in our village and other villages around had bicycles so they took their farm produce to the market with the bicycle while others put them on their heads. It was a difficult way of life but because there was no alternative, we did not complain about it. But apart from the long trek and absence of the social amenities that are present today, life was beautiful at the time.

Were you walking the three kilometres to school every day?

We walked to school in groups at the time. All the pupils would leave the village for school at the same time and returned as a unit after school.

Did the stress of walking to school have effect on your performance in the school?

We were young and healthy so it had no effect on our academic life. It was just part of the training. We endured the long walk twice daily and in the end, we came off it better.

Did this also continue when you entered secondary school?

I did not have the opportunity to go to a secondary school. I stopped schooling after my primary education.

How would you describe primary school education at the time?

We were taught by white men who were employed from abroad by the Catholic Church. The quality of education we got was superior to what we have today. Even if you had only the primary education in those days, it was okay to start a decent life. It was very interesting going to school every day. Apart from the class work, we were also involved in manual work, which kept us busy. We would go into the forest to get firewood and we also went to the stream to get water for the school.

Can you still remember some of the child’s play you engaged at the time?

We had a play a game called joge. It involved both sexes. We would play drums and danced around the village while those who appreciated us gave us money and gifts.

How much did you make on the average?

The money was not important to us. We just liked to play and the dance. Some people gave us as little as a penny.

How many children did your parents have?

I was the last born of my parents. I met 11 children but they have all died now. I am the head of the family now. They all lived long.

When you left primary school, what did you do?

I stayed with my parents for a few years, helping them while I looked out for a job opportunity of my choice. But my parents died and I left the village and moved to Ibadan to live with a brother who worked at the catering department of the University of Ibadan in January, 1955. He was also a student in the institution. Sometimes, I would follow him to work and help him in my little way. It gave me the opportunity to mix with the workers and the students and soon, I was accepted as one of them.

On March 18, 1955 he helped me get a job where I earned a little income. My primary school certificate could not earn me a better job in Ibadan because there were many people with superior certificate so my brother advised me to learn a job skill. I had always wanted to be a mechanical engineer so I was employed as an apprentice at the maintenance department of UI. Twelve years later, the institution formally offered me a full employment because I was working hard.

Through training and seminars, I developed myself on the job and rose to the position of senior technical officer before I retired on July 15, 1990.

How would you describe the experience?

It was very interesting. The university was dominated majorly by Europeans at the time. There were foreign students and white lecturers. The environment was an example of how the society should look like. Everybody worked according to schedule and the authority was always ready to improve on the welfare of the workers.

How did you cope with the change in environment when you moved to Ibadan?

I was ready to learn for a better future so I adapted fast to my new environment. I speak Yoruba language but not fluently despite having spent 58 years in Yoruba land.

What is responsible for this?

Living in the university environment did not help me understand the language as much as I would have done. We related with each other speaking English language more often. So it limited my knowledge of the language. My choice of words is good but I pronounce the words in a funny way. Unfortunately, I cannot speak my own language fluently again because I left it behind in the village. There are few people from my village in Ibadan so I have a restricted opportunity to speak my language every day. My wife grew up in Ibadan so she preferred speaking Yoruba and English languages at home.

Did you dream of being an engineer when you were in the village?

I was one of the brightest pupils in the school and all the teachers liked me. When I finished from the school, my ambition was to become a mechanical engineer. I visited my sister in Ilesa sometimes around 1950 and 1952 and discussed my ambition with her. She told me that I should consider other profession. I ended up as a plumber and water engineer but it was not what I wanted so I did not like it.

What motivated your desire to become a mechanical engineer?

I was just interested in the profession. I liked to do something that involved handiwork. I didn’t want to be a clerk, messenger or produce vendor in one of the few companies around at the time. I liked to control what I chose to do.

When did you get married?

I got married a bit late because I was around 33 years. I decided not to marry early until I had a good job.

How did you meet your wife?

We were both living in the same compound. One day, one of the ladies who came from my village called me to come and meet a girl I could marry. So that was how I met my wife. She was in school but I waited until she finished before we got married. She was born in Warri but her parents relocated to Ibadan when she was a little girl

There was a girl I would have married from my village. We were friends and she was ready to tie the knot with me but I told her that I had no job to start a family. When I moved to Ibadan, she also came to the city and we met again. But my brother encouraged her to marry someone else because he thought I was not ready to have a wife at the time.

How did you take it?

I did not quarrel with him because he was older than me. We were brothers and moreover women should not be the reason for fighting ourselves.

How much did you pay as dowry on your wife?

I cannot remember the amount. The dowry is important in our tradition but in those days, the bride’s family did not put a price on their daughter. The parents were more particular about the happiness of the couple. I paid a little money which I could afford.

What type of fashion was in vogue when you were young?

Fashion is dynamic because it changes with time. I lived in the village and later in a university community. Apart from the shirt and trousers, we also wore lace, aso oke, brocade and sanyan. All these are still in vogue but people now sew it differently from our time.

Which topic dominated your discussion when you were in the midst of friends in those days?

We discussed politics and football. Obafemi Awolowo and Adelabu Adegoke were two great Western Region politicians who dominated our discussion at the time. There were unpleasant stories around their relationship until Adegoke died on March 20 1958 in a motor accident. He was the leader of the opposition in the West. We called him penkelemesi, which came from the phrase ‘peculiar mess,’ frequently used by Adegoke to describe the opposition.

When there was a football championship at the Liberty Stadium (now Obafemi Awolowo Stadium), we would leave UI and moved to the stadium in large numbers. But I stopped watching live matches after witnessing crowd trouble during a match between Ibadan team and Bendel Insurance. I was lucky to leave the stadium alive. Since then, I only watch matches on the television.

How many children do you have and how did you train them?

I have seven children. I have just two boys, though I was interested in having more boys, but I couldn’t get more. After trying severally, I told my wife that we should stop having children.

Because I lived in the university community for so long, my wish was to ensure that all my children have university education. I earned a little income but I struggled with my wife to give them university education. They are all independent now.

The world is a stage where things change. Children of today are disobedient. Back then, children listened to their parents’ instructions. But now, things have changed. When you correct them, they call you old school.

Did you beat erring children?

My father told me a story that made me hate beating children. He was tough but he never beat me. I did not beat my children but I talked to them when they went the wrong way. I still do it.

What do you enjoy doing most now?

Apart from watching football, I love listening to music. There is no message in today’s music so I still listen to the music of I.K Dairo, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey because their songs have deep meaning. Sometimes the songs lift the listeners’ spirit.

Before the civil war broke out in Nigeria, Dairo warned the people through his music that war was not the solution to a disagreement. At the end of the war, the song became more prominent in every society.

When you clocked 70, did you celebrate it in a special way?

I did not see it as anything special because I felt like a 50-year-old man. My children wanted to celebrate it but I told them to wait until I clock 80. It was a funny response to their desire but I was also sure of my optimism. I knew that with the lifestyle I live, I would live beyond 80. At 80, my children came around and we celebrated it. Longevity actually runs in my family. I was born when my father was getting to 80. My senior brother was about 120 years before he died. I don’t know what is responsible; it’s just God’s work.

What food do you enjoy most?

I eat every good food except eba. In my house, we don’t eat it at all. I like pounded yam and amala with ewedu or melon soup. I also like olele which Yorubas call okiri. It’s made with beans. You can eat it any time. It is very sweet.

Do you miss home?

Yes of course. There is nowhere like home. Home is home; where ever you are, you must think of home. But my children are keeping me here.

Former Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Usman Mustapha, who is now 83, reveals to Success Nwogu his worst and best moments in life

How would you describe your youthful days?

My youthful days were spent purposefully. I attended Arabic school early where I learnt how to read and understand the Quran. When I was nine years, I enrolled at the Kpakata Elementary School in 1939 and left in 1943. Then I went to Ilorin Middle School, which is now referred to as Government Secondary School, Ilorin.

At school, I was a very quiet boy. I hated trouble and kept out of it at all times. I had friends but I kept away from troublesome colleagues.

Did it mean that you were never punished as a pupil?

I remember that I was punished once in 1948. I was preparing to graduate from IMS when it happened. I was the head boy and one of the prefects was selling garri meant for the pupils to a contractor. I knew nothing about it but when the school authority heard about it, I was brought into the middle of the case because I was the head boy. The school thought that I knew about the deal with the contractor. The boy who committed the crime is late now. I was given six strokes of the cane for a crime I did not commit.

How did you feel after being flogged?

I felt very sad because I was flogged for something I did not do. I was wondering why being a head boy suddenly became a big burden, especially in this respect.

What was your experience with other pupils like?

Many of the pupils did not like me as the head boy.  They complained about my strict discipline and policy. School prefects were influential in those days because they represented the pupils during important meetings with the head of the school or teachers.

I did not spare erring pupils in the school. I reported anyone who committed an offence to the school authority immediately. That was why they did not like me.

What quality won you the position of the school’s head boy?

It was a difficult process and the teachers decided on who became the head boy. They voted among themselves for pupils that were nominated for the position. Nobody told me why I won it. It could be because I did not tolerate any act of indiscipline and I was serious in the class.

Did you study beyond the secondary school?

I obtained other academic qualifications beyond the secondary school leaving certificate. Between 1949 and 1950, I attended the Clerical Training College in Zaria. I also did a diploma course between 1956 and 1957 and proceeded to the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for my higher diploma certificate in accountancy between 1970 and 1971. I was one of the first set of students who read accountancy at that university and I am always proud that I graduated with flying colours.

What kind of relationship did you have with girls in the schools you attended?

We related as friends only, not as girlfriend and boyfriend.

Was there any move by the girls to befriend you or establish intimacy with you?

There was no such move. I concentrated on my study and what my parents wanted me to do.  I did not want anything that would distract me. Like I said, I did not have any girlfriend in the schools.

How did you meet your first wife since you kept a distance from girls in school?

I did not meet my wife the way most people meet their wives. My father and my father-in-law were friends. Her father approached my father one day and told him that he would like me to marry his daughter. My father agreed to the proposal without consulting me.

How did your father break the news to you?

One Saturday, when I came home from the boarding school, my brothers started making fun of me.  They called me ‘oko iyawo’ which is a term used to describe a man who just got  married or is about to get married. I asked them what it was all about.

I later met the young woman and realised that I liked her. I accepted my father’s wish and married her. I actually accepted it because I loved the woman.

How did you manage the early stage of your living together since you did not know her before?

In those days, you learnt to accept what your parents wanted, not like today when children reject their parents’ advice. Like I said, I loved the woman apart from what my father wanted. So it was not difficult living with her. We did not live together as strangers. The marriage was successful. We had children and built a united family. We never had any reason to regret our union.

Was there any time that you had misunderstanding?

There were times when we disagreed on issues. But we respected ourselves and settled our differences without a third party mediating between us.

What is your advice to young people on marriage?

I will implore them to consult their parents before taking a decision on whom to marry. Parents are the best persons to assess a woman that their son wants to marry. They will find out the type of family she comes from. Such investigation is very important before a marriage and parents do it better.

How did you marry your other wives?

I had four wives but one of them is dead.  I approached my other wives and proposed marriage to them. They accepted and we got married.

Did you consult your other wives before you married another one?

They never opposed my decision to bring in another wife. I did not treat them poorly so they supported my decisions. It is normal thing here in Kwara for a man to marry more than one wife.

What is it like being the head of a polygamous home?

There is no problem unless you are not a honest man. My wives have never fought themselves and their children are united. I married my first wife in 1950, the second wife in 1958 and the third one in 1965. My last wife, whom I married in 1981, was a manager at Radio Kwara.

How did you meet her?

During the month of Ramadan, there used to be midnight play.  She was one of the judges in the contest and I was also there. We argued over the judges’ decision but after I gave her a lift home around 1 am, we became friends and got married later.

How did you marry your second wife?

I met her when she came to my office at the treasury department. She was holding a newspaper and I asked if I could read it. I later told her that I would like to marry her. She initially hesitated but finally agreed. She is the mother of Moshood, who is a member of the House of Representatives.

What about your third wife?

My third wife is dead. She was a teacher when we met at treasury department. She actually came for her salary when I proposed marriage to her.

Would you promote polygamy or one-man-one-wife system?

It is a matter of choice.  As for me, I do not see anything wrong with marrying more than one wife.  Only one of my sons married two wives.  Others have one wife each.

How many children in all do you have?

They are many. I will not tell you the exact number but they are more than 20.

How were you able to train so many children?

I am a caring parent who took my children’s education seriously. They all have university education and doing well in their callings. I believe in God and what He says. In 1983, when political office holders were arrested by the military and put in detention, I told my people God made it so.

What was your prison experience like?

The military put us in Ilorin Prison and did not allow our family members to visit us. We were there for one year. We were well taken care of but we missed our families. The late Olusola Saraki was not with us because he was taken to Lagos.

At the peak of your career, you became Kwara State Commissioner for Finance. How did you reach the position?

If you do your work well, your boss will appreciate your effort. I worked hard with honesty. I joined the service on March 18, 1952, as a clerical officer in the works department. The department was called Any Works Department. From the Central Administration, where I was posted to in 1952, I attended a course on local government development.

In 1958, I became the chief accountant and later retired in 1976. After my retirement, I became a government contractor before I joined politics. The late Saraki chose me to be the Commissioner for Finance. He told me that he liked me because of my honesty and for being trust-worthy. He said that he liked the way I handled government projects as a contractor. I served the government for three years.

Apart from choosing a wife for you, which other role did your parents play in your life?

When I started working, my parents were old so they did not have the opportunity to influence my life again. I was on my own doing whatever I wanted. My mother died at the age of 75 years while my father died at the age of 105 years.

Do you still have childhood friends?

They are dead now. All my friends and school mates are dead.  I am the only one living now.  All my brothers have died too. They died of natural causes.

Did you believe that you would live beyond 80 years?

I did not believe it.  But God makes everything possible. I was born on April 30, 1930 and anybody who lives to reach my age should thank God. I have lost brothers, sisters and some of my children. But God keeps me alive.

What is your advice to elderly people?

They should put their hopes in God and continue to beg Him to spare their lives. I continue to beg God to spare my life because I want to live beyond 105 years.

How would you describe Saraki’s role in the politics of Kwara State in those days?

They called him Oloye and commander-in-chief.  We did whatever he told us to do because he was a great leader who we believed in. We never had any problem with him. He was interested in the development of Kwara State and because God blessed him with wealth, he spent his money executing developmental projects.

What kind of exercise do you do?

I walk a mile every morning. I also swim and play squash, but I am not doing much of these sports again. Walking is a good form of exercise.

What particular food do you eat now?

I do not make a choice of food at all. I eat any food my wife prepares for me. But I like pounded yam and vegetable soup.

What was your saddest day in life?

It was the day that I was detained because I was deprived of my fundamental human rights.

What about your happiest day?

I was happy when I was appointed treasurer, Ilorin Native Authority in 1964. I was also happy when I had my first child on January 20, 1951.

They were wrapped in cotton wool and cooking foil to keep them warm.

But against all the odds, the trio have just celebrated their 80th birthdays, surrounded by many of their 35 grandchildren.

They are believed to be among the oldest surviving triplets in the country.

In 2011, Ronald, Eric and David Thurman celebrated their 80th birthday in Oxfordshire.

They were known as the ‘Tabloid Triplets’ because their picture was published in a national newspaper when they were born in 1931.

Eric, Alan and Audrey’s birthday celebration was a rare get-together for the siblings because Eric has moved to Wales

But there was a time when the three were inseparable as they grew up together.

Grandmother-of-21, Audrey O’Donnell, who lives with husband Bernard in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Describing what she was told of their birth, she said: ‘They used one of those ear trumpets and said that perhaps there was a second heart beat but they weren’t sure.

‘So it was a real shock when three of us arrived, there was a dash to get more nappies. They wrapped us all in cotton wool and cooking foil to keep us warm.’

The triplets were such a rare sight, their father Edward was inundated with requests from baby food companies to use the triplets in advertising, but he turned them down.

But for the boys, being identical did have some advantages.

Alan, who lives in Heaton Mersey, said: ‘We were in the same cricket team and I could bat and bowl while Eric couldn’t bat. So I used to pretend to be him and go in twice to bat – nobody noticed.

‘I suppose officially that would be cheating but it worked well. We won the match.’

Audrey later worked in insurance while Alan became a director for Ford and Eric worked as an insurance broker.

Eric, who lives in Anglesey with his wife Anne, said: ‘I woke up one night with chest pains and the next day I found out Alan had had a heart attack. I did have one later and I’ve had four all together. We’ve all had our ups and downs but we’ve come through them.’

The trio admit they have always been competitive.

Eric said: ‘We’re all good friends today, but we don’t see much of each other. I have to say Alan’s a bit rotund compared to me but we all get on well together. We’re a good family.

 Source: dailymail.co.uk

Former Biafran soldier, Cletus Asolukanwsu, 80, talks to MOTUNRAYO JOEL about his view of the late Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu as well as his war-time experience

 What significant event can you link with the time of your birth?

Children who were born during my time were baptised within two months after birth. I was born in Ihiagba, Owerri, Imo State and was baptised at a Catholic Church a few weeks after. My baptismal certificate still helps me to remember my birthday.

Where did you have your primary school education?

I attended St. Michael’s Catholic School, Ihiagba before I was later transferred to Christ’s Kings School in Aba.

After my primary education, I got a job as a bar man in a hotel but it linked me with better employment. I met the General Manager of a British Company at the hotel, who noticed how hard I worked. Clients who patronised the hotel always commended me. I was around 20 years old at the time. I even had an opportunity to travel to America from a relationship I established with someone at the hotel, but I couldn’t leave my parents all alone in Nigeria.

I later left the hotel for another company where I worked as a store keeper in northern Nigeria in 1954. When I returned to the eastern Nigeria, I engaged in onion business. There was scarcity of onions in Aba at the time, but in the North where I worked, onions were in large supply. So I decided to be transporting onions from the North to Aba. But the business wasn’t successfully because many traders also went into the business, so I lost a lot of money.

When I left Zaria, I moved to Kano in 1955 to work with Coca Cola Bottling Company.  Later on, my uncle asked me to join him in Port Harcourt. That was when the civil war broke out in Nigeria.

What did you do when the war began?

When the war started, Port Harcourt was in a chaotic state, so my uncle and I decided to move to Owerri. But the war got so intense and we noticed soldiers from foreign countries taking part in it. I got a job in Owerri but when things became unbearable, we were told to go home and the company was sold off.

With a few friends, I relocated from the central Owerri to a village.  One evening, when my friends and I were playing a game of draughts, we were thanking God that the Nigerian soldiers did not come to the village where we were staying. A few minutes after the discussion, we heard the sound of warplanes. Before then, I was taught how to hide when a warplane approached during the war.  The pilot dropped the first bomb and then the second bomb. At the time he was dropping the second bomb, I was hiding beside a wall but unfortunately for me, the bomb landed where I was hiding.

How did you escape?

I was lucky to escape with a little cut on my face. When the Biafran soldiers came to check out the extent of the damage, I showed them the spot where the second bomb dropped which was where I was hiding, but they didn’t believe me. They said I was an ordinary civilian who didn’t know the difference between his left and right hands. I was angry when I heard the statement and at that point, I made up my mind to join the Biafran army. I was 32 years old, same age with the Biafran leader, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu.

Later that night, I heard that a chain of bombs exploded and destroyed most of the houses in the village. Luckily, my friends and I had left the area. We then built a refugee camp that took 300 refugees. We were there till the Biafra soldiers located us and tried to make us join the army by force. They were so brutal about it. I eventually joined because I had already made up my mind. After finding favour in the sight of my superiors, I rose quickly and became chief instructor. I was posted to Imo State with other trainees and we were there until the war ended, after which I went back to my village.

What was your experience like in the war?

It was a terrible period. We saw dead bodies everywhere. Some were buried upside down, others had various parts of their bodies missing, and some of the bodies had no heads.

Do you regret joining the Biafra war?

I have no regrets at all. I know there were times I should have been killed, looking back at when a bomb was dropped at the spot where I was hiding and when I was almost sent to wage an attack against the Nigerian army. There were times I also got caught up in air raid, but I came out of it alive because of the grace of God.

What did you do after the war?

I moved to Lagos to work with a British company.

Did you let your family know that you were joining the Biafran army?

My mother didn’t know much about my whereabouts during the war. She didn’t even know I was joining the army. If she knew, she would have done everything to prevent me. She would rather die than allowing her child taking part in the civil war. She only got to know after I had joined the army.  But I didn’t see her so I did not know her reaction. I am sure she must have felt bad about it. I used to write letters to her during the war. When she died, I saw some of my letters in her box.

How much of Odumegwu-Ojukwu did you know during the war?

Ojukwu was a true leader who loved his people. Many people said he started the war but it is not true. He didn’t instigate the war in any way. One of Nigeria’s problems is that many people don’t like hearing the truth. Before the war broke out, the Igbo people were being massacred in the North. And when this tragedy continued, Ojukwu asked them to come back home. He cared so much for us.  All those who were in secondary school at that time were commissioned as officers in the Biafran army. Sadly, out of all those who were commissioned, a few of them survived the war.

Who should be blamed for the war?

It was Gowon and his people; they started the war by dropping the first bomb. They just wanted to exterminate all Igbo people. The Igbos had no sophisticated weapons to fight a long war so how could they have started the war? The weapons we used for the war were made by us.

Judging from the outcome of the war, do you think it would have been better if the Igbos had succeeded in the secession bid?

There is nothing we have gained by being together. Look at what is happening now. Ojukwu forewarned us and we are all living witnesses today.

Would you say that the Biafra war was necessary?

Yes of course. It was worth it. It’s just unfortunate we lost the fight.

Are you saddened by Ojukwu’s death?

Yes, because I think he would have been a good leader. He believed in hard work. He was a loving man. He loved Nigeria as a whole. He was dragged into the war when he was made a governor. He warned Igbos that war isn’t good but that if it was necessary for us to fight.

Were you married before you joined the army?

I was not married but I kept thinking about it. I wanted to settle down first before I approached a woman for marriage. The war ended in 1970 and four years later, I met a woman I loved in Lagos. We met for the first time when I was packing into my new house. I saw her coming out of her father’s compound. She looked so pretty to me. She was 16-years-old at the time. I jokingly told her that I was going to marry her but she objected. During that period, the Igbo people were hated by other ethnic groups in Nigeria. They did not want to be associated with us. Unfortunately, the girl I loved is from an area in the then Mid-Western State, now known as Delta State. When she objected, I forgot about her and married another woman. But the marriage didn’t last because she couldn’t conceive. I sent her back home and married the girl who objected to my proposal at first. We have been living together for the past 36 years.

Why did you propose to a woman who was less than half your age?

Love has no age limit. You may not even need to know your partner’s age at the initial stage of your relationship. It’s the love you both have for each other that matters.

Do you think your marriage would have lasted this long if you had married a woman your age?

My first marriage lasted for just two years and my first wife was almost my age. So I believe my wife and I were destined to be together.

What do you love about your wife?

I like telling people about a special quality that my wife has; if I don’t have money and my wife prepares a little food for the family, she will make sure I eat first. She doesn’t mind eating the remnants.

How many children is the marriage blessed with?

We have six children together. Some are still studying in various universities while two of them are married.

Do you still keep in touch with your siblings?

I’m the only child of my parents, but I grew up with extended family members. Sadly, only two of us are alive today.

How was life growing up as the only child of your parents?

People say that parents who are not blessed with more than a child spoil their only child. They also say that children who are born into wealth are pampered by their parents. But my youthful life was different. I came from a poor home and my mother raised me as a poor child. I was her only child but she did not go out of her way to provide all I needed as a child. She trained me in a strict way. So life was very tough for me as a child.

Can you remember events that dominated your youthful days?

I was always going to the farm with my mother. Sometimes, I would go to the stream to fetch water. I had to sweep the house every morning before going to school. Any time I offended her, she would punish me by giving me yam to eat.

What is the significance of yam as a form of punishment?

That was her way of punishing me when I erred. She would say that eating yam alone was a way of preparing me for the tough life ahead. But apart from that, she was a loving and wonderful mother. I later realised that what she was doing wasn’t because she hated me but because she loved me.

How was your relationship with your dad?

It wasn’t any different. My dad also loved me as well, but he wasn’t too supportive financially. My family was so poor that my parents couldn’t afford to send me to secondary school. When I passed Standard Six examination, I could not go to secondary school because my parents could not afford two shillings and six pence which was the tuition fee at the time.

My mother too could not shoulder the responsibility all alone because she was poor. She had the intention of sending me to secondary school but her dream for me was not realised until she died. She told me to learn a skill while she looked for money to pay for my secondary school fees but she never had enough.

What kind of sport did you take part in?

I enjoyed boxing, but my parents didn’t like it. My last fight was in Kano but I quit after the victory because my mother found out I was a boxer.

At 80, you look fit still. What is the secret?

I had a serious accident in 2005 and just came out of the pain this year. But God has given me good body frame. I like eating vegetable soup because it is very healthy. I also engage in long walks.

What would you have wished to reverse in your life if the opportunity comes?

I would never drink. When you drink, you lose control of your mind. You end up going to places you wouldn’t have been to and doing things you wouldn’t have done. I would also have spent my time evangelising for Christ.

What kind of men do you want your daughters to marry?

I pray for men that are sincere at heart and have the fear of God. Their husbands must take joy in caring for their family.

In this interview with ARUKAINO UMUKORO, 84-year-old Bamidele Oyenuga, who retired as Chief Technologist at the University of Lagos Press, talks about his career, which spanned over four decades

How was growing up like for you?

I had an interesting youth. I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State. I lost my mother in 1941 after she had done so much to raise me and my brother. I grew up in a Christian home and for many years, I was part of the choir at St. James’ Cathedral in Ibadan. My mother put me through Christianity and that helped me a lot. I have discovered that all my achievements in life were through the church. Apart from being in the choir, I was also a strong member of the Anglican Youth Fellowship. When I moved to Lagos, I joined the university chapel, Chapel of Christ and Light. I also joined the choir where I sang the soprano. I’ve been a member from 1967 till date.

What schools did you attend?

I had my elementary education at Ebenezer African School, Ibadan. I stopped at Standard six. At that point, I couldn’t continue my education because of financial constraints. Then the Ministry of Education officials came over to ask what schools we would like to attend. I told them I wanted to further my study but my father, who was a goldsmith, couldn’t afford it. My mother was late by the time. So they asked me what I would like to learn. I told them I wanted to learn printing or become a mechanic.

I didn’t go to any university or polytechnic. But by the time I finished my training in five years, it was as good as going to one of the two institutions. This placed me at a very good level. This is what we want the government to do for the young people today. During my training, I also took foreign courses and passed various examinations, including the qualifying tests for the General Certificate of Education and the City and Guilds of London Examination in Printing. During that period, I was able to improve my knowledge of printing because I had special interest in the job. I later moved to Lagos, where I lived with my uncle, Mr. Olabenjo, who is now late.

How long have you been in the printing profession and why did you choose it?

I’ve been in the printing profession since 1947. I had five years of training in printing. In 1953, I joined the Government Press in the Ministry of Information, Ibadan. Right from school, I was very good in English and used to read a lot. I noticed that while the printing of Indian books was rough, German printing was better. So I fell in love with it and was interested in learning how the printing was done.

I worked at Tanimeyinola Printing Press, Oshogbo; a big printing company that also had a branch at Ijebu-Ode. In 1962, I applied and received a West German Government scholarship to study printing in Germany. Then, we had four months intensive course in German language. There were about 30 Nigerians who attended the course. There were also other Africans and I was the oldest among them. Before I left Nigeria for Germany, I got married.

Within the two years I spent in Germany, I did a Masters’ programme at the Institute Akademic Fur Das Graphische Gewerbe in Munich, specialising in book binding. I was the only black person there.

How was your stay in Germany?

It was interesting and wonderful. The Germans were very hospitable. During my stay, I had the opportunity to mix with different people, especially in Langenscheidt Berchtesgaden, South Germany, where I had my practical training in general printing. That was where Adolf Hitler had his house. It was converted to a holiday resort because people from different countries came there to visit.

My landlady then would always ask me to join them for dinner whenever the tourists came around, which gave me the opportunity to make many friends despite being the only black person in that area. They had a very big elderly people’s home there and they take very good care of their old people.

I arrived in Germany during the winter. The South was very cold at minus 30 degrees. The people gave me a great reception when I resumed at the press and it made me comfortable. All my colleagues contributed money and took me for shopping. I still have most of the clothing they bought for me. As for feeding, they made sure I had enough and the workers paid for my lunch at work. During the weekends, some of my friends came to take me out and they rotated the gesture among themselves. When I returned to Nigeria we kept the contact intact for so long.

I had a friend who had a factory that made trousers in Nuremberg. Then he used to send me train tickets to come visit him. During our time in the language school, the German Government gave us the opportunity to also visit Berlin, Hamburg, East Germany and many other important places around the country. I joined the choir in 1963. During one Easter, being the only black man in the choir, I was nominated to render the solo of the Easter anthem.

If you had not been married before you left, would you have married a German?

I wouldn’t have. I knew some people then who got married to foreigners but didn’t treat them well when they brought them back to Nigeria and I didn’t like that.

When I returned to Nigeria in 1965, I worked at the ministry as a supervisor. In 1967, I was employed by the University of Lagos and worked at the school until I retired in 1990, as the chief technologist.

What were your major achievements at the institution?

I helped the school establish the printing press in 1967, which is now called the University of Lagos Press.

We started in a small room in the main library where we had photocopying machines; we called it Rank Xerox. The main purpose of that section of the library was to take care of library books. We started with five staff. As soon as the university made funds available for the press, we improved the equipment and employed more hands. Before I left the university in 1990, we had started the process of digital printing.

How did your German experience help you when you came back to Nigeria?

The German experience gave me the privilege of learning more about different people and cultures and improving my knowledge of the printing profession. Printing was invented in Germany and that was why I chose the country to gain more knowledge of the job.

When I applied for the scholarship, I mentioned it in my letter. I was the only one who chose printing among the Nigerians who applied for the same scholarship programme. When I came back, I also put my specialised knowledge in book binding into practice, trained others and was able to introduce the German method of binding, which was very interesting.

How can Nigeria improve on its technical education?

In Nigeria, our government should take more interest in technical training. In Germany, some of the young people who did not have the opportunity to go to the university go to polytechnics. Those who don’t go to the university or polytechnics learn technical education. It could be tailoring, furniture or any other skill acquisition

The government organised it in such a way that while they learnt the skill, they still had to go to school once a week to learn the theory part of the training. It was compulsory. So this put them at par with those who went  to the university. The trainers are also given allowances. If this is done for young people in Nigeria, it can assimilate those who drop out of school.

If the government takes technical education seriously and establish a ministry that will be responsible for it, unemployment rate will drop.

Do you think elderly people in Nigeria are given quality treatment?

We are not taking good care of our elderly people in Nigeria. In Berchtesgaden, Germany, there was a care home that took care of the old people.

What can be done to improve on this in Nigeria?

The government should have a special arrangement for old people. There should be a ministry responsible for that. These old people have served the nation in their lifetime and we should not leave them to suffer towards the end of their lives.

In the nation’s budget, there is no provision for the welfare of the elderly people so that they will not regret giving their lives and times for the country. Some had no jobs before they became old and are suffering. Some of them have no children to take care of them. Private organisations should also step in to help.

How did you meet your wife?

My ‘mummy’ (wife) is from a Muslim family. She came all the way from Lagos to Ibadan to live with relations who were Christians and go to school. Our houses were not far from each other and both families were close.

She later converted to Christianity and by the time we decided to have a relationship, she was already going to the church. When we introduced our relationship to her parents, they were surprised. Her father said he didn’t expect that we would get married and that he would not have given his daughter to a Christian. We had a Muslim marriage at Onigbongbo area of Lagos and the Christian wedding at the church in Ibadan. We courted for two years before we got married in 1962.

I have four daughters and one son. But I normally refer to my daughters as my girlfriends and my son as my landlord. All my children are married with children. Two of my daughters married from Itsekiri, in Delta State.

What can the present generation learn from your days?

During my time, children obeyed their parents and parents ensured that the children spoke their mother tongue. It was the same when I went to Germany for training. This is missing now in our society. There are Yoruba parents whose children cannot speak Yoruba.

Why do you think most people of the older generation like yours frequently made references to ‘the good old days’ in Nigeria?

This is because those were the days when things were good, people were trustworthy and did what they promised. We had better leadership. When our rulers travelled out, they used their experience to make the country better. I call our politicians today ‘polluticians’ because they pollute everything. But in those days, they invested in education and health. It is not so nowadays. All the roads and facilities are bad. Today, those who are ruling us spend more on themselves than for the country.

If the country would go back to the days when politicians were paid only sitting allowances, people will not rush into politics again. There would be enough money to invest in education, health and other sectors and things would be better for us in Nigeria.

What are your regrets?

The only regret I have is that I had no opportunity to pay my mother back for the training she gave me. I’m a fulfilled man today because I have contentment and excelled in the profession I chose.

How were you able to train four girls successfully?

In fact, it was by God’s grace. I had a good job also and I’m happy that we were able to train all our children up to the university level. Then, the Christian background we gave them helped. We are happy that none of them went against Christian inductions.

Did you oppose your daughters’ marriage to another tribe?

No, I did not oppose them. I was already used to having people from other tribes around me. I now have an adopted son who is from the Niger Delta. He lived with me for 11 years. Two of my daughters married from Itsekiri, in Delta State. One of them married from my hometown and another from Ogbomosho.

What is the secret of your long life?

It is contentment. I have contentment. I don’t keep any grudge and make my friends and people happy. I have a very settled home. My wife and children all make me happy.

What is your favourite meal?

It is amala and ewedu soup.

What attracted you to your wife?

She is very respectful, intelligent and came from a very responsible home. She had a very good upbringing. I advise young people nowadays that they should try to know their partner’s family to ensure he/she is from a responsible home before they go into any relationship.

What is the secret of your successful marriage?

From the onset, we were able to make a happy home by having respect for each other and when husband and wife have respect for each other, they don’t have problems. She also took care of the home properly. She was the one who trained the children because she is the mother.

What is the most memorable incident in your life?

That was the day I got married to my wife. It is the most memorable in my life.

It was on July 7, 1977, that Harold Mendenhall, now 84, started donating blood. It’s been 35 years now and Mendenhall has donated blood for more than 400 times.

There is a specific reason for which Mendenhall started donating blood. The reason was that Mendenhall’s wife Frankie got diagnosed with breast cancer. After her death, Mendenhall was all broken.

He then started donating blood on regular a basis. Later it was found that Mendenhall has been donating six gallons of blood annually. Recently, it has been revealed that he has made his 100 gallons blood donation last month.

As for Mendenhall, he was of the view that donation of blood was a way to cope with the grief of his wife’s death as well as that of his two sons. On every single donation, Mendenhall feels that his family has been complementing his veins.

“Giving blood can only be done by a human being, so that’s been my payback for my career,   good health and all the blessings I’ve had”, said Mendenhall.

However, it is worth noting that Mendenhall donates platelets rather than whole blood, which means donation of two pints rather than of one.

Source: www.topnews.us

In this interview with  ARUKAINO UMUKORO, 80-year-old Benjamin Abimbola Adigun, MFR, shares the secrets of his longevity and success in life

How would you describe your growing up?

I attended Olivet Baptist High School Oyo. I was already a retired teacher when free education started in 1953. I thank God that I had a few understanding friends then, because you could easily be isolated if you had no father or guidance as I did not have any; my father died in 1939 when I was five years old. But when you are exposed and you excelled, friends really mean more to you than parents.

This was my experience. It was tough, having lost my father at a very young age. I was faced with the vicissitudes of this life, but I thank God who has always made a way.

From 1960, I spent six years in Italy, studying Statistics and Actuarial Science in the University of  Rome and later worked in the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations in Rome. There were few Nigerians who studied the course at the time. I didn’t have the opportunity of coming home for holidays. We were only about seven Nigerians in the school at that time, so we visited the Vatican City, where we met other Nigerians. At the time, Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie was a student there.

Back then, the environmental sanitation was a law in Oluponna town now in Osun State. All the children went back home during the last weekend of every month, with hoes and cutlasses, to clean up the environment.

Having lost your father at a very young age, who did you look up to for assistance?

I cannot forget the sacrificial roles of my elder brother, Chief S.B. Adigun, in my life. He was in standard five at Iwo Baptist Day School. Following the death of my father, a successful peasant farmer, he lost an academic year. He could have gone to Baptist College, Iwo, afterwards, but he had to sacrifice going to the college so that he could take up a teaching appointment. He made it possible for me to start school in 1942. He couldn’t further his education until he ensured that I and my younger brother comfortably finished our primary education. He later joined the local government civil service. When he completed his study at the School of Hygiene, he was able to get another job. He also trained me through secondary school. Although it wasn’t a smooth period, my situation was far better than some children who were born with silver spoons. My elder brother was my best friend until he died in October 2002.

Who were your friends in those days?

After I left primary school, I became a teacher at the Native Education School, Ogbomosho, in 1950. The headmaster of my primary school, the late Mr. S.E. Bola, who became the supervisor of NE schools, was very helpful because he introduced me with a note to the headmaster of Ogbomosho NE School, who appointed me.

One of my closest friends is Justice Mafoye Oyetunde, a retired Chief Judge of Plateau State. We were both teachers at the same period. My other friends are Chief Bimbo Olaosebikan, a partner of Olaosebikan and Co.; Chief Dr. Oluremi Atanda, who was once a director at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and Forest Research Institute of Nigeria, and proprietor of Atanda Group of Schools; Prince Duro Oyinlola, retired top director of UAC; Chief M.I. Abapa; the late Oba Onadele Onashore, the Owaloku of Ijeshaland, and a few others.

How did you meet your wife?

I had a girlfriend when I was in the university in Italy. But the parents wanted to come with her to Nigeria if we got married and I refused. I didn’t get married until I was about 35-years-old. And because of my background, I didn’t think I would marry abroad. So when I returned to Nigeria, I was introduced to my wife by my friend, Chief Olaosebikan, who was then teaching at Iponri High School. My wife was the school librarian. One day, I left my office and visited. At that time, I was working in African Alliance Insurance Company and was already getting settled. I was not looking for a mid-stream relationship. I wanted to get married and she was ready. I found a wife with a good family background. We got married in 1968. I thank God that she still tolerates me in the most understanding way.

After 45 years of marriage, what is the secret behind its success?

It is love. That promise has kept us going. In addition, I was also quite matured when I proposed marriage to her. She was matured when she said ‘yes’ too.

Would you say it was love at first sight?

If the Lord leads you and lives in you, you don’t make mistakes. Nowadays, we only read the Bible without really understanding what it teaches us and religious education is no longer taken as a serious subject in our schools. In our primary school days, we were taught the Bible, the structure of the family, prayer and catechism. All these problems that exist today never existed then. In our younger days, when you had a girlfriend, you keep her until you are convinced that both of you were going to get married. Today, love at first sight means going to the nightclub for the first day. Maybe you just met for the first time on the roadside and fixed an appointment on the telephone. That’s why high profile marriages collapse within weeks or months nowadays.

It’s not a development that parents are happy about. It is the parents’ duty to guide the children. It is also the sacred duty of children to listen carefully to their parents and follow their guidance. This is not very common today.

What is the secret of your youthful looks?

It is contentment. I did a few things that could have killed me, but God’s grace saved me. I believe in God’s creation and living your life in accordance with His rules. I also observe the golden rule of love. If you love yourself, you won’t eat the wrong food. If you love other people, you won’t give them what they don’t want. The golden rule is ‘love God and others as you love yourself, Love also increases one’s life’s span because it helps you to be less temperamental and have sober reflections before you take any action, particularly those that are risky.

What are your favourite foods or diet routine?

I come from a region where we have the best of foods. It is one of the food basket zones in Nigeria. The main food I am used to are eko, ogi (pap), amala and pounded yam. As I grow older, I eat about twice daily, ogi in the morning and pounded yam or amala in the evening. I enjoy eating these mostly with gbegiri soup; ewedu  or okro soup.

Are you fulfilled in life?

Yes, I am. God in His infinite mercies has assisted me in all my journeys and when I look back today, I never thought that I would ever reach 80 years. My best projection was reaching 1999. Year 2000 was a superfluous ambition.

Even though my grandfather was a pagan, my father, luckily, was converted to Christianity in his days before my birth. So I was born into Christianity. As far as I’m concerned, it was by luck that I had a scholarship to study overseas. Then, I married only one wife and by the grace of God, the two of us are still together today. We are blessed with good and obedient children. Today, they are fending for themselves.

I joined the oil industry in 1971 and started my career there. I am one of the first set in the industry in the early days before I retired from active service and concentrated many more years on my profession. I had stints and opportunities to come into politics, but I appreciated early that I did not have the nature and strength for partisan politics. But I was genuinely interested in the development of my town and districts. I am lucky to have been counted among those who contributed to the creation of Osun State and glad that I have been able to make useful contributions to my town and state. I was a former adviser to the Federal Ministry of Trade and helped establish an actuarial training course in Nigeria before I joined the oil industry.

In our own part of Yoruba land, if you grow up to marry, give birth and be survived by children, there is nothing more fulfilling than that. I am a family man contributing my little quota to my home, family, community and country.

Are you afraid of death?

No, I am not afraid of death. But in my younger days, I feared death and I have seen many people die, which made me afraid, until I got older and realised that death is a necessary end. It will come when it will. I have also been terminally ill and escaped death. That’s God’s miracle. That is why He’s the only one I can give all honour to.

In your view, what is the difference between pre-Independence and post-Independence Nigeria?

We hoped to see a better Nigeria. But the development after Independence have been so retarding, in certain parts of Nigeria, the people would see it as almost a misfortune or misdirection. Nevertheless, the civil war and post-civil war military administrations have shown us that, until the military left, we were not independent. On the other hand, irrespective of the military administrations, Nigeria played giant roles, particularly in the independence of South Africa and provided assistance to other countries such as Liberia and Ghana. Today, people like me get almost frustrated by the fact that the civilian administrations could have done better. The crop of younger people, who probably studied politics in theory, rather than in practice, are failing to perform in government.

What are your hobbies?

In those days, I spent my Saturdays doing extra work to break even; therefore I did not have time for sports activities. Today, I am a sports enthusiast. I love watching sports and visiting people. I also believe in a lot of charitable work. I relax and travel occasionally to visit my children.

How would you compare education in those days and now?

The country was better just before independence, and particularly at the commencement of free education in 1953. Free education was one of the best legacies set by the Western Region. Education was the foundation of everything and Chief Obafemi Awolowo will never be  forgotten because of his contribution to education. The more educated our people, the more they know what to do.

Fairview resident Sonny Campbell crossed an item off his bucket list Sunday by taking part in a three-generation skydive with his daughter and granddaughter.

Almost a month after his 80th birthday, Campbell signed out the requisite forms, participated in about an hour of training, and strapped himself to a man intent on back flipping from an airplane at 10,000 feet.

“You have an option,” said Hank Schraeder, owner of Skydive Tandem Greenville, as they prepared for the jump. “I climb all the way out on the steps with my students and we do a backflip. We can do one, two or three backflips, but you have to tell me how many before we leave. Pick a number.”

As a much younger man, Campbell had jumped from a plane five times to qualify as a paratrooper while attending officer candidate school in the Army National Guard. The last jump took place July 10, 1954 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

“I’ve always said when I turned 80, that’s my bucket list,” Campbell said while filling out forms for Sunday’s jump.

Campbell spent his career as a central office engineer with several telephone companies, planning the construction of offices and corporate campuses. He retired after working for Motorola for 30 years, and as an older man, set about reuniting with his past.

He hadn’t planned on jumping with his daughter, Jeannie Goerlitz, and granddaughter, Jamie Lescher. That came as a pleasant surprise, and other members of his family, including his wife Celia, were on hand to watch them descend.

The three took part in a tandem skydive, which saw them connected with an experienced jumper who did what was needed to ensure a safe jump. Campbell was connected to Schraeder. They travelled at 120 miles per hour together and did two backflips.

“It reminded me of diving into a deep pool,” Goerlitz said about the jump. She brought two bottles of champagne to celebrate.

“The way your ears fill up. They become clogged, and there’s so much air going up your noise it feels like you’re diving into water. It was unlike anything I thought it would feel like. I’m so glad I’m on the ground.”

Source: www.scntx.com

In this interview with ARUKAINO UMUKORO, 92-year-old Gabriel Olayide Olusanya and 90-year-old Florence Olusanya, both retired civil servants, share a part of their history and the secret of their 65-year-old marriage

Where did you school?

Gabriel: I attended St. Paul’s Primary School, Odogbolu, Ogun State. I went to Ijebu Ode Grammar School from 1938- 1944, where I sat for and passed the second grade school certificate examination. After my secondary education, I sought employment and got a job to work at the Federal Government Press, Lagos, on January 10, 1945. I went to Yaba College of Technology, where I obtained a certificate in Administration. Later, I travelled to the UK on scholarship given to me by my department at the Press. I was attached to Norwich City College Arts School between 1954 and 1956. My final certificate was the City and Guild of London, in 1957. I studied printing in the UK and did my attachment with Messrs’ Jarrod Printing Press, Norwich. I continued working with the Federal Government Press when I returned to Nigeria.

Florence: I attended St. Saviours’ Primary School, Ijebu Ode. But I did not go to secondary school.

How was growing up like for you?

Gabriel: I grew up in Ijebu Ode. My parents also brought me up to honour people and live with people harmoniously. Those were some of the virtues they taught me; they always cared for the people. My father was from a humble background and he had a lot of relatives who ensured that I was properly trained. One of my close relatives, Chief S.A Olukoya, the father of Sonibare of Maryland Estate, trained me at Ijebu Ode. He was the manager of UAC Nigeria. He was my mentor. He did a lot for me and I learnt a lot from him.

Florence: My father was a successful cocoa farmer. I lived with my half-brothers later on, where I spent different number of years with each of them. One used to work as a railway inspector.

How would you describe your working experience?

Gabriel: I thank God that I was able to serve my employers faithfully, to the extent that they honoured me with such recommendation for training in the UK because I was not the only one there. I was given that honour because of my loyal service and what they saw in me. Also then, we had a British administrator who took notice of me and recommended me for the training. I never thought of resigning. I am grateful that I was sent to the UK, it helped me get rapid promotions. I started with the technical department, but retired as chief superintendent of the press, on level 14, in December 1984.

Florence: I worked at the Federal Government Press as book binding assistant and retired as book binding assistant. I retired with a salary of £22 10 pence.  On retirement, I thought about what to do to train our seven children, who were all brilliant. So I decided to go into the business of selling beer.

What are your favourite meals?

Gabriel: Rice is my favourite food, I like eating it with vegetables. It is followed closely by Iyan (poundo yam), not the one they labour to make. I like eating it with efo. I eat a lot of fruits too, especially banana. It supplements my protein diet. My advice to people is that they should eat good and nourishing food.

Florence: I like my Ikokore, it’s an Ijebu type of food. It is prepared with water yam. I like corn flakes and any good food.

How would you describe the Nigeria of your days?

Gabriel: The people feared God more than they do now, although there are so many churches today. Independence was good for Nigeria because the white men wanted to rule us and take our money. On Independence Day in 1960, many Nigerians had predicted that things would be better afterwards. Back then, we had a special class of leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe who did their best.

Things are not working well in Nigeria now because the leaders are not helping us. What bothers me now is the lack of honesty of our leaders. They have failed to provide the basic amenities and infrastructure for our people. We don’t have leaders who are ready to make sure they help the country provide things like water, electricity, good roads and health care system.

Florence: We enjoyed the country before independence. Nigeria then was better than what we have today. Then, you could cook for your family with only 10 or 50 pence. But now, with N2, 000, you can’t go to the market to cook for your children. We used to take my children to Leventis and Kingsway stores to buy stuff for them. But now, things are different.

How did you meet and when did you get married?

Gabriel: We knew each other quite well before we got married on August 5, 1948. I took great pains to let her know I was in love with her then. She was also in love with me. Luckily, we ended up working in the same place later on. My employers gave her the chance to join me in the service because of the likeness they had for me. We worked together in the same organisation till she retired in 1971.

Florence: We met at Ijebu Ode. He was attending Ijebu Ode Grammar School at that time, while I attended St. Saviours’ School. Sometimes, we used to go to his school for sports competitions or other extra-curricular activities. That was how we met.

Then, he used to visit me at home but my father would drive him away. Fortunately, we met again when I relocated to Lagos. When we came to Lagos, he was working at the Government Press; while I was looking for a job. He was the one who told me to write an application and bring it there, which I did and I got the job. I was lucky to get my first job with my husband at Federal Government Press at Broad Street Lagos in 1945. So, our relationship continued until we got married in 1948. I retired in 1971. We have seven children.

What is the secret of your 65-year old marriage?

Gabriel: The secret is love. She also gave me good children, children who are doing a lot for us today and doing well for themselves. They are based in Nigeria, US and the UK.

Florence: We love each other. We go for outings and come back together. Marriages break up today because the wife or husband has no patience. Two people may fight, but a wife should stick with her husband in good times and bad times. They should also have patience in training the children. No matter the amount the husband gives the wife for home keeping, she should be able to manage it, whether it is a penny or £100. But nowadays, some people do not have the patience for that. We never fought. If he gave me a penny, I took it. If he didn’t, I was all right with that. We were patient with each other.

Your husband said he went to great pains to let you know he loved you. What did he mean?

Florence: When my father drove him away, we couldn’t speak with each other. But, we spoke to each other whenever we saw outside. I gave him assurance that he shouldn’t be worried, that I would marry him. My father kept driving him away for about two years, until we came to Lagos. Then, my uncle, whom I was staying with in Lagos, never allowed him to come into the house whenever he came visiting me. We used to live on the second floor. So he would stay outside until we closed the gate, then he would go home. I guess my father refused to allow him visit me then because I had not introduced him. By that time, I was still in school,but I was already working when I was living with my uncle, who said that my husband was too black. But I didn’t mind him being dark in complexion. My husband was patient enough until we got married.

When you finally got married, what did you father say eventually?

Florence: Well, he got the dowry and everything required, as tradition allowed, before our marriage. So he was very glad. I got married at the age of 25.

How was it like training seven children?

Gabriel: It is another special grace of God. They are all successful. We have a doctor, dental surgeon, laboratory scientist, petroleum engineer, optometrist, senior special assistant to Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola; another is also a doctor and an assistant director at Federal Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos.

Their mother was helpful in a great deal also because when she retired in 1971, she went into business and had more time to plan for herself and the family. She got favour from friends to expand her business. God helped her to make some fortune, which helped to train the children up to the university level. She was able to help me pay for their tickets to the UK. There is nothing better than the blessings of God. We now have ten grandchildren.

Florence: I started my business three years after I retired from the service. It is very difficult to train seven children, even up to secondary school, not to talk of university. I spent the little profit I made to train the children and support their education in the UK and US. One of my sons in the US got a scholarship after he had secured admission into the university. The university later refunded the one year school fees we had paid for him. I gave it back to him to travel to do a summer holiday in London. Another one also gained scholarship to study in the US. I thank God I was able to train my children. Every year, I bought clothes and shoes for them and organised Christmas parties for them. Some of them attended boarding school then, like Mayflower School, Ikenne. But they appreciated it and did very well in school.

What are your fondest memories and things you are most fulfilled about?

Gabriel: I was not a socialite. I liked staying indoors. But I was successful in my career. Also, my achievement is to see the grace of God upon my children. God has helped me so much and also gave me a wonderful wife to support me. I have no regrets. Rather I thank God.

Florence: I remember we used to go dancing at Forrester, Lagos Island club and other places. But now, you need to have a lot of money to go to such places. I like dancing, even before we got married, I used to go to these places with my uncle. I like all kinds of music.  I was once a leading dancer for the late Hubert Ogunde when I was much younger. I did it for a few years on a part-time basis. I can’t remember all the performances I featured in, but I remember Yoruba Ronu, Strike and Hunger.  Also, my husband and I loved to attend the Miss Nigeria pageant show every year. We didn’t miss it. We are too old now to attend.

Is there anything that brings unpleasant memories?

Gabriel: That was when I lost one of my daughters a few months ago. She has been one of the most loving to me. That is the only thing that saddens me.

Florence: Our daughter was one of my most beloved, which was why I didn’t want to celebrate my 90th birthday. But my children prevailed on me to. They said, “Mummy, you are a good mother.” They came from the US and UK to celebrate with me in Nigeria. Losing her was painful.

What are your hobbies?

Gabriel: I was not involved in sports. Now I cannot walk well. Because of the inconvenience walking causes me, I hardly go out nowadays; although, in my younger days, I was not a party crawler. But I loved watching television. Today, I watch when I feel like watching.

Florence: I like travelling. Before now, I used to travel to London or the US every year. Sometimes, I stayed six months, a year or two years. I celebrated my 78th birthday in London, 79th in the US and 80th in London. My husband and all my children were there and we had a great occasion.

What’s the secret of your long life?

Gabriel: I give thanks to God that I celebrated my 90th birthday and added two more years to it. The secret is God Almighty. I don’t know any other secret, but that it is the grace of God Almighty which has sustained me until today. It’s not by just eating good food or living comfortably.

Florence: I didn’t live a wayward lifestyle. I don’t drink. I only take soft drinks. Even though I sold beer, I never tasted it because I didn’t like beer. I eat Ijebu food (laughs). But I don’t want to live up to one hundred. To grow old is not easy. I have arthritis now and can’t hear properly, but I thank God for my life. My advice to people who want to live long is to pray to God and He will give them anything they want. They will live long if they can also exercise patience in life.

A secret code helped 81-year-old Cynthia Riggs and 90-year-old Howard Attebery find love.

Riggs told CBS News recently that she and Attebery met 60 years ago while working together at a marine laboratory in San Diego. They often passed notes using a secret code in which A is substituted for B, and so on.

Although Attebery liked Riggs, he never asked her out since she didn’t feel the same way. They parted ways, married other people and both eventually divorced.

Then, at the age of 90, Attebery decided to tell Riggs how he really felt. He mailed a note to her home in Massachusetts that said only, “Cynner, I have never stopped loving you. Haward xx” in their secret code.

There was no return address, but Riggs knew exactly who it was from. She tracked Attebery down, and within an hour, they were engaged. They got married last month.

Another couple proved that it’s never too late to find love last month when they married after a 40-year separation. This couple was separated for 50 years before they finally reunited and tied the knot.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com