Anagbado’s Spontinism Of Functional Art

14/07/12

WITH a series of products dubbed Ivie, illustrator and founder, Lizaad Creative Arts company, Chuma Anagbado is set to experiment a new art form, he tags Spontinism.

   The new form, he disclosed, is largely indigenous and cultural, noting that, “it is my own creation inspired by the art of my people. They are basic illustrations, very simple and not too detailed, but they still send across as much message as a detailed drawing would. You can call it line drawing if you want.  This type of art is generally grouped in the genre known as “urban art.”

  Anagbado further explained that beyond aesthetics, Spontinism works better as functional art. And for the exhibition, which was opened last weekend at Get Arena, Victoria Island, Lagos, two products: handmade T-shirts and framed artworks, were on display.

  But for the subsequent show, “we will diversify to include more products such as Jeanswear, shoes, hand bags, furniture etc,” he said.

  The Fine and Applied Arts graduate from the University of Benin continued, “We intend to use these illustrations to create clothing items, like making impressions on shirts, shoes, jewelry, we intend to use them on ceramics, porcelain or other ornaments and just about anything we can lay our hands on. The whole idea is to give life to those illustrations such that they become iconic and symbols of reference. This is just the first in a series of expositions we would be holding and we hope to push boundaries with Spontinism.”

  Curiously, in Anagbado’s experimentation, light, probably because of its functional nature, is optimally explored as against the use of colour and space. But in certain instances, a number of his illustrations are tied around geographical boundaries and happenings.

  Among the ‘illustrated cities’ in his collection are Abuja, Benin City, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri. He also touches on national issues including the current scourge of terrorism ravaging the Northern part of the country. 

How to lift marketing communication industry, by Oke

25/07/12

NEWLY elected president of Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), Mrs. Bunmi Oke, has identified “continuity, consolidation and revitalisation” as key values that can lift the marketing communication industry.

   According to her, “even if we do great work and we don’t cooperate together, disunity is bound to be. We need each other to progress; we need to include ourselves to understand our differences and challenges.”

  On consolidation, she cautioned that the Nigerian advertising market would soon experience a great boom, “so we should be prepared despite the ups and downs that the country may be facing at the moment. We should not be moved by what we see; let us build a brand that will help us have a win-win situation. With this bond we hope to move the association forward”.

  On revitalising advertising agencies, Oke further explained that as the agencies were growing, members should at each stage have a good succession plan to enhance the life span of such agencies.

  “The foundation of an agency will tell the future,” she noted. “If it is a one-man business, it will not outlive itself. We should all have a new mind-set; our foundation should be deeper. We have to collaborate; we should talk be less about self and more outwardly oriented.

  “Each of us should be confident and build a good succession plan inline with the revolution in technology. We all need professional competence to stay focused.”

  Oke, a Social Science graduate of the University of Lagos, began her advertising career at Grant Advertising where she worked as PR Executive/Account Management trainee between 1986 and 1989. Her unique organisational and presentation skills resulted in her being moved to client service department where she worked on multinational brands like Unilever’s Blue Band Margarine, Berec Batteries, UTC, Coca-Cola amongst others.

  She later moved to LTC Advertising (now LTC-JWT Lagos) in 1989, and spent 10 years (with a brief stint as head of Account Management in Advertising Techniques (Nig) Ltd in 1991). She moved to England in 1992 and worked at the West End Job Employment Centre, London. She eventually returned to Nigeria in 1993 to rejoin LTC Advertising in 1994. In 1995, Oke became the 1st female Client Service Director of LTC-JWT Advertising and in 1997 she became the Director/Head Client Services and Media Department. She left LTC-JWT in 2000 for a “career adventure” with her family to Abuja for four years, working in an NGO and eventually, the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as the pioneer Chief Public Affairs Officer before she moved to 141 Worldwide as the Chief Operating Officer/Business Director and became an Executive Director in 2008.

  Oke, a well travelled and highly professional advertising practitioner prior to the elections, had proved her worth in other capacities within the association as the chairman of the highly successful Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), an award initiative organised by the association to celebrate creative excellence within the advertising industry.

Hoodrush set to unleash budding talents

25/7/12

Hoodrush, a musical thriller, starring some of the best and emerging young talents in the industry, would soon hit the movie market. The movie stars O. C Ukeje, Gabriel Afolayan, Chelsea Eze, Ijeoma Agu, Lilian Byoma and a host of others, and directed by a young player in the industry, Dimeji Ajibola, CEO of Flipsyde Studios.

  Hoodrush tells the story of two brothers closely bonded by their love for music, but deeply separated by their means for success. Shez and Tavier are two of a kind pursuing a Herculean dream of becoming music stars. But all they have is their amazing vocal talents, good looks, a home in the ghetto and menial jobs that could hardly pay for their clothing and feeding expenses. 

  They soon realise they need more to achieve their dreams. Participating and winning a credible talent hunt show comes as the only natural option. Being at the bottom of the societal grid, ghetto life’s ugly fabric begins to wear on them and their eventual vulnerability puts them at the mercy of the high and mighty. 

  Shez, the older one, falls victim of an older lady with a bad reputation in drugs and human trafficking. Reluctant at first, he soon realises that this lady could be the key to unlock his success and open the doors to his long-cherished dream of becoming a music star.

  Without his brother’s knowledge, he falls into the wiles of this old lady to chart his financial freedom, until he’s presented with a dilemma to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea.

 Bimbo Akintola says Hoodrush is a step in the right direction. According to Ajibola, who is also the screenwriter of the movie, “Bimbo’s performance in this movie is something people should watch out for as she gives only what a Bimbo Akintola can give”.

  Winner of Yoruba Movie Academy Awards, Gabriel Afolayan in Hoodrush, “Everything is centred around the hood no matter how rich you are. If you are not affecting any life, perhaps your purpose is defeated. For me, my childhood experience of ghetto helped me in this regard. The film is one of its kind; I say this based on my experience in other films. It is a big job. It gave room for so much, physically and emotionally. It is not just about acting. It is also about singing as all the actors did the singing in the movie”.

  For Ijeoma Agu, a graduate of Biochemistry, who started acting professionally in 2007 and made her official appearance in the film Eldorado by Felix Duker, the movie has a cutting edge in the international market. She will be taking part in three plays by African writers that will be staged at the London Olympics, saying, “The standard I set for myself, the edge is that you are living quality standard, nobody wants mediocre acting, especially when you are working with a professional firm with big budget involved. Hoodrush is one film that I know the progress of life and opportunity lie. How well we pattern our lives there is always a trace of the hood”.

  Leelee Byoma, who played the role of a presenter in the film, narrated her experience and challenges even as a new act that came into the scene in 2010 through Emem Ison’s Academy, where she shuttle between acting and script writing. She has played several roles in some movies and was part of the cast in the movie, I Will Take My Chance.

  She said, “As a presenter, it was a really good experience because I was not one before now and the director always said he wanted a lively presenter and not a slow-talker then I had to adjust. I did a little of research both on the internet, watched other presenters do their thing and I got it. Apart from God, who is my source of inspiration, there are so many actors that I watched. Genevive, because of her professionalism, Rita Dominic due to her talent and the different roles she plays and Liz Benson”.

  For Chelsea Eze, it was pure luck being part of the cast. She came into the industry fully in 2009 with Silent Scandal with which she won three awards in Africa Movie Academy Awards in the Most Promising Actor category and BON Award for the Revelation of the year category among others. For Hoodrush, I heard about the movie from a friend but that was after the audition. So, I prayed to God. After some contact, I was called for a one-on-one audition and I was picked after it.

French Made Easy in print

30/6/12

FOR lecturers, teachers and students of French in universities, secondary and primary schools, as well as representatives in international communities, missionary schools and all classes of people who want to learn the French language afresh, there is now relief.

  In his book, French Made Easy, the author George Simeon, makes learning French both interesting and fun, as his graphic representation of the main facts through Key Points makes it easy for learners to follow the structure of the language couched in a simple elementary manner.

  The skillful and meticulous presentation and treatment of the subject is self-explanatory, and will help leaners solve problems relating to reading, writing and speaking of French in a relaxing way.

  Also, the author’s clear articulation of the subject matter and the presentation of facts undoubtedly stem from his wealth of experience as a teacher of French language. The 74-paged educational material serves as a lecture note and comes useful even without the help of a tutor. 

 French Made Easy comes highly recommend to all classes of French leaners, starting from beginners.

Keeping alive ancient traditions through narratives

Like Father Like Son is a story of a typical rural setting and communal life, and how traditional mores affect every member living in t. It centres on Onyonyo Aku, a town surrounded by hills. The story is about Ozoduru Nwokenkpo, a man who lives a life of an alcoholic and consorts with women of easy virtues. His death is also unsung due to his inability to listen to advice on the danger and the wrath of the gods based the town’s beliefs.

  Like the title suggests, Nwokenkpo’s only son Okoro is expected to redeem the battered image of his late father, but the reverse unfortunately happens. He not only tows the despicable path of his father but goes ahead to violate the sacred and revered customs of the people through his abominable behaviour.

  He impregnates Ogbonneye, the village belle, makes her to abort the first child and later abandons her with the second child on the way. This results in her untimely death. Her death becomes a source of many speculations in the village. While some condemn Okoro’s act of rejection by not taking responsibility for the pregnancy, others could not understand why she commits suicide for being pregnant again. The story mystifies the villagers.

  When the village eventually goes to war, the past seems to have faded away, and only stories of the war are on the lips of the people.

  Okoro becomes a hero of sorts and much loved by everybody. He excels in hunting, and this makes him loved by the ladies in the village. Like his father, he never takes his eyes off attractive ladies, especial those that play hard to get. Onugwuja Ike becomes his next victim. Heavy drinking and womanizing with both married and unmarried women, keeping late nights and staying away from home for long periods become his habit.

  After several warnings and his refusal to toe the right path, the wrath of the ancestors falls on him; it is without remedy. Although the gods are appeased, retributive justice no doubt takes its natural course as the gods of the land torment him, with the shadow of Ogbonneye and her unborn baby also haunting him to his death.

  The author paints the picture of rural peace in Onyonyo Aku. But he is quick to point out that such peace has been broken with the advent of Western lifestyles. He states that Onyonyo Aku people are “homogeneous, widely respected for their total devotion, honesty and industriousness. Their business moves them to places but in spite of all that, they remain loyal and faithful to the core. Their sexual interaction and enjoyment remains an exclusive reserve for their husbands, thus enjoying a pride of place in the hearts of their men.

  “Today, the story is different. Things have fallen apart as some of our women have thrown decorum to the dogs. The legendary Onyonyo Aku dignity is being dragged in the mud on the altar of women libration and Christianity”.

  This can well be explained in the face of modern developments. In Like Father Like Son, it is clear that tradition plays a major role in the village. Respect for tradition seems crucial. Repercussion from the gods in times of irreverence may take long but it comes nonetheless, as there are no sacred cows. For every offence there is always a day of reckoning; there is no sin that will go unpunished even though it is takes time coming.

  The book has many grammatical and spelling errors that mar its enjoyment. It would, however, enable a good many to learn about some traditions and how the forefathers and gods should be appeased when the need arises. One thing Like Father Like Son points out is that life is governed by tradition irrespective of the level of development.

  The author, Diyoke, should be saluted for giving insight into such area that is fast receding.

Sport brands awards for July 15

9/7/12

TO appreciate the contributions of sports-loving brands to the development of sports in Nigeria, Sports Brands Nigeria Awards (SBNA) has concluded arrangements to host its first edition of the awards.

     According to the Chief Executive Officer of SBNA, Ojeikere Aikhoje, the award, which is the first of its kind in the country, is meant to boost the efforts of individuals and corporate organisations in revamping the economy and the nation at large.

   “We’re excited that it’s the first of its kind in Nigeria,” he said. “SBNA is a broad range of sports-related endeavours; this is the first opportunity to celebrate business achievements in sports.

   “Over the years, brands have done a lot to boost the sports industry without getting the desired recognition. This award will ensure that deserving sports brands are celebrated. It’s all about celebrating the impact of leading brands in the business of sports.”

   The award scheduled for July15 at the Sheraton Hotels & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos, will be in 14 categories. The Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, First Bank Nigeria Plc, Shell Nigeria, Proprietor of ABS FC, Senator Bukola Saraki, Chairman of Dolphins Basketball Club, Wale Aboderin, and Publisher of Complete Sports, Dr. Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase, among others, will be honoured at the event.

   The role of sports brands in the development and evolution of sports on and off the field has been widely ignored, especially in West Africa. Nigerian former International, Victor Ikpeba, said: “I’m convinced that the Sports Brands Nigeria Awards has come at the right time; this will boost Nigeria’s sports industry.

   “With the emergence of SBNA as the major player responsible for acknowledging the special efforts in the industry, one can only hope that this will be the end to one unfortunate trend.”

In Lagos, stakeholders canvass review of outdoor regulation

THE grievances, many practitioners, agencies and clients, in the outdoor sector of the advertising industry had bottled up in the past couple of years were laid bared at the 2012 Advertising Forum held in Lagos, last week.

  The forum organised by Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) for hours looked at the germane issues in the outdoor business. And it was not just coincident as the theme of the day focused on regulation and control in the outdoor.

 From the various speakers to the comments by the participants, it was clear that the practitioners were not happy about the state of things in that sector of the advertising industry. They did not just air their opinions, the tone with which their opinions were delivered, was one that signal an aggrieved group.

   As they took turn to talk, they maintained that the present trend of regulation and control cannot continue, otherwise, they will soon be out of business and in no long distance, the economy will also suffer. This, to them, is why something should be done urgently because the trend is not something encouraging whether for operators or advertisers.

  Although, only one state regulator was on ground, he defended his state’s action and promised that as a practitioner, he knew what his colleagues went through in the Lagos experience, so he would not want to inflict more pains on them.  

   Setting the tone for the day’s discussion, the Chairman of APCON, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, in justifying the reason for the choice of the topic and the focus on outdoor in his welcome address, aptly voiced the position of many of the stakeholders when he said, “Outdoor is a major component of the advertising practice which in recent years has suffered some decline especially as a result of various regimes of regulation at various levels resulting in high costs of operations for the practitioners, making the hoardings too expensive for clients who have gradually been investing their budgets in other media.”  

   The President of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr. Charles Chijide, in his paper, also re-echoed some of the positions of the Chairman of APCON.

    In conveying the position of his association about the state of things, he said, “Let me confess that I am touched and impressed by the choice of this year’s theme, as nothing would have been more appropriate at this time when outdoor advertising is enmeshed in the quagmire of statutory regulations and controls. It is indeed like swimming in sharks-infested, highly troubled water. There is no contesting the fact that issue of regulations and control is obviously a universal phenomenon as no social organisation or business environment survives in an atmosphere of indiscipline, disorder and anomie.”

   Expressing the downturn in business as a result of state regulation, control and monitoring of the outdoor business driven mostly to increase Internally Generated Revenue by most states, Chijide disclosed that over 70 per cent of operators’ hoardings are now vacant while many agencies had reduced their staff strength by over 50 percent.

   Besides the local, state and federal governments levies, he said the challenge of street urchins or miscreants had become a great threat and dangerous development to the outdoor advertising practice, “because most times not less than twenty thousand naira are paid to the area boys when his members need to put up something on their hoardings,” he lamented. 

  Also speaking on the theme, the Director General of Oyo State Signage Advertising Agency, Mr. Yinka Adepoju, who observed that to a good number of people, the moment regulation and control is mentioned, people become jittery because of the so many factors associated with the subject matter.

  “To some, regulation and control is scary because of the weight it carries while to others it is a punitive measure. Of course, you and I know that it is not.”

 Adepoju, who went down memory lane to give an insight into efforts by some government officials to clean up the city, which negatively rubbed off on the outdoor business, said that the deplorable conditions of outdoor boards and signage in many of the states including Oyo, has forced the government on some of these states to align with the local government councils to combat the challenge of clusters and restore sanity to the state landscape.

 “Without being unnecessarily biased, the pattern of outdoor in existence before the emergence of some of these regulatory agencies was nothing to write home about.”

   Using his state as an example, he gave a pictorial account of what he met on ground when he came in and also gave a pictorial insight of where they hope to be.

   “When I assumed office two months ago, the outdoor environment was in a sorry state. But, because we needed to quickly turn around the deplorable outdoor space, we immediately embarked on cleaning up exercise though not without resistance to make our environment aesthetically appealing.

  “State governments are now very conscious of their environment thus they not only see as top priority the setting up of agencies to control the practice of outdoor advertising in their state, which to them, is key especially in line with environmental laws, they also see it as another cash cow importantly as a tool of increasing their internally generated revenue to support other developmental projects in the state.

   “Another major concern for many responsible governments would be to ensure a safe, descent and billboard friendly environment for its citizenry and visitors into the state. Such environment no doubt will be conducive for business and other economic activities that would make the state to develop fast,” OYSAA boss said.

   The lead speaker, Mr. Tony Idigbe SAN, gave a brief about the regulation and control of outdoor business in United State of America, pointing out areas where the Nigeria could learn and borrow ideas from.

   Idigbe listed multiple regulations and taxes, uncertainty in regulation, absence of compensation for arbitrary intervention as challenges confronted the sectors.

  According to him, some of these actions had promoted impunity while some of the agencies had gone beyond regulation to providing the service. He requested for the passage of a law that nothing should be removed without payment of compensation. This, to him, will stop the arbitrariness.

  For the President of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria, (ADVAN), Mr. Kola Oyeyemi, all stakeholders must tread softly so that the whole process will not collapse and nothing will be available.

   “We have said different kinds of things from the issue of the rate, that are quite expensive and driven a lot of advertisers out of the outdoor media. We talk about the multiple regulation and taxation, which has also affected the practitioners and how advertisers use the space. We also talked about the conflicts between certain sector in the outdoor industry, sites between military formation and how that affects advertisers. 

   “We also talked about the ultimate impact of this on the economy, if businesses are crippled because of this high cost, it means people are going to lay off at some point and that has a huge impact on the economy.

  “It is important that the relationship among all the various arms of governments and regulators is harmonise to the extent that we are able to form a proper way forward for the industry so that we do not just get the cost exorbitantly because it will be eventually passed to the consumers, and we all are both consumers and service providers,” said the General Manager of Consumer Marketing of MTN. 

   The Chairman of the forum, Senator Enyinnanya Abaribe, who is also the Senate Committee Chairman on Information, disclosed the Senate’s willingness to work with the stakeholders to move forward and make the necessary positive change in the advertising industry.

Segun Olusola: Rain Of Tributes As Night Falls On Veteran Broadcaster, Culture Patriarch

Ambassador Olusola

June 23

The entire art and diplomatic community has been plunged into mourning since Thursday when news of Chief Segun Olusola’s death filtered in. The eminent art patron died in a Lagos hospital at 6.30pm on Thursday after a brief illness. The Olusola’s Moniya Art Gallery and home on Babs Animashaun, Surulere was a beehive of activities all day yesterday as visitors trooped in to sympathise with the family.

  On hand to receive the numerous sympathisers was Olusola’s son and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Refugee Foundation (AREF), Mr. Olujimi Olusola, who also spoke on behalf of the family as he addressed the media on the death of the culture patriarch, veteran broadcaster and great humanist.

   The junior Olusola had stated that their father had been taken to hospital shortly after he took ill the same day although he didn’t say what the nature of the illness was.

  But it was gathered that after Olusola complained of tiredness that he was taken to hospital. The junior Olusola confirmed that he was with him and had spoken with his father when he indicated he wanted to rest. He passed on shortly after in what he described as a peaceful death.

  His statement: “Yesterday evening at 6.30pm, Amb. Segun Olusola, passed on peacefully in a Lagos hospital. He has been hale and hearty before then. All of us were surprised. But we thank God he went peacefully as we could have wished for; there was no theatrics. He just slept off. We will make the other announcements as soon as possible. We thank you all for the support. He was a wonderful father.”

  Among the early callers to the Olusola residence yesterday included former Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Taiwo Alimi, popular musician and chairman, Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MSCN), Orits Williki; one of the actors in the Village Headmaster,  Dejumo Lewis; the Fadesewa of Simawa, Oba Gbenga Sonuga; and Princess Adunni Adeniran.

  Others were governor of Ogun State, Sen. Ibikunle Amosu; former governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel; former presidential candidate of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and his wife; the Akran of Badagry, Wheno Aholu Meno Toyi I; Funmi Odusolu; the Yoruba Council of Obas in the Republic of Benin was represented by Tolulase of Ajase-Ile Kingdom, Porto-Novo; renowned filmmaker Mahmoud Ali-Balogun and Yinka Davies.

  Also there were former Chairman, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Rasheed Gbadamosi; National Coordinator of Odua Peoples Congress, Otunba Gani Adams; and president, Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe-Okei Odumakin. The list of sympathisers is inexhaustible and it keeps growing, reflecting how great Chief Olusola was in his choice careers of broadcasting, culture promotion and humanitarian services.

Edem Duke (Culture and Tourism Minister)

CHIEF Olusola was a total man of culture who used all resources at his disposal to promote indigenous values and norms. The late Culture Icon and Ambassador was a man of peace who believed strongly in Nigeria and in using the mechanism of culture to attain peaceful coexistence and enduring development. He gave untiring contributions to activities and policies of the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation and other national and international culture agencies.

   Beginning with his days in broadcasting to his national assignment as a diplomat and his foray into social work as Founder and Chairman of African Refugee Foundation, the late Ambassador set for himself and kept faith with his clearly-defined role of advancing culture in its living and useful form. As a broadcaster, he created one of the longest running series in Nigerian television history The Village Headmaster, which highlighted the relevance and tenacity of several aspects of indigenous cultural values even in the face of modernization.

  The entire culture industry would miss Chief Olusola, the cultural patriarch who stood tall for culture throughout his lifetime. His death has created a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. May God give the family of the deceased, the culture and diplomatic communities and the entire nation the fortitude to bear the loss!

Governor Ibikunle Amosun

SENATOR Ibikunle Amosun has mourned the death of foremost Nigerian broadcaster, theatre artist and diplomat, Amb. Olusegun Olusola.

  The governor commiserated with President Goodluck Jonathan over the death of the ex-Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia and also offered his condolences to the good people of Ogun State, where the renowned television producer hailed from.

  Amosun described Olusola as "a thoroughbred professional, consummate administrator and humanist extraordinaire, who  distinguished himself in public life."

  He recalled that Amb. Olusola created the popular television drama series, The Village Headmaster, which has remained a reference point for generations and a source of inspiration to thousands of young artistes.

  He noted, "His service to humanity through the African Refugee Foundation (AREF), which he founded, brought succour and hope to many African refugees. He will be sorely missed". He prayed for God to grant the family of the deceased and the art community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Governor Raji Fashola of Lagos State

In a condolence message to the family of the deceased, Fashola regretted that the death of the creator of the epic national television series, Village Headmaster has robbed the country of the ace broadcaster who, he described, as one of the country’s finest models in broadcasting, culture, the arts and diplomacy.

Olusola’s daughter, Oluwatoyin; Fadesewa of Simawa, Oba Gbenga Sonuga; son, Jimi Olusola and another daughter, Temidayo during the press briefing at their residence

   Fashola noted among the major contributions of Olusola, his founding of the African Refugees Foundation (AREF), which he said contributed to solving the problems of refugees and internally displaced persons. He added that Chief Olusegun Olusola’s constant admonition that situations that create refugees or internally displaced persons must be avoided should be hearkened to by all at this time in the country.

  He noted that the passage of the icon would create a big vacuum in the broadcast and cultural space of the country and challenges the youths of the country to be inspired by his life to always “aspire to be the very best in their chosen callings” the same way Ambassador Olusola and his generation excelled in their chosen professions.

  The governor acknowledged the outstanding contributions of the Village Headmaster series to the drama and cultural development of the country and prayed God to grant the soul of the respected diplomat eternal repose.

OLusola’s daughters, Temidayo and Oluwatoyin and Dejumo Lewis of Village Headmaster fame at the residence of Ambassador Olusola in Surulere, Lagos on Friday

We have lost a culture icon, humanist in Olusola — Aregbesola

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the death of former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Chief Segun Olusola, as a colossal loss to the entire country.

  Olusola, the Governor stated, epitomised all that were edifying about the culture of the Nigerian people. Aregbesola, through a statement by his Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, recalled the noble contributions of the late Olusola to the growth of the television medium in the country.

  “The likes of Olusola brought out the best in television programming in the country. Their days in television productions were marked with diligence, attention to the robustness of our culture as Black people. Their productions aimed the development of the human minds and the evolution of an egalitarian society,” the Governor stated

  As a humanist, Aregbesola recalled the establishment of the African Refugees Foundation, an initiative which the governor said aimed at bringing succor to those suffering from the pangs of wars in many parts of Africa.

He added, “That singular, courageous move has placed the late Olusola among world’s most compassionate people. The best we can do as a country is to ensure that his initiatives are not allowed to fizzle out with his death.”

We've lost a committed patriot in Amb. Olushola — Gbenga Daniel

IN the death of Ambassador Olushola Nigeria has lost a diplomat, peace builder, foremost promoter of culture, humanist, patriot, a consummate writer and dramatist. He contributed immensely to the development of Nigeria with his sterling role in the growth of television through the village headmaster series, which he created. The African Refugee Foundation, which he founded reached out to vulnerable people all over the continent and beyond. Through the Foundation many got a second chance in life. He was ever so committed to serving humanity wherever he found himself. The best way to remember him is for all of us to keep his legacies alive by working for the peace and unity of Nigeria and promoting the best of our cultures and emphasizing things that unite us as a nation. We will all miss this great man.

Dejumo Lewis; Chief Taiwo Alimi and Olori Fadesewa of Simawa at the residence of Olusola on a condolence visit 

Chief Taiwo Alimi (former DG, Voice of Nigeria)

He was the most patriotic Nigerian this country has ever produced. And in the area of humanitarian work, he was the founder of African Refugee Foundation. He cared about not only Nigerians but also people of Africa. He was also the first African television producer in the entire continent. What the country will miss about him most was that he remained a leader who lived by example in the area of culture, tradition and art.

  This is what Nigeria of today needs. Till now, we don’t have leaders leading by examples. He was my uncle, mentor as he led me into broadcasting; he’s not going to be missed in Nigeria alone but in Africa as a whole.

DG of NTA, Alhaji Musa Mayaki

The Ag. Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Alhaji Musa B. Mayaki, on behalf of the Board and Management and entire staff of the Authority, regrets to announce the demise of Ambassador Segun Olusola, former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia.  He was aged 77.

  A veteran broadcaster, ace dramatist and culture icon, Ambassador Olusola was one of the pioneers of Broadcasting in Nigeria.  He began his career at the Nigeria Broadcasting Service (NBC), Ibadan, in 1955, from where he moved to the Western Nigerian Television Authority WNTV) on inception in 1959, and later to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) where he had a glorious career which saw him serve in various capacities until retirement in 1987.

  The defining moment of Chief Olusola’s career arrived in 1968 with the creation of the famous television drama, “The Village Headmaster”, renowned as the best and longest running television programme in Nigeria.

The entire management and staff of the Nigerian Television Authority are deeply pained by the loss of this broadcasting colossus whose immeasurable contributions had a defining impact on the growth and development of the Nigerian Television Authority and the broadcasting industry in Nigeria in general.

Martin Adaji (AD/CEO National Troupe OF Nigeria) 

I received the news with rude shock. In fact, I thought about him earlier in the day (Thursday) during our programme on the commemoration of the World Music Day as someone who, like Pa Aig-Imoukhuede, had constantly and consistently supported our programmes and indeed any artistic event he is invited to. When the programme rolled on and I didn’t see him, I concluded that he might not have been in town because he would either attend our programmes or send words through a representative.

  We, at the National Troupe will miss him — his support and advice and criticism. He will always leave a 'welldone note' or 'it can be better' note each time we invited him to our productions. Nigeria has lost a great cultural icon. Chief Olusola will be sorely missed. We shall on our part join in the effort to accord him a befitting burial and we shall within the limits of our resources be part of any effort aimed at immortalising a man I call 'Baba Culture'.

An icon in the culture sector - Ayakoroma

The shocking news of Ambassador Olusola’s death, according to the Executive Secretary, National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Dr. Barclays Ayakoroma, is like a dream. “He was a reference point in the history of television drama in Nigeria. As an icon in the culture sector, his contributions have been invaluable in repositioning the sector in our quest for sustainable national development.”

Maidugu: His is the symbol of NAFEST

The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. M.M. Maidugu, in his reaction said it was a sad moment for Nigerians particularly those in the culture sector. This, he said, was because the industry has lost an icon of arts and culture in Nigeria.

  “The sector is able to attain its present level of achievement as a result of the contribution of people like him. He had given us the inspiration, professionalism and intellectual strength to propel the sector to its present level. In the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), he was like our umbrella in the sense that he has been able to give us a sense of direction and leadership. He is there for us at all times, he was the brain behind the FESTAC 77 which metamorphosed into the National Council for Arts and Culture and was always at all the staging of the festival since I assumed office as the chief executive of NCAC.

   “He not only honoured us with his presence, he was also the symbol of the festival, which we collectively work towards sustaining and developing so that all the stakeholders can benefit from it. He gave us inspiration and courage we have, he provided the leadership we needed. We will ever remember him because he is irreplaceable.

  “We pray God to give his immediate family and the art community the fortitude to bear the loss.”

He was an inspiration – Prof. Olu Obafemi

The death of Ambassador Olusola was is a monumental loss to culture and the art. He was a major inspiration and a major guide o the inner search of the art of the country. He was one of the major supporters of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). He was a Patron of no mean stature and a committed Nigerian, who led a generation of broadcasters to establish a very important medium for the country. He was one of the most decent, most noble and most humble Nigerians of his generation.

Personally, he was always available for advise and intimate discussion when I was in the leadership of ANA. I will miss him and the nation will miss him as well.

  Ambassador Olusola was a great Patriarch of culture and the arts, a critical link between the people of culture and the people of power. He was a member of the first generation of professional broadcasting and a pioneer cultural activist of Nigeria and Africa . The artistic, creative and intellectual realm of our nation and the world will be greatly diminished by his death.

He was a great philanthropist - Ben Tomoloju

The death of Olusola is shocking to us and it is very painful. He has been a role model to us through our childhood, when we used to watch the television drama he created – The Village Headmaster. He also proved very relevant to the cultural development of Nigeria and the administration of electronic media and of course, Nigerian diplomacy.

  He was a great philanthropist, particularly for his role in mitigating refugee crises both within Nigeria and across the continent.  His death is so painful because to the very last days of his life, he was active in all realms and traditionally, he was a role model, not only because he was high chief in Remo but because he promoted art and culture physically, intellectually and spiritually. He does not compromise quality traditional expression.

   Personally, I commiserate with his family and the entire cultural sector of Nigeria.

Olusegun Runsewe (Director-General, Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation)

IN a statement in Abuja, Otunba Runsewe described the late Chief Olusola as a great leader whose deep knowledge of art and culture made him an icon worthy of emulation. He added that the former diplomat impacted positively on many Nigerians particularly from his legendary fountain of knowledge in cultural matters and in broadcasting.

  Otunba Runsewe also described him as a passionate culture ambassador whose passing on would create a vacuum in the arts and culture sector.

  While commiserating with his widow and children, the NTDC boss prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed.

Orits Williki

I’M still in shock. It first came in as a rumor so confirming it is painful and sad. The father has just passed on. He is a father to all. I don’t know anybody that will come to him that baba turned him or her back. If they are 2000 persons, he has 2000 times to give. He is a father who wants to satisfy all. I always tell him nobody is as strong as he is. The good thing is that he died a good man.

  For the art community, it is a great lost. It is just like looking for somebody that will step into the shoes of Fela Anikulapo Kuti. I’m yet to find who can step into baba’s shoes. Each time I called him, he was always ready to give his advice on issues. He was my godfather!

Dejumo Lewis (who played the role of Oba Ajelende in Village Headmaster)

I had a lot of interaction with him. He was my oga; he taught me television production first before I got trained. As far as I’m concerned, he is not dead. He was a man who did so much for this country and Africa at large. Such people don’t ever die. To many, it is an elderly person that has died, but to me, his is a transition of the living. In received the news with mixed feelings. I’m only consoled like the rest of us. He lived a good and exemplary life; as a man of culture that he lived for till death. He has no excuse for being a culture man. There goes one of the greatest men of time. You were simple great in all ramifications: as a TV producer, a professional, an Ambassador and everything you were involved in. Indeed, you give me a great part of my fulfillment.

Bruce Onobrakpeya

AMBASSADOR Segun Olusola’s death came as a shock to me, particularly when one was not aware he took ill.

  Few days ago I heard he made a statement on refugee status in Africa on the occasion of the World Refugee Day.

  Olusola had been a very important personality in the culture and media sectors in addition to his well-known successful career as an Ambassador.

  Several times, I drew inspirations from him whenever we met at events. He appeared to have the answers to many problems. I hope the family would have the strength to bear the loss. And also, one hopes that the culture sector will be able to continue from where he left.

Omooba Yemisi Shyllon

CHIEF Segun Olusola grew our consciousness on the beauty of African culture. He continued relentlessly on that line and saw the need to protect people affected by situations they know nothing about. So he set up the African Refugee Foundation.

  I have met him severally at events, and saw him pray in the real African tradition, praying to Olodumare. He held strongly to Yoruba and African culture; no pretext about that for him.

  We will miss all that, and hope to find someone to replace him in that light. But in this era where people are dumping their culture for Western ideals, it will be difficult to find a replacement for him.

Gamaliel Onosode

HE was a man with many parts. He had a great heart and a humane disposition. He was always concerned about those around him and as an artist this fact was brought out very clearly in his professional life. We can therefore truly say we shall miss him. One additional point is that he was very much committed to the pursuit of excellence.

  Apart from many other public occasions which we have interacted, he was very much involved with an organisation called 'Poise', an organisation designed to help those who render service to the people to comport themselves with such dignity that wherever they happen to be rendering services people will feel at home with them, and also have the satisfaction that quality service was being offered.

  It is not usual to find public figures like the late Olushola. His pursuit of excellence, in a nutshell, is a virtue that can be used to appraise just how badly or well we have done as a people. We shall definitely miss him, not only as an artist but as someone who had this commitment for the pursuit of excellence.

Ayodele Ganiu (Project Director, Yoruba Drum Festival

Intro Afrika)

I felt very sad to hear the news of the demise of our Vice Patron, His Excellency, Ambassador Segun Olusola OFR. It was sad news to me not because baba was too young, but because Nigeria, and indeed the entire Africa, has just lost an irreplaceable cultural icon. Ambassador Olusola shared the vision of a Yoruba Drum Festival (YDF) proposed by Intro Afrika; he volunteered his time and energy to guide us through all the challenges of the maiden edition at Terra Kulture in 2011 and the 2012 Awareness Show at Yoruba Tennis Club in Lagos.

  On May 6, 2012, Ambassador Olusola led prominent Nigerians to a pre-departure show at the Consulate-General of Federal Republic of Germany, Lagos, to bid farewell to YDF ambassadors travelling to participate at the 2012 Karneval der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) in Berlin, Germany. He was always there for us when we needed him. Baba will forever be remembered for his role in developing YDF from a mere paper work to an internationally recognised festival. May the almighty God grant him eternal rest!

Leo Adebola Aggroy (CEO, African Centre Project, Badagry)

HE is our president and we have been at it together in the past one year, struggling to get things together in the art and culture sector. Recently, he gave me an accreditation letter in the area of culture. My first call was the Nigeria/Brasillian Chambers of Commence. Efforts to reach him since have been abortive until yesterday when it was announced that he has passed on. I am already missing him because he is a father to me. I really can’t say how much I will miss him because is my father. He always says, ‘whatsoever you can do for your daddy, do it now; there is no time’, as if he knew he was going to die.

  His favourite quote to me are many but I do remember when he said “allow no obstacle to stop you from moving forward” and  I remember telling him too that “there is no reason in living without a legacy and there is no purpose in death without a legacy”.

Olawatoyin Laditi nee Olusegun (one of his daughters, who arrived from London, spoke with tears in her eyes)

We thank God for a life well spent. Daddy belonged to the entire continent of Africa. I will really miss him and I am grateful to God that he lived a good life. We thank God for the life he lived and for the faith he seems to believe in. he taught us to always take responsibilities for our actions. Never blame another person for your misfortune.

  He was a man of integrity and strongly stood for what he believed him. As I arrived on Thursday morning from England, he laughed and waved at me. I thought it was a sign of relief or greeting, not knowing it was a goodbye. He died the same day but I thank God he gave me the honour of seeing him before he died.

 Dr. Peju Layiwola

CHIEF Segun Olusola was a great man of culture, a liberated mind. I always admired his warmth and charisma. He was always very courteous. Any time you greeted him, he took time to warmly address you. He lived the Yoruba ideal of an 'Omoluabi'. He will be greatly missed.

Ezeoba John Okoroafor (consultant, AREF)

His death is a tremendous loss. He’s a selfless leader, who is dedicated to service to God and mankind. He used his resources to touch people’s life. He didn’t relent in offering comfort even at his own expense. He is an icon of nobility and his integrity had no equal.

Our great teacher, great leader, Segun Olusola made the country to mourn. Since yesterday when the news came to me, I have not slept. I have been here since the early hours because I shared in his global ideals.

Princess Adunni Adediran

‘OF all the wonders I yet have seen, it seems strange that man should fear, seeing death a necessary end that will come when it will come’. Ambassador Segun Olushola had to die like all human beings. So, I, too, writing this, will die. May his soul rest in perfect peace. And all his good deeds be rewarded to his children. Amen

 Ambassador E.T Okpo

MY brother, colleague, senior, may your soul rest in peace.

Chike Ofili

I mourn the salty subject of my biography, who’s Nigeria’s Giver of Himself and Time to Others, Ambassador Segun Olusola. He lived to better humanity as the bridge across divides deploying human, media and Public Relations with language and storytelling skills as a modern day griot, bringing gems and artefacts from the past to map the present.

Omoba Oluwasegun Eko

He died in the hands of his children as a fulfilled man of the people. He was optimistic about life, kept on talking about events, culture and peace, indicating his mind was with the people. He died at a ripe age of 77. RIP my loving uncle, Ambassador Chief Segun Olusola.

Tolulase of Ajase-Ile Kingdom

"Baba was responsible for bringing unity among all the Yoruba obas in the Republic of Benin. His death is indeed a great loss to us. In the beginning of Yoruba settlement, there was no council of obas but he created one for us and because of this he established unity among all the obas.

Ambassador Segun Olusola’s Death: Nigerian Film Corporation Reacts

The Nigerian Film Corporation has reacted to the death of Ambassador Segun Olusola, describing it as shocking and painful. Afolabi Adesanya, Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Corporation said, indeed Nigerians, enthusiasts of television drama, the theatre and film will surely miss this brilliant and ebullient personality who along with other Nigerians spearheaded the revolution that also aided the emergence of the present day Nigerian motion picture industry.

As a committed artiste and culture promoter, Ambassador Olusola not only leaves an indelible mark in the Nigerian creative industry through his landmark in the now rested long running television soap-drama ‘’The Village Headmaster’’, which he created.

Adesanya further said that because of the depth and passion with which late Olusola carried on his trade – Acting, Producing and Directing, and his quest for excellence, the Nigerian Film Corporation in the year 2008 instituted one of the coveted prizes of ZUMA Film Festival (2008) after him; Ambassador Segun Olusola Prize for Best Short Film.

On behalf of the Nigerian Film Corporation and the entire Nigerian motion picture industry, Adesanya prayed that Almighty God will grant Olusola a peaceful rest, and to the family, the fortitude to bear the painful loss of one of Nigeria’s best, who will also be remembered for his television credits, namely: ‘’The Palm wine Drunkard’’, ‘’Song of a Goat’’, ‘’ The Trials of Brother Jero’’ and more.

Brian Etuk

Head, Public Affairs