Lifestyle

The Road To The Past

Published

7 months ago

June 5, 2025

Last week, I wrote about the past—the glorious era of our education system. It was a time when deliberate efforts were made to engage young minds early, exposing them to diverse cultures and values through the written word. Education was not merely about passing exams; it was about shaping the mind, the character, and the society.

In the days that followed that piece, many of my contemporaries—and even some older—reached out. They shared how the article stirred a wave of nostalgia, transporting them to a forgotten past that now, through reflection, seemed nothing short of golden. One friend even reminded me of a song we used to sing with joy whenever the Aworerin journal was distributed in primary schools across the Western Region:

Aworerin dun, baba jowo ra fun mi

Aworerin dun jowo baba ra fun mi

Gbogbo wa ni, gbogbo wa ni

Gbogbo wa ni, gbogbo wa l’egbe Aworerin

We read books tailored to our environment and collective experience. Our literature reflected who we were—our values, our landscapes, our hopes. We respected our teachers, and society held them in high regard. I still remember how, at Emmanuel Primary School in Ado Ekiti, we composed an anthem for our revered headmaster, Mr. Boboye:

Mr. Boboye, Oga ile iwe wa

Ohun gbogbo la fi si ikawo re

Ma fi wa sile lai ni ireti

O dowo re, o dowo re

Mr. Boboye, o dowo re

Mr. Boboye and his colleagues carried themselves with a grace and dignity that commanded both fear and admiration. They delighted in raising children who would one day become assets to society. They were not just educators; they were moral compasses and mentors.

Above the school system were the Inspectors—next to God in the hierarchy of respect. Their visits, though occasional, were thunderous in impact. They checked lesson notes and registers, inspected pupils’ nails and teeth, and toured the school for cleanliness. Their presence instilled discipline. A pupil unable to recite “Ise ni Ogun ise, mura si ise re, ore mi…” risked the sting of the cane once they left. School inspectors, the Wole Wole (health inspector) of the big hat and short knickers, and tax collectors were the feared triad of the time. I recall a grand-uncle who once fled into the forest for three days to evade the tax man!

This, dear reader, is a pastiche of a time many have forgotten.

Permit me to dwell further on that era—a productive past where civil servants were truly civil, and public service was a noble calling. Many of the books that shaped our early understanding of society were authored by civil servants. Icons like D.O. Fagunwa and J.F. Odunjo were not just writers; they were officials in the Ministries of Education and Information. They wrote books, produced films to educate farmers about planting seasons and pest control, and traveled to towns and villages to share this knowledge.

Textbooks in science and the humanities were penned by schoolteachers and scholars in government service—not for profit, but for purpose. S.M.O Aka, M.A Ogundipe and E. Tregido in English, A.O Lawal and Adekunle Aromolaran in Economics. Awon Asa Ati Orisa Ile Yoruba by Olu Daramola and E Jeje ran us through the gamut and fine points of Yoruba culture.

Names like Pius Okigbo, Adebayo Adedeji, and others were known far and wide. Their works were to education what scripture is to faith. These were not just authors; they were torchbearers of enlightenment.

Chief Simeon Adebo, a towering figure in the Nigerian civil service, authored foundational texts in public administration. Their contributions cemented a structure of governance and civic responsibility that today seems almost mythical.

Ibadan, then the capital of the Western Region, was a publishing haven—home to Heinemann, Evans, Longman, Onibonoje Press, in the hinterland of Ekiti was Omolayo Press and Bookshop and other literary powerhouses. Almost every town had a bookstore or library. Creativity flourished. Research institutes were abundant, turning the city into a veritable laboratory of knowledge—on cocoa, palm oil, fruits , coconut, tropical plants, and more. The University of Ibadan stood tall, drawing the finest minds in pursuit of excellence.

Culture bloomed. From Ibadan to Osogbo, a new artistic renaissance took root. Poets, playwrights, carvers, painters, Adire makers—our soil yielded not just crops but genius. Theatre companies ( Alarinjo ) toured the schools, toured the country, sometimes even venturing as far as Kano. The world noticed. This was the context in which all those ‘firsts’ emerged—first television station, first stadium, first skyscraper.

This flourishing of ideas and culture in the First Republic was no accident. The colonial administrators had laid the groundwork, but it was the visionaries of the Awolowo-led Western Region who deepened the roots. Education was free and compulsory. Leaders were men of ideas, driven not by spectacle but by service. Imagine, if you will, Senator J.A.O. Odebiyi distributing hair clippers in a town square or Abraham Adesanya sharing hand-held blowers at a political rally. Impossible. These were men long on substance and short on drama.

But what of today?

Can you name a single public official who has gifted their intellect, time, or talent to the next generation through a book, a film, or a thought leadership piece? What we hear instead is a litany of scandals—officials awarding contracts to themselves, permanent secretaries racing to become billionaires, hosting ostentatious parties to mark birthdays or weddings.

The refrain across the land today is “schooling is a scam.” This isn’t just youthful disillusionment—it’s a symptom of societal decay. We now have “Associations of Yahoo Yahoo Mothers” urging their children toward wealth by any means, even ritual. One governor once established an SSCE ‘miracle center’ just to boost pass rates for political propaganda. Today, a law student can graduate without ever reading a book. Journalists show little interest in books, even when offered for free. Headmasters and teachers now find ways to extort pupils for money to do the naming ceremony of their children or roof their houses.

We are on a dangerous road. The wheels are coming off. The vehicle is veering off the highway, the engine sputtering on its last drop of fuel. As Wole Soyinka once warned, “The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny.” In our case, silence in the face of intellectual decay may be even deadlier.

Unless—and until—we find our way back to that forgotten road, that road of values, simplicity, service, and vision, we will remain trapped in this cycle of decline.

We must return to a time when men were admired for the content of their minds, not the size of their convoys. When the written word was sacred, and teachers were heroes. When children sang songs of knowledge, and inspectors symbolized integrity, not dread.

We must call forth a new generation of writers, teachers, civil servants, and leaders who will pick up the baton and run—not for themselves, but for the children yet unborn.

For as George Santayana famously said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” But I would add: those who remember and choose not to act are condemned to perish alongside it.

The road to the past is not just a journey into memory; it may well be the only way forward

Thenewsnigeria.com.ng

Lifestyle

Chimamanda: Heartbreaking Details About What Killed Author’s Late Son Emerge

Published

1 day ago

January 10, 2026

The Daily Voice

The renowned author and her family were plunged into grief a few days ago after a statement was released confirming the untimely death of one of her twin sons, Nkanu.

In a post shared by renowned journalist and BON Awards organiser, Seun Oloketuyi, more heartbreaking details about what happened before the little boy was pronounced dead were revealed.

According to the post, which was credited to the author, Nkanu might still be alive today if not for a tragic incident that occurred at Euracare Hospital on January 6, 2026.

It was reported that the little boy initially had what was believed to be a cold, which later turned out to be a serious infection. He was admitted to Atlantis Hospital and was scheduled to travel to the United States the following day for advanced medical treatment.

Doctors and a medical team at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore were reportedly already waiting to receive him.

Seun Oloketuyi further stated that the Johns Hopkins team requested an MRI scan and a lumbar puncture test. However, while preparations for his journey were ongoing, the Nigerian medical team administered intravenous medications.

While at Atlantis Hospital, Nkanu was referred to Euracare Hospital, which was said to be the best facility to carry out the procedures. On January 6, he was taken to Euracare, sitting in his father’s arms, after doctors advised that he be sedated to prevent movement during the MRI and central line procedure.

According to Chimamanda, she was standing outside the theatre when she suddenly saw people rushing in and immediately sensed that something was wrong.

Moments later, a doctor reportedly informed her that her son had been given too much propofol by the anaesthesiologist, causing him to become unresponsive and requiring urgent resuscitation.

She said Nkanu was later placed on a ventilator, intubated, and admitted into the ICU. A few hours later, he developed seizures and suffered a cardiac arrest. Sadly, he was later pronounced dead.

In the post, the writer was said to have alleged that her son was not properly monitored after being given an excessive dose of propofol. She also claimed that the anaesthesiologist casually carried him on his shoulder into the theatre and later switched off his oxygen after the central line procedure before again carrying him to the ICU.

The heartbreaking account has continued to stir deep emotions and outrage across social media.

Here is the Instagram post about Chimamanda’s son below:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTU2D7NjUz5/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=7b3a8bd2-870b-4003-946b-48ea4ab6865a

Lifestyle

Fusengbuwa Ruling House Fixes Monday To Fill Awujale Vacant Stool

Published

3 days ago

January 9, 2026

The Daily Voice

The Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu-Ode has fixed Monday, January 12, 2026, for the commencement of the selection process to fill the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

This followed a letter of clearance from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs through the Executive Chairman, Ijebu Ode Local Government, Ogun State, Hon. Dare Alebiosu.

Recall that the Ogun State government had, about three weeks ago, advised the Fusengbuwa ruling house to halt the selection process of the new paramount ruler of Ijebuland, having identified a procedural error that could encourage a floodgate of litigation

The cancellation of the earlier selection process was announced at a meeting the state government held with the ruling house and the Awujale Interregnum Administration Committee in Abeokuta

The stool became vacant following the death of 91-year-old Oba Sikiru Adetona in July after reigning for 65 years.
However, in a letter dated January 6th and signed by the Secretary of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Oke Adebanjo, the local government said that, having received clearance from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Fusengbuwa ruling house should commence the process to fill the vacant stool of Awujale.

The statement partly reads, “Following clearance from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, I am directed to convey the approval of the Executive Chairman, Hon. Dare Alebiosu, for the commencement of the process to fill the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.

“The Fusengbuwa Ruling House is hereby authorised to begin its internal selection process in accordance with the Customary Laws of Ijebuland and the Chieftaincy Regulations of Ogun State.

“To ensure proper administrative documentation, please you are to formally notify the local government of the date, time, and venue of the nomination exercise. which must be within 14 days from the receipt of this notification, while representatives of the local government will attend strictly as observers.

“This approval is issued to facilitate due process and remains without prejudice to the traditional rights and internal procedures of the Ruling House.”

Similarly, the ruling house has equally fixed Monday, January 12, for the nomination meeting for the vacant stool of Awujale at Bisrod Hall, GRA, Ijebu Ode

This was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday and signed by Otunba Abdulateef Owoyemi, the chairman of the ruling house.

The letter partly reads “We wish to thank you for your letter dated 6th January, 2026, Ref No IOLG.584/11/34, and confirm to you, that our Ruling House Family Nomination Meeting for the vacant position of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of ljebuland, has, by the Grace of Almighty God, been fixed to take place on Monday, 12th of January, 2026 at The BISROD HALL, GRA, Off Igbeba Road, Ijebu Ode by 12 Noon.

“We also hereby invite the Secretary of the Local Government and his officials, to please join us for the meeting, to observe and monitor our Ruling House Family Nomination meeting process, in accordance with the Law”.

Recall that the selection of the new Awujale, which has reportedly attracted over 60 contestants, has for some time generated significant interest, with the popular Fuji musician, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde, popularly called KWAM1, also declaring his interest in the throne.

Lifestyle

VIDEO: Housemaid Shares Sad Experience Working for Pastor’s Family

Published

4 days ago

January 8, 2026

The Daily Voice

A Nigerian lady has sparked mixed reactions on social media after sharing the ordeal she went through while working as a housemaid for a pastor’s family.

In a video spotted by Legit.ng, the lady, identified as thatikwuanogirl on TikTok, disclosed the hardship and abuse she endured behind closed doors while working for the pastor’s family.

According to her, working as a house help in a pastor’s home was one of the most difficult periods of her life. She explained that Sunday was the only day she was allowed in the sitting room to watch movies, as the family would usually be away at church.

She recalled a moment when she was allegedly threatened after she mistakenly left the front door open. In her words: “She told me that if anything happened to her child—even if she saw just one mosquito bite mark on the child’s body—she would throw me from upstairs to downstairs.”

She also claimed that the pastor’s wife boasted that if her actions resulted in a court case, she would use her money to settle it, and if that was not enough, she would have her father handle it with his own money.

Not disclosing the identity of the pastor and his family, the housemaid further claimed that the reason she had remained silent for so long was because of the fear that had gripped her heart.

The video shared on TikTok has since sparked mixed reactions on social media.

Watch the TikTok video here:

Reactions to housemaid ordeal with pastor’s family

Mum JM & Thrift said: “Actress lizzy Gold’s mom is a pastor, I stayed with her, omo dat woman no get two, she’s very kind omo her type nor dey.”

@DUMUHE wrote: “Who notice she’s saying the truth honestly?”

@Queenchacha0078 commented: “I do house girl but my own dey different o. I have not seen anybody that is nice like her. A woman that use to pay for flight for me and her kids.”

miss world said: “I was once a victim too, and they are so kind when they are out, I use to cry every day and night asking God why he took my parents away from me at the age of 7,but I thank God for my life now I’m doing great.”

@miminighties stated “Me wey use parker chop food for two weeks for my aunty house.”

@Osinachi commented: “She’s not caping mine was even my elder sister same mother, same father, but I would have preferred a stranger and na deeper life pastor wife ooh.