African American University honours The Guardian editorial board member, Jacob Akindele, with PhD in Creative Writing -

Dr Jacob Olubanji Akindele with the Chancellor and Founder of the University, Prof Ben Ezeohagwu

By Banji Ayoola

The stars shone brightly and twinkled repeatedly two weeks ago as celebrated writer and an editorial board member of the flagship of the Nigerian media, The Guardian, Prince Jacob Olubanji Akindele, was conferred with PhD Honoris Causa in Creative Writing.by the African American University, AAU, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, at its maiden convocation and 2022 award ceremony.

He was honoured along with 12 other eminent Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of expertise. Altogether, there were thirteen awardees in all, including nine PhD (Honoris Causa) awardees and four professorial awardees.

Also at the ceremony, nine graduates who have completed their four year studies successfully in the university were awarded their degrees in various disciplines.

Prof Kayode Adebayo delivered the Inaugural Lecture titled “Capacity Building In-House Seminar: A Prescription for Teacher Development in Teacher to Teacher Communication.”

In his lecture, he called on government to inculcate capacity building in-house seminars into the school calendar, advising that the suggested seminars should not be less than three per academic term.

According to him, school administrators should be made to report on the subjects treated in the seminars in their various schools.

Also, he suggested that school administrators should be made to identify the teachers who have made the greatest improvement in service delivery in their schools; and that “such teachers can be recommended for awards from government.”

The Chancellor and Founder of the university, Prof Ben Ezeohagwu, who presented the awards and degrees personally, described the first set of the institution’s graduates as adults and of the working class.

He said: “The graduates are adults; they are working class. They asked questions in the class or online. They interacted with their lecturers, with their professors and they found it easier learning in that manner.”

Ezeohagwu said that for now, the programmes of the institution are run online mainly. However he assured that the institution would soon resume its physical contact lectures.

In his words: “Our programmes are virtually online. For secondary school leavers, most of them prefer going for physical contact lectures in particular locations.

“But for now we have not reverted back to our physical contact lectures. I believe in few months time, we will start doing that.”

Reacting a the occasion, Akindele, who described the award as unique, in that it would encourage him to compile all his writings from 1996 in The Guardian into a publication, said: “This award stands on its own. For me it’s very special. At a time you feel you’ve seen it all, you’ve done it all and people come and dig you out and say let us give you an award. It’s very touching.

“The award will help me perhaps to do what people have been telling me to do for a long time which I haven’t done, which is to put all my writings in one publication.”

Now enters Dr Jacob Olubanji Akindele.

Born in Iwoye Ilaro, Ogun State, on June 15, 1948, he attended the famous King’s College, Lagos, between 1962 and 68; and thereafter obtained the Bachelor of Arts in Economics, from Long Island University New York, in 1971, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance & Marketing from Adelphi University in 1975, focusing on the economics of Public Projects.

A leading advocate for a National Road Fund and Federal Highways Authority in Nigeria, who strongly believes that all the gifts and abilities, including material wealth, that one is endowed with should wholeheartedly be put into selfless service, he passionately values opportunities to utilise his education and experiences to improve the living conditions on earth to the benefit of the entire mankind.

Between 1969 and1976, he worked with the IBM (World Trade) Corporation, New York; W. T. Grant & Company; and Tennis Week Magazine, in the United States.

Bubbling with the zeal to give of himself in service to his country, he returned to Nigeria in 1976. Between 1976 and 77, he was with Relmint Resources, Ltd, Lagos, Nigeria , where he served as Marketing Manager, an office from which he launched the Harley Davidson motorcycles for both Highway Patrol and road safety programs in Nigeria, and orchestrated the sale of Chris Craft boats to multiple Government agencies.

Between 1978 and 82, he worked with the Lawsons Corporation Group, Lagos, Nigeria. In this company, he held several executive positions; participated in setting up subsidiary companies in manufacturing, marketing, estate development, bottling and insurance; and coordinated Lawsons Corp Holdings in Nigerian subsidiaries of Citibank, First Boston, Park Davis, 3M, and Ecobank Transnational.

In 1982, he went into private business, setting up Kinda Strada Limited, for road safety equipment and traffic engineering, the company, which represented the Federal Signal Corporation, USA, and Mark McCormick’s Trans World International, and executed a World Bank project for road safety in 1985. Also, he set up Atlantic Travels & Tours Limited, Agro-Ventures Limited and Value News & Company, which represented international publications including The European, Strategy Southern Africa, African Connexion, and International Express.

Notably, Value News & Company sponsored the annual Europe Lecture in Nigeria. Over the years, business contacts were made in Europe, Asia and the United States. In 1995, he became a consultant with the European Commission and was appointed the West Africa representative for the European Market Research Centre, Brussels.

Akindele had written on contract for ABC News, New York. From 1996 to 1999, he was a Visiting Member of the Editorial Board, The Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria, where he wrote a weekly column on life. From 1998 to 2003, he worked at Tennis Week magazine, New York, assisting with editorials and handling special projects, including the first visit of Venus and Serena Williams to Africa.

Between 2003 and 2011, he was the Special Adviser on Road Administration, Adviser for Road Planning and Development & Senior Executive Assistant to Ogun State Governor.

He has delivered lectures on fundamental questions of existence in many countries: Britain, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Canada and the United States. Since November, 2012, he has again been a Visiting Member of the Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspaper, Nigeria.

Awards and Honurs
In his years of service to his country Nigeria, Akindele has bagged a chain of honours and awards, including Special Assistant to Dr. Simi Johnson, Federal Minister for Social Development & Culture, 1983; and Personal Assistant and Speech Writer for Senate Leader Jalo Waziri from 1979 to 1983.

He has been Winner of the following Essay Competitions – John F. Kennedy Memorial Essay Contest, Lagos Zone, 1968; World Youth Forum Delegate Selection Competition, Nigeria 1966 and Nigeria’s delegate to the 1967 Herald Tribune World Youth Forum in New York; Ralph J. Bunche Memorial Essay Contest, International House, New York, 1973; and Nigerian Institute of Management Young Managers’ Competition, 1979.

Also, he has been Best All-round Athlete, Long Island University, Southampton, New York, 1971; Recipient, American President’s Award for Tennis, 1973; Prize Winner, Tennis Tournament for Media, US Open, 1998 & 1999; Nominated for Parvins Fellows Program, Princeton University, 1982; Chairman, Ogun State Lawn Tennis Association 2002-2009; and Member, National Monitoring Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility. He was conferred the Royal Family Title of Aremo Ilaro in 2006.

Akindele is a member each of Nigerian Conservation Foundation; Nigerian Environmental Society; Life Member, National Wildlife Federation, Washington DC, USA; Musical Society of Nigeria; Nigerian Road Federation: Board Member (1984-98); Council Member, Federal Road Safety Commission (1988-92); and US Professional Tennis Association.

From 1971 to 1976, he taught many pupils including John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, Mary Carillo, and Ruta Gerulaitis.

He served as Manager, Nigeria’s Davis Cup Team, & Tournament Director, Lagos ATP Tennis Classic (1983-88). Gifted in languages, he speaks English, French, German and Yoruba.

He enjoys good health and still plays competitive tennis.

Between 1999 and 2003, he served as the New York Correspondent and Columnist of The Comet Newspaper, Lagos Nigeria.