Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, Ike Nwachukwu, Osoba, others extol Jakande at Memorial Lecture
By Emma Ogbuehi
It was harvest of encomiums for accomplished journalist and Second Republic governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, as speakers, including, Governor, Bababjide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos and his Ogun State counterpart Dapo Abiodun; former Ogun governor, Segun Osoba; erstwhile military governor of Imo State, Gen Ike Nwachukwu (retd); President of Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, Eze Anaba, among others, extolled his virtues as a consummate writer and dedicated public servant.
All spoke in Lagos on Monday, at the first Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, 2023, with the theme: “Lateef Jakande: The Man, His journalism, His Politics.”
Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Femi Hamzat, described Jakande’s life as one of substance and impacts to his environment.
Sanwo-Olu, in acknowledging Jakande’s selfless disposition to life, noted; “Life is not determined by how long one lived but by the number of lives one was able to impact positively”.
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He enthused that the departed Lagos governor not only lived long to the ripe age of 91, but his life was a reflection of humanity at its abundance with several stories of positive impacts.
“Though the passing of Alhaji Jakande was somewhat painful to us as a State and to individuals who knew him personally because he was, indeed, a man of lovable personality who we wished could live forever, we must give unreserved appreciation to God for blessing us with him and for also giving him the grace to live a life that touched and impacted lives”, he stated.
Sanwo-Olu pledged that his administration and the good people of Lagos State will forever remember Jakande and his good deeds to the people.
The governor stated that it was in a bid to immortalize Jakande, that his administration established the Lateef Jakande Leadership Academy to unleash the potentials of the next generation leaders.
“The Academy was established to immortalise the name of the first civilian governor of our State, whose impact on the generality of our people was outstanding.
“It will provide an avenue for the younger generation to imbibe the ideals and essence of responsive, responsible and selfless leadership which were the hallmarks of Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande both in his private and public lives.
“This leadership programme will offer life changing, nonpartisan and meritocratic opportunities to young Nigerians who desire to impact their generation through public service”, he stressed. .
Governor Dapo Abiodun, represented by a consultant, Kayode Akinmade, a former Commissioner in Ondo State, acknowledged that “Baba Kekere (Jakande)’s penchant and uncompromised stance for professionalism and responsible journalism, coupled with his selfless disposition to serve humanity clearly stood him out of his contemporaries and obviously created a larger than life image for him in the political space and Nigeria’s media industry.
He advised that Jankande’s conception of democratic deliverables should ordinarily serves as a manual for policy makers in Africa in the quest for urbanization and human capital development.
Gov Abiodun recalled that Jakande laid the foundation for modern Lagos, after he had made remarkable landmarks in journalism, details on which would require an entire address on his own.
Osoba listed Jakande’s pioneering roles in the industry, describing him as very serious writer and the first black man to head the international Press Institute.
Nwachuckwu, the chairman of the occasion, who recalled his experience with Jakade on the profession, described him as “quiet, resolute man” He continued, “As a reporter, he encouraged us to be fearless. It’s a great honour to chair the first annual lecture. Whatever I became on the later years it’s because I worked with Lateef Kayode Jakade.
According to the NGE President, Eze Anaba, Jakande (Baba Kekere) lived an impactful live so much so that drivers of modern journalism in Nigeria cannot be mentioned without talking about him.
Anaba said; “Baba Kekere devoted his entire professional and political career to advancing the values of liberty and social justice. He also exemplified the values of honesty, integrity, courage, and fairness.
“He told the stories of the powerless, and held the powerful to account. He demonstrated commitment to our journalistic freedom and long-term survival.
“He set up the Guild of Editors in 1961, He founded the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, whose provost, Mr Gbenga Adefaye was the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and my boss in Vanguard.
“Baba Kekere also founded the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) whose president is in this Hall flanked by the chairman of the Lagos chapter. The legendary Baba Kekere brought the International Press Institute (IPI), to this country. Talk about impact.