Former Nigerian Permanent Delegate and Ambassador to the UNESCO, Emeritus Professor Michael Omolewa recently came home to inspire adventurers to the Mount Patti in Lokoja, writes Akeem LASISI
Thirty years after he became a full professor, the former Nigerian Ambassador to the United Nations Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation, Prof. Michael Omolewa, recently got a big deal from the University of Ibadan. He was appointed emeritus professor, thus joining the league of legends such as Emeritus Professors J. F.Ade-Ajayi, Ayo Banjo, Tekena Tamuno , Ayo Bamgbose, Ladipo Akinkugbe, Oluwole Akande, Muyiwa Awe, David Okali, Mike Filani and S.K.Adeyoju.
Reacting to the development, Omolewa noted that, beyond hard work and passion, it takes the grace of God for one to reach the height of one’s profession.
Thanking the university authorities, he said, “The hands of the Almighty God must have been visibly there to guide my path and to send help to me. I am grateful to my spiritual, academic and biological parents, my students and friends who have invested so much in my life and shown me such great help and encouragement over these long and most rewarding and satisfying years.”
Omolewa, currently a member of the Commonwealth Advisory Council on Teacher Mobility, Recruitment and Migrations; and a member of the Governing Council of the International African Institute in the UK, recently had an opportunity to reunite with some of his old colleagues when he delivered a keynote address at the 2013 edition of Conquering Mount Patti, an adventurous excursion to Mount Patti in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The occasion, on which Kogi State government and the National Open University collaborated, featured adventurers who dared the high-altitude Mount Patti, with a good number of them getting to the top. The participants, in the course of climbing the mountain, also learnt about major landmarks that include the relics of the Lord Lugard rest house, a colonial radio station there and a giant baobab tree said to have been planted by Lugard himself.
At the event, which gave successful climbers the opportunity to savour the aerial view of the ancient city, Omolewa returned to his academic and historical element when he lured the participants to the winding history, politics and culture of Nigeria, which once produced Lokoja as the capital.
Noting that, beyond enriching one’s knowledge, mountain climbing leads to improved health and vitality and to prolonged life, he said, “I am particularly delighted to speak about Lokoja in this presentation. This is perhaps because there is usually so much animated discussion about the historical status of the city. For example, there are some people who strongly believe that the city was the first capital of Nigeria. This is not surprising, given the stories about earlier capital cities.
“For example, it is sometimes said that Calabar was the first capital city of Nigeria. This view is also understandable given the prominence that has been given to the city by the work of Mary Slessor, the pioneering work done by the Hope Waddell Institute, which had produced illustrious citizens of Nigeria, and the role played by Professor Eyo Ita in the independence movement and the building of the First Republic of Nigeria.”
However, Omolewa explained that Lokoja has not got its due from historians, writers, artists and other professionals. He argued that it has not featured prominently in the stories of the emergence of Nigeria.
“It has been my privilege and joy to explore the archives, consult literature on the history and geography of Nigeria, study the activities of those responsible for determining the location of a capital city and seek to weave a narrative that will generate further study on the subject of emerging capital cities of Nigeria. This exercise will, of course, encourage us to focus on the importance of Lokoja as one of the most important cities of Nigeria. Its Mount Patti was, for example, mentioned in the records, conferring on it a significant historical status.” He further sought to establish why the city had acquired stature and significance. Why further exploring the history of its relationship with the early rulers of colonial Nigeria.”