Jide Ojo @ 50! Kini big deal?

My Odyssey

It is not the height a man attains that count but also the depth from which he has risen – A Sage

Appreciation

Wow! I have lived for 1,200 days, 50 solid years. That’s big deal man! In a fragile state like Nigeria where things are gradually turning to Hobbesian state of nature where life is short, brutish and nasty, to live to see one’s golden jubilee is a big deal. In 2016 I lost a sibling, Tolulope Brimah nee Ojo, to the cold hands of death. She was just 40 years old. Last year, we lost Dr. Bankole Ogundeji (Banky) of the Covenant University. We were classmate at the University of Ibadan, but he’s no more. That am alive to witness this day is simply by the mercy and grace of the Almighty God.

Early life

I was born on Monday, April 28, 1969 to the family of Deacon I.O Ojo, a teacher and Mrs. G.M Ojo, a trader.  Though born and bred in Ibadan, my parents are both from Osun State. My dad, of blessed memory, was from Ile-Ogbo, headquarters of Ayedire Local Government Area while my mum is from Ikire, headquarters of Irewole LGA. I went to Ebenezer African Primary School, Oke Ado Ibadan for my primary 1 – 4 while I finished my primary education at Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan in 1980. On September 26, 1980, I was one of the first set of students to be admitted to Bishop Onabanjo High School, Bodija, Ibadan where  I graduated in 1985.

Then it started! Life challenged me. I couldn’t pass West Africa School Certificate Examination for five good years. From 1985 – 1990, I was in the wilderness of life. Failing repeatedly to make my English and Mathematics.  I contemplated committing suicide and for three years went to learn how to repair Refrigeration and Air Conditioner. Eventually I made all my ‘O’ Level papers in 1990 and wrote my first University Matriculation Examination and Polytechnic Matriculation Examination in 1991. After much ado, due to indigenship issue, I got my first admission to Ogun State Polytechnic (now Moshood Abiola Polytechnic) in December 1991 to study Mass Communication. I left after a semester when I got another admission to University of Lagos to study Political Science. I finished in 1996/97 and did my National Youth Service in Delta State at The Pointer newspaper. I won the State Honours Award.  In 1998, I got admitted to University of Ibadan for my Post Graduate degree at the Department of Political Science where I finished in 1999 with a Proceed to PhD grade. In 2000 I got admitted for my Doctoral Degree with Prof. Adefemi Victor Isumonah as my supervisor. I pulled out after two sessions due to work and family stress as I left Ibadan for Lagos to work with Association of Nigerian Authors in 2001.

Coming from humble background was quite challenging. No silver or golden spoon for me. Perhaps, “I was born with a wooden spoon”. We were so poor that poor people were calling us poor. As a teenager, I hawked soft drinks, broom, and sundry items to sustain my family. My spare time out of school is used to go to the Sango Plank Market in Ibadan to carry planks and wood for fee. As a young lad of fifteen, I was carrying bags of flour to raise money to support my family of seven – parents and five children. We could not rent :”flat” but cramped ourselves into a “Room and Parlour” apartment.

Am eternally grateful to my uncles – Elder M.A Oyeniyi, Mr. Johnson Emiloju Oyeniyi and Engineer Atolagbe Ajani for their contributions to my academic success. I recalled the inability of my parents to raise the N510 tuition fee for my admission to Ogun Poly in 1991. It was Elder Oyeniyi who mobilized the N600 with which I paid for my tuition. Engr. Ajani gave me the N200 with which I paid for my 6 months’ rent at Ita Eko area of Abeokuta. That money was initially penciled to be used to pay for his house rent at Agodi Area of Ibadan then. Other paternal uncles who occasionally helped out include Mr, Adeyemi Ojo, Bro, Joshua Oladele Ojo, Mr.  Memud Oyebamiji Ajani and Bro, Adegboyega Muritala Ajani. At UNILAG, course mates like Mr, Wasiu Folarin and Mr. Bernard Ediangboya were quite helpful. Likewise my dear “brother from another mother”, Wale Adisa. They all gave me financial support from time to time.

Career

I got involved in the development sector fortuitously through the assistance and support of some destiny helpers. Suberu Olusegun Joseph (Suppy Joe) was the first of the lot. He it was, that fateful day on my way to school, who asked me  to see him in Room 308 at Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan. He was then an accountant with UNIVA (University Village Association) founded by Prof. Michael Omolewa.  That meeting with Suppy changed my life. I went on to represent UNIVA at an ENABLE Project workshop organised by CEDPA at Kakanfo Inn. In the course of that weeklong workshop, I met another destiny helper, Mrs. Rachel Modupe Okegbola (my birthday-mate), then working with CEDPA in Ibadan. It was her who got me enlisted on the team of consultants that trained the then newly elected Chairmen and Councillors of Local Governments in Nigeria under the auspice of USAID-Office of Transition Initiative in April and August 1999. I was privileged to train in 10 centres across eight states of the South West, Edo and Kwara.

Other destiny helpers include Dr.  Wale Okediran who assisted in getting me my first job at Association of Nigerian Authors, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim who gave me opportunity to work with Electoral Reform Network, Mr. Charles Lasham who employed me as Programme Officer at International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) where I voluntarily resigned in 2014 as Programme Manager. Others include Prof. Sam Egwu who gave me opportunity to work at UNDP, Dr. Sina Fagbenro-Byron who gave me my first consultancy at DfID (now UKAID), Mr. Rudolf Elbling who gave me consultancy at ECES and  Hajia Saudatu Mahdi (my mother in the civil society) who has helped me immensely, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro who gave me opportunity to head his NGO, FAcE-PaM in Bauchi and Dr. Pius Osunyikanmi, a former classmate and helpmate. I am eternally grateful to   Mr. Joel Nwokeoma of The PUNCH who got me into the newspaper as a columnist, Mr. Bayo Awosemo, Managing Editor Arise TV, and Mr. Nduka Obaigbena (Chairman, Thisday newspapers and Arise TV) who despite not knowing me previously gave me opportunity to be a News Analyst on Arise TV platform.Above all am eternally grateful to my friends and partners, Olumide Olaniyan and Adebowale Olorunmola. 

Achievements

To the glory of God, I am a successful man. I am a Development Consultant, Author, News Analyst, Trainer, Teacher, Administrator, Prose Stylist, Humanist, Philanthropist, Master of Ceremony, Husband, Father, Landlord, Car Owner, and a Researcher. Academically, I have worked with intellectual juggernauts like Prof. Adigun Agbaje, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, Prof. Adeolu Akande and Dr. Freedom Chukudi Onuoha. I have contributed chapters in seven books and authored three books. My first book, Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspective from 1990 – 2010 was published in 2010. My second, “A Nation in Tow: Essays on Leadership and Governance in Nigeria” was published in 2016 while the third which is in the press is entitled “Overcoming Nigeria’s Challenges of Corruption and Opacity in Governance”

Media engagements

I have put in a total of 29 years into media advocacy. I have over a thousand published commentaries in 26 Nigerian newspapers and it’s my seventh year as a columnist with The PUNCH newspapers. Other newsprint where my article or interview has been published include: Thisday, The Guardian, The Nation, Daily Trust, Leadership, Premium Times, Authority, The Pointer, AM News, Nigerian Observer, NewsDiary Online, Vanguard, Daily Independent, Third Eye, Nigerian Compass, Daily Sketch, National Concord, Daily Champion, Blueprint, Daily  Sun, Nigerian Tribune, National Mirror, Peoples Daily, 234 NEXT and The Chronicle of Ghana, .

I have been guest analyst on several national television and radio stations, such as Arise TV, Nigerian Television Authority, African Independent Television, Channels Television Silverbird TV, Peoples TV, Independent Television, Galaxy Television, Kaftan TV, TV 360, Signature TV, Clearview TV, Roots TV, TSTV and Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State. Radio stations include: Oluyole 98.5 FM Ibadan, Hit 95.9 FM Calabar, Faaji FM Lagos, Rhythm 94. 7 FM, OGBC 2 FM Abeokuta, Vision 92.1 FM, Love 104.5 FM (Crowther Radio), Ray Power 100.5 FM, Hot 98.3 FM, Radio Nigeria, Kapital 92.9 FM, and Voice of Nigeria. Furthermore, I have been on Kiss 99.9 FM, WE 106.3 FM, Greetings 107.5 FM, WAZOBIA 99.5 FM, Cool 96.9 FM, Armed Forces Radio 107.7 FM, Human Rights Radio 101. 1 FM, Nigeria Info 95.1 FM, Invicta 98.9 FM Kaduna, and Premier 93.5 FM Ibadan.