Feature

My binoculars: Posthumouscelebration of Principal Akinwale Obafunso Beckley at 94

Published

4 months ago

February 18, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

My binoculars: Posthumous
celebration of Principal Akinwale Obafunso Beckley at 94

By: Bodunrin Kayode

If he was still alive he would be 94 today having been born in February 18th 1931. He would obviously be involved in his passion of playing the organ as long as his fingers and dexterity of age can carry him. But he may not be able to stand for long before a class to teach mathematics which was his best subject. He may have completed his proposed mathematics text books which he was trying to arrange from handouts he created while teaching the subject in Freetown, Sierra Leone. It was over there he cut his teeth in the education sector as a maths and physics teacher in several schools including the Rokel, Colligate and the Freetown Secondary School for Girls FSSG where he was the Vice Principal. Born Akinwale Obafunso Beckley in the railway quarters Yaba Lagos, my father had a sound command of the English and latin languages. He was a polyglot who could speak almost all the major Nigerian languages most of which he picked while traversing the country with his father a railway clerk. His stay in Wusasa Zaria during holidays gave him and all of his siblings the opportunity to converse freely in Hausa which was the second language at home , whenever they were with themselves.

He actually traveled to the Fourah Bay College (FBC) to study after his sixth form in Ibadan Grammar school but while there he got another admission letter to study medicine at the University of Ibadan (UI) but he turned it down and held on to his sojourn in Freetown where he graduated with a double honors in maths and physics. Back then his certificate was affiliated to the University of Durham in England. FBC he told me once was affiliated with Durham University in England from 1876 to 1967. So some of his supervisors actually came down from England to see them in Freetown. But the institution is now a constituent College of the University of Sierra Leone. He met my mum in the faculty of education where he was studying and they got married and started their life’s journey by having me and seven younger ones.

On return to Nigeria in 1979, he continued his passion which was teaching. He was also a humanist and an active member of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS). A professional organization in Nigeria made up of principals of post-primary schools in Nigeria. And that made him a Comrade among older principals who he sat within usual congress meetings in Abeokuta. He was a fighter for what was right amongst teachers and his colleagues Principals then and did his best for their welfare. Some of his colleagues used to visit the principal’s house where we lived then with him and my mum growing up and concentrating on our studies. Teachers were poorly rewarded in those days but that was his calling so he was not perturbed and rather continued unhindered adding farming to put food on our table. He had a loyal partner in my mum who was also a teacher who spurred him on in their calling which was about imparting knowledge.

Contribution to MPHS and Yewaland

Baba Akinwale Obafunso Beckley was an exceptional educationist who believed in the progress of all those who passed through him. He was a fighter for education to penetrate Yewaland the way it had in egba and ijebu senatorial zones of Ogun State. And that was why he fought against the way young people were dropping out of schools due to several vices including encouraged teenage pregnancies and some parents looked helplessly.

I recall he was once commended by the then “Olokeodan of Oke Odan” who said in a commendation letter that his advent to Yewaland was a devine one and that he must keep the good work. This was because he was quite meticulous with his reforms in the young Muslim Progressive High School (MPHS) where he was posted. And this resulted in a lot of rebellion from some sections of the parents teachers association (PTA) members who were not too comfortable with some of his policies. But he kept on pushing because what he was doing was in line with the free education policy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo. The late sage who introduced free education in western Nigeria then warned against truancy and Baba picked up truants on the road if he catches any one. As a matter of fact this was one of the policies he used to announce himself at the MPHS when working with Baba Amousofi as Principal.

Baba Beckley earned a lot of enemies among parents because of his big stick policies of “suspension and expulsion” where necessary of students who were completely unruly in school. No student was allowed to disrespect any teacher with impunity. He made us his students to know in the morning school assembly that lateness was a big wrong which he will not tolerate. For these reasons, he was called all sorts of names by rebellious students and sometimes teachers who did not like his style some of which he carried over from good schools he had worked in Freetown. Baba actually spent the remaining of his middle age life in Yewaland contributing in transforming a lot of restless boys and girls into stable adults. He took special liking for so many students who were hard working and the entire football team which gave us balanced entertainment whenever it was time for recreational activities.
Many teachers however supported him like Mr Adeleye who was teaching Yoruba, Mr Adeshina English language and serving as one of his Vice Principals and many others including Ghanians who were in the staff room then.

Journey through the Nigerian schooling system

Education had the same challenges across the west coast of Africa so my father was not a visitor to the system. We his kids were the ones trying to assimilate. All of us his children had to miss one academic year when we returned before he could fix us up in schools after securing a fresh employment from the Ogun State government. We lived in Abeokuta for a while in the house of my uncle Akani Beckley while trying to fuse into our ancestral roots in Abeokuta. We lived with our cousins in one big house. One of them Soji Beckley has taken after him in the education sector as one of the respected Principals in Ogun State today. My kid sisters ‘Tinuke and ‘Dolapo are also teachers and musicians. They decided to teach from scratch following after his pattern. For the rest of us, teaching was a no go area.

We were resting quietly at Abeokuta one day in the house of Uncle Akani at ita Oshin area of Abeokuta when Baba returned home with news that he had been engaged in the then egbado division of the state. And he was to resume in Oke Odan as the Vice Principal of the MPHS. That was in 1981. The school had a low image problem before he resumed. So he was given matching orders by the zonal education officer (ZEO) to go work with the Principal to restore sanity and raise the standards. And that he did raising the bar for excellence very high.
On resumption as the Vice Principal, those of us kids qualified to be in the secondary school were all admitted in that school. I opted for egbado College but he said no. Coincidentally, he became my Principal in that secondary school and at home. It was not easy because we could not be found wanting for anything that was labeled wrong. He was a stickler for discipline and academics. And I was to believe that was why my uncle Akani insisted that my cousin Soji must join us. And another uncle late Pastor Adeyanju also sent his daughter to benefit from the improved standard in the school.

The very backward standard Baba met in the school then was transformed to an enviable standard and by 1983 he became the Principal after the retirement of Mr Amosofi who was from Cotonou and had to return home. “Baba” as he was fondly called resumed management of the school at a time when Yewaland was also the most backward region in the state with young people contented mostly in concentrating on making quick cash through smuggling at the myriads of border loopholes at Alari, Ilase, Tube, idiroko and even Ipokia. There was so much cash in smuggling that young people looked down on education thinking it was boring and tedious. These were his lamentations at home at times when he would spend time talking to us to conform to the right way by studying hard. He applied the same sermons at the assembly grounds. He would spend several hours at the Assembly grounds working on the minds of students to take their education seriously. I was astounded when he made me library perfect because I knew his standards were too high for me. But he talked all the prefects into the rudimentary expectations that went with the task. And became mentors to many who used to visit the house to announce their admissions into higher institutions to study. He was always sad when a student would avoid school due to any reason at all. And would always help out to ensure the student returns.

Baba de-emphasized corporal punishment a bit for seniors to working in the school farm when it was necessary. He made sure that seniors did not bully the junior classes incessantly without justification. As the principal he wanted all to learn under a conducive atmosphere devoid of intimidation which was pervasive before he took charge of the school.

For us his kids, he was Principal in school and at home. Virtually no difference between the two. Baba was compelling when it comes to the differentiation between wrong and right. Always reminding the assembly that he would be out of this world one day and we the students would be left to face the vagaries of the state and country as leaders of tomorrow.

Interactions with his teachers

As far as I could recall, he had a very cordial relationship with his teachers when he was the Principal. Of course there were altercations with one or two renegades whom I would hear him talking to my mum about after the days service to humanity while we were at home. But as an extremely exposed man he surmounted all those challenges until he was transferred to Alari in 1985 to repeat his exploits of building young people through education. He spent only two years as Principal in Alari before leaving this world through a protracted illness. Sadly he answered to the call of eternity in October 1987 at 57. For us, he may have gone to meet his creator like others before him but he lived a good life by leaving indelible marks in the education sector where he was always at his best. Hundreds of students within two countries passed through him during his lifetime and he was always pleased to say that to us at his happy times for banters and serious talks with us.

Dear Papa, it’s been a long time you left and we have not given up on anything as you always taught us. It’s been a long battle with the vagaries and wickedness of this world. But we are tugging on with the Lord Almighty with us. Your footprints are still fresh in the MPHS and all my colleagues send their regards. They are all grown up men and women now baami.

Do enjoy your eternal sleep papa till we meet to part no more. Regards to Mama and Mabinu. By now you already know Mabinu has gone before us. I did my best but God Almighty knows best. Regards to Grandpa Benjamin Akinlawon and all our aunties and uncles we have been privileged to meet before they bowed out. O digba papa. Se mu zo.

I wish you were here for me to say happy birthday as I look at your Cotton wool white hair which started while you were in your fourties. Possibly hug you now that I am a grown up man and say thanks for your investment in us.
Happy birthday anyway Bami.

My binoculars: Posthumous
celebration of Principal Akinwale Obafunso Beckley at 94

Feature

Harmonizing Retirement Age in Nigeria: A Call for Consistency

Published

2 weeks ago

May 26, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Harmonizing Retirement Age in Nigeria: A Call for Consistency
By Raphael Oni

The retirement age in Nigeria has sparked intense debate, with various government agencies and institutions operating under different retirement ages. This inconsistency raises concerns about fairness, equity, and the need for a unified approach. Recently, the organized labour sector, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has emphasized the need for a consistent policy across all government agencies and institutions.

The Current State of Retirement Age in Nigeria

Different government agencies and institutions in Nigeria have varying retirement ages, including:

National Assembly Service Commission: 65 years
Judicial arm of government: 65 years for judges
Foreign Service: 60 years for officers
Nigeria Police Force: 60 years for personnel
National Pension Commission (PenCom): 50 years, extendable to 60 years with approval

This disparity raises questions about fairness and equity. Why should employees in different agencies have different retirement ages? A uniform policy would ensure equal treatment and dignity for all employees.

Benefits of Harmonization

Harmonizing retirement age in Nigeria would bring several benefits, including:

Consistency and fairness: A uniform retirement age would ensure equal treatment for all employees.
Simplified administration: A single retirement age would simplify administrative processes and reduce confusion.
Improved planning: A consistent retirement age would enable employees to plan their careers and retirement more effectively.
Enhanced morale: A fair and equitable retirement policy would boost employee morale and productivity.

International Best Practices

Many countries have a uniform retirement age for public servants, such as:

United States: 65 years (with option to retire earlier with reduced benefits)
United Kingdom: 65-68 years (depending on the scheme)
Canada: 65 years (with option to retire earlier with reduced benefits)
Australia: 65 years (with plans to increase to 70 years)
Morocco: 60 years (with discussions to raise to 65)
South Africa: 65 years (new reform)

Proposed Harmonized Retirement Age for Nigeria

Based on international best practices and Nigeria’s economic and demographic context, a harmonized retirement age of 60-65 years could be considered. This would allow employees to retire with dignity and adequate pension benefits while ensuring sustainable pension obligations.

Agency-by-Agency Analysis

Foreign Affairs: Harmonizing retirement age would ensure equal treatment for Foreign Service officers.
National Assembly Service Commission: Harmonization would ensure consistency across all government institutions.
Judicial: Given the importance of judicial experience, the retirement age may be justified, but harmonization would ensure equal treatment.

Challenges and Considerations

Implementing a harmonized retirement age policy would require careful consideration of:

Pension sustainability: Ensuring sustainable and adequately funded pension obligations.
Employee morale: Balancing the needs of employees affected by changes to their retirement age.
Economic context: Considering the economic implications of a harmonized retirement age policy.

Conclusion

Harmonizing retirement age in Nigeria is a necessary step towards ensuring fairness, equity, and consistency across all government agencies and institutions. A uniform retirement age policy would promote simplicity, improve planning, and enhance employee morale. The government should consider adopting a consistent policy that applies to all, taking into account international best practices and Nigeria’s economic and demographic context.
Raphael Oni a seasoned journalist, Editor-in-chief of Diplomatic Extra, a Specialized Magazine

Harmonizing Retirement Age in Nigeria: A Call for Consistency

Feature

WHITHER BORNO SOUTH STAKEHOLDERS: A REJOINDER

Published

4 weeks ago

May 10, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

WHITHER BORNO SOUTH STAKEHOLDERS: A REJOINDER

BY: Yamta Bulama Bata Mshelia.

Amidst the very wide acclaim, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has been getting for his leadership style; a news item captioned ” Borno South Residents Urge Action Against Discriminatory Politics “, authored by one Ishaya Malgwi, writting on behalf of a self styled group; BORNO SOUTH STAKEHOLDERS, caught my attention in the social media.

In the said piece Ishaya Malgwi, the convener of Borno South Stakeholders: an amorphous socio-political group comprising mainly Southern Borno elites in diaspora, tried painting the people of Southern Borno as ungrateful for the present government in Borno state under Professor Babagana Umara Zulum.

I had earlier read another write-up by Alhaji Yusuf Adamu, expressing appreciation to the governor for the numerous projects executed in Southern Borno: Biu in particular.
With Alhaji Yusuf Adanu’s piece, one would have been happy that contrary to Ishaya Malgwi’s postulations, the governor has done something worthwhile in the southern part and one can afford to ignore the Borno South Stakeholders under Ishaya Malgwi, but for the fact that as a stakeholder by all ramifications, and I am from Southern Borno residing in Biu, I could not resist the urge to correct the the erroneous impression being created by the so-called Borno South Stakeholders.

As a witness to some of the projects executed across Southern Borno which run contrary to the claims by the self styled group called Southern Borno Stakeholders, I have always had my suspicion about this group, which registered as agents of unity and development, but which has metamorphosis into an opposition: that does not see anything good in the government of Borno state.

I have interacted with so many people who were unsuspecting lured to join the group, most of whom opted out after realizing that it was more of a selfish self serving assemblage much more than a collection of development strategists.

I have also keenly followed their programmes and shall expose their real motives in the fullness of time.

I hasten to state that no governor, in the recent history of Borno state, has done what governor Zulum has done or is doing in Southern Borno in terms of development.
I stand to be corrected, but I am also aware that Southern Borno has its fair share of representation in the government, and I know that so many projects have been completed and are ongoing in Southern Borno.

I have made contact with like minds, and we are compiling the list of projects executed in each local government area in Southern Borno.
I am sure that, except perhaps those working in Ishaya Malgwi’s conclave, most Southern Borno stakeholders may not agree that we are mere onlookers on the political scene either.
It is needless to clarify that in Zulums government, the chairman of the ruling party is from Southern Borno: and one will wonder what political relevance Malgwi is talking about.

To my limited knowledge, I know that the Deputy Governor is from Southern Borno, the Deputy Speaker of the state Assemnly is from Southern Borno, the Deputy Chief of Staff is from Southern Borno, there is a Commissioner from each Local Government, except Gwoza and Chibok which had problems, there is a sizeable number of Advisers, SSAs, SAs and Technical Advisers from each Local Government and untill recently the Head of Service is from Southern Borno and many others.

I know, as a matter of fact, that many Southern Borno State indigenes have gained appointments through the instrumentality of the Borno State Governor.
We may concede it to Borno South Stakeholders as a right to express their opinions and orchestrate their sentiments because we are approaching another political phase, and the polity is already heating up.
But it is completely inaccurate to state that Professor Babagana Umara Zulum is running a government of exclusion to the detriment of Southern Borno.

We should learn to appreciate that which is good even when it does not favour us, just as we are previledged to also criticize.

Mshelia is an indigenes of Hawul Local Government.

WHITHER BORNO SOUTH STAKEHOLDERS: A REJOINDER

Feature

The Changing Trajectory Of Governor Zulum’s Development Initiatives In Southern Borno

Published

3 months ago

March 13, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

The Changing Trajectory Of Governor Zulum’s Development Initiatives In Southern Borno

By: A. G. Abubakar

The last outing by HE Professor Babagana Umara Zulum to Biu in Southern Borno, where multiple capital projects were either commissioned or initiated, signified a strategic shift towards inclusion and fair play. It was a masterstroke that had the potential to engender unity and balanced development in the region. This is aside improving the deteriorating political and ethno-religious relations and the concomitant mass discontent in the affected zone(s). Kudos to His Excellency!

The citizens’ hunger for development should be seen as a legitimate aspiration. And, meeting such expectations (reasonably) should naturally be the guiding principles of governance that successive administrations in the state seemed to have jettisoned. A development that has since created a feeling of distrust between the government and the governed in the zone. The people believe, and rightly too, that they have no other polity to call their own apart from Borno State and, as such, deserve to be treated fairly in its affairs.

Professor Zulum may be a “new convert” to this noble philosophy but he seems to have his hands on the right handles going by the strategic nature of the dividends of democracy (infrastructure) his government is extending across parts of the Borno South. And, the Professor-Governor seems to be doing this, not only with the needed expediency but in style too.

The governor inaugurated (commissioned) “a state-of-the-art eye and dental hospital as well as a mega secondary school in Miringa-Biu, Biu LGA” of the state. The eye hospital is a 40-bed ophthalmological care centre. “Similarly, the dental hospital will provide comprehensive oral health services including preventive care, orthodontics, and restorative treatments.” The Mega school in Miringa has the capacity to accommodate 1,300 students students. The school consists of 60 classrooms, 4 laboratories, and an ICT centre.

Apart from the executed projects in Biu, His Excellency ordered the construction of 5 new hospitals in the state, with two coming to Askira and Uba towns in Southern Borno. The others are Gubio, Mafa, and Dikwa. To boost MSMEs in the zone, the governor launched a billion naira (N1 billion) support fund for the initiative. Governor Zulum equally laid the foundation for the construction of 600 housing units across Biu, Hawul (Borno South),Gubio, and Magumeri, with a view to addressing the housing deficits in these communities.

Not long ago, the governor was at the forefront at saving the Nigeria Army University (NAUB), Biu. His administration equally facilitated the take-off of the Federation College of Education, Gwoza, as well as that of the Federal Orthopaedic Centre in Azare, Hawul LGA.

It is common knowledge that governance is about the management of aggregate interests. Interests that may, at times, be even conflicting. It is also about inclusion and equity.

For long, the powers that be in Borno have been perceived as lacking in terms of the sense of proportion, especially in the distribution of capital infrastructure across the state’s constituent parts. For nearly two decades, capital projects have been domiciled in Maiduguri, the seat of government.

Mega schools, tertiary institutions, hospitals, urban renewable schemes (overhead bridges, mass transit systems, etc), support to MSMEs, have all been concentrated in Maiduguri.Thus, turning the polity into a one city-state that left the northern and southern Borno enclaves out. The former is due to the Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency campaigns in the region, while the latter may not be unconnected with Nigeria’s zero-sum geopolitics underpinned by the tyranny of number.

The state of things, however, seems to be changing for the good of all. Governance is becoming more responsive by exhibiting some modicum of fairness in state craftsmanship.The people need to reciprocate the positive gesture. Trust is crucial in governance, though it has to be earned. The recent action by the government also needs to be sustained in order to maintain public trust.

Like Oliver Twist, the central character in Charles Dickens’ seminal work (1838) of the same title, the people are yearning for more. They wish to remind the Borno State government that the Biu Dam is still uncompleted after almost 40 years! The Damboa to Biu highway, as well as the Damaturu-Biu- Garkida road, need the government’s intervention, too. The poor state of the roads have rendered large chunks of the state a safe haven for Boko Haram/ISWAP. Mobility is a critical factor in prosecuting wars and in securing public support as well.

Apart from the major highways, the Borno State government initiated a rural road development programme to boost economic activities, especially agriculture and commerce. Gunda communities in Biu LGAs and some others in Chibok, Askira/Uba, etc, were identified, and work commenced. Two years down the line, nothing has been done, leaving the affected communities frustrated as they see their hopes gradually getting dashed. For some inexplicable reasons, the Miringa-Garubula-Gunda, feeder road with a possible extension to the border towns of Galabinda and Tattaba, basically remains abandoned.

The State College of Agriculture, Damboa, is still being housed in Maiduguri, the state capital. Attempts should be made to move it to its permanent site after almost three decades. Not forgetting the need to facilitate the return of thousands of Borno citizens pushed into refugee camps in neighbouring Cameroon and Niger.The government’s credibility is at stake with regard to these issues.

The people of Borno South salute the governor, His Excellency, Professor Zulum, for the commendable paradigm shift. May it be a sustainable one.

A.G.Abubakar agbarewa@gmail.com

The Changing Trajectory Of Governor Zulum’s Development Initiatives In Southern Borno