I wasn’t the oldest in the class. I think there were at least three persons in the Abuja Campus of the Law School who were above 70 years of age. I, however, belonged to a generation of students called “the Elders,” most of us in our 50s and 60s. I was inspired by many of the older gentlemen, especially those who had been Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors, and successful professionals – Accountants, Doctors, Engineers, Actors, Journalists, etc. It was an irony that each time some of my younger classmates told me I inspired them, coming to the Law School at my age, I, in turn, took my inspiration from those above 70 and successful men who were in the same class.

My interest in Law was spurred by my interest in politics and the fact that many of the personalities that inspired my interest in politics like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Chief Bode Thomas were lawyers. My interest in Law deepened when I had opportunities to work in government (Federal and State), and from there, I concluded that knowledge of Law is a sine qua non for outstanding performance in government. As Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, there were occasions when we had heated debates on issues. The governor would agree with my position but would end up accepting the counsel of the lawyers in the cabinet. His reasoning was always that if he followed my advice and there was a backlash, he would be left vulnerable. However, he could still take refuge in the fact that he followed the counsel of his lawyers, especially on matters bordering on legal issues. When the governor dissolved the cabinet in 2013, I resolved to go back to school and Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State offered me a serene, stimulating and comfortable environment to pursue my dream.

It was both challenging and fun attending classes with younger classmates. Many of them called me daddy, and I often found that amusing. Many of them were also quite helpful. I believe this new generation is smarter. They grasp issues much faster, and they are quicker to adapt. They have access to more information and can sustain discussions across many disciplines, having no boundaries between what the older generations classify as “serious” and “unserious”. For instance, they don’t regard versatility in music as a sign of unseriousness. I encountered many of the best students in the class who were nimble dancers and almost fanatical football fans, especially the English Premier League.

Midway into the session, I was astonished when they discussed issues of Law, and I began wondering whether we were in the same class! This inspired me, or more accurately, pressured me to work harder.

Many of them taught me the mathematics aspect of Law, particularly in Corporate Law and Property Law. Believe me, it is helpful when people who are younger than you teach you a subject. You feel challenged to work harder, especially when the one teaching you does not have the patience to repeat himself. One of them once told me, “Daddy, this thing is not as difficult as you make it look! I was slightly jolted, but I calmed down and jokingly told him to take it easy with daddy!

..I SUCCEEDED AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS.

I feel fulfilled because I finally succeeded in finishing the law programme after four attempts. I had to withdraw after one year at the University of Ibadan because some of my colleagues wrote a petition that I was a full-time staff of the Nigerian Tribune, so I had no business enrolling for a full-time law programme. I would have finished in 2001. I tried a second time to run the programme in 2010 at Buckingham University in the United Kingdom, but family commitments made me abort the trip a few days to my departure. I did one year with the University of London External Degree programme in 2014 but opted out when it looked like the Council of Legal Education would not shift ground on not allowing correspondence students to attend the Nigerian Law School. I felt there was no point reading law if you would not appear as counsel in court.

Law School is tough. You work round the clock. You must achieve 75 percent class attendance. You must attend group meetings and complete the daily assignments. You must be well prepared for every class as you may be called to anwer questions in class and you will not want to disgrace yourself before more than a thousand classmates amongst who call you daddy. Failing the bar examination was no option. In truth, it crossed my mind a number of occasions that it was quite possible to flunk the final bar examination. I always shrugged it off and wished it away, but felt pressured to work harder. The only reward for hard work is more work, and I am glad it has ended in praise.

To God be the glory.

Professor Adeolu Akande is a Professor of Political Science and Public Administration.He chairs the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)

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According to a statement issued by Obajide Ilugbo, Head, Public & External Relations Unit, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, recently, the citadel of learning, also appointed Professor Akande as the Director of the Centre for Presidential Studies of the University.

Adeolu Akande, 52, bagged his doctoral degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan 20 years ago, in July 1997.He had earlier obtained his M.Sc and B.Sc (2nd Class Upper) in 1990 and 1987 respectively in the same institution.

Akande began his academic career in 1990 as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan when he was retained from the post graduate class. He later ventured into Print Journalism and was Reporter, Editor and Editor-in-Chief of several newspapers and magazines. He was Reporter/Feature Writer/ Editorial Board member of Nigerian Tribune between 1991 and 1993, South-West Regional Editor of The Punch Newspapers (1993 -1995), Deputy /Acting Editor, Sunday Tribune (1995 -1997), Editor-in-Chief/Director, Omega Weekly Magazine (1997-1999); Consulting Editor/Member Editorial Board, Nigerian Tribune (1999-2001).

However, in 1999, Adeolu Akande returned to academics at the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan. Two years later, he was appointed Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2001. He later became a Special Assistant (Research & Communication Strategies) to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2003. In 2011 he was appointed the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Isiaka Ajimobi.

Professor Akande is a truly bred Town-and-Gown, an Academic, Scholar, Social Scientist, Researcher and Public Administrator.

The post Igbinedion University Confirms Adeolu Akande As Substantive Professor. first appeared on MegaIcon Magazine.

The post Igbinedion University Confirms Adeolu Akande As Substantive Professor. appeared first on MegaIcon Magazine.

The said medical outreach is billed to hold tomorrow, Monday 24th April, 2017 from Otu, headquarters of Itesiwaju Local Government, where he hails from, and it is expected to be taken to all parts of Oyo State.

Done in collaboration with a socio-political group under the aegis of Oyo State Forum and supported, people would be tested and given drugs, free of charge.

According to the former Chief of Staff to Governor Abiola Ajimobi, “the gesture is going to be a continuous one. This is one of the many initiatives lined up to assist our people. If all of us can assist the needy in one way or the other, life will become more meaningful to the people. The government cannot do everything, especially in this troubled times”.

“Over the years I have been focused on mentoring our youths by helping many of them to stay in school, gaining admission to various institions of learning across the country and collaborating with others to help them set up small businesses. We are going into free  health provision because our research has shown that our people suffer and die of avoidable illnesses. It is another way of giving back to society,” he continued.

Akande, from the Department of Political Science and Public Administration, Igbinedion University, Okada, is one of the prominent gladiators eyeing the Agodi Government House in 2019.

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