My first encounter with Professor Anthony Elujoba was in my sophomore year in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife. It was my first year in the Faculty of Pharmacy and sadly, my first time handling a working microscope. Like most of my colleagues, I did not know what I was expected to see under the lens so at the sight of everything not the bright background light, I called the laboratory demonstrator. It was in the midst of this that he walked in. It was as though even the air of the laboratory recognized the oldest lecturer in the department of Pharmacognosy as it, alongside other staff present stood still. This was not his first time of stopping by the laboratory to assess the performance of the demonstrators and students. The events that followed showed that it would not be his last. At the time, he did not hold any official position, his visits were only that of the concerned elder whose presence in the market square ensured the neonate properly rested on his mother’s back. Looking back now, I think maybe the old Professor just wanted to ensure that we did things right.


The drama that ensued at the exit of Professor Bamitale Omole is one that the Obafemi Awolowo University community would not forget in a hurry. The alleged misdoings of the Professor of International Relations and the fact that his deputy emerged in what many described as a corrupt process threw staff unions, especially the non-academic staff, into a massive frenzy. It is therefore not strange to hear believers of the supernatural to describe the emergence of Professor Anthony Elujoba as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the university as divine. The Village Chemist walked into the new office with a tremendous amount of humility or at least, so the media made it seem: He was kneeling for prayers in open spaces; for the first time in a long while, principal officers of the university paid unannounced visits to the undergraduate Halls of Residence; he was prostrating to greet the Ooni of Ife etc. These, amongst other things, made it seems as though the new Vice-chancellor might actually be the man to save the day. However, still some doubt existed.


Halfway into his administration, several questions were asked again. Going by the laws of the University, an acting Vice-chancellor could only operate for a renewable six-month term. Was Anthony Elujoba going to be around for another six months? The insatiable students had already begun to grumble about how he was all talk and no action and the renovations that had come earlier in his administration might just be a hoax. But still, quite a number of members of the university still wanted the “doing things right” Professor to remain, for although the electricity condition on campus might not have improved greatly, somehow he had managed to keep the gates of the University open for six months despite several threats of strike actions had come from several quarters. And when it came to the Non-academic staff, it was as though the man had something that just gave them hope and joy. For whenever they saw him, they had a huge tendency to burst into ecstasy. Once I met some Non-academic staff who asked me where they could buy “Professor Elujoba’s Jedi Decoction” in the Faculty of Pharmacy and although I knew that my home faculty dealt in some herbal remedies, I did not know that Professor Elujoba had invented such a remedy but I directed them to the Faculty anyways. A reaffirmation of the love the people had for Anthony Elujoba would once again be proven when he was invited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The mere thought of his invitation sparked a lot of outrage amongst members of the university and the day that he honored the invitation would be remembered in the OAU campus as the day almost, if not, all unions in the Obafemi Awolowo University stood on the same ground, all for one man!

As a true student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, I have visited the Oduduwa Hall of the university more times than I can remember but Wednesday, the 7th of June 2017 would remain one of my most memorable visits to the Hall. That day, I saw the kind of joy which, before then, I had only seen in fans of soccer. One not merely born of obligation or compulsion but of love. I saw old men sing the “Elu…” song at the top of their voices for the man whom had somehow managed to gain so much love for himself. And although some students and staff remained indifferent about the performance of the ecclesiastical professor after his ten months tenure, not a lot of people disliked him and whatever their number was, it remained almost insignificant compared to the amount that had come to revere him. I do not believe Professor Anthony Elujoba is the best speech giver. I feel he is more of a preacher but preacher or not, every word of his valedictory speech drew resounding applause and ultimately, I feel some of that love might have been transferred to his successor, Professor Eyitope Ogunmodede.

Professor Anthony Elujoba might not have been the best Vice-chancellor but he is surely a man to laud. His “doing things right” philosophy which he managed to sing at every opportunity seems to have worked out just fine for him and his humility was one that left mouths agape. Only a few can match his tremendous work in and love for academic research, little wonder that barely a month after his exit from office, the Professor of Pharmacognosy is already facilitating research and seminars.

I do not know how history would keep the memories of Anthony Elujoba but it is certain the Obafemi Awolowo University would not forget the Professor who did things right!

By 'Joba Ojelabi


Do you remember that song they said we shouldn’t forget? Well we didn’t. Being the only feature on his quite anticipated album, and keeping in mind that many already anticipated a collabo between Adekunle Gold and his alleged lover, Simi, at least before Folarin Falana came along with his village boy rap, “No forget” was certainly one collaboration that brought pleasure to many lovers of good music in Nigeria, and even though it had its faults, many have since then looked out for another collaboration between the golden boy lover and Simi, whose voice, somehow always manages to pull strings in the heart.

They say two’s a company, three is a crowd but somehow, Jon Ogah has found a way to place himself in between the “No Forget” couple without necessarily crowding the track. Perhaps because, unlike their first collaboration, “Uncle Suru” is not a love affair. The track carries a theme of patience, or at least it is supposed to. “Suru” is the Yoruba word for patience, however as much as the broad theme of the song is patience, it primarily narrows this patience to the music industry, with all three artistes telling us in their own way that the industry is not a bed of roses.

Considering Jon Ogah’s past with music, one might be tempted to expect more from a thirty million naira voice but then again, there are claims that he kissed T-boss with that mouth. However still, his vocal performance on the track is sure above average. We have certainly heard less melodious voices in the industry, some even costing as much as thirty billion. Adekunle Gold, once again, does not hesitate to remind us that he is Yoruba as he conveniently switches languages when he takes his verse, he however might have taken it to risky heights when he starts making claims that he might just be a better singer than the R&B legend, R.Kelly, if he gets the instruments. Well, some serious autotuning stuff better be in those instruments. And then one is compelled to ask, what ever happened to Ladies first? Simi’s verse comes last and as always, she does some vocal magic which might be a hint that she mixed and mastered the track.

In all, Uncle Suru is the kind of track that makes one regret not knowing the Salsa dance. It is almost sure to get any first time listener nodding in no time. Personally, I think even “Uncle Suru” himself would be proud.

ff on Instagram and Twitter @JobaOjelabi

I vote Fynestboi

cc NLJega

Me I just dey observe #ReopenOAU

Nice......

Are u a student?

Vessel4christ: Faaji fm all the way. Banjo Ojedeji is my fav. He sounds like Gbenga Adeboye (of blessed memory)

BTW, hapi new month frnds. May God give us (and Nigeria @ large) reasons to smile dis August. An august visitor dat wil make our lives a positive testimony will com our ways dis month. Peace be unto us.

y does it sound like I knw u?

alutacontinua: I, alutacontinua, would have my separate room.
Just for my personal retreat moments, I'll mostly be too busy playing woth his nose on OUR bed in OUR room anyways

great ife property

Like seriously this guy just stepped in the local pharmacy where I work and was
like "I want to buy golden boots" and I was like no
oh its a Pharmacy and this went on for some
minutes until he finally said it was Gold circle he
wanted.....Nigerians and the funny names
(Raincoat,nylon etc) we call condoms but so far
this is the funniest I have heard. Stay safe USE
GOLDEN BOOTS!!!! what names do you call yours?

source www.popejaysblog..com

(As inspired by the baptist Sunday School lesson
for Sun 6th July 2014)
Let me start by defining Culture, Social Studies
primary school. Culture is the total way of life,
now one of the numerous elements of culture is
Religion. Now the religion I am taking specifically
is Christianity. And I also want to believe that
with this short analysis, I have established the
fact that you can not seperate the two!
A man can not say because he is in christ and
old things have passed away he is no more a
yoruba man, he is now jewish. Even though
there are some parts of our culture that I believe
we may be justified even morally to drop as I
believe all elements of culture were made to
make life easier considering factors around. For
example our great Grandfathers didnt invent
suits because the sun was hot enough neither
did our great grandmothers wear high heels
because it was uncomfortable! Fast forward to
the post colonial era, the 21st century
specifically what we like to call the "Computer
age" along with all the tech and suits the
colonial masters brought, they also brought the
bible.
So now the big question is when the bible
said ladies weren't allowed to wear mens things
and vice versa, did it mean in the british clothing
culture or in the Igbo way? Or could it be that
women shouldn't wear the Yoruba "sokoto" ?
Or scotland women were not allowed to wear
skirts because the men wore it? Let me state
another instance when Exodus said Honour your
father and your mother did it mean prostrate
when ever you wanted to greet as in the yoruba
culture? Or kiss their feet as the indians do?
Well today I got my answer(thank God for
sunday school) and so far its the best I'v
got ......You were born a yoruba man for a
reason, so maybe Yes you are expected to
prostrate and greet or you come from scotland
wear your skirts happily because even Jesus said
" I have not come to destroy the law but to fufil
it" Mathew 5:17
Another point I would like to also talk about I
learnt from the apostle Paul who said that if it
was the food he ate that would not make his
neighbour make heaven, he would rather not eat.
So maybe the next time you see that girl who
loves the floor sweeping carribean skirt you
should thank her instead of calling her "deeper life"
because I pretty sure she would do fine in a pair
of leggins too or that man who would rather
keep a lowcut when infact a mohawk would fit
his head perfectly. But even as I am still unable
to comprehend the mysteries of the spirit, I leave
it to the comforter to interprete the fathers word
to us i.e the holy spirit. I would end this by
diving into another days topic JUDGE NOBODY!

source : www.popejaysblog..com

ife_famasi not beans!