Tinubu mourns as ex-UK envoy, Christopher Kolade, dies at 92

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

President Bola Tinubu has expressed heavy sorrow implicit the decease of erstwhile Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and 1 of the nation’s astir revered elder statesmen, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who passed distant astatine the property of 92.

His household announced his decease successful a statement, saying: “We are thankful for his unthinkable beingness of religion and service, and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings.”

Born connected December 28, 1932, successful Erin-Oke, Osun State, Dr. Kolade lived a beingness defined by integrity, leadership, and excellence crossed broadcasting, diplomacy, academia, and the firm world.

A lad of an Anglican missionary, helium attended Government College, Ibadan, earlier proceeding to Fourah Bay College successful Freetown, Sierra Leone. His distinguished vocation earned him honorary doctorates from the University of Sierra Leone (1976) and McPherson University (2016).

Dr. Kolade began his nonrecreational travel successful broadcasting and roseate to go Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

He aboriginal joined the firm sector, wherever helium served arsenic Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, earning wide respect for his ethical leadership.

His estimation for excellence led to his assignment arsenic Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a relation helium discharged with distinction.

After his diplomatic service, Dr. Kolade joined the Lagos Business School (LBS) arsenic a lecturer successful Corporate Governance and Human Resource Management, and aboriginal taught Leadership and Conflict Management astatine the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, wherever helium besides served arsenic Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.

Beyond academia, helium held enactment positions successful nonrecreational bodies specified arsenic the Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, International Institute for Communications, and the World Association for Christian Communication.

In designation of his beingness of service, Dr. Kolade received galore awards, including the Order of St. Augustine Medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 2012, helium was appointed by erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan arsenic Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Board.

A lifelong advocator of morals and transparency, helium besides chaired Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention connected Business Integrity Ltd GTE.

Tinubu mourns

Reacting to his death, President Tinubu described Dr. Kolade arsenic “one of Nigeria’s intelligence treasures” whose beingness embodied integrity, discipline, and selfless service.

In a connection personally signed by him, the President said helium received the quality “with profound sadness,” noting that the precocious diplomat’s contributions to nationalist improvement spanned education, firm governance, diplomacy, and humanitarian service.

“Dr. Kolade, 92, was a custodian of our endeavor history, particularly successful firm governance and quality assets management. He was a main fig successful reputable institutions similar the Lagos Business School,” Tinubu stated.

He hailed Kolade arsenic “among the finest of men — exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, diligent, and with unimpeachable integrity.”

The President added that beyond his firm and diplomatic achievements, Kolade was “a patriot and an uncompromising advocator of transparency and accountability successful governance.”

“He served Nigeria dutifully, with honesty and large dedication. From his days arsenic a colonial-era acquisition serviceman to his work arsenic Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and arsenic Director-General of the NBC, Dr. Kolade near an indelible people of favoritism successful each sphere — whether successful the boardroom, nationalist office, oregon academia,” Tinubu said.

He besides recalled Kolade’s humanitarian enactment done the Christopher Kolade Foundation, peculiarly his enactment for sickle compartment patients, to which helium donated a important information of his idiosyncratic income.

“Dr. Kolade’s passing is agonising, yet we indispensable observe his bonzer beingness and legac...