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ALSI ANTHEM

The Ode of the Nigerian Youth Movement
Composed by
Dr. J.C. Vaughan
(1983-1937)
Adapted for Association of Lagos State Indigenes
By
Hon. Justice Adewale Thompson

Whither Lagosians, Careless and Listless
Rise from your Slumber there’s work to be done
Whither Lagosians, Swordless and Shieldless
Foes are around you, the Prize must be won
Let work be your weapon, Endeavour you stronghold
The battle before you has only begun Honest intentions Acts, Firm and bold These must secure you a place in the Sun

You Young Lagosians, men in the making
Yours is the future to make or to mar
Make your Millennium or sad your awaking
Listless Contentment must end in Despair
Youth of the State, your task is before you
Honour your banner and courage your shield
Your Fatherland calls you
Your State demands you
For God and your State joyfully yield.
 
HERBERT MACAULAY MERIT AWARD
Is an honour bestowed On Deserving Indigenes Of Lagos State

The Award highlights Herbert Macaulay’s tenets of civil life that are worth of emulation by generations yet unborn.
It also serves as a measure of gratitude to the recipients for outstanding services, an acknowledgement of excellence, an appreciation of virtue, and an incentive to do more good and noble deeds.
“Lives of great men all remind us
We shall make our lives sublime
And departing. Leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time”.
AWARDEES

CHIEF JOHN OLABISI ODEYALE
“The reward of the teachers is in heaven and on earth too” This is a wise saying. John Odeyale is a veteran of the knowledge industry. He is an erudite scholar and a prolific researcher. He acquired knowledge only to pass it on to others; a teacher of teachers. He was over the years bestowed thousands of men and women with the gift of life; KNOWLEDGE.

Born on November 18, 1918 into the notable farming family of Oyedeles’ at Ewu. John is of Awori extraction. He started schooling at the age 15 in 1933 and completed his primary education at Methodist School Elekuro, Ibadan in 1937.
He trained as a teacher at Wesley College, Ibadan between 1939 and 1942. In 1943 he started job as a certificated teacher. He later entered Yaba Higher College in 1947 and from there to University of Ibadan where he obtained B.Sc (Chemistry, Botany & Zoology) combination degree in 1953. Ever since, John Odeyale never left the classrooms. He taught in many Secondary Schools and teacher Training Colleges, including his Alma-mater, Wesley College where he rose to the position of the Principal. He retired from active teaching service in 1973 after spending over thirty (30) years in the classrooms.

John realized the value of education early in life when he co-founded Awori National Union (A.N.U.) in 1947. He and his colleagues organised what they called “Education Crusade” to various Awori towns and villages. The massage to the Aworis was the need to invest in the education of their children for a better tomorrow. The group visited Ojo, Ilogbo, Ibereko, Irewa, Apa, Iba, Idimu, Igando, Ado-Odo, Igbesa, Agege, Ejogbo, Isolo, Ewu, Isheri Olofin and Agboyi. The tour on bicyle lasted about 20 days.

John Oyedele however served the State in many other capacities outside the classrooms. He was a member of State Scholarship Board 1972/73; he was Commissioner of Trade &Industry 1972-1979 and State Civil Service Commissioner 1979-1984. He is happily married with children.

CHIEF SAKARIYAU ADEYINKA OPEIFA
Once a soldier always a soldier. He is tall ebony black and be-spectacled; he is of solid frame with the image of a General. He is indeed a General in his own right.

Papa Opeifa is one of the very few who put their lives on the line in order to save the lives of thers. During the Second World War, he answered the clarion call to all patriots and took up arms in the defense of our fatherland, the British Empire. He actually saw action in two of the hottest theaters of war i.e. India and Burma. After the war his sharp shooting skill and gallantry earned him a middle rank decoration. He was given a heroic welcome of his return.

Born in October 1917 into the renowned Opeifa’s Family of Orile Agege, Papa Opeifa is a Awori extraction. He had his early education at both methodist School Oshodi and United High School Agege. He started work as a pupil teacher at methodist School Idanre, from where he joined the Public Works Department (now Federal Ministry of Works), as a Trainee Electrical Technician. In 1942 he was enlisted in the Nigerian Army and because of his technical background, he was posted to the Armored Corps.

He was demobilized in 1946 and as a measure of confidence in his technical skill and exemplary character he was re-absorbed into the workforce of Public Works Department. He later moved to United Africa Company (U.A.C.) as a Works Supervisor (Electrical).
In 1949 he left the United Africa Company to found his own Engineering outfit OPEIFA WORKS LIMITED. It was a flourishing contracting firm which undertook several heavy engineering projects including National Stadium Surulere (1972) and Lagos State Secretariat Complex, Alausa (1981).

Papa Opeifa has been a community activist since 1940s. He was in the forefront of Lagos State Movement with other Awori leaders like Chief Fagbenro Beyioku. When the State was eventually created in 1967 he continued to champion the interest of Lagosians in general and Aworis in particular. He is currently the National president of Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (A.W.A.N.), the umbrella body of all Aworis. He is happily married with children.
LADY OYINKAN ABAYOMI
When the Master Ceremonies was proposing her toast on her 90th Birthday, he said it all. Lady Oyinkan Abayomi was said to be ‘well fathered, well mothered and well husbanded”. Her father Sir Kitoyi Ajasa, a leader of the Nigerian Bar was knighted in 1923; her husband Dr. Kofo Abayomi was also knighted in 1954. She was thus born of a Sir! And married to a Sir. Like her mother Lady Lucretia Olayinka, she too became a Lady.

Born on March 1897, she started schooling at Anglican Girls Seminary School in 1903. But she soon left for England in 1909 to continue with her education. She attended Ladies Academy in London where she graduated in Literature, Drama and Music. She returned to Nigeria in 1920 and joined the staff of Anglican Girls School as a teacher.
She was intelligent, cultured and cultivated; of course, she was an epitome of well-bred civility. Little wonder that she had the singular honour of being the first Nigerian Lady to take the floor with an heir to the British throne, H.R.H. The Prince of Wales when he visited Nigeria in 1925.

Although Lady Abayomi was born into and also lived in affluence, she very much shared the feelings of members of the lower stratum of the society; particularly, WOMEN. She founded the Nigeria Chapter of Girls Guide Movement, a worldwide organisations that is dedicated to nurturing young girls into woman hood. She was the first President of the Movement, and worked so hard that when she finally retired as President, she was offered the position of a Life Patron.
She has always stood in defense of woman’s rights and privileges and she was a President, Young Women Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.). She has also touched the lives of thousands of Nigeria women through her charitable activities and motherly concern for the under-privileged.

Later in Life, in her own right, she was honoured with the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), and Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (O.F.R.). She was conferred with Honourary Chieftaincy Titles by His Royal Highness Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II of Lagos, and the Alafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II.
She lives to the grand old age of over 90 years.
ALHAJI (CHIEF) JIMOH AKANBI KAREEM-LAKA
Alhaji (Chief) Jimoh Akanbi Kareem-laka was born on 17th September 1922 into the renowned farming family of Olugbede Royal House of Idimu and Egbeda. His royal blood also flows through Isiba-Oluwo Ruling House of Egbeda. Akeja Oniyanru Ruling House of Ikeja and Irorun Ruling House of Ojokoro.

He had his early education at Idimu Primary School but soon joined his father in the family profession of farming. He was a resourceful and venturesome young man and left farming in 1937 for apprenticeship in Bicycle Mechanic under Chief S. A. Raji. His speciality was the White Raleigh (The White Hose) which was the equivalent of today’s Lexus Cars. He graduated from bicycle business into Motor Transport and Produce Buying. His vehicles clearly marked “ORELOPE TRANSPORT” were instrumental to opening up most of Awori land from Dopemu to Oshodi, Egbeda and beyond. He thus created a source of employment for many Awori Youths who later became transport owners in their own right.

Like all youths of his days, he identified himself with the national movement for self-government and thus got thoroughly immersed in active politics. He is a very astute politician and an avowed Awoist. His wise counsel is eagerly sought by his colleagues and leadership in the polticial class fell on him as a matter of course. He was a leading member of many political parties including the action Group, the Unity Party of Nigeria, the Social Democratic Party and currently, he is the leader of Alliance for Democracy in Lagos State. Although he devotes a lot of time to national and state politics, his activities are very much biased in favour of the Aworis and he is the arrow head of many developmental projects executed in Awori land. He is a strong member of Egbe Omo Idimu. Awori Elites and Awori Welfare Association.

Alhaji Laka is a philanthropist extraordinary, an attribute that earned him the nickname of “ORELOPE”. As a devout Muslim, and in accordance with Islamic tenets, he wouldn’t want his left hand to know what his right hand has done. But his many kind gestures have been recognised with many honours from various Islamic bodies. He is the Otun Alakoso Adini of Lagos State (U.M.C.), the Seriki Adini of Ikeja Division, Baba Adini of Egbeda Central Mosque, Baba Adini of Youmbas Central Mosque, etc.
Alhaji Kareem-Laka is happily married with children.

JOSEPH EGERTON SHYNGLE
Joseph Egerton Shyngle was born on 15th March, 1862. At the time when Lagos became part of West African Settlement, he was sent to Wesley Boys High School, Bathurst, and the C.M.S. Grammar School, Freetown for his early education.

He later attended the famous Fourabay College, Sierra-Leone and Christ Church College, Oxford. He joined the inner Temple in 1885 and was called to the English Bar in 1888. After some years of legal practice, he was enrolled as Solicitor to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1892.

He was a very able advocate and in the 1920s, he was usually referred to as “Lion at the Bar” Sir Frederick Van Der Meuleu, a Pusine Judge of the Supreme Court 1919-1926, described him as “an advocate who would have adorned any bar in the world and might have risen to the position of the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain if he had been born a white man”. Although Egerton Shyngle belonged to the Aristocratic Class, his love for the down trodden was unbounded. He sometimes picked up cases in defense of the right of the common man for non fees, a practice that earned him such titles as the “People Lawyer”. “Defender of Native Rights” etc.

He was a very popular politician, a foundation member, and the first President of the First Nigerian National Political Party, the “Nigerian National Democratic Party”. At the first General Election to the Nigerian Legislative Council in September 1923, he topped the list of successful candidates with, 303 votes and thus became the “First Lagos Member”.
His Party introduced a number of measures to improve the lots of the people and successfully challenged some of the colonial laws, which it considered “obnoxious”, including the Poll Tax and Water Rate.
Joseph Egerton Shyngle died in active service of his fatherland on 19th March 1926.
DR. JAMES CHURCHHILL VAUGHAN (1893 – 1937)

Lilly of a day: Is fairer far in May Although it fall and die that night It is the plant and flower of light Ben Johnson
The short piece ably applies to the young but great men of old as it applies to our own Dr. Vaughan. His is “a short but Glorious reign” like that legendary folk singer Timmy Roggers, who lives for only 33 years. John Keats, the bachelor poet, who lived for years and Alexander the Great who almost conquered the whole of the known world by 232 B.C.
We also had our Nigerian President for “two hundred and one day”. General Muritala Mohammed who lived for 37 years and the “American President of a thousand days” Jack Kennedy who lived for 45 years.

Our dear Dr. Vaughan, “SO widely known and so greatly missed” spent only 44 years on his terrestrial world.
Dr. Vaughan was born on 30th May 1893 and had his early education at C.M.S. Grammar School Lagos and in 1909. He became one of the five foundation students of Kings College, Lagos. He passed out of Kings College in 1912 and proceeded to University of Edingburgh to read medicine where he obtained the degrees of M.B. C.H.B. (Edin) in 1918. He returned to Nigeria in the 20’s to establish his private clinic.

In practice Dr. Vaughan was reputed to be very humane as he possessed a “comely and resplendent personality” and in spite of his “affluent an enlightened pedigree”. He was usually very much at home with the common man. He introduced a scheme of FREEE MEDICAL SERVICES for the indigent a programme that greatly endeared him to the general populace. He was a devout churchman, and later became a lay-preacher at Ebenezer Baptist Church (The Vaughan’s Family Church).

The activities of the British Colonial Administration in the 20’ helped to bring to the surface the deep sense of patriotism in him. He became a vocal critic of the government and took active part in several nationalist organisation both in Nigeria and in the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He finally founded his own political party, the Nigerian Youth Movement in 1933.
The movement attracted membership all over Nigeria and with its weekly lectures at Glover Memorial Hall and innovative “Touch light rallies” The Movement soon became the center of gravity of Nigerian political life. When the government planned to train Nigerian doctors upon an inferior curriculum, the massive opposition mustered by the Movement caused the Programme to be shelved. The movement became so strong that it swept the polls at the 1938 General Elections.

PROFESSOR OLADELE ADEBAYO AJOSE
Professor Oladele Adebayo Ajose has once been described as “a distinguished Scientist, an eminent University Teacher/Administrator and a pioneer in the filed of University Education of Nigeria”.

He was born into the Royal House of Oba Ologunkutere of Lagos on 20th September 1907. However, His Royal antecedents were no reason for him to rest on his laurels and he had his early education at St Johns Aroloya School, Methodist Boys High School and Kings College Lagos. He left Kings College in 1926 as a School Prefect, a School Liberian and a College Scholar.

In 1927 he proceeded to the Medical School of the University of Glasgow where in 1932 he became one of the first Nigerians o obtain the degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery of that famous school. He engaged in private practice in Glasgow before he returned home in 1936 to join the services of the Lagos City Council as an Assistant Medical Officer of Health. He became the Medical Officer of Health in 1948.

Prof. Ajose was the first Health Officer to combine teaching with public service and was the first to establish the principle that the teaching of Public Health should take place outside as well as within the walls of the University. He was also one of the first proponent of Primary Health Care using the town of Ilora to show-case the need for community participation in health projects. This project earned him the Chieftaincy title of BADA OF IKORA.

Professor Ajose had astonishing number of publications in both National and International Medical Journals and his book "Public Health in Tropical Countries" was a must read for all Medical Students. His dedication to Scholarship could not have gone unnoticed and in September 1948, he was appointed Professor of Preventive and Social Medicine of the University College, Ibadan and so became the FIRST African and the FIRST Nigerian to hold a Professional Chair as well as being a Founding Professor.

He had some other FIRSTS to his Credit. During the period 1958-59, he became the FIRST Nigerian to hold the post of Deanship of the Faculty of Medicine University of Ibadan. He was the FIRST African South of the Sahara to be appointed Consultant to the United Nations Mission in Community Development and also the FIRST Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ife, now obafemi Awolowo University.

On his retirement from University life, Professor Ajose continued his links with education when he was appointed the FIRST Chairman of the Lagos State School Service Board from 1967-75. He was later honoured with the ORDER OF BRITISH EMPIRE (O.B.E.) and a Doctorate Degree from the University of Ife. He died in 1978 at the biblical age of three scores plus eleven.
CHIEF IMAM ABDUL LATEEF AKODU
Chief Imam Alhaji Abdul Lateef Sadiq Akodu is a Minister of Religion and an Educationist.
He was born in Epe in November 1896 by the renowned Arabic Scholar and Teacher, Sadiq Akodu. As would be expected from his background his early education was in the direction of reading the Quran which he read through about four times before the age of 10 years. It was after this that he started secular education at the Government Moslem School Epe. He also attended Haroon Rasheed Arabic School Epe where he graduated in 1921.

He started work as a clerk with the British Nigeria Timber Company 1923-26 and later joined the Lagos Stores as a Store keeper. In 1929 he left Commercial Houses for the classrooms and he taught in various schools at Epe, Ijebu-Ode, Ibadan and Lagos. He combined Missionary Activities with teaching and soon became very notable as an Itinerary Preacher.
He was later appointed the National Missioner of the Ahmadiya Movement an assignment that took him to many places in Nigeria where he established and supervised Missions for the Movement. In particular the establishment of both Ikorodu and Shagamu Missions was largely due to his efforts.

Alhaji Akodu was a man of strong character who always had courage of his conviction. He was a fearless preacher who would always speak the truth regardless of whose ox is gored. He was a great scholar and a prolific writer and his many books/publications have become a must read for students of Islamic Theology. He died on 22nd March 1980 at the ripe age of 84 years, leaving a legacy of selfless service to humanity.
CHIEF SOLOMON TANIMOMO HUNPONU-WUSU F.F.S.N, M.O.N.
THE MEYITO OF BADAGRY
For those of us who spent our childhood days in Lagos Island the memory of the Nigerian “DR” at the West African Drug Company will come readily to mind. For the locals, we could not see the difference between a Pharmacist and a Doctor as they both render health services.

Our Papa Solomon Tanimomo was a Pharmacist by profession and a politician by calling. Born into the renowned Hunponu-Wusu family of Badagry on 28th June 1900, Solomon Tanimomo was a naturally gifted child. He attended the Saint Thomas School Badagry from 1905-1908 and Tinubu Methodist School Lagos from 1908-1918. He later proceeded to the School of Pharmacy and qualified as a Chemist and Gruggist in 1924. He won the prestigious Martindale Prize for excellence.

He started his working life at the West African Drug Company Ltd as a Pharmacist. He served the company meritoriously for 26 years and was the first Nigerian to be made the General Manager of the Company. When he retired, he was presented with a GOLD Wristwatch with inscribed initials and years of service. He left the company in 1950 to found the Commercial Medicine Stores Ltd, a leading pharmaceutical retail group. Thereafter his business interest became varied and he was at one time or the other the Chairman Board of Director of Wusu Treading Company, Director, West African Pictures Company Ltd and Director of Oshodi & Apena Investment Company Ltd. He was also for many years a Director of National Bank of Nigeria Ltd.

He was honoured many times over, first by the Council of Traditional Chiefs of Badagry with the title “The Mayito of Badagry” 1957 and was appointed a Member of the Order of the Niger (M.O.N) in 1965. He was elevated as a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (F.P.S.N.) in 1975. In 1959 he harkened to the clarion call of his people and was elected an Honourable Senator and a Zonal Leader of the Senate. As a Parliamentarian, he was instrumental to many forward looking policies of the Government.

He moved the motion for the construction of EKO BRIDGE AND ALSO FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF MANY OVERHEAD BRIDGES ACROSS Iddo, Yaba, Western Avenue and Agege Motor Road.
When he retired from active service he was usually invited by the Lagos State Governor to carry out non-stipendiary and honorary assignments. He was a member of Lagos State Lottery Committee; Member Badagry Textile and Dye Industry Committee etc, etc, etc.

Papa S.T.H. Wusu was married to Miss Modupe Ashabi Johnson a school teacher in 1930. The marriage was blessed with many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren many of whom now take to the family profession – PHARMACY. He died at the tipe age of 77 years.
 
AIR COMMODORE A.W. GBOLAHAN MUDASHIRU
He is a rare breed; for it is indeed very rare for Lagosians to make a career in the Security Services. But those who did made their mark.

Born on 18th October 1945, he attended Igbobi College between 1959 and 1963. As a youth, he became obsessed with the idea of becoming a soldier and finally made up his mind to take up a military career. He enlisted in the Nigerian Air Force as an Officer Cadet-in-Training in 1964 and became a Commissioned Officer in 1966.

In recognition of his outstanding leadership potentials, he was sent on a number of overseas courses. These include courses at USAF School of Airspace Sciences, Biloxi in USA; Air Univesity, Maxwell HFB, Montgomery, AL, USA, Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell, U.K. Troy State University, USA, and Naval Post Graduate School, Monterrey USA. In the process, he acquired Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in 1985. Thereafter, promotions came rapidly, and he continued to rise within the ranks. By the time he retired in 1990, he had become a full-fledged AIR COMMODORE.
Air Commodore Mudashiru held several key appointments while in the NAF. He was a former Military Secretary of the NAF, the pioneer Officer Commanding the Junior Command Staff School, NAF, Kaduna (1977-80), the Director of Inspection (1981), and the Director of Personnel (1981-1983), both at the NAF Headquarters. He also served as Deputy Commandant, Nigerian Defence Academy (1986-1987) and (1988-1989) and He was Air Officer-in-charge Administration of the NAF (1990).

The highlight of his government service career was when he was appointed the Military Governor/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State (1984-1986). He demonstrated exceptional ability in Public Administration and left indelible marks in the state.

Today, Air Commodore Mudasiru is a business giant. He is the Chairman of G&A Investments Ltd, and Deep Offshore Systems Ltd. He also sits on the Board of many other companies as a Director. These include Delta/Terra Tek Ltd, Safecon petroleum (Jersey, U.K.) Ltd, Nexans Kabelmetal, etc.
Commodore Mudashiru is happily married with children.