Artistes, Fashola Mourn Olusola

Nigerians have continued to mourn the death of former ambassador of the country to Ethiopia, Segun Olusola.

Olusola, who was well known in the country’s literary sector as an icon and head of the African Refugee Foundation, died yesterday at the age of 77.

One of those who reacted to his demise, Dagga Tollar, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, said: “It is a big loss for us all. He was a father to us and a lot of us enjoyed support from him.”

Dagga went ahead to query the unorganised nature and documentation of arts, events and records in the country.

He particularly traced the absence of the entire episodes of the popular TV drama, Village Headmaster, the brainchild of the late Olusola, to this fact.

“If it were to be a developed society, we would have been asking for the entire episodes of the Village Headmaster.

“Baba has played his role. He knew what he was doing and he did it well. We should commence a celebration for this great ambassador of art,” he said.

In her reaction this afternoon, foremost actress, Joke Silva, said: “it is really sad. He was such a wonderful Grandpa in the industry. He did a lot for the entertainment industry. We owe him a duty to ensure that the legacy he left behind in the entertainment industry is kept thriving.”

Arnold Udoka, a Deputy Director at the National Theatre, said Ambassador Olusola was connoisseur of the art.

“From the performing art, from the literary art and to the visual art, he was a worthy ambassador. It is regrettable that it happened at a time when he was about the only one in the country at that age to give direction to the young ones,” he said.

Udoka thanked God for giving Nigeria such a man, adding that he would be missed.

Journalist and poet, Bethy Abah, expressed shock at the demise of Olusola describing it as a big boss to the country.

She said: “He was a foremost icon and one who really developed himself. There was so much finesse in his diction, excellence and carriage. It is really a big loss to Nigeria especially where the people in the country’s leadership lack intellectual depth.”

Abah said although the ambassador died at 77, he could be said to have died young because of the enormous contribution he was making to the country.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) joined other eminent Nigerians to mourn the passing of one of the country’s literary giants and cultural ambassadors, Chief Olusegun Olusola who had his final bow yesterday.

In a condolence message to the family of the deceased, Fashola regretted that the death of the founder of the epic national television series, Village Headmaster has robbed the country of the ace broadcaster who, he described, as one of the country’s finest models in broadcasting, culture, the arts and diplomacy.

Fashola noted among the major contributions of Olusola, his founding of the African Refugees Foundation (AREF) which he said contributed to solving the problems of refugees and internally displaced persons. He added that Chief Olusegun Olusola’s constant admonition that situations that creates refugees or internally displaced persons must be avoided should be hearkened to by all at this time in the country.

He noted that the passage of the icon would create a big vacuum in the broadcast and cultural space of the country and challenges the youths of the country to be inspired by his life to always “aspire to be the very best in their chosen callings” the same way Ambassador Olusola and his generation excelled in their chosen professions.

The Governor acknowledged the outstanding contributions of the Village Headmaster series to the drama and cultural development of the country and prayed God to grant the soul of the national icon eternal repose.

Born in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, southwest Nigeria, on 18 March, 1935,  the late Olusola attended the Roman Catholic School, Iperu- Remo between 1941 and 1943 and the Wesley School, Iperu from 1944 to 1947 and the Remo Secondary School, Sagamu from 1948 to 1953.

After one year service as Account Assistant at the ECN now PHCN, he began his broadcasting career in 1955 at the Ibadan station of the Nigerian Broadcasting Service and in September 1959 became Africa’s first television producer with the WNTV now NTA Ibadan in a television career that lasted till 1987 during which he created the longest running TV drama series, the Village Headmaster in 1968.

He served as Chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), 2nd All Africa Games Coverage Committee 1973 and NTA’s director of Commercial Operations in 1986.

His broadcasting career included further education at the Syracuse University New York (USA) 1960, BBC Management of Resources Course (UK) 1974, Pittsburg University Management Programme for Executives (USA) 1980, and at the National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies, Jos, 1982.

On his retirement in 1987 he was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ethiopia & Resident Representative to the Organisation of African Unity and served till 1993 when he returned home to establish the African Refugees Foundation devoted to the management of the root causes of refugees and internal displacement.

As Chairman of the OAU Commission On Refugees (1988 1993), Leader of the OAU Zambia Election Monitoring Team (1992), he has addressed international gathering on Refugees, Election Processes, Media Development, Conflict Resolution, Culture and the Arts.

—Bankong-Obi & Eromosele Ebhomele