Philip Adegbile - A Life of Enduring Fabric

Bukola Olatunji pays tribute to the former Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr. Philip Olumuyiwa Adegbile, who died on Thursday, March 20, 2003 at 58.

The opening quotation of the appreciation expressed by the children and family of the late Dr. Philip Olumuyiwa Adegbile, at his funeral held in Ede, Osun State on Thursday, April 10, said it all: "Life is not measured by the years that we live, but by the deeds that we do and by the joy that we give to humanity." It is worth thinking very deeply about.Everyone who had the privilege of interacting with the Doctor of Fibre Science and Technology would readily agree that no better quote aptly describes the life of the two-term former Rector of the Yaba college of technology (YABATECH).The Vice President of Grays International College, Kaduna and Ede (Osun State), left his home in Kaduna for Abuja on Thursday, March 20, 2003, to attend the meeting of 100 Eminent Citizens on Nigeria's 2010 World Cup Bid. Along the Kaduna/Abuja expressway, his jeep had a burst tyre. Adegbile and another staff, Miss Maureen Osagie-Ohenhen, lost their lives. His widow Mrs. Jean Avril-Mae Adegbile, a Jamaican, and their only daughter, the second of three, were two of the first to know. As president and Chief Executive of Grays International School respectively, they are on ground in Kaduna.For his first son, Cambridge University-trained Medical Doctor, Philip Adediran Adegbile, it was another normal Thursday. The Portsmouth, United Kingdom-based Orthopaedic Surgeon was preparing for another round of his specialisation -Total Knee Replacement (TKP) surgery, when he got a bleep from his wife, Theresa. Only something very important would make her do this when he was about going in for surgery. Adegbile told THISDAY at Ede, "when I picked the phone, she was crying and she said "it's Daddy. He's dead." I asked if she was sure and she said yes. Then I started to cry and must have done so for about two hours. I could not go on with the operation since I was in no state to even take care of myself." He arrived Nigeria the following day.The 'baby of the house', Samuel, 23, is a final year student of Biochemistry at Temple University, Philadelphia, United States of America. He was writing his examinations and so the tragedy was kept away from him for three days.This writer had gone to Grays International School, Kaduna on Friday, March 21, to see a son and also discuss an educational piece Dr. Adegbile wanted published. The grave looking security man, his head cast down, said, "didn't you hear what happened? We lost him yesterday".At the school house where the family lives, Mrs. Adegbile bore her sudden loss with great grace. Sitting on a straight-back chair, she calmly narrated how the family's driver of several years was at the wheels when at about 34 km to Abuja, they had a burst tyre. While the two persons in front survived with injuries, the two at the back seat did not. Mrs Adegbile added, "if a loved one falls sick and dies, you can understand. But to just go suddenly like that?", She shook her head and added, "we cannot question God."Downstairs was the Rector of YABATECH, Mr. Olubunmi Owoso, who described Adegbile as "my mentor, my brother and my best friend." He also got to Kaduna immediately he learnt that his friend of about 28 years was no more.Born on November 28, 1944 to the late Pa Job Ajayi Adegbile and late Madam Rebecca Idowu Adegbile of Oke-Obe in Iree, Osun State, Adegbile attended Awe High School, near Oyo. He went on to the Blackburn College of Technology in the UK, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Textile Technology. He also obtained the professional qualification of a Chartered Member and Associate of the Textile Institute (UK) in 1969.He later obtained an M. Sc in Textile Evaluation in 1972 and Ph.D. in Fibre Science and Technology in 1975, both from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He was one of the few Nigerians in this specialised field.Adegbile returned to Nigeria in 1975 and after a stint with a textile industry in Lagos, moved to the Kaduna Polytechnic, where he served at various times as lecturer, Head of Department of Textile Technology and Dean, School of Technology between 1976 and 1985.He was appointed Rector of YABATECH by the Federal Government in 1985, a position he occupied for two-terms, ending in 1993. Dr. Adegbile was later appointed Director of the then Kaduna office of the British Council between 1995 and 1997.It was tributes all the way, from Monday April 7 when the final rites of passage began with a service of songs at Grays International College Kaduna to Thursday April 10, when his remains were interred at the Elemo Village, Ede Campus of the Grays International College. The Monday service of songs at Kaduna was followed by a commendation service, also at the college, on Tuesday, and another commendation service at YABATECH, Lagos on Wednesday, April 9.It was indeed a celebration of Life as a large number of people within and out side the college community joined the Adegbile family to pay their last respect. They include the chairman and three members of the Governing council of YABATECH, the General Overseer of Foursquare Church in Nigeria, Dr. Wilson Badejo, who, quoting from the Book of Hebrews chapter nine, spoke on Birth, Death and Choice, and the National President of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society, Alhaji Ola Ayinde.Rectors of State and Federal Polytechnics, past and present were also there, including Mr. G. M. Okufi who handed over to Adegbile at YABATECH.The Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Dr. Nuru Yakubu sent a representative. People came from all walks of life, especially the academia, universities and polytechnics alike.Popular gospel singer, Mrs. Dupe Olulana was on hand to minister with her Hosanna Band , so was the proposed choir of YABATECH which, among many numbers, gave a good rendition of the Alleluia Chorus. A student of the college, Miss Yemi Odulaja also rendered a soul stirring number titled, 'Only Remembered By What We Have Done'.His bossom friend of almost four decades and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology (FUT) Owerri, Prof. Sam Ugbolue, came all the way from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, USA, where he is in the Department of Textile Sciences.Adegbile's life was one of pursuit of excellence and service as attested to by those who knew him. He, along with Ugbolue, were the first successful batch of Federal Government Scholars to read Textile Technology in the UK.He won the coveted William Wilkinson Memorial Scholarship of Blackburn College in 1968 and 1969; and also the Young Science Research Workers' Prize at the Physics Group Conference of Durham University, UK in 1974. He was a fellow of the Textile Institute, Manchester, Polymer Institute of Nigeria and the Institute of Management Consultants. He was a member and Vice President, Western zone of the Textile Society of Nigeria.Owoso said in an interview that all the superlatives in the world could be used to describe Adegbile. His words: "He was a man with very unusual vision and tremendous capacity for hardwork. He believed that education is the most important factor for development and spent his entire life making sure that good education was imparted. He was a very kind and simple man who just believed in service and service, a passionate believer in one Nigeria. His death is a painful loss, but the joy is that he lived a peaceful life."YABATECH's College Orator, Mr. Ladipo Smart Oke said in a tribute that it is to the credit of Adegbile that the Department of Polymer and Textile Technology was introduced, established and well equipped for contemporary challenges in the Textile Industry. "This he achieved through a stimulating interaction with foreign investors." Oke said, adding that, "the Department of Industrial Maintenance Engineering (IME) was also established and sophisticatedly equipped under his leadership as the Rector of Yaba College of Technology."The orator noted that Dr. Adegbile "successfully laid the foundation for the interaction the department of enjoys today with the French Government. Through this academic fellowship, a number of lecturers and other personnel have traveled to France to attend series of productivity enhancement courses on IME.It was said in another tribute that none of Adegbile's "qualities - innocence, freshness, unspoiled charm, grace and aristocratic bearing - seem to explain his love for soccer. Much as he valued and treasured scholarship, Dr. Adegbile's passion for the round leather was legendary."Indeed, YABATECH won all the laurels in the game in the polytechnic sector and the Pepsi cup for keeps during his tenure.Facing each of the gates of the two campuses of Grays International Schools in Kaduna and Ede is a football pitch. The College once won the Shell Cup Adegbile also formed the Grays International Football Club, for adults and youths, which once won the FA cup in Kaduna State. He was on the team of 100 Eminent Citizens put in place by the Federal Government for the Country's 2010 World Cup Bid.No wonder the caliber of groups that displayed their banners in tribute to him during the funeral at Ede - Grassroots Coaches Council, Oshogbo and Olorunda; Adeoti Babes, Osun State Football Coaches Association, Nigeria Football Supporters' Club, Osun State Chapter; Pepsi Football Academy. Academic Staff Union (ASUP), YABATECH and Grays Parents Forum were also not left out. They thanked him for all he was "able to do for the children".Of a truth, Dr. Adegbile devoted the last years of his life to nurturing the schools which he and his wife founded to enviable heights. He paid attention to every detail. Twelve days before he passed on (March 8-10), Adegbile was with his students on a three-day excursion to Jos Zoo and the Yankari National Park in Bauchi State. Many saw him as the live wire of the schools. But Dr. Adediran Adegbile assured that the school will continue to be the centre or excellence that his father established. He recalled that his father used to say "our buildings may not be the best, but come into my classroom and see what my students are doing". Since 1994 when it turned out its first set of graduates, Adegbile said the College has maintained a percentage pass of no less than 90 percent the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).He has promised that extensive work would be done on the school. "It is Daddy's sweat and we will not allow that spirit to die". While admitting that it is going to be a lot of hard work, Adegbile said "we have our work cut out and a fantastic back up staff. We are going to rotate being in the school."While he is the Executive Director, his sister Wunmi, who has a Masters in Education and International Development from London University, is the Chief Executive Officer. His brother Samuel, wife, Theresa and six-year-old Son, Buju (full name, Bujurishasha in West Indies means 'the pride of the clan') are Directors. He misses the father he described as "The best motivator anyone can find". Wunmi on the other hand misses "his very nature. He was the most humble individual you could think of, who was not conscious about money.' Sam misses "his spirit, everything. He was a very humourous man."In a moving tribute at the burial, from which title this piece derived its caption, Prof. Ugbolue said Adegbile's "gracefulness, graciousness, highly developed talents, large-hearted generosity, wit and humour, complete devotion and loyalty to his family and friends, frankness, sincerity and total commitment to the service of our Lord Jesus Christ remain as testament of the enduring fabric of (his) life." He rounded off by saying " I know heaven must be truly beautiful because Philip is there."Perhaps he even had a glimpse of it while still here. He was reported to have called his Book Keeper in January and thanked her for keeping proper records of his activities and that if he died now, the school could still do well without him. He also told her to keep an eye on Mommy (his wife).Many of those who were close to him are still grieving and may do so for a while to come. But Rev. Badejo said, "let us thank God for death." What would this world be like without it? Many are asking why good people die so early. But again, the closing remark of the children and family's appreciation is a balm: "O Lord, in trouble and gladness we can hear your voice. If we listen in silence we will find a reason to rejoice."