For most Nigerians, who remember the famous Udoji Award of the 1970s, which caused public servants to smile home with robust wages, perhaps the biography of Chief Jerome Oputa Udoji, the man who initiated this economic revolution would make an interesting read.

The Doyen of Humanity (Biography of a nonagenarian), edited by Henry King Onyedika Adibe is simply a celebration of the life and times of Chief Udoji, a retired civil servant, social reformer, consultant and elder statesman.

The author’s choice of Udoji for this celebration in print is palpable. First, Udoji belongs to the first generation of Nigerian scholars who rose from a very humble beginning to attain the highest position possible in public service. He achieved all through hard work, high sense of discipline, diligence and a determination to succeed in the face of many challenges. Secondly, Chief Udoji, who is now blessed with the rare gift of being a nonengarian, impacted positively on his society, using his vast knowledge and experience to liberate the people.

In the first three chapters of the book, the author establishes Udoji’s humble beginning as a native of Ozubulu in Ekusigo LGA of Anambra State. Although the year of his birth was put between 1912 and 1917, Jerome was the last of the three surviving children of Ezemba-Dogbu Udoji: a prosperous and morally upright man who also bagged the prestigious Ozo title. Jerome’s mother, Madam Ikpoaku Ohinine also hailed from a wealthy home and her union with Udoji’s father made it possible for their son Jerome to be enlisted in school.

While growing up, Jerome had everything at his disposal, just as he was part of the community’socio-cultural and religious life. But his thirst for knowledge saw him through both elementary and secondary schools, up to the point when de decided to travel abroad for further studies.

In chapters 4 and 5, the reader encounters an ambitious Jerome who studied hard to gain admission to King’s College and University College, London where he eventually studied Law. Interestingly Udoji discovered he was in company of other (Nigerian) contemporaries such as the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Akintola Williams, Eni Njoku, Rotimi George, Taslim Elias, C.O Taiwo among others.
After being admitted to the British Bar, Udoji sought employment at the Colonial office in London and succeeded. He later returned to Western Nigeria (Ado Ekiti Province) where he started off as an Assistant District Officer and later rose to become the first African to be appointed District Officer under the colonial rule.

The author traces Udoji’s career as a loyal, forthright civil servant who would later escape from Nigeria during the Biafra war but to stumble on a plum international job courtesy of Ford Foundation. While outlining the many qualities and attributes of his subject, the author in chapter 6-10 mirrors the life of Udoji as a man of many parts whose footprints were registered in diverse fields. He has, among others, played his good roles as a good husband and family man, an industrious scholar and student, legal practitioner, administrator, and cultural hero. He has equally been a devout Christian, a philanthropist, politician, philosopher, sports enthusiast, peacemaker, an academic, lover of youths as well as an economist of high ranking.

And to buttress his own analysis, the author reproduces Udoji’s interviews and comments on national issues. In chapter eleven, previous comments and addresses by Udoji are featured along with a vox pop on the elder statesman. Expectedly, the reader would gain more insight into the life of this rare achiever who has a few more years to spend to clock a century on earth. From these commentaries and views, the reader easily learns Udoji’s exemplary leadership role and particularly as a man whose life has been replete with enviable positions of trust and responsibility.

While chapter 12 presents the lighter side of Udoji, the following chapter unveils his thoughts and beliefs in bits. Now a nonagenarian, Udoji’s commentary on Nigeria, as previously captured in his memoir: I weep for Nigeria, is again featured in this book. According to him, Nigeria has over the years, undergone little or minor positive changes in the areas of unity, economic progress, stability and collective responsibility. Udoji is further quoted to have said “ The Nigeria of my dreams has disappointed me… my ardent love and zeal for my fatherland made me to start at early age to give myself to the service of our dear native land. Nigerians in general appear to be good at complaining not well in planning…”

The Doyen of Humanity is a timely and detailed account of the life of a senior citizen whose life typifies discipline, focus, hard work and success. And it is noteworthy that the author succeeds in documenting this great man of history while he is still alive.

The book no doubt, would serve as a unique resource material for researchers such as historians, political scientists and other categories of scholars.

Also the book displays good print quality with readable letters and colourful photographs such as Udoji’s portrait on the front cover. The pictorial analysis in the central pages of the book equally lends credence to an eventful life that recorded many laudable achievements.
However the book suffers greatly from little editing as there are instances of wrong spellings, wrong use of tenses and incoherent sentences. It is suggested that the author takes cognizance of quality editing in subsequent editions of the book.