IJAGUN
... Tai Solarin, art scholars put obscure Ijebu village on
world map
By SOLA BALOGUN
Thursday, November
20, 2008
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Art scholars at TASUED
PHOTOS: THE SUN PUBLISHING
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In a society, where evil thrives because those who should
speak chose to be reticent, Pa Tai Solarin was never scared
of giving Nigeria's profligate and insidious dictators a piece
of his mind. In return, Uncle Tai, as he was fondly called,
suffered detention in various prisons by several governments
of Nigeria. But, how time has vindicated Uncle Tai: as could
be gleaned from the blatant looting of the treasury by various
leaders.
Apart from his strident criticisms of visionless rulers, Uncle
Tai was a model of frugality and a man, who lived his creed,
unlike today's flock of charlatans who preach anti-corruption
but practically thrive on the exact opposite. In a nation,
where the ambition of many includes sleeping with countless
women, even after building bustling harems and spawning shoals
like fishes, Uncle Tai was a faithful husband till death did
him and his British-born wife of 38 years, Sheila Mary (nee
Tuer), part. Such is the legacy of thelate educator and social
critic that 14 years after his passage at the age of 72 in
1994, countless Nigerians harbour fond memories of one of
Africa's foremost nationalists.
To date, innumerable Nigerians nurse vivid memories of Uncle
Tai in his trademark modest footwear, khaki shorts and hunter's
headgear. If his fashion was peculiar, much more so was his
spiritual inclination. But despite being an atheist, in these
climes, where many are at best sanctimonious infidels, Pa
Solarin's controversial religious leaning did not detract
from his fame.
It is to the credit of the late Uncle Tai that the hitherto
obscure settlement of Ijagun in Ogun State has leapt onto
the world map, following the location of a university there.
It is also worth noting that the tertiary institution named
in honour of Uncle Tai couldn't have found a more deserving
and befitting epithet.
Welcome to Tai Solarin University of Education
Interestingly, Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED)
is Nigeria's first University of Education, a befitting memento
in honour of the late human rights activist and educator extraordinaire.
Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, proclaimed the
institution a university on 29 January 2005.
TASUED, the 76th approved university in Nigeria, is one of
about six such institutions located in the home state of the
late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose enviable foresight has liberated
the Yoruba nation forever. TASUED evolved from Tai Solarin
College of Education, which in 2005 got license to operate
as a university from the National Universities Commission
(NUC), after scrutiny and meticulous review of its facilities
as well as academic brief.
The founding Vice Chancellor (VC) of TASUED is Professor Olukayode
Oyesiku, while Dr Yinusa Oyeneye is Pro Chancellor. Through
the admirable leadership of Prof Oyesiku, and support of the
Ogun State Government, the Pro Chancellor, the NUC, the Education
Trust Fund (ETF), among others, TASUED has grown by leap and
bounds in its short history.
The university's galloping progress in terms of facilities
could be gleaned from its four colleges, which includes the
iconic College of Education and Applied Vocational and Technical
Study (COEAVOTS). Other schools of TASUED are: The College
of Social and Management Studies (COSMAS), College of Humanities
(COHUM), the College of Science and Applied Information and
Technology (COSIT) and e-learning Centre et cetera. Aside
all these, TASUED also boasts a model Electronic Library as
well as a Cultural History Museum. These two facilities, among
others, are housed inside the sparkling Gbenga Daniel Hall.
Inside Ijagun
TASUED campus shares boundary with the Lagos-Benin Expressway
and the host village of Ijagun stands close to various communities.
These include: Ijele, Imaweje, Odo Epo, Abapawa, Ogbo, Okelamuren,
Ibido-ogbo, to mention a few. Members of the host community
and neighbouring settlements are largely responsible for students'
accommodation because TASUED currently has no hostel.
Akin to many other quasi-rural communities, where the location
of a tertiary institution galvanized transformation, Ijagun
now boasts numerous enterprises, whose proprietors trail scholars
as egrets to a herd of cattle. This could be gleaned from
the dozens of shops, which border both sides of the narrow
but asphalt-covered undulating road. The business centres
include provision merchants, GSM recharge cards retailers
and outfits offering secretarial services, whose signboards
announce: “Type your documents here.” Such shops
invite students to come and laminate documents, make photocopies
or bind projects.
Countless respondents enthusiastically told Daily Sun that
today's busy atmosphere along Ijagun's Tasued Road is a sharp
contrast with what obtained there a few years ago. Until 2004,
the Saint Peters Parish of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican
Communion), “Oke Isegun” Parish of the Christ
Apostolic Church (CAC) and a few other houses of worship were
the only non-residential structures along the avenue. Nowadays,
dozens of mini-marts stand conspicuously on either side of
Ijagun's Tasued Road is bustling with activities.
Evidently, much fewer people were familiar with the name Ijagun,
until a few years ago. Today, the hitherto obscure town has
landed on the world map, thanks to Uncle Tai. Ijagun's fame
was further enhanced by the strides made by TASUED's Department
of Creative Arts, whose scholars, in conjunction with others,
organized a welcome national conference recently.
Despite its relatively young age, TASUED has leapt into the
forefront as a foremost institution of artistic excellence.
The recently concluded confab, which dwelt on: “Review
of the Visual and Creative Arts Curricula,” is a veritable
example. The theme of the conference was: “Designing
suitable creative arts curricula for Nigeria's development
in the 21st century.” “Museum Education Curriculum,”
“Ceramics Curriculum,” “Sculpture Curriculum,”
“Photography Curriculum” and “Painting Curriculum”
were among the sub-themes. Other sub-themes included: “Textile
Curriculum,” “Graphics Curriculum” and “Creative
Arts Curriculum.” Dr Peju Olayiwola of University of
Lagos, Dr Ken Okoli, lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU),
Dr Kunle Filani, Provost, Federal College of Education, Osiele,
Abeokuta and Dr Barth Chukwuezi, Associate Professor and Director,
Planning and Training Services at the National Commission
for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), each presented a lead paper
on: “Creative Arts,” “Sculpture,”
“Primary and Secondary Schools Arts Curriculum”
and “Museum Education” respectively. Other lead
papers came from Prof Rom Kalilu of Ladoke Akintola University,
Ogbomoso (Painting), Prof PSO Aremu, Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife (Textiles), Mr. John Amifor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Awka (Graphics and Photography) and Mr. Clement Emoda of the
Federal Polytechnic Auchi (Ceramics).
However, the most telling revelations, arguably, came from
the sub-theme: “Primary and secondary schools art curricula,”
which hinted at a tendency to place the cart before the horse
as regards art curriculum design in Nigeria. The participants
came away with a unanimous view that all the efforts targeted
at enhancing the study of art at the tertiary level would
be tantamount to building a castle in the air, without a solid
foundation at the formative stages of one's education: the
primary and secondary schools. Details of the deliberations
at the conference would come in another report.
Although TASUED's Department of Creative Arts conceived the
conference, the exercise enjoyed invaluable support from the
National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), the
Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and the Nigerian Society
for Education through Art (NSEA), among others. Although the
NCMM DG, Dr. Joseph Eboreime, could not attend as he had another
official engagement in Bauchi, Mr. S. Alasan, Dr Chukwuezi,
Mr. Jide Famuyiwa and Mr. Ezekiel Udubrae, Director of Administration,
who represented the NCMM director-general, Director of Training,
Director of the Jos-based Institute of Archaeology and Museum
Studies and assistant director respectively, put up a strong
presence.
Distinguished guests and presentations
Interestingly, the opening ceremony of the confab featured
a royal father, Oba Olusanya Olugboyega Dosunmu, the Olowu
of Owu Kingdom. Other notable figures who also graced the
event with their presence included famous art collector and
accomplished engineer Prince (Barrister) Yemisi Shyllon and
the current National President of the Society of Nigerian
Artists (SNA), Dr. Kolade Oshinowo.
Although the conference was originally billed to run four
days, the event ended one day short apparently owing to inadequate
funding. Nonetheless, the event was a huge success, given
the dozens of papers it invoked. Aside the lead paper presenters,
earlier mentioned, Dr CF Ifeta, Head of Tasued's Department
of Creative Arts, Dr Rod Adoh Emi, Ifeta's predecessor as
HoD, CO Orjinta, also of Tasued, Chief NO Adebowale of Adeniran
Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Oto-Ijanikin, Lagos,
Mr. Yahya Olayiwola Olanipekun, Sam K. Adekoya, M.O Adekoya
and Moses Olatunde Ilo (all of Tasued), Mr. Adekunle Temu
Ifeta and Adeyemi Avan Ifeta (both of Lagos-based Conner Enterprises),
Dire Oba-Oluyemi Adarabierin and EO Thompson, both of Michael
Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCOPE), Noforija-Epe,
Lagos, Ezekiel Udubrae of the NCMM, Ajayi Noah Oluwasanjo,
BA Aiyeteru and Oladeinde Agoro, all of AOCOED, Ayedun Matthew
Kolawole, Mr. Yahaya Muhammad Sani of ABU, as well as JB Bada,
O. Ajayi and Mrs. EO Adepeko, all of Adeyemi College of Education,
Ondo, were among others, who presented papers to the confab.
Furthermore, there were joint presentations by JA Apena of
MOCOPE and A Ibrahim Wahab as well as Idowu Kojusotito Olatunji
and Banjo Abiodun, all of Tasued, B.A Adekoya and Bayo Okunlola
(both of MOCOPE), Mr. CO Akobi and B.A Obisesan of Adeyemi
College of Education, Ondo, Mrs. Aanu Adesanya and Mrs. OL
Ojo of the School of Education, Tai Solarin College of Education,
Omu-Ijebu, Nkemdiri Olubunmi Adedina, Kehinde Abimbola Adeniyi
and Ezekiel Tunde Bolaji, all of Theatre Arts Department,
AOCOED.
During an exclusive chat with “Travels” on the
third day of the conference, Dr Ifeta admitted: “We
wanted more people to come from all the corners of the country
to brainstorm on this important issue of curriculum development.
It is a topical issue that needs urgent address. Unfortunately,
we could not bring over as many participants as we would have
liked. As can be imagined, each participant would need to
be properly quartered and fed, and all of these require huge
funds. Unfortunately, we had limited funds.” Nonetheless,
Dr Ifeta, a former National President of the Society of Nigerian
Artists, gave the organizers a pass mark, when she enthused:
“We had a pass mark, despite the constraints.”
In deed, “that the confab took place at all is a sign
of success,” the lady declared. Hear Dr Ifeta: “Thanks
to the magnanimity of our Vice Chancellor, Professor Olukayode
Oyesiku, we were able to hold this conference. The VC is aware
that as the premier University of Education in Nigeria, the
theme of our conference is a matter of the moment; so, he
put in what he could to help make the conference a reality.”
Such understanding from Professor Oyesiku is behind the monumental
strides recorded by TASUED, in its short history, Mrs. Ifeta
intoned.
Ifeta also acknowledged the contribution of others, whose
moral and/or financial support facilitated the event. The
agencies/individuals included the NCMM, Dr. Kunle Filani and
the SNA. She added that Dr Tiri Oladimeji, Provost of College
of Education, Akoka, also pledged some contribution.
Epilogue
It's true that even good men would die, but death cannot bury
their names. Interestingly, even vile and evil men are also
remembered after their death. But fame is very different from
infamy, and notoriety a very different kettle of fish compared
with popularity. Unlike gluttonous leeches that pretend to
be leaders, whose memories invoke curses on their persons
and children yet unborn, people pray to God to bless the souls
of departed good men.
When Nigerians think of the late Pa Tai Solarin, images of
a forthright man engage the mind. Pa Solarin, founder of Mayflower
School, Ikenne, was a rare role model that graces any society
once in a long, long time.
Without any doubt, whenever a proper list of responsible and
truly respectable Nigerians is drawn, the late Solarin would
make that compilation for his contribution to humanity.
In the next few weeks or so, “Travels” shall return
to TASUED for more reports, for there is so much happening
at this institution. Expect a tour of TASUED's Cultural History
Museum soon. What's more? We can't wait to see how much more
transformed TASUED would be in a year or two, when ongoing
buildings and road construction projects would have been completed.
Aside development of infrastructure, TASUED is also fast evolving
into a leading university in the light of its academic programmes
as well as the demonstrated scrutiny of various educational
curricula, and consequently, the need to improve on them. |
