Christopher Kolade (1932-2025)

IT was only natural that the transition, on October 8, of the Erin Ijesa, Osun State-born titan, Dr. Christopher Kolade, would elicit deep emotions. The man referred to by many as a paragon of integrity wore so many hats and was, to very many people, such a jolly good fellow. He was, among others, an ace broadcaster, diplomat, educator, and boardroom guru, and he distinguished himself in these various fields. He was a household name, and one of Nigeria’s most iconic and brightest stars. Paying tribute to his memory, President Bola Tinubu aptly described him as a custodian of Nigeria’s enterprise history, especially concerning corporate governance and human resources management; a principal figure in reputable institutions like the Lagos Business School who was “among the finest of men,” being exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, diligent, and of unimpeachable integrity. He added: “Dr Kolade was not only a boardroom icon, serving as one-time chief executive and chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, he was also a patriot and an uncompromising advocate of transparency and accountability in governance. He served Nigeria dutifully, with honesty and great dedication. From working as a colonial-era education officer to serving as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr Kolade left ineffaceable stamps of distinction in every endeavour, whether in the boardroom, on panels, or public office.”

On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, described Kolade as an elder statesman and  one of the titans of Nigeria’s corporate world. He said: “The likes of Dr. Christopher Kolade  are not many, especially in the private sector. He was an egghead in business and management, a core professional in the corporate world.“ On his part, the governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke,  characterised his death as a collosal loss, saying that his life was marked by excellence and untainted integrity, and that his selflessness in the service of the nation shaped institutions for the better and guide generations. His words: “Throughout his life, Dr. Kolade made integrity his watchword in all his dealings and his commitment to excellence attracted people from far and near. As a public officer, he never used public office for personal benefits, and as a businessman, he championed integrity through his chairmanship of organisations such as Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.”

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The tributes were richly deserved. Kolade was indeed a colossus. Born on 28th December, 1932,  he attended Government College, Ibadan, and Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, where he earned the B.A. After joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in 1960, Kolade rose to the position of Director-General and was justly famous for helping to shape Nigeria’s early media standards.  In 1978, he joined the private sector as a Director of Administration at Cadbury Plc, becoming its Managing Director/Chief Executive in 1984, and Chairman 1993. In that role, he was widely celebrated for guiding the company through what was, to many observers of the Nigerian business environment, a golden era, championing ethical business practices, and instituting management trainee programmes, excellence awards and robust appraisal systems.

Over many years, Kolade served as president of several professional bodies, including the International Institute for Communications (1973-1975), World Association for Christian Communication (1975-1982), Nigerian Institute of Management (1985-1988), and the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (1988-1993). Diplomatic service took him to the United Kingdom, where he was  Nigeria’s High Commissioner between 2002 and 2007, strengthening the Nigeria-UK relations and earning respect and admiration for his principled diplomacy. A man of immense intellect, Kolade was a lecturer in corporate governance and human resource management at the Lagos Business School (1995‑2002) and at the Leadership & Conflict Management at the School of Media & Communication (SMC). He served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Pan-Atlantic University (2009-2015), and later as Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State. He founded the Christopher Kolade Centre for Research in Leadership and Ethics (CKCRLE), to propagate training in ethical leadership.  It was no surprise, then, that national honours and recognitions came his way. He received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2000. Much earlier, he had been decorated with the Order of St. Augustine Medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury  in 1981. Kolade also received honorary doctorates from the University of Sierra Leone (1976) and McPherson University (2016).

A devout Anglican, Lay Canon Emeritus at Guildford Cathedral, UK, and organist/choir director at St Peter’s Church, Lagos, Kolade was married to Beatrice Egochukwu Ukogu, and is survived by two sons and grandchildren. As a teacher and career broadcaster who transitioned to the corporate world, Kolade was indeed a man of many parts. He was highly receptive to and in fact driven by the quest for knowledge. He made visible impact on the lives of many people, and will be sorely missed. May his soul rest in sweet repose.