What was growing up like for you?
I was born in a humble home; my father was an evangelist and my mother supported him. In those days, they posted him to different places to go and plant churches. My mother was sent to Saint Monica where she was trained on how to be a wife, partner and supporter of an evangelist. In the process, we were all born into a God-fearing home. And they brought us all up with the fear of God, knowing Him, worshipping and obeying Him. All the five children of my mother grew up that way. When my mother died around 1939, my father remarried two years later. When I look back now, I see the hands of God and His plans for all of us because all the children of my mother have gone to be with the Lord except me. I have four brothers and sisters from my step mother and you can’t notice any difference between us. We all grew up in the same way. It was when I had one of my children that my friends knew that my step mother was not my biological mother. So, I grew up in a home that if my mother did not die, my father would not have married the mother of the brothers and sisters I have today. It is only when I look back that I thank God for His plans that He planned ahead for us. What is happening today, He knows all about it, He planned it. He made it possible for my children to be here with me at this time. It is God, He alone I worship, look up to and pray to and praise for everything that happens, good or bad.
How do you feel clocking 90, in a country where the life expectancy is sixty something?
I thank God. It is only the grace of God. All I can do is to express my gratitude to the Almighty. By His grace, I have peace. It is that peace that has allowed me to age gracefully.
Why did you decide to go to the legal profession?
I was a teacher for many years and I enjoyed teaching. My husband was a medical doctor under Western state then. He was being transferred from place to place. When he was transferred to Osogbo, I was teaching at Queens School, Ede. He was moved from there to other places. Even where they had Ministry of Education, the secretary then refused to transfer me to the places where he was transferred to. I lost interest in teaching because wherever he went, I had to start looking for a place to teach and would be begging to apply. So, I decided to train for something else. They took my husband back to Osogbo but I could not go back to Queens School because I had resigned. It took me one year to decide on what to do and I got an appointment in one school in Osogbo and was teaching there while thinking and preparing to go back to school. My husband and I decided that I should go and study Law. He said I could go to England to study Law but I did not want to leave my children so, I told him I will go to Ife, Ife was in Ibadan then. The person in charge, Aguda was a very good friend of my husband. He gave me a note to him. When I got to him, he told me lectures had started and asked someone to take me to the class. That was how I started studying Law, it was later I did the registration and was admitted. After I graduated, I went to Law School. When that was completed, my teachers came and informed me of a scholarship to do Masters in Canada. I told them to go and tell my husband about it. They came one day and told him that I was qualified for the scholarship and they wanted to recommend me. He thanked them and told them to file divorce petition before I go to Canada. And that was the end of that. I was called to bar and started practising and by the grace of God, eventually, I got to the peak and became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
2 lawyers charged for contempt set free
How were you able to cope with your male colleagues?
In the legal profession, there is no male or female but they say; the ladies in skirt at the bar. I had no problem because I studied Law as a senior member. I didn’t go as a child, I knew what I went there for and that was what I did. Nobody disturbed me.
Many of the lecturers were my husband’s friends so I was respected by the students and the teachers. Everything went smoothly for me and of course, I carried myself well. If you are opposing a male colleague in court, you will only excel if you prepare your case very well. We usually say that cases are won in the chambers; this means you win by preparing in the chambers and getting ready. When you deliver, even the clients of your opponent will ask you for your card.
What is your relationship with some of your contemporaries in the legal profession especially, Chief (Mrs) Folake Solanke, SAN?
Very cordial. My office was at ANSE building but when I was getting on in age, climbing stairs was not easy so my son turned my garage into an office. I don’t go to court any more but I can prepare legal documents. Also, some younger lawyers come to me for advice when they have tough cases and I counsel them so I am not out of touch with practice. I told Folake that she was the only female SAN for too long. We have a very cordial relationship; she was here on Wednesday when I clocked 90. She is a good lawyer and a brilliant woman. She is still keeping her chambers but I don’t know if she still goes to court.
As a legal icon, how do you feel when you hear about corruption in the judiciary?
I feel very sad because there was no way one could think that such could happen before now. You prepare your case, you go and deliver and you expect justice. This is new. It is due to the Nigerian factor. Naira and kobo became everything. Then, you look at judges and you admire them. When the judiciary was clean, if you deserve to get judgement, you will get it. If you don’t prepare your case, you can lose it no matter how good your case is. Today, with this corruption, we are praying that the judiciary will eventually be clean. That is when the common man gets justice. When I was in practice, I did a lot of cases, pro bono. If you don’t have money and you have a good case when your opponent goes to top lawyers to manipulate the case for you, I will go and represent you in court. When I get justice for such people I am happy and they are happy. Even the opponents will come and ask for your card. I started International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Ibadan branch, so that we can fight for women and children’s right and protection.
How do you feel about the situation of things in the country now compared to your own time?
I feel sad about the situation. It is only God that can bring a change. We should all continue to look up to God on our knees. He can change the situation. He can bring about a better Nigeria. How He will do it, we don’t know. Who He will use, we don’t know. People who are in authority, if we have the opportunity to pray with them, talk to them, we will do so. But the most important thing is that God can do all things. We can pray in faith, believing Him that Nigeria can bounce back.
What life has taught me as a single mum —Ruby Gyang
How easy was it for you to combine your home front with your career?
When I went to Ife, I was in school from Monday to Friday. On Friday, from lecture room, I would drive down to Ibadan. When I got home, I would do house chores. Also, I would cook soup, label them and put them in the fridge. My husband ate swallow (solid food) every afternoon so I had to get them all ready before I left for Ife. My mother-in-law was such a nice woman; she lived with me for twenty-five years and took care of all the children. From cradle till some of them graduated. I had no problems because I planned how to combine both. Women must be organised and know how to delegate. Make sure your husband helps out in the home and trains your children, boys and girls to help in the home. My youngest son is the best cook in our house. I think men should learn to do all the things that women do in the home. Their mothers should teach them and if they didn’t, their wives should not continue to spoil them where their mothers stopped, they should train them.
What do you do now to occupy yourself?
Professor Adedeji has a foundation for people with disability. It is called The Christ Foundation. I am part of the foundation. We have a fellowship with them and we bring people to talk to them and advice them on how to take care of themselves.
The youth are the future of Nigeria. What advice do you have for them?
My advice is that in the school curriculum, we should include training the leaders of tomorrow so that by the time they grow up, they will know the value of being humble, of being content with what they have and not dipping their hands into what does not belong to them. At home, we should teach them morals and set good examples for them.
and then