A retired livestock officer and centenarian, Pa Elelu Akanbi, shares his life experiences with SUCCESS NWOGU.
How do you feel that you are a centenarian?
It is quite unbelievable that I am alive
to celebrate 100 years on earth. I thank Almighty Allah, the giver of
long life, who sustained me till today. I was born on Monday, July 1,
1917. Life expectancy is low in Nigeria. I am not sure if life
expectancy in Nigeria is up to 60 years. To attain 100 is a special
favour of Almighty Allah. I give thanks to Almighty Allah who spared my
life till now. Most of my mates, if not all, have passed on but it has
pleased Him to keep me alive. I remember Abdulkareem Elefo, Alisa
Oju-Abere, and Amuda Olufadi were my playmates but they are no more.
to celebrate 100 years on earth. I thank Almighty Allah, the giver of
long life, who sustained me till today. I was born on Monday, July 1,
1917. Life expectancy is low in Nigeria. I am not sure if life
expectancy in Nigeria is up to 60 years. To attain 100 is a special
favour of Almighty Allah. I give thanks to Almighty Allah who spared my
life till now. Most of my mates, if not all, have passed on but it has
pleased Him to keep me alive. I remember Abdulkareem Elefo, Alisa
Oju-Abere, and Amuda Olufadi were my playmates but they are no more.
Where are you from?
I am from Elele Compound in Alanamu, now
in Ilorin West Local Government Area of then northern Nigeria. It is
now Kwara State. We were under the indirect rule system. It was being
controlled by an Emir, who administered the territory and reported to
the British authorities.
in Ilorin West Local Government Area of then northern Nigeria. It is
now Kwara State. We were under the indirect rule system. It was being
controlled by an Emir, who administered the territory and reported to
the British authorities.
What lifestyle did you embrace that aided your long life?
Though I embraced healthy lifestyles, I
cannot attribute my long life to it. Long life is a gift from Allah. No
matter how you observe healthy lifestyle, if Allah says you will die
before 40 years, nobody can change it. But if you do not live a reckless
life, with Allah’s help, you can live long. Thus, my healthy lifestyles
are not totally responsible for my longevity. I know that I tried not
to overburden my life. I was not a womaniser when I was young. I also
do not smoke or drink alcohol. Furthermore, I engaged in exercises when
I was young. When I was 98, I still trekked to mosque and market
places to buy things, including newspapers.
cannot attribute my long life to it. Long life is a gift from Allah. No
matter how you observe healthy lifestyle, if Allah says you will die
before 40 years, nobody can change it. But if you do not live a reckless
life, with Allah’s help, you can live long. Thus, my healthy lifestyles
are not totally responsible for my longevity. I know that I tried not
to overburden my life. I was not a womaniser when I was young. I also
do not smoke or drink alcohol. Furthermore, I engaged in exercises when
I was young. When I was 98, I still trekked to mosque and market
places to buy things, including newspapers.
I read a lot when I was younger. I
walked around a lot. This was not because there were no people to run
errands for me or there was no car that could convey me. I only did it
as a form of exercise, to keep the body lively. I engaged in exercises
every morning and evening before I clocked 88 years old. But now age is
weighing on me. It is no longer easy for me to trek to the mosque and
exercise daily.
walked around a lot. This was not because there were no people to run
errands for me or there was no car that could convey me. I only did it
as a form of exercise, to keep the body lively. I engaged in exercises
every morning and evening before I clocked 88 years old. But now age is
weighing on me. It is no longer easy for me to trek to the mosque and
exercise daily.
One habit I do is giving alms to the
poor. It is an injunction to Muslims to give alms so that they can enjoy
long life. I also eat good food. I do not like junk food. If you eat
fresh and natural food, it will help you to stay healthy. I love amala, pounded yam and rice as well vegetables and fruits.
poor. It is an injunction to Muslims to give alms so that they can enjoy
long life. I also eat good food. I do not like junk food. If you eat
fresh and natural food, it will help you to stay healthy. I love amala, pounded yam and rice as well vegetables and fruits.
Tell us about your childhood and school experiences.
Life was sweet during my time. I really
enjoyed and still relish my childhood and school experiences. In those
days, there were no kidnapping cases and Boko Haram killings. Life was
safe. Although there were many bushes and minor developments, children
walked long bush paths without anybody molesting or harming them.
Traders went to faraway markets and came back without tales of armed
robbery attacks or kidnapping. We enjoyed many fruits. Young boys and
girls went about naked in their innocent state. When we started
schooling, some pupils from wealthy families had uniforms. Those whose
parents or guardian could not afford that used some clothes to cover
their privates and buttocks. We really enjoyed going to school, leaving
the house in the morning, studying in classes, playing during break
time and singing the songs we learnt in school as we headed home.
enjoyed and still relish my childhood and school experiences. In those
days, there were no kidnapping cases and Boko Haram killings. Life was
safe. Although there were many bushes and minor developments, children
walked long bush paths without anybody molesting or harming them.
Traders went to faraway markets and came back without tales of armed
robbery attacks or kidnapping. We enjoyed many fruits. Young boys and
girls went about naked in their innocent state. When we started
schooling, some pupils from wealthy families had uniforms. Those whose
parents or guardian could not afford that used some clothes to cover
their privates and buttocks. We really enjoyed going to school, leaving
the house in the morning, studying in classes, playing during break
time and singing the songs we learnt in school as we headed home.
It was really a delightful experience. I
graduated from a Quaranic school before starting formal education in a
primary school. Then, all pupils must have graduated from a Quaranic
school before being allowed to enrol in formal or western schools,
especially in Ilorin. The reason was that boys and girls were expected
to have been taught the teachings and expectations of Allah for them to
abide by His rules. This is essential to live a meaningful life. After I
graduated from the Quaranic school, I started attending school in April
1928 at Oke-Suna Primary School, Ilorin.
graduated from a Quaranic school before starting formal education in a
primary school. Then, all pupils must have graduated from a Quaranic
school before being allowed to enrol in formal or western schools,
especially in Ilorin. The reason was that boys and girls were expected
to have been taught the teachings and expectations of Allah for them to
abide by His rules. This is essential to live a meaningful life. After I
graduated from the Quaranic school, I started attending school in April
1928 at Oke-Suna Primary School, Ilorin.
I was lucky. My parents, though not so
wealthy, could pay my school fees as they made it a priority to educate
their children. But there were some of my classmates whose parents could
not pay for them. The fee was five shillings a year. My classmates,
whose parents could not pay their fees, were offered scholarship by the
Native Authority. When I completed primary education, I continued
Middle School at Government Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State. That
is the name it is called now but by then it was known as Government
Secondary School, Oke-Suna. I enjoyed my Middle School as I combined
academics with sports. I graduated in April 1938 with excellent
performance.
wealthy, could pay my school fees as they made it a priority to educate
their children. But there were some of my classmates whose parents could
not pay for them. The fee was five shillings a year. My classmates,
whose parents could not pay their fees, were offered scholarship by the
Native Authority. When I completed primary education, I continued
Middle School at Government Secondary School, Ilorin, Kwara State. That
is the name it is called now but by then it was known as Government
Secondary School, Oke-Suna. I enjoyed my Middle School as I combined
academics with sports. I graduated in April 1938 with excellent
performance.
Did you continue with education or you got a job after you left school?
I thought of furthering my education
immediately but teaching was seen as an elitist profession then. People
saw teachers as highly educated people who could communicate in English
with white people. Teachers were in high demand at the time. As a
result, I reconsidered going further in my academics. I decided to take
up a teaching appointment. I was employed by the Teaching Service
Commission. But I did not teach for a long time. After two years of
teaching, one of my uncles told me that I could make a better living in
another career. He told me that I could get another job with better
entitlements and retirement package in other disciplines. I considered
his advice and that was how I left teaching and got another job as a
veterinary assistant with the Ilorin West Local Government as it is now
called. Later, I was transferred to the state Ministry of Agriculture. I
was also a veterinary assistant in the ministry. It was a great
experience and delight to care of and treat livestock. We organised
trainings and sensitisation campaigns for farmers on how to take good
care of their livestock and protect them from diseases.
immediately but teaching was seen as an elitist profession then. People
saw teachers as highly educated people who could communicate in English
with white people. Teachers were in high demand at the time. As a
result, I reconsidered going further in my academics. I decided to take
up a teaching appointment. I was employed by the Teaching Service
Commission. But I did not teach for a long time. After two years of
teaching, one of my uncles told me that I could make a better living in
another career. He told me that I could get another job with better
entitlements and retirement package in other disciplines. I considered
his advice and that was how I left teaching and got another job as a
veterinary assistant with the Ilorin West Local Government as it is now
called. Later, I was transferred to the state Ministry of Agriculture. I
was also a veterinary assistant in the ministry. It was a great
experience and delight to care of and treat livestock. We organised
trainings and sensitisation campaigns for farmers on how to take good
care of their livestock and protect them from diseases.
After some period there, I was offered a
scholarship for further studies in the United Kingdom. The course was
for three years. I gladly accepted the offer. There were other people
that were beneficiaries of the scholarship. We all went together. We
were quite excited and really enjoyed every bit of the three-year stay
in the Northern Durham University, UK. All the beneficiaries were
Muslims. During Ramadan, we fasted there. The Europeans marvelled that
we fasted and stayed long before eating. Some of them asked us to come
and have dinner with them in their homes. They wanted to eat with
Africans so that they could know how we eat.
scholarship for further studies in the United Kingdom. The course was
for three years. I gladly accepted the offer. There were other people
that were beneficiaries of the scholarship. We all went together. We
were quite excited and really enjoyed every bit of the three-year stay
in the Northern Durham University, UK. All the beneficiaries were
Muslims. During Ramadan, we fasted there. The Europeans marvelled that
we fasted and stayed long before eating. Some of them asked us to come
and have dinner with them in their homes. They wanted to eat with
Africans so that they could know how we eat.
What unforgettable experience can you recall while in the UK?
I was in a dream one night and my father
came to me. In that dream, I was wondering how he made the journey to
the UK and came to my room without anyone giving him the description. I
was, however, happy that my father visited because I longed to see him.
After I welcomed him in that dream, he told me that he wanted to sleep.
Since it was morning in the dream, I asked him why he would sleep again
the morning and whether he did not sleep at night. He ignored my
questions and still told me that he wanted to sleep. I said, “Papa, you
cannot sleep again. You slept all through the night and now it is
morning. How can you sleep again? I will not allow you to sleep but you
can relax and watch the television.”
came to me. In that dream, I was wondering how he made the journey to
the UK and came to my room without anyone giving him the description. I
was, however, happy that my father visited because I longed to see him.
After I welcomed him in that dream, he told me that he wanted to sleep.
Since it was morning in the dream, I asked him why he would sleep again
the morning and whether he did not sleep at night. He ignored my
questions and still told me that he wanted to sleep. I said, “Papa, you
cannot sleep again. You slept all through the night and now it is
morning. How can you sleep again? I will not allow you to sleep but you
can relax and watch the television.”
I suddenly woke up and realised that it
was a dream. I kept wondering about the meaning of the dream. After few
hours, I got a cable from my hometown that my father had passed on. I
was downcast. I could not go home immediately because of the distance
and the demands of academics at the time.
was a dream. I kept wondering about the meaning of the dream. After few
hours, I got a cable from my hometown that my father had passed on. I
was downcast. I could not go home immediately because of the distance
and the demands of academics at the time.
After my education, I returned to
Nigeria and was employed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as a
livestock officer. I was promoted to principal livestock officer; a
position I held till I retired from the civil service in 1979.
Nigeria and was employed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture as a
livestock officer. I was promoted to principal livestock officer; a
position I held till I retired from the civil service in 1979.
Were you admired by ladies as a result of your level of education at the time?
I was greatly admired by many girls. In
fact, I was a cynosure of all eyes. Many of them will come to me just to
hear how I speak English. Some of them brought gifts. I had countless
female admirers. But our moral upbringing forbade us from any immoral or
sexual indulgence. We just related on platonic level; on a brother —
sister relationship.
fact, I was a cynosure of all eyes. Many of them will come to me just to
hear how I speak English. Some of them brought gifts. I had countless
female admirers. But our moral upbringing forbade us from any immoral or
sexual indulgence. We just related on platonic level; on a brother —
sister relationship.
How did you meet your wife?
I married four wives in accordance with
Islamic injunctions. That helped me to avoid flirting or womanising. I
met my first wife, Usamot Mubo, when I was still a student and we got
married on February 16, 1940. We are related, which was the practice in
those days in Ilorin. Many parents encouraged their children to marry
from family friends. Our parents assisted our relationship to grow and
blossom.
Islamic injunctions. That helped me to avoid flirting or womanising. I
met my first wife, Usamot Mubo, when I was still a student and we got
married on February 16, 1940. We are related, which was the practice in
those days in Ilorin. Many parents encouraged their children to marry
from family friends. Our parents assisted our relationship to grow and
blossom.
The marriages are blessed with 24
children, though I lost three of my children. I have many grandchildren.
I cannot remember them all. One of my children is, Mas’ud, Chairman,
Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria.
children, though I lost three of my children. I have many grandchildren.
I cannot remember them all. One of my children is, Mas’ud, Chairman,
Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria.