
Joseph Babayemi
A one-time Controller of Finance in Lagos State, Mr. Joseph Babayemi, 81, shares his life story with GBENGA ADENIJI
Tell us about yourself
I was born on April 13, 1933. My father
was a farmer while my mother was a trader. My dad died at 86 and my
mother died at age 80. I did not start school early because I could not
stretch my right hand over my head to touch my left ear early enough.
My parents told me that I didn’t start school until I was seven years
when my hand touched my ear. I started primary school in St. Anne’s
Catholic School, Abeokuta, Ogun State in 1940. After my primary
education, I went to St.Leo’s Teacher’s Training College, Abeokuta. In
those days, it was easy to get a job after leaving teacher’s training
college. I was posted to St. Theresa’s Catholic School, Epe, Lagos,
after I left the college. I was not married then. When I was at the
college, I started a correspondence course to become a chartered
secretary. I didn’t finish because I later left Epe for Abeokuta. I
left for a change of environment and that was when I got married. I got
married in 1959 and we had a son. Within that period, my wife and I
decided to travel to Britain for further studies. We were left with no
choice than to leave our son behind.
How did your parents know your birth date?
My father was a catechist. He had a
primary six certificate despite being a farmer. Besides, he wrote the
date in a book and showed me when I grew up.
Where did you meet your wife?
She was also a teacher at St. Theresa’s
Catholic School, Epe. We met during an inter-house sports competition
when she was a student at a teacher’s training college located close to
Epe.
What courses did you both study in the UK?
I chose to study accountancy and my wife,
Margaret, studied home science management. We were there for about
seven years and gave birth to three children there. One of them is a
lecturer in London; another is a medical doctor there while the third
also teaches. I decided to return to Nigeria in 1968 because there was
an emergency at home. I was to sit for an examination but I was not
ready to stay in UK any longer because my elder brother died. I didn’t
want to leave my parents all alone in Nigeria because he was the one
taking care of them while I was away. I learnt that my parents had four
children but I grew up knowing only my elder brother who passed on at
the time I was in the UK. Before I travelled abroad, each time I asked
my mother how many children she had, she would start weeping. I was
confused and often begged her to stop crying. My brother died at age 47
and I reasoned that my late siblings must have died early.
Did you return to Nigeria with any certificate?
Yes, I returned with a Chartered
Institute of Secretary certificate. When I settled down fully, I took
the examination which I couldn’t wait to do in the UK. I once worked
with a pharmaceutical company for three months. The demand for
accountants was high and I later joined Cadbury Nigeria Plc. I worked
there for two years before moving to Nestle as a chief accountant. I
later decided that I needed a change. I enjoyed the place but felt I
should move over to a federal agency. That was why I left Nestle for
National Supply. The company was a multi-national importing rice and
other goods. We were selling the products at reduced prices. I worked
there as controller of finance for three years before I joined the Lagos
State Government. There was problem at a time at the National Supply
which made the Federal Government sack workers there arbitrarily. I was
also sacked and that was what made me to go to Chief Obafemi Awolowo
who knew my wife. Awolowo asked me if I wanted to sue the government for
sacking me but I declined. Many of the workers were sacked through
radio announcements. Chief Awolowo introduced me to the Lagos State
Government and I was interviewed and offered the position of controller
of finance. I worked there until I retired in 1999.
Which of the firms you worked for do you find most memorable?
I would say it was National Supply
because it was owned by the Federal Government. There was a lot to do
because of the nature of the job and I had a great experience there.
How did you cope with your family during the civil war since you returned after it started?
I left my family in Lagos but my parents
were in Abeokuta. I recall a time I was going to visit my parents, we
slept at Ota because the soldiers didn’t allow us to proceed. We all
slept on our belongings till the next day when they allowed us to
continue our journey.
Did you regret that you were unable to complete your studies abroad?
I didn’t really feel bad because my
desire was to return home and take care of my parents. The death of my
brother that was catering for them worried me so much that I was not
ready to stay any longer there. My parents were so happy when I returned
especially my mother who was all over me. She even wanted to carry me.
My joy was that I was able to take care of them before their death. My
presence really made them happy. I gave them my first salary as a
teacher as it was customary then.
How was your wife able to adjust to the homecoming?
She did adjust well. But some years after
our return, she took ill. She was admitted in the hospital but died
unfortunately. I was so disturbed to the extent that I wore black ties
for a whole year. I didn’t know how it happened. I did that as a way of
remembering her. She was so lovely and wonderful. We had two more
children before her death.
Did you remarry?
My first wife died in 1977 and I remarried in 1979.
How did you meet your new wife?
We met in the church. We attend the same church.
Do you have any special meal?
I like rice. I can eat it three times in a
day. I also like white yam flour. I stopped eating the black yam flour
after I suffered gastroenteritis after taking it. It caused me to
defecate many times and since then, I stopped taking it.
What kind of exercise do you do?
I like taking a stroll. There was
something that occurred when I was 70. I was taking a stroll in the
evening in the neighbourhood without noticing a manhole. I fell into it
and people had to come to my rescue. I was flown abroad for treatment
because it was serious. Since then, I try to be careful. But anytime I
am in the UK, I jog and do all forms of exercises.
Do you smoke?
I was smoking tobacco when I was a student in the UK. But I stopped it when I got to Nigeria.
Why?
I was told that I could get cancer if I
continued to smoke. I did not want to go through the experience cancer
patients go through so felt it was better for me to quit the habit.
Do you use any gadget?
Yes, I use iPad and laptops. I use them
to communicate with my children abroad. I also use the social media. I
am on Facebook and Twitter.
What do you do on Facebook?
I read funny things posted by my Facebook
friends and I reply them too. I have 94 friends on Facebook who I
frequently communicate with.
What is the secret of your good health?
The first one is rest of mind. I have
peace around me. My wife, Roseline is also peaceful. And I don’t
begrudge anybody. I forgive anybody who offends me. If anybody offends
me I will draw their attention to it and resolve the issues amicably.
Why did you dump teaching for accountancy?
I have always wanted to do a course that
is accountancy-related. My interest in teaching was because I was
professionally trained. It was because I wanted to be an accountant
that I left the school to study abroad.
At 81, do you have any regrets?
I have no regrets. There is no reason
for me to have any regrets because I didn’t even think I would live up
to 80. At 81, I feel great. I thank God that I have lived this far. I
thank Him for keeping me and my family thus far.
What have you been doing in retirement?
I am a church warden in my church. I used
to join my other colleagues to welcome visitors and attend to the needs
of worshippers. But with my age, I don’t do physical activities. I
still wear my ceremonial attire and participate in group’s activities.
But I mostly play an advisory role to members.
What books do you read?
I read newspapers, story books and the Bible. To be honest with you, it is the Bible I read most.
What kind of training did you give your children?
The first thing I taught them was to know
God. When they were growing up, I used to organise lectures in the
house to teach them how to be of good behaviour wherever they may be. I
made them to take turns to pray and read the scriptures before they
slept. They all know the Bible very well and I am happy for what they
have all turned out to be with the help of God.
What is your advice to youths?
My advice to the youth is that they
should know and fear God. It pays to know God. A youth who is
God-fearing will do no harm to others; he or she will have peace of mind
and love his neighbour. There is nothing that is as good as fearing
God. One will have peace and feel secure.
Source: Punch
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