Joseph Garba: 1943-2002
T HE death, last
Friday, of Major-General Joseph Nanven Garba (rtd) has robbed
the nation of a dedicated public servant, and citizen, who was
willing at all times to make his own contributions in the
public sphere, with courage and remarkable determination. Up
till the time of his death, he was Director-General of the
National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS)
Kuru, near Jos. He had travelled to Abuja on an official
assignment in defiance of earlier signs of illness, when his
condition suddenly worsened and he had to be rushed to the Aso
Villa Clinic, where he died. He was a very diligent,
principled and conscientious worker in pursuit of varied
causes. He was also known for the courage with which he always
spoke his mind, and understandably, this fetched him not a few
stinging criticisms from persons who thought he was somewhat
arrogant. But no one could doubt Joseph Garba's consistency,
and his unapologetic loyalty to family, friends and public
service.
He had come into public prominence on July 29, 1975 as the
soldier who announced the military coup which toppled the
Yakubu Gowon Administration. He was subsequently appointed
Federal Commissioner for External Affairs (1975-78) and
Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (1978-79). But
before this period, Joseph Garba had distinguished himself in
the Nigerian Army which he joined in 1962, as a fine and
disciplined officer. He was at various times, Platoon
Commander of the 4th Battalion, Commander of the Master
Platoon, second-in-command, Federal Guards (1964-65), and
General Staff Officer, Second Brigade (1965). In 1966, he was
appointed a member of the United Nations Military Observer
Mission in India/Pakistan.The late Garba also served as
Commander of the Federal Guards (1966-68), and Commander,
Brigade of Guards (1968-75).
Soldiering was his life and career. It gave him immense joy
and satisfaction. He was a strict General, who believed
strongly, even if this is contentious and a dark aspect of the
nation's history, in the kind of leadership role that the
military may play in society. It is a conviction however that
Garba and his colleagues in the Army could not always defend
successfully. For, indeed, military intervention in Nigerian
politics evokes sad memories, marked as it was by
prebendalism, tyranny and gross mismanagement of the country's
resources. There are many and they cannot be blamed, for whom
Joseph Garba, as a General of the Nigerian Army, remains a
symbol of that tragic chapter in Nigerian history.
However, Joseph Nanven Garba had better moments in his
varied and distinguished career. In 1984, he was appointed
Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. He
remained in this position till 1989, serving in the process,
as President of the 44th session of the General Assembly and
as Chairman of the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid. It
was an assignment for which Garba had early preparation in his
career. As Federal Commissioner for External Affairs
(1975-1979), he had acquired a reputation as a skilful
negotiator, and promoter of Nigeria's interests, especially in
the area of the country's foreign policy in Africa. He was at
the forefront of Nigeria's negotiation of broad-based support
for the liberation movements in Southern and Central Africa,
and a respected spokesperson against the apartheid policy in
South Africa. By the time Garba arrived at the United Nations,
he was in familiar territory. Within a short while, he had
become a notable voice on international affairs. His
contributions and experience at the United Nations are already
well-documented for posterity in his book, Diplomatic
Soldiering (1987). He is in addition, the author of
Revolution in Nigeria: Another View (1981).
Born on July 17, 1943 in Langtang, Plateau State, Garba
attended the Sacred Heart School, Shendam, the Nigerian
Military School, Zaria, the Mons Officers Cadet School,
Aldershot, England and the Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University, Massachusetts where he obtained a Master's
degree in Public Administration in 1983. Beyond diplomacy and
soldiering, Garba equally took interest in the local affairs
of his Langtang people among whom he was a shining star and
worthy son. He was the Dan Iya of Langtang, Commander
of the Federal Republic (CFR), recipient of the Grand
Officer de l'Ordre National Du Benin and former Ambassador
to Namibia.
He was a pragmatist; he lived life to the fullest, dressed
well, and loved good conversation. He was a charming
personality who managed at every turn, to win the respect of
even his more ardent critics. Before his death, he was in the
process of re-energising the National Institute. He was
developing new infrastructure and considering a revision of
the curriculum of the Institute to make it more relevant to
national aspirations. His commitment to public service would
always be remembered.
Kofoworola Ademola:
1913-2002
LADY Kofoworola
Abeni Ademola who died recently, aged 89 was committed to the
education of girl-children, as a means of empowering females
in a society where prejudices, and discriminatory social
conventions had tended to treat women differently from men. In
this regard, she co-founded Oriel Girls College, Lagos, and
was tutor and headmistress at different times at Queen's
College, Lagos, and New Era College, - a school founded by a
committee of ladies in Lagos to increase the opportunities of
secondary education for females. In line with her resolve that
women need not be treated as second-class citizens, and that
every individual in society can make a difference if given the
opportunity, Mrs. Ademola was active in a number of women
organisations including the National Council for Women
Societies (NCWS), which she served as first President, the
Inner Wheel, the National Association of University Women, the
Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and the Red Cross
of which she was the first Nigerian Director.
She was a role model and mother-figure to generations of
younger women who drew inspiration from her dedication to
service, commitment to public good, and personal distinction
in whatever task to which she devoted her time and energy. A
versatile woman, her areas of interest and engagement also
included banking and industry. She was equally involved in a
number of voluntary and philanthropic organisations. She had
assisted with the establishment of an SOS village for the
destitutes. She also served on the Executive Committee of the
Nigerian Girls Guides Association. In her later life, Lady
Ademola devoted her time to the writing of books for children.
She was especially interested in nurturing young persons to
become responsible members of society. Wife of the late
Justice Adetokunbo Ademola, former Chief Justice of the
Federation, she was an enlightened woman. She attended C.M.S.
Girls' School, Lagos and Portway College, England. In 1939,
she was the first female Nigerian to graduate from the
prestigious Oxford University where she studied English. In
1958, she was honoured as Member of the British Empire (MBE)
in recognition of her devotion to community service, and
later, the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Tafawa
Balewa administration. Lady Ademola was also the Mojibade
of Ake and Lika of Ijoko, Ijemo.
Everyone who was privileged to have known her, would no
doubt remember her for her kind disposition, and the ease with
which she struck a fine balance between her domestic
responsibilities and public commitments. She enjoyed not just
the gift of longevity, but the grace for sharing her talents
and time with the society at large. The challenges of
educating the girl-child, and the empowerment of women in the
Nigerian society, for which she was a fine and articulate
advocate, remain relevant as one of the possible platforms for
expanding the scope for growth and development in our land.
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