Dr. Christopher Kolade Biography Early Life, Career, About

Explore the full details of Dr. Christopher Kolade Biography Early Life, Career, About. Dr. Christopher Olusola Kolade, Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), was one of Nigeria’s most revered elder statesmen, known universally as a gentleman of unimpeachable integrity and a transformative leader across multiple sectors;

Education, broadcasting, the corporate world, diplomacy, and academia. His life, spanning decades of Nigeria’s post-independence history, served as a benchmark for professional excellence and ethical leadership.

Early Life, Date of Birth, and Background

Date of Birth and Birthplace

Christopher Kolade was born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, a town in the present-day Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria.

Family and Religious Background

His formative years were profoundly shaped by his family’s deep commitment to faith and service. He was the son of an Anglican missionary, which instilled in him the foundational values of discipline, learning, and strong Christian faith that would characterize his entire public and private life. His background was one of humble but intellectually and morally rigorous upbringing, fostering an early appreciation for ethical conduct and community service. He remained a devout Anglican throughout his life, holding key religious positions later in life.

Education

Kolade’s academic path was prestigious, preparing him for the high-level roles he would later occupy:

• Secondary Education: He attended the highly reputable Government College, Ibadan (GCI), a school known for grooming Nigeria’s elite professionals and civil servants.
• University Education: He proceeded to Fourah Bay College, the University of Sierra Leone in Freetown, which at the time was one of West Africa’s most distinguished universities. Here, he earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree.

His education laid the groundwork for his initial career in public service. His first professional post was as an Education Officer in the former Western Region of Nigeria (1955–1960), a position he once stated was his initial professional ambition.

Career and Major Achievements

Kolade’s career is a testament to his versatility and commitment to excellence, spanning five distinct and successful phases: Education, Broadcasting, Business, Diplomacy, and Academia.

1. The Broadcasting Trailblazer (1960–1978)

With Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Kolade transitioned from education to broadcasting, a move that would define the early part of his national prominence.

• Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC): He joined the NBC (now the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN) and rose rapidly through the ranks due to his professionalism and managerial acumen.
• Director-General: He achieved the pinnacle of the organization, serving as the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation.
• Legacy: As DG, he was instrumental in establishing standards for professionalism, dignity, and ethical journalism in Nigeria’s nascent broadcasting industry. His tenure is remembered for fostering modern television and radio foundations in Nigeria, often working alongside other media pioneers like the late Segun Olusola.
• International Roles: His expertise was recognized globally, leading to his Presidency of the International Institute for Communications (1973–1975) and the World Association for Christian Communication (1975–1982).

2. The Corporate Leader and Governance Advocate (1978–2002)

After nearly two decades in public broadcasting, Kolade moved to the private sector, where he became a prominent corporate figure synonymous with ethical business practice.

• Cadbury Nigeria Plc: He joined Cadbury Nigeria Plc in 1978 as Administration Director. He quickly moved up, becoming the Managing Director, Chief Executive, and eventually the Chairman (non-executive).
• The “Golden Era”: His time at Cadbury is often referred to as the company’s “golden era.” He was lauded for not only ensuring profitability but also for pioneering a culture where ethical standards were prioritized over immediate gains, building a generation of principled corporate leaders.
• Champion of Integrity: His commitment to business ethics extended beyond Cadbury. He became a leading advocate for corporate governance in Nigeria, a term he promoted long before it became a popular business buzzword. He served as the chairman of the Integrity Organisation Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.
• Professional Leadership: He held presidential positions in several key national bodies, including:
  • President, The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) (1985–1988).
  • President, The Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (1988–1994).

3. Diplomatic Service (2002–2007)

In 2002, Kolade returned to public service at the highest level of international representation.

• Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom: He was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a highly sensitive and prestigious diplomatic post.
• Service and Retirement: He served distinctively until mid-2007, carrying Nigeria’s name with dignity and professionalism on the international stage before retiring from the position.

4. Academic and Mentorship Role (1995–Present)

Even before his diplomatic post and significantly after, Kolade dedicated himself to educating the next generation of Nigerian leaders.

• Lagos Business School (LBS): Between 1995 and 2002, and again after his diplomatic tenure, he was on the faculty of the Lagos Business School (LBS) and the School of Media & Communication (SMC), both affiliated with Pan-Atlantic University (PAU). He taught courses on Corporate Governance, Leadership, Human Resource Management, and Conflict Management.
• Mentor and Moral Compass: Students remember him as a mentor who consistently emphasized values over profit, often starting his classes with discussions on ethical conduct.
• University Governance: He served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, and later as the Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State.
• Foundations: The Christopher Kolade Centre for Research in Leadership and Ethics (CKCRLE) at Pan-Atlantic University bears his name, a recognition of his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and education.

Controversies and The SURE-P Resignation

Dr. Kolade’s career was remarkably free of personal scandal, which is a major factor in his high public regard. However, his brief tenure as the Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) generated significant public discussion, largely due to his principled decision to step down.

Background of SURE-P

The SURE-P was an interventionist agency established by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in February 2012 to manage and convert the funds saved from the reduction in petroleum subsidy into jobs, infrastructure (roads), and other people-oriented programs. Kolade was appointed to the role primarily for his national and international reputation for integrity, meant to lend credibility to the highly scrutinized program.

The Resignation (2013)

Kolade resigned in November 2013, citing “advanced age” and the need to wind down “energy-demanding activities” as he approached his 81st birthday. The resignation was initially framed as a graceful exit due to age.

The Real Reason

However, years later, Kolade himself clarified the deeper, principled reason for his departure, which was a conflict over the program’s standards and implementation:

1. Politicization and Corruption: Kolade revealed that the program was becoming increasingly tainted with corruption and political interference, which was diluting its intended values and standards.
2. Erosion of Transparency: He noted that some officials within the system were practicing “something that was lower than the transparency” the agency was meant to uphold.
3. Conflict over Recruitment: A major point of contention was the recruitment of youth for the programme. Kolade’s committee insisted on using politically neutral civil servants to identify and recruit the 5,000 youth per state, based on agreed criteria. However, he was overruled, and “State Implementation Committees” were set up, composed mainly of individuals with political affiliations.
4. Undermining Credibility: Kolade warned that this politicization would “undermine credibility,” but the powerful forces backing the political appointments overruled his counsel. When complaints started rolling in that only political party supporters were being recruited, he realized the foundation of credibility was destroyed.

Kolade’s resignation was a powerful act of protest, a public statement that he would not chair a program whose operational reality contradicted the ethical standards he was appointed to uphold. Instead of staying to defend a compromised structure, he chose to protect his most valuable asset: his reputation for integrity.

Family Life, Faith, and Personal Details

Wife and Children

Dr. Christopher Kolade was married to Mrs. Beatrice Egochukwu Kolade (née Ukogu). Their marriage was described as a partnership built on shared values and mutual devotion. The couple had two sons. Those close to him consistently describe him as a devoted husband and father who maintained a warm and simple family life, balancing his demanding public duties with his commitments at home.

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Devotion to Faith

His Anglican faith was central to his identity, serving as the moral compass for his professional life.

• Anglican Service: He received the prestigious Order of St. Augustine Medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1981 for his commitment to the church.
• Lay Canon: He was installed as a Lay Canon Emeritus of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Guildford, in the United Kingdom.
• Church Ministry: He actively served within his local church, St Peter’s Church, Faji, Lagos, as an organist and choir director, demonstrating a hands-on commitment to his faith.

Honors and Legacy

Beyond the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) awarded in 2000, Kolade’s greatest achievement lies in his enduring legacy as Nigeria’s foremost champion of leadership with integrity. His life’s work continues through the numerous institutions he led and the organizations he chaired, all dedicated to fostering ethical standards in the public and corporate spheres. His biography remains a powerful lesson in principled service across diverse fields, setting a high moral standard for current and future generations of Nigerian leaders.