Remember, I mentioned that I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue a PhD by a very prestigious British University.
The opportunity is fully funded and comes with a strong research team, and the offer was made as a result of my body of work.
I thought about it, threw it out and got a lot of advice
A lot of people asked me to take it, but Prof Pat Okorodudu, a brilliant American Scholar who has been following my works, led the group that was vehemently against it
He opted for me to push for a visiting lecturer as a result of my body of work and practical experience on the Nigerian project
So I decided not only to pass on the offer but also to recommend my brother, Tolu Fagbure, who is a brilliant theatre arts lecturer and served very well as a Rappatuer during our Ekiti International Theatre Festival.
This would be the second time in my life that I would be doing this
When I finished serving, I couldn’t bring myself to pass the Aptitude Test we all needed to get good jobs
I failed so elegantly cos i was very poor in maths and any calculations
I failed UAC, Citibank, Fountain Trust Merchant Bank, and so many
To compound my matter, my father had lost his job, and I was the de facto breadwinner, so there was pressure
I finally found myself at a Stockbroking Firm where an Aunty was a Director.
I went in and, surprisingly, passed the exam and was offered the job
On my way to pick up the letter, I dropped by Obalende and branched to see my friend Andrew
Andrew had lost his father quite early, and his mum worked with NEPA. We had graduated and still had no job.
I said, ” Escort me, make, we go see if I fit link you
We went in, and I walked to the MD’s office and said, “Sir, my friend Andrew is outside.” I think you should give him the job; he needs it more than I do.
The MD, Dr Chukwujama, almost fainted. He screamed in his American slang, Whaaaaat
A Nigerian? Offering his one opportunity to be a broker to another?
Edgar, I’ll take both of you. Your mind is fertile and ill-mould both of you into a mean fighting sales machines
Andrew went on to be a more successful Broker than I, becoming MD of a big Stockbroking firm five years from that day.
So this morning, at precisely 6am, I called Tola, my American contact, who relayed the King’s College opportunity and said the exact words I had said to Dr Chukwujama 20 years ago
Tola, I don’t want but give Tolu. Na Albino and he sabi theatre pass me. He got a Master’s for theatre and is very brilliant and those mumu for culture group – Awala and Mufu no go fit yab am cos he sound
Tola listened carefully and asked, ” Are you sure? And I said yes, I want to be Senator, and i knw knw how I can even do am but na wetin I want be be dt
And he said ok, give am my contact God bless you
I immediately called Tolu and said, ” Oya call am and Tolu called, and the journey has begun
Tolu lives and lectures at one of the universities in Ibadan. He is well known within the theatre community, and he will do well if he gets this opportunity
Please, why am I writing this is for all of us to forget our immediate problems this morning and send a word of prayer for Tolu, Tola, and those people at Kings College, that once they see Tolu’s application, they should immediately approve.
Tolu’s PhD from King’s College London will be another of my ambitions in life.
Even if I don’t make Senator, I go dey Ok, but Tolu must make this one
Kai, water dey commot for my eye
Did I do the right thing?
Cascading emotions
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: January 26, 2026
