Thursday 7 December 2017

One Good Turn Deserves Another: A True Story by Onigegewura



What you are about to read is a true story that illustrates the saying: one good turn deserves another. One of the things I have discovered is that, in many cases, it is those ‘small things’ that we do or say everyday that culminate to become history. To us it might be insignificant, but to the person on the receiving end, it might be the most singular thing that changed the course of their life.

People may forgive and forget, but history does not forget. Let’s follow Onigegewura to the Central Bank of Nigeria where this story started in the ‘70s. The author is Chief S. Bamidele Falegan, the first Nigerian Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria. Chief Falegan retired as the Director of Research of Central Bank of Nigeria.

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“An example of a good turn deserving another, was in respect of three members of staff – two young men, Mr. Bode Leigh and Mr. Aderungboye, both clerks in the Research Department [of Central Bank of Nigeria] and a young woman, Miss Ajoke Ishola, also a clerk in my research library.

Chief S. B. Falegan
The three entered the bank with Grade I in their West African School Certificate Examination. However, due to the “unproductive policy” of promotion every two-years outside the Research Department, they were not only complacent but also wanted to be transferred from Research Department to the Operations Department where they could earn two-yearly promotions.

One day, I told the three of them that not only wouldn’t I transfer them out of my Department but I would not guarantee them any automatic promotion at the end of that year. I ended by saying, “If you don’t find your way to any of the universities in Nigeria with your good grades and equip yourself for the future, I will never promote you.”


I dismissed them from my office, only to discover the following year that they had all left the bank for further studies as I advised, with the following success trailing them:

Mr. Bode Leigh became not only Professor Bode Leigh, but also Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University. We later became good friends at St. Peter’s Church, Faji, Lagos where we met as worshippers and in the same church society, Christian Companions.


My first meeting with him after he left the bank was in the house of my later brother-in-law, late Professor Atanda Adenuga at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Unknown to me, he had told them of my influence in furthering his education; they had had all burst into laughter when he greeted me warmly and familiarly and I could not recognise him.

When Bode later became Commissioner of Lands under Alhaji L. K. Jakande administration in Lagos State, it was he who persuaded the Governor to allocate a piece of land to me and another to Chief Olu Falae where we both built side by side on Ahmed Onibudo Road on Victoria Island.

Mr. (later Dr.) Aderungboye, General Manager of Okitipupa Oil Palm Company whom I met many years later (after he left the bank) as the Operational Manager of the company which the Inter-State Securities Limited was helping to privatize. I led the team that was packaging the privatization and I was in the company’s guest house for two weeks. It was there he disclosed what I did for him. On my departure, he provided me with:

(a) oil palm seedlings free of charge for planting on thirteen of my twenty three acres oil palm plantation at Ado-Ekiti;
(b) the labour to deliver and plant all the seedlings on my farm site free of charge; and
(c)  ten big kegs of palm oil free of charge to me for the burial of my mother-in-law at Igbara-Oke.

In her own case, I came across Miss Ajoke Ishola, one Sunday in 2000 after the morning service at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado-Ekiti. I saw a lady knelt down before me to greet me, full of smiles and radiance, in her natural habit. She had always been a vivacious socialite. She introduced herself as Mrs. Ajoke Oluwasanmi, nee Ishola of the Research Library of the Central Bank of Nigeria 1976.

I was taken aback. “How did you get to Ado-Ekiti?” I asked her. Her remark was that when I encouraged her to leave the Central Bank to further her education, she gained admission to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to read pharmacy. She came to Ekiti for her National Youth Corp programme during which time she met her husband, Mr. Oluwasanmi from the famous Oluwasanmi family of Ode-Ekiti.

It was a warm embrace! I overheard her tell a friend, “That was my boss at CBN” she enthused. “Oga was friendly and tough” she concluded. She became very close to my family, especially my wife. I was privileged to be the chairman at one of her children’s wedding. She rose to the peak of her career and became Permanent Secretary, Public Service Commission in the Civil Service of Ekiti, from where she retired at the end of July 2011 after a meritorious service.”

***

Culled from My Yesteryears – An Autobiography of an Economist/Banker  by Chief S. B. Falegan, published by Bamboo Books [2013]. 

One good turn indeed deserves another!

Do you have a true-life story that you want Onigegewura to publish on how a good turn deserves another? Please forward your story to onigegewurablog@gmail.com. Our readers will be pleased to read and learn from your experience.

Please do not forget to leave your comment below for a chance to win Bolaji Abdullahi's new book: On a Platter of Gold - How Jonathan Won and Lost Nigeria. Winners will be announced on Monday, December 11, 2017.

I thank you for your time.

-Olanrewaju Onigegewura©
History Does Not Forget

The right of Olanrewaju Onigegewura© to be identified as the author of stories published on this blog has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright laws. 




24 comments:

  1. Animashaun Lawal7 December 2017 at 15:15

    Hmmn...indeed one good turn deserves another. An advise could turn out to be the best seed sewn into one's life...Nice food for thought.
    God bless u more sir

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  2. Wow. Truly one good turn deserves another. Some little nudge and subtle threat caused them to overcome complacency in their studies and career development.

    More power to your elbows sir "Onigegewura"

    Adeseye

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  3. I always wish for what people will say behind me will be positive and change other people life ....I will follow this part of honor. Thanks baba Onigegewura

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  4. At every phase of our lives, no matter how principled we are, we should not act in wickedness.He counselled them to make their life's better not to frustrate them out of the syst
    Secondly, those counselled took it in good faith, they did not see it him as a boss who does not like seeing their faces around the banking hall but took up a challenge that gave them a great future.God bless them all. Great lesson for humanity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. At every phase of our lives, no matter how principled we are, we should not act in wickedness.He counselled them to make their life's better not to frustrate them out of the syst
      Secondly, those counselled took it in good faith, they did not see it him as a boss who does not like seeing their faces around the banking hall but took up a challenge that gave them a great future.God bless them all. Great lesson for humanity.

      Delete
    2. At every phase of our lives, no matter how principled we are, we should not act in wickedness.He counselled them to make their life's better not to frustrate them out of the syst
      Secondly, those counselled took it in good faith, they did not see it him as a boss who does not like seeing their faces around the banking hall but took up a challenge that gave them a great future.God bless them all. Great lesson for humanity.

      Delete
  5. This is indeed a great lesson for everyone reading this post, what ever you have to assist people whether in kind,cash,words of wisdom, impacting knowledge and encouragement, we should not hesitate to do it. imagine how Chief S.O Falegan reap what he sowed in the life of his colleagues. MY prayer to Onigegewura is that may God use you too to effect positive changes in the life of people.Nice one.

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  6. Life is like a circle, what you do along the way will wait for you or your kindred as the follow after you. Little act of kindness we do today will be remembered forever. I remember Alhaji Agba's song - "ma se rere laye mi o ma se rere, mase rere laye mi mase rere. Emi o niseka laiye, emi o ni se baje omo lakeji, mase rere". We should do good at all times it may not be appreciated immediately but on the long run, it will yield its bountiful fruits.

    Onigegewura, thank you for another wonderful story.

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  7. Lawal Sodiq Abiola8 December 2017 at 02:39

    Uhmmmmm......infact it inspired me alot....people should investment so much in humility.Thank you so much ONIGEGEWURA.

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  8. Inspiring
    Keep the good work going ��

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  9. It's good to be good. You'll reap whatever you sow. Thanks for this write up sir. We're learning everyday. If you do good, it'll definitely come to you. Bless you sir.

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  10. It is good to be a life saver.

    Indeed this is a moral story, helping each other to attain success is demonstrated here and for those who had helped us we owe them a favour.

    *"Asesile labowaba"*

    If the truth in this story is consistent with the prevailing ethos of our society then surely the society will be progressively stronger.

    As for the trio, with obedience they discovered what they are truly made of.

    *Onigegewura* thank you for reviving our lost heritage.

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is good to be a life saver.

    Indeed this is a moral story, helping each other to attain success is demonstrated here and for those who had helped us we owe them a favour.

    *"Asesile labowaba"*

    If the truth in this story is consistent with the prevailing ethos of our society then surely the society will be progressively stronger.

    As for the trio, with obedience they discovered what they are truly made of.

    *Onigegewura* thank you for reviving our lost heritage.

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  13. One good turn really deserves another

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  14. When people tell you to go ahead and do certain thing at some point in your life when you are not only making money but enjoying the work, you may feel they are doing you a very bad thing. But believe me, you live to pray for them the rest of your life.

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  15. Truly,any good deed shall be rewarded. But only time matters.

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  16. “One good turn deserves another” is a philosophy that we should all make our watchword. In our everyday life, we must continue to pass on the baton of kindness to one another. If some people choose not to pass it on, we must continue pass it on and always be kind to one another.
    A great piece from the stable of the one & only Onigegewura. Keep up the good work sir

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  17. One good turn deserves another. Very inspiring. Pls, keep it up, this blog is very educative and entertaining

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  18. One good turn indeed...
    Very interesting piece. Please keep us yearning for more.

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  19. Future Builder...
    Ab initio they felt like he is tough and rigid but on the long run they discovered that he really meant well for them.I must say that you are doing a very good job. We are really enjoying you thanks.

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  20. This world is just a very small place. Do good all the time

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  21. This is interesting. The world is just a very small place. Do good all the times. God bless Onigegewura

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  22. Bosses such as Chief. Falegan are a rarity, especially nowadays. The 'ogas' would rather you waste your youth and energy in furthering their businesses, than encourage you to develop wings to fly. Thank you, Onigegewura for this heart-warming piece.

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