Posthumous birth day tribute to late Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi

By Lanre Alabi

On November 16, 2017, Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi, popularly called R.A.G answered the call of death in Lagos. This was exactly 22 days to his 73 birthday, which falls today (December 7). That Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi lived a fulfilled life is not in doubt. He made imprints in virtually all aspects of life and expectedly his death was characterized with huge emotions and eulogies from people across all walks of life.

Chief  Gbadamosi was well profound in courage and achievements. Born into an aristocratic family in Ikorodu, Chief Gbadamosi, the Aro of Lagos recorded many feats in life that made him a cynosure for the larger part of his life.

Late Rasheed Gbadamosi was born on Idel Kabir day in 1943, at the famous and revered first government maternity home, Massey Hospital in central Lagos. That explains his middle name, Abiodun, someone born into festivity. Rasheed was delivered so strong and healthy on December 7th 1943 that his daddy decided to take mother and child to Ikorodu, the same day, to celebrate the festival with the famous Gbadamosi dynasty of Ikorodu fame.

His father, Alhaji Sule Oyesola Gbadamosi (S.O.G) was a leading Nigerian industrialist who competed successfully with multinationals like UAC, and still had time for nationalistic struggle for Nigeria’s independence through politics. A founding member of the pacesetter Action Group, Rasheeds father was a national parliamentarian and one of the most trusted confidants and friends of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The royal blood also flowed in the veins of Rasheeds mother, Madam Rafatu Asabi Ogungbile of Eletu Odibo court in Isale Eko, a descendant of Eshilokun, an 18th century Oba of Lagos.

After Late Rasheed Gbadamosi finished his kindergarten and primary school education at the Patience Modern School, Enu-Owa, Isale-Eko of Lagos in 1955, he could have walked into any secondary school of his father’s choice!  Being a frontline, popular and rich Moslem, Rasheeds father could have preferred any of the two available Moslem secondary schools, but he chose Methodist Boys High School, one of the few missionary schools at that time that placed a lot of emphasis on well rounded education, morality, good upbringing and untainted service to mankind. That early sound upbringing and education were to be strong assets that well influenced Late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi on life issues. The impact was felt in his values, leadership acumen, management sagacity, cultural values and social interactions.

Late Rasheed Gbadamosi was an all-rounder at MBHS, but he developed an obsession for the English language, that some believed he was going to read English. But like a true Ikorodu boy and a scion of a successful business father, Late Rasheed Gbadamosi opted for economics and had his first degree in 1966 from Manchester University in England, and masters in 1969 at the New Hampshire University, USA.

It is believed that right from the womb, an Ijebu has already mastered the art of buying and selling and going to read economics at the university is like pursuing a refresher course. Being an Ijebu descendant, Rasheed Gbadamosi proved this mettle. Every economic venture, project, assignment that he has handled turned to gold. At the tender age of 29, Rasheed Gbadamosi proved his mettle as he served as Commissioner for Economic Development and Establishment, Lagos State, and held many national assignments including Nigeria’s Minister of National Planning and Chairman of Petroleum  Price Regulatory Committee as well as Chairman and Board Member of several business organizations.

Chief Gbadamosi, has distinguished himself as a seasoned economist and public administrator in various public assignments at state and national levels.  Prominent among public assignments that he has undertaken in the last 40 years were: Member, Constitution Drafting Committee (1976-1977), Member, Board of Directors, National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), Member, Nigeria’s External Debt Rescheduling Team (1986), Chairman, Nigerian Industrial Development Bank (1986-1994), Chairman, National Committee on Industrial Development – Industrial Masterplan Project (1989-1998) and Member, Committee on the Railways (1999).   He was appointed by the Federal Government as the Chairman of the reconstituted Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER).

He sat on the board of several companies that operate in specialized business sectors such as manufacturing, publishing, building and construction, insurance and computing.  Some of the companies in which, he functioned as Chairman of the Board were: Commercial and Scientific Computing Nigeria Limited, Ragolis Waters Limited, Tolaram Clay Bricks (Nigeria) Limited, Syndicated Metal Industries Limited and BHN Plc.  He also functioned as a director on other Boards of Companies such as Cappa and D’Alberto Plc, Nelson Publishers, American International Insurance Company Plc (AIICO), Lucky Fibres Nigeria Limited and Vono Products Plc.

Chief Gbadamosi, who was a life member of Nigerian Economic Society, was also the Vice-Chairman of the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON).  He was a patron of the Lagos State Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).  He distinguished himself as a playwright and versatile writer through the publication of six plays and 30 short stories with contemporary themes.  His plays have been performed in several local and international theatres around the world.

Late Chief Rasheeds contribution to Nigeria is an open book and from his childhood till his death, his generosity to his friends and colleagues, was legendary.

As a precocious teenager, Rasheed Gbadamosi became a philanthropist.  He gave out a lot of money to young footballers who were sources of delight and entertainment.  For ten years he led his MBHS School set of 1956-60, called the Liberation Set, and some of the landmark achievements were the construction of a modern staff quarters at the high brow Victoria Island branch of the school, and the electrification of the school premises. Until his death, Late Rasheed Gbadamosi remained chairman Emeritus of the Liberation Set. The National Old Boys Association of MBHS is also beneficiaries of Rasheed’s deep pockets.

Chief Rasheed Gbdamosi distinguished himself as a reliable ally to friends and family members.  Once he picked you as a friend he would stick with you till the end.

That the Late Otun of Lagos had an unquenchable love for the arts and music was a public knowledge. Rasheed Gbadmosis love for music began at school. He once transcribed the lyrics of Elvis Presley and other stars of those days and memorized them. Late Rasheed Gbadomosi indeed was a multi-faceted person.  His love for music was matched by that for play writing and that for culture.

When the Afrobeat Musician Fela Anikulapo Kuti died, Late Rasheed Gbadomosi was in the vanguard of a few friends who gave Fela a befitting burial.  And when the need arose for Felas son, Femi to revive the African shrine three, he also played a prominent role.

So, when Rasheed and other eminent Nigerians founded the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON), it was a dream fulfilled for him.

On his love life, the cord that tied Rasheed Gbadamosi to MBHS played up again.  In Manchester, England Late Rasheed Gbadamosi could have picked his wife among the whites or the Irekes, and in New Hampshire, USA, he could have picked a Yankee or an Akata, but he came back to Lagos and chose then Miss Tinuade Abodurin, a Chemistry and Biology teacher at MBHS for wife, and the circle was completed. The family is blessed with four children, three sons (all graduate of economics) and the only girl in graphic communication.

At a prayer session organized after his death, the whole world came to honour Chief Rasheed Abiodun Gbadamosi, a great man whose good deeds were etched in the sands of time. He was a good friend of journalists. Fare thee well.

Lanre Alabi, a media guru, lives in Lagos.