BlackBox Nigeria

How President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku created “a solution” to university strikes Once upon a time, strikes were an integral part of the Nigerian university system. It was unheard of for a Nigerian public university student to graduate in four years for courses which were originally designed for three to four years. It was commonplace to see students sit at home for several weeks. Some were delayed at home for several months, infact on one occasion, it was six whole months. This was in the early days of the return to democratic rule. So agonising were these strikes that our leaders in their infinite wisdom, eventually came up with a solution. Well, it isn’t like they actually ended the strikes but they did the next best thing which at least favoured their pockets. The President established a private University, adding it to his already existing chain of elementary and secondary schools. It was named Bells University of Technology; the very first of its kind in the country. Bells began its admission process just when Nigeria had its worst strike of that era, a six-month old strike which started in 2003 and eventually ended in 2004. And then, inspired by his boss, the assistant father of the nation, Turaki Adamawa as he then was followed suit. But Alhaji wasn’t going to establish an “ordinarily university of technology”, rara o, lai se LAUTECH abi LASUSTECH, he had bigger ambitions. Alhaji simply brought in American consultants and pumped in nearly double what his boss had spent on the venture and boom, Nigeria got her first American styled University, only second in Africa to the American University of Cairo which had been established more than 80 years prior. And that was the incredible solution propounded by President Olusegun Obasanjo and his amiable sidekick, Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the menace of striking university workers. Ironically, so lucrative is this venture that even Mr Obasanjo’s personal lawyer, the same one he had appointed Pro-Chancellor of University of Lagos barely two years into office also established his own private university after his UNILAG gig ended. The END -The Kayode Badmus

The revelations surrounding the man, Anthony Kila are quite disturbing. How does one man end up facing questions about virtually his entire academic history, from a first degree to a PhD and even a professorial title? Personally, I have been thinking there might have been some mix up along the way, what if he actually went to school under a different name and hasn’t done his due diligence in regularising his records over the years? I learnt he is from Efon Alaaye in Ekiti state and I was actually wondering if Kila is actually a Yoruba name (someone might say this is very rich coming from someone whose surname is Badmus 🤣). I might be wrong but what if he actually went to school and his qualifications under a different name. As absurd as it sounds, forging a PhD might seem shocking but maybe we could have moved on from it but to have faked an entire academic resume of degrees from BSc to MSc is absolutely diabolical. The irony is that Mr Anthony Kila himself is in the business of selling certifications. He appears to be the promoter of ‘Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies’ (CIAPS), a graduate school founded to train professionals and their employers. They even have a “one-day executive programme” for whoever can afford it as recently advertised by Anthony Kila on X. I checked and £225 was the cost for getting this training…yes, a one-day programme. I learnt Mr Kila is actually the director of CIAPS while also doubling as the International Director of the “European Centre for Advanced and Professional Studies”, which has been confirmed to be non-existent. In all of these rògbòdìyàn, Mr Kila hasn’t come out to defend himself. He hasn’t provided a single proof to explain if he ever went to school to gain his brandished qualifications or if there is a mix-up somewhere. Interestingly, Mr Anthony Kila is married to veteran actress, Ronnie Dikko. They tied the knot in 2019.

Pasuma is the bridge between the Fuji generation and the hip hop movement. Jealousy was released 27 years ago and just today, Segun Johnson dropped a new collaboration with Pasuma…I doubt if there has been any year since Jealousy that he hasn’t been featured by a major contemporary act.

Pasuma is in a world of his own.

Lágbájá, Ego and the Sunny Neji connection -The Kayode Badmus Unknown to many, Lágbájá never planned to do music, well not as a singer himself…let me explain. The man Bisade Ologunde was a creative who ran an ad agency. He was more interested in productions especially radio jingles and the likes. When he initially ventured into music, it was as a producer and he was responsible for the production of Fuji Sandoka’s famous ‘Yoboro Yobonsin’ album which had a blend of hip hop with Fuji. When Lágbájá started his band, he wasn’t going to lead. He planned to just play instruments while he had another voice be lead vocalist. In his first band, ‘Call Us Band,’ Lagbaja rarely sang, he had vocalists like Sunny Neji (the veteran singer who gave us Oruka)… infact, Sunny Neji was supposed to be Lagbaja but life had other plans. When Lágbájá wanted to start recording music, he still wasn’t interested in being the frontman, he just wanted a band he could lead but with another voice. But he soon decided against this yet he wasn’t going to show his face, close confidants believe it is because he wanted to maintain the anonymous brand of the act while he loves his actual life…this worked out eventually as till date nobody knows who Lágbájá man is. Another school believe the mask was designed so anybody he decides can play the character, well no one ever did except uncle Bisade. Unknown to many, it was actually Sunny Neji who actually introduced Ego to Lágbájá’s band and what we got is unforgettable music, a combination never seen before and which remains yet unmatched. Here is another day to beg whoever can reach out to Lágbájá, the legendary musician to please make his hits available on digital platforms. If it’s not too much, I will also quickly appeal for a comeback concert, maybe a reunion with Ego and Sunny Neji…this will be beautiful for National Theatre, Igammu. #TheKayodeBadmus

King Sunny Ade’s first album sold just 13 copies. This was in 1967 and the album was titled ‘Alaanu l'Oluwa’. Rather than feel dejected about this dismal sales, he was instead excited that a whole 13 people went all out to use their money to purchase his music. KSA was simply inspired to put in more effort and this eventually paid off. One year later, he released his sophomore and it sold half a million copies. Happy 80th birthday Pa Sunday Adeniyi Adegeye…the child of destiny that became King! -The Kayode Badmus