Rev. Williams Olatunji Ojo, 89, discusses his 40-year sojourn in the Baptist Church, and the establishment of Bowen University, Iwo, with ADEOLA BALOGUN and ’NONYE BEN-NWANKWO
Looking back, what informed the honour bestowed on you by the Baptist University of Nigeria?
It was a surprise to me when I heard about the award. When I look back, I can only give praise to God for everything. I was in my second pastorage as a minister when the Nigeria Baptist Convention sent a delegation to me in Jos that they had an assignment that I was the most capable to do for the church. That was in 1961. I was made the principal fundraising promoter for the establishment of the Baptist University; it was an assignment that took me to all nooks and crannies of Nigeria and Ghana. A few years before then, the Convention had looked into the number of people applying for scholarships and thought that the number was too large: they thought that to solve the problem, it would be better to have a university. They made the decision, but what remained was who and how to raise money. They took a decision that one tenth of the initial cost would be borne by the Nigeria Convention, while the remaining would be shouldered by the home mission. The Convention, first of all, took permission from my church to allow me to go round and work on the members nationwide to raise funds. I took up the challenge, even though I had never been involved in such a huge responsibility before, I vowed to do my best. And so, between June and December 1961, I was always on the road and by the special grace of God, we were able to raise some money. At the end of that year, I returned to my work. But something happened and the amount promised by the home mission could not be met, while the Nigeria Convention provided its own one tenth contribution. For a long time, between 1962 to 1965 nothing concrete was coming from the home mission, but the money from the Nigeria Convention was in the bank.
So, the plan for the university had been in the works for so long?
Oh yes. We thank God that it eventually took off in Iwo. When it was time to give it a name, the church went for Bowen, the name of the first Baptist missionary from America to work on Christian ministration and Bible in Nigeria; that was 1850. When he first came, he came single; later on, he came back with his wife in 1854. The decision taken by the Convention to adopt Bowen solved many problems. Picking any of Nigeria’s names would have sparked off trouble, but nobody could dispute the name Bowen. Thank God that the university is there and has started making a headway as far as university education is concerned. I feel honoured to be given the award after former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Mr. Gamaliel Onosode.
We learnt that you didn’t start school until you were 11; why?
My father wanted me to be around him and because of that, he kept on postponing my enrolment until the headmaster, who later became Bishop Okusanya, told him I had to start. Even after he agreed around April that year, he still said that I would start the following year. But the headmaster told my father that I should start the following week, instead of waiting for a whole year to pass for new enrolment. One interesting thing about my father was that he was one of the few who could read and write. Even though I did not start school on time, on the wall of our house, we learnt the English alphabets and even became better than those who had earlier started school. My father prepared us very well before school. He was the town secretary and he had a very good handwriting.
Why did you choose to be a minister?
I grew up in an Anglican environment in Igbara-Oke, Ondo State, and I developed some talents in school. By the time I had my first school leaving certificate in 1940, I had made a name for myself. We were 12 in my class but only three of us were given teaching appointments. I was asked to teach in Ogotun and for the next three years, between 1941 to 1943, I was a teacher. Later on, there was a need for me to further my education. St. Andrew’s in Oyo was an Anglican school but I could not go there since my father was not an Anglican. Those days, for you to be an Anglican, you must be a man of one wife and my father was not. So, the opportunity to school at St. Andrew’s was struck out. But one of the teachers in St. Paul’s School, Igbara-Oke, where I had schooled, was from Abeokuta and he once schooled at St. Andrew’s. He felt sorry for me in a way when he learnt that I would not be able to further my studies there because of my parents. He then told me of other schools in Abeokuta that could admit anybody, as long as the person was academically qualified; he assured me that I would be admitted there. I took the entrance examination and passed to be admitted into the Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta.
So, how was it to be sponsored through school?
My parents were poor. In 1938, my father was duped. At that time in Igbara-Oke, only three people had bicycles and my father was one of them. Our own was a Hercules, while the other two were the Raleigh brand. I was very popular in the town because of the bicycle, but my father had to sell it to be able to pay part of the school fees that I needed for to complete my primary school education. I kept having problems of money until I got to Class Four, which those days, used to be like the peak of education because from there, one could join companies like the UAC. I wanted to proceed in my studies, but there was no money or scholarship to continue. I made efforts to move around to look for help, but I was not lucky to get someone to help.
So, you had to drop out of school?
God in his own marvellous way made a way. The principal of my school at that time wanted to help me, but I couldn’t raise any amount. Up to that time, there was no librarian in BBHS; it was pupils that were running the library. So, he created the post of a paid librarian and I became the first paid librarian in BBHS, Abeokuta. Then, my classmates were in Class Five, while I was there in the library. Anytime they came to the library, I would ask them what they were taught and they were generous enough to tell me everything. I was usually surprised that I had read up what they were showing me from the class. So, it occurred to me that I didn’t have to wait for another year before taking the exam. I found that I could do so as a private candidate. But then, BBHS would not take me because my mates were still there. So, I approached Abeokuta Grammar School, where Fela’s father, Ransome Kuti, was the principal. I registered there and took my school certificate there. When the result came the following year, I didn’t make an A in English, that would have qualified me for the London Matriculation. I sat for it again and passed English and got ready for my London Matriculation. That was the time that my classmates were still working for their qualifications. There was one of my teachers in BBHS whose wife was working in the library in Lagos and she always came to visit her husband. Because of my London Matriculation, I needed help and through her, I was made to understand that librarians were better paid in Lagos than in Abeokuta. So, with the help of the woman, I moved to Lagos. I first worked with the Electricity Department, they put me with people in charge of meter reading but I didn’t think that I belonged to that kind of place to make a livelihood. So, I moved on to the Railways in Ebute Meta. That was where I worked for another two years. But when I was there, I lived in Surulere. My house was the third house to the Surulere Baptist School and church. I became a member because of the proximity. And with the little experience that I had as a student in Abeokuta, I became more involved in church activities. Many times when the pastor was not available, I would stand in for him. That was the point that I got to and felt that God was calling me to come and work in the ministry.
So, what did you do?
I had to go to the seminary in Ogbomoso for four years, after which I qualified with a bachelor’s degree in theology. That was how I became a minister.
As a minister, why did you have to work for the government as a commissioner?
I think that is by Providence. I didn’t ask for it, but I had made up my mind to do whatever the Lord laid in my path. They called me. I retired in 1986 and before then, I had desired to do full time work with my people in Ondo State as much as possible. But earlier than I could have achieved that, I just heard on the radio that the Ondo State Government wanted me to come and work. That was how I got the job that I never applied for.
How was the experience?
I tried as much as possible to do my best and in the name of God, we did whatever we felt was best for the people. People who were there then in the civil service would attest to the fact that I and my team did our best.
As a minister, how did you fit in to the civil service without being seen as a politician?
The people knew me well. It was the time of the military, but interestingly, our tenure was terminated by the then civilian government of Bamidele Olomilua.
Had you always been very religious or was there a time that you played pranks as a boy?
Right from my youth, my teachers and even elders respected me. My mother died when I was about two and so I had no mother. And when I accepted Christ, I took some decisions, which helped me. When I was in school, I remember that one of my teachers warned me to watch out for three Ws – wealth, wine and women. I recall an instance in my life: a friend had just returned from overseas and was celebrating his birthday and I went there. When I saw other people drinking wine, I tried it and just half way to the programme, my head began to turn and I had to leave. And one of the things I had when I was working at the Railways was a beautiful bicycle, which I rode to the birthday party. As I left, I fell and my best pair of trousers got torn. That was the end of wine for me. With the grace of God, I was able to take care of the other two Ws.
At what time did you decide to get married?
Idi Aba Girls Secondary School was a neighbour to the BBHS and it was fashionable in those days to have a girlfriend there. I attempted it but when the question of going to the seminary came, she said she didn’t qualify to be a minister’s wife and that was the end of the relationship. Eventually, I saw that it was God’s wish for me to have the opportunity of choosing the right person as my life partner. I met my wife when I was at the seminary and we have been married for 57 years. I believe God chose my wife for me and I have had no regrets. We are blessed with children, who are doing well in their own way.
Was it popular among women in those days to want to get married to ministers of God?
It was not very popular, but very few people, who are honest with themselves always, thanked God for their choice.
How were you able to cope without your mom?
It was not easy, but I had no choice. I cannot describe what my mother looked like; whether she was tall or short. People who knew her very well refused to describe what she looked like but would always say that they were willing to extend the love they had for her to us, her children. I have an elder sister, but she too was too young to describe what our mother looked like.
Have you ever regretted not going to the university to study medicine or law instead of remaining a minister?
Before I became a minister, I was a trader. I ordered goods and I was doing very well for myself. But since I went into the seminary, I forgot about those things. I threw all those things away and learnt to live solely on my little stipend as a minister. Since then, I have learnt to save, however little it is. In 1961 when I was invited by the Convention to help raise money for the university, one of our missionaries asked me whether I had insurance. I told him that I didn’t know anything about insurance. He was alarmed that I was travelling all over the place and did not think of insurance. So, it was that missionary that called my attention to insurance and what I did was that I gave instruction to the bank to deduct £5 from my salary every month. It was that money that I used after about 10 years of maturity to build my house in Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State.
How does it feel to be 89?
I thank God for that. God gave me a very good health, but the only time that I became so sick was in 1982. Everybody was afraid for my life. That was when I was in Ibadan and the Convention wanted to send me overseas for treatment. All arrangements for the travel were being concluded, but that very night that marked the eve of my departure, God visited me and by the time the doctor came to examine me in the morning, he was surprised to see the improvement. He pronounced that I might not need to travel again and that was the end of it. God healed me and it was very miraculous. My elder sister is still alive and she is over 90 years.
Have you been tempted to have more than one wife like your father?
There was no need for me to do that. As I told you, I was not given to that kind of lifestyle. I have good children and my wife never gave me any reason to begin to think that I needed to marry another one.