Apart from being an accomplished lawyer and the first female president of the Nigeria Bar Association, Dame Priscilla Kuye is a devout Catholic and a woman of many other parts. She shares her sojourn from the cradle to 74 years old with BOSEDE OLUSOLA-OBASA
What do you recall fondly about your upbringing?
I had lovely parents. They brought us up properly. My late father, the Akija of Ikija-Ijebu in Ogun State, Oba Luke Adenola Adekogbe and mother, late Mrs. Elizabeth Adekogbe, were teachers. They studied at what was known as Yaba Higher College in those days. They taught us to be truthful, to work hard and to love God. My mother would usually tell me that hard work does not kill. It was a very happy family. My father was a disciplinarian but my mother was on the softer side. They emphasised so much on excellence such that whenever we came first in school, they would give us gifts. They always wanted us to come first in class.
How did you cope with your father and mother being teachers?
(Laughs) The basic thing was that we had to do our homework under their supervision. In the case of my siblings and I, our parents did not wait for our hands to reach our ears before we were enrolled in school. You know in those days, there was this idea that a child’s hand must be able to reach his ears for him to be certified old enough to start school, but that was not so in our own case. We started school quite early, maybe because they were teachers. I can’t remember how old I was when I started school, but I finished my secondary school at 16 or 17 years old. We lived in Ibadan where I had my primary and secondary education. My parents also ensured that their girl-children had equal access to education as the boys. That was not a common way of thinking in their days. Again, I think that was because they were teachers; it helped them to think differently. They had two girls among their children. I am a lawyer and my sister is an architect.
Your parents were teachers, who then inspired you to study law?
Actually, my initial desire was to read medicine and be a doctor, but I was not very good at science subjects, especially Chemistry. So I had to abandon it, I still have interest in medicine. When I couldn’t become a doctor, I trained as a nurse at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, England. I was also at Gray’s Inn, London, before I finally opted out to study law at the University of London. I graduated in 1966 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in June 1967. Now, I must tell you why I opted to read law. After she clocked 50 years old, my mother disclosed her intention to read law. I was surprised and curious. I wanted to know why my mother wanted to read law at that age. That was how I decided that I would read law, if my mother could desire it at her age.
And did she accomplish her law dream?
No, she could not because she died too young to realise the dream. She would have done it because she was a very energetic woman who stood for women’s rights. She was one of the founders of the National Council of Women Society, which is so big today. She was a politician, businesswoman and teacher. She had her own NGO, Women Movement of Nigeria, which fought for women’s rights. I switched over to law because of my mother’s interest and because I later discovered that as a lawyer, no one would be able to trample on my rights and I would be in a position to help others.
Would it be right then to say that you studied law to realise your mother’s unfulfilled dream to be a lawyer?
(Laughs) Well, but in the end, I actually realised my own dream. No doubt, her ambition triggered my interest in law. I wanted to know why law caught her fancy at that age and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I also think God actually wanted me to be a lawyer because I find it very interesting.
Do you still miss medicine, your first love?
Well, I still have a soft spot for the medical profession. When people are ill, I still find myself offering useful counsel. That happens mostly in the church. The thing I have found out is that God created people with so many talents that some people never discovered all to accomplish them.
Not only did you become a lawyer, you married a lawyer. Is it true that marriage between two lawyers can be turbulent?
We discuss law, but we do not let that affect our relationship. The relationship between a husband and a wife is based on love and understanding. We quarrel but we make up. In my relationship with my husband, Chief Omowale Kuye, it has never reached that point where I am stressing the fact that I am a lawyer. He is my husband and the head of the house. I accept that because that is how God has ordained it to be. We also believe that men and women are complementary to each other. His weak point may be my strong point and vice versa. We communicate well and we listen to each other. Communication is very important in a marriage relationship. We have never had to use law to settle any matter in our home and we have been married for over 50 years. We respect each other’s views.
Like some lawyer couples, have your chambers gradually moved into your home?
Oh yes. We discuss a lot of legal issues. We review issues in the news together and see the legal implications of such, especially columns on law. When we discuss like that, we think and remain mentally alert. That is one of the ways we relax. It is very interesting. A husband and wife must always communicate; you must discuss to make your marriage work. I believe lack of communication is the reason some marriages crash. You have to talk to each other and pray for God’s blessings on your marriage.
Are your children lawyers too?
Yes, my daughter is an economist and a lawyer, just like her father. My son, Demola, is a lawyer too. So we are a family of lawyers.
Did you encourage them to study law?
We did not. In fact, my daughter first read economics abroad and one day she saw us going to the court and she said, ‘I am the only one not going to court.’ All of a sudden, she decided to read law and she did. She didn’t want to be left out. It is very interesting. It was their wish.
How was your time at the law school?
Things were better in our days. Now the sudents have accommodation problems, their fees have been increased and so on. Then we had dedicated lecturers, they still do but there is need to improve the infrastructure. I don’t support the idea of increasing the number of years students stay in the law school, the students had already been to the university. One year is enough. I also do not support the call by some people for the law school system to be abolished. It is important to get acquainted with the law in the environment where you are going to practise. I think that a good lawyer should work under an experienced lawyer in a chamber before setting up his own chambers. It will give him the required exposure. Some people set up chambers immediately and they make mistakes. I was with a senior lawyer, Burke and Co. Solicitors from 1967 to 1969 before I set up my firm, Priscilla O. Kuye and Company in 1970. Justice Oyeyipo, former chief judge of Kwara State, was in my set.
How does it feel to have a number of firsts to your name?
It is to the glory of God. If the Lord blesses your effort, you should be thankful to Him.
What were your high points as the first female president of the Nigerian Bar Association?
I served the Lagos chapter and I was sent to the national body as a member of the National Executive Committee. After that, I became the financial secretary; I became the second and first vice president. I rose through the ranks before I became the president of the NBA. It was not easy; it took a lot of hard work. I had to attend meetings, participate in committees, but what I enjoyed most was being chairman of the Human Rights Committee. My time was turbulent. That was the time of the MKO Abiola saga. The military was in power and there were lots of infringements on human rights. That was why I was not allowed to run for a second term as president of the NBA. They claimed that they wanted somebody from the North to be president. That was in 1992 when the military disrupted the NBA election because they didn’t want Kuye to be president. They almost killed me but it was God that spared my life. I did my best bearing in mind that the NBA should be the watchdog of the society. When rights were infringed, I spoke up. My international passport was seized during my tenure because they said I was talking too much. I thank God. The NBA must speak up and that was what I was doing but they said that I wanted to pull down the military. And I wondered how a small woman like myself would pull down the military. During the build-up to the NBA election, they sent soldiers to our meetings and ensured that I didn’t return as president. God was with me and nothing happened to me; I am still alive.
But the NBA has been accused recently of courting the government to the detriment of the public.
The NBA is still speaking against the ills of the society but you know we now have a democratic government in place. It is not supposed to be as terrible as the military was. The NBA president speaks up and you know the executive committee has to support what he is saying. I don’t think the NBA leadership is courting government because they are not politicians, they are professionals. But I accept that things could be better.
You also presided over your husband as a lawyer, how did he feel about it?
I have a very good husband. He is a man who believes that a woman should develop all her potential and he encourages me to achieve all I want as a human being. Some men subjugate their women and I think that is very wrong. If we want this country to develop, we have to allow men and women to contribute their quotas. In politics for instance, women should be given more space. The men folk should stop asking women to step down for the men at the constituency levels. I was privy to this happening many times and I told the women to shout. They should stop stepping down for men. Women are good leaders because they manage the home well.
What were your achievements as the first female president of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce and Industry?
The chamber is doing a lot. But the issue of poor electricity condition is militating against the development of the Nigerian economy. Artisans, low income workers and even big companies would be better with improved electricity supply. What people spend on diesel is too high and that is why what we produce in Nigeria cannot compete well with imported goods. So much money is spent on infrastructure. I know that because I am a manufacturer. It is terrible and that is why the country is flooded with sub-standard goods. Electricity is important to improving the economy and that is the position of the chamber. I am of the opinion that government needs to ban the importation of generators, otherwise the efforts towards improving power supply will not yield fruits. Government has to do it in the interest of the economy. The chamber analyses the budget every year and offers expert recommendations. We have trade missions that facilitate exchange programmes with Americans to promote investment. We organise trainings and seminars. Our members contribute to the economy through their businesses, they encourage our partners to come and invest in Nigeria.
You grew up in Ibadan, can you relive your times there?
That is a very long time living with my parents. I enjoyed my schooling days in Ibadan. I had many friends in school. As girls, we didn’t play too many pranks unlike the boys. Most girls were quiet in class. I took part in sports – I played hockey. At St. Anne’s, the late Prof Jadesola Akande and Mrs. Jegede were my classmates. While there, my younger sister was at St. Teresa’s College but I was withdrawn to join my sister because as a devoted Catholic, my parents wanted Catholic education for me. That was in form three and I wrote my school certificate examination in form five. I also played net ball. My parents were from Ogun State but they lived in Ibadan. My father eventually became an Oba. Before then, he was the assistant registrar of cooperatives in Ibadan. My mother taught at St. James’ Primary School, Ibadan. I schooled there too. I attended St. Anne’s School, Ibadan and later St. Teresa’s College, Ibadan.
Did you represent your school at competitions?
I can’t remember now, but I know that I was very athletic. I also know that I was a house prefect at St Teresa’s but if you ask me the name of the house, I can’t remember anymore. But I remember that in the school, we went for morning mass everyday. We were given a balanced training and education and emphasis was laid on being God-centred. I used to serve at mass. The reverend sisters were very strict but it turned out to our advantage. In school, you had a reverend sister attached to you.
Did you at any point in school desire to be a reverend sister?
No, I never desired to be a reverend sister. All I knew was that I must have a good relationship with God, but not to be a reverend sister.
Why?
I cannot. It never crossed my mind.
At what point did you meet your husband?
Ha, I first knew him in Ibadan and later on we met in London when he was a student there. We met at the London School of Economics. I was still at St. Bartholomew’s, trying to study medicine. That was where I noticed that I was better in my art subjects than the sciences. We met in London, he proposed there and we got married. That was over 50 years ago. My husband was a Christian before he changed to a Muslim. His late parents were Baba and Iya Ijo Salvation Army. I am a devout Catholic and I don’t know of other religion. My husband respects my religion and I respect his. I celebrate with him when it is sallah, I get caterers to cook for his visitors and he celebrates the Christian season with me too.
Are you still expecting him to return to Christianity?
Yes. I wish he was a Christian but he is a devout Muslim. Nothing is impossible for God to do.
But what made him change his line of worship?
What he told me was that his parents were too strict with them when they were younger. He said that they always wanted them to practise catechism. When he became an adult, he revolted and decided to change his religion. That is why people should learn that religion is one’s relationship with God. You don’t have to kill a person to make them follow your religion. Those killings in the north are unnecessary.
How did you cope building a successful career and raising your children?
It was very difficult. Combining raising children with a career is not easy. I was even lucky because it is a career that I could choose my time and plan my schedule. If I were working on a 9 am to 5 pm schedule, it would have been more difficult. But then, I made sure that before leaving the house, I prepared the meal for my husband and children. I made sure that their lunch was ready too. I pick them up at school. What is paramount for a female professional is that you must organise your time. You don’t have the time for all these weekend parties because you still have to spend time with your children and husband. If you are invited to three parties, you may attend only one; you need time to stay with your children so that they can be successful in life. I think parents need to create more time for their children. Some children don’t know their fathers because they are entrusted to nannies. There is need to give children quality time and watch the friends they keep.
You still look quite fashionable at over 70…
My mother was a fashionable woman in her days. She wore trousers often and rode a bicycle. She was too fashionable. I took after her. Each time I look at her picture, she looks charming. A woman should endeavour to look good. I took after my mum and my daughter has taken after me. She is very fashionable and I am very happy about it. In those days, parents were very disciplined and you didn’t see all the provocative dressing that girls do today. It is so bad they wear those things to church. I don’t like it at all, people should dress decently. Fashion is going crazy.
You look very agile too despite your age…
God has blessed me with good health. The only thing I feel sometimes is cold and when I do, it’s a signal to slow down and I do.
Do you do exercises?
Yes, I used to play golf; but stopped some years ago because my husband had an accident while playing golf that affected his back for about one and half years. It was while he was trying to get out of the bunker that his back got affected. The back is healed now but he is not expected to put pressure on his back side. Anyway he is over 80, he has played enough golf. We had our friends at the Ikoyi Club to play with. We still go there but we don’t play. What I do now is walking.
How would you like to be remembered?
I want to be remembered that I lived a good life; that I helped people when I could. My motto has always been: do unto others what you want them to do to you.
Are you a Rotarian?
Yes. I am the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Victoria Island.
Have you authored any book as a way of giving back to the legal profession?
Now that you have raised this question, I will. Many people have been telling me to write. I have delivered so many papers and I have worked so hard on women issues. I must write a book from them. It is a project I must do. There is a man who is always reminding me to write.
If you were given the opportunity to live life over again, what would you do better?
If I should come back again, I would like to spend more time with my children. I was lucky that I had my own business so I had time for them, but I would still have loved to spend more time with my children as a mother. That is because children value it, they don’t forget. They watch you and emulate what you do.
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