Fola-Alade: Life and Times of a Public Servant who Lived for All

Raheem Akingbolu pays tribute to one of the four pioneer Architecture graduates of the Nigerian College (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria), Chief (Arc.) Isaac Fola Alade, who died last week at 87 and left a legacy of building the nation and nurturing five kids alone as a single father after his wife died in 1976 at 38

In life and death, Chief (Arc.) Isaac Fola Alade, OFR, FNIA, RIBA, D.Sc. (Hons.), was a newsmaker. As a public servant, stories abound about Chief Alade’s integrity and commitment to service. Since Friday, last week, when he breathed his last, Nigerians have continued to pour in tributes about the iconic structures he designed and built in Nigeria and other countries. Some people have gone deeper by pointing out his simple lifestyle and zero tolerance for corruption.

According to those who knew him while in active service till he bowed out gloriously in 1979 as Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Alade was said to have singled out himself as a man of integrity by not dipping his hands into public funds. Growing up in Aramoko Ekiti in the 80s, my father was always quick to tell us the story of how Chief Alade returned money to the government coffers after execution of a particular project to the consternation of his colleagues and junior officers.

Phenomenal single father…
In 1976, friends and family of Chief Alade woke up to the sad news of the death of his darling wife Late Eunice Olayemi Fola-Alade at a young age of 38. Perhaps because of the young age of the late woman, many had suggested he buried her in Lagos and quickly moved on with his life but Chief Alade stood his ground that the remains of his darling partner must be taken to his home town in Aramoko Ekiti. In a jiffy, Chief Alade had sent delegates to the ancient town to construct a well-designed tomb that could accommodate him, his wife and mother at the burial ground of the St. Phillips Anglican Church. As the star of the community, this was considered a taboo as some local folks argued that such an initiative could shorten his own life. Again, he stuck to his gun and the grave was constructed. As a primary school pupil in the 70s/80s, this reporter, with other pupils who attended the Ansar-u-deen Primary School, daily trekked along the route and stopped by to appreciate the simple architectural design of that particular tomb amidst others in the burial site. Then we would conjure stories that the remains of the late woman in the grave were as fresh as ever, even when we didn’t see them. It’s a beauty to behold with lights and flowers that were alien to our community.

As a 46-year old man, with a busy career, many had wondered how the young widower would cope. Of course, many friends and family members suggested he picked a new wife to help him train the kids while he faced his job which was then at the peak. As a loving father, Fola-Alade valued his kids and was not prepared to allow a strange woman to toil with them. Those who were expecting him to take a new wife waited in vain as Chief Alade remained single since 1976 till last Friday when he died. His plum job notwithstanding, by 1979, he must have considered his busy schedule as a distraction for him to properly take care of his kids and he threw in the towel. Despite pleas from his close friend, including the then head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo, General Adeyinka Adebayo and a host of others, Alade quitted public service and went into private practice to be able to have unbridled time for his kids. Today, to the glory of God, all his five kids are doing well in their respective fields. He’s survived by two Architects, a Medical Doctor turned Pastor, a Lawyer and a Sociologist.

However, his love for the children didn’t include lobbying for them or going extra miles to influence admissions or jobs. In a friendly chat with one of his kids, Kola Fola-Alade while working on the mandate Estate, Ilorin a few years back, the then young Architect had displayed a rare humility without any airs around him as he took time to regale yours sincerely with the exemplary lifestyle of his father. “At a time, we thought he was wicked when we expected him to just put a call across to a friend to assist us for either admission or job opportunities but we later realized he was only living his life and today we are better for it,” Kola had stated.

The same story was shared with this reporter by one of his sons-in-law, Soji Oyawoye at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos shortly after the meeting with Kola. Oyawoye relayed various stories shared by his wife, Bisi, on the disciplinarian lifestyle of Chief Alade. If there is anything that caught my attention in the two encounters, it was the discovery that the late chief insisted that his kids must attend public secondary schools and universities in Nigeria at a time many people in his class would do anything humanly possible to send theirs abroad for studies.

His Accomplishments and Iconic structures
That Chief Fola-Alade was one of the four pioneer Architecture graduates of the Nigerian College (now Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) is no longer news. The icing on the cake was that he won the “Atlas Award” for the best academic performance in 1958. He concluded his Architecture studies on a Commonwealth Scholarship at the Architectural Association School, Bedford Square in London.
He was the first Architect to become a Federal Permanent Secretary, the Permanent Secretary Special Duties. By the time he would retire in 1979, he had carved a niche for himself. His works spanned across five decades with his distinct Architectural signature in cities and countries.

He designed, and supervised the construction of the following projects; National Institute of Sports, National Stadium, Surulere in readiness for the 2nd All African Games in January 73, Office of the Head of State and Council of Chambers, Dodan Barracks (1971), The Twin Federal Secretariat, Ikoyi, Lagos (76) and Prototype Federal Secretariats in all nineteen State capitals in Nigeria (1973-76). Others are; Satellite Town, Lagos (1975-78), Heads of States, Federal Govt Guest Houses, V/Island, Lagos (1975), Ministry of External Affairs, Marina (76) and many others.

As captured in his autobiography ‘Remember Whose Son Thou Art,’ his appointment as Permanent Secretary was dramatic. The then head of state, General Olusegun Obasanjo, who took over after General Murtala Muhammad was gruesomely murdered faced the problems of getting accommodation for the humongous Nigerian soldiers after the civil war and he reached out to Alade for professional advice. Obasanjo had, in humourous manner asked Fola Alade if he knew “… a mad man who could help him build barracks rapidly to house poorly accommodated soldiers”. “This mad man must operate out of civil service rules not shackled by memos, bureaucratic rules and carrying files around for approval thus delaying matters of national urgency”. Fola Alade told the head of state: “I know no such mad man” to which Obasanjo then responded “you are the mad man!”

This was how his appointment as permanent secretary projects was announced. As expected, Fola Alade delivered his assignment with panache, grace, efficiency, flair and integrity, building army barracks all over the country before Obasanjo handed over government to the civilian government of Shehu Shagari who did not have to worry of disquiet about accommodations from the army.

For Chief Fola-Alade, it was not a case of work and work without play. He’s as great in Architecture as he is in Sports. He loved playing Golf, Squash, Swimming, and Billiards Pro-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt (1990),
Albert Einstein Bronze Medal, 1985; American Biographical Institute Medal of Honours, 1987; Albert Einstein International Academy Award, 1988. hd: Doctor of Science in Architecture (Hon. D.Sc), Marquis Guisepe Scicluna, University Foundation, Malta, 1988. For those of us who grew up in Aramoko, the memory is still fresh about how Chief Alade would come home with the then Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd) and other prominent men and women between 1976 and 1979 to play squash.

A Man for his Community
In the words of two illustrious sons of Aramoko Ekiti, Messrs Laolu Akinluyi and Gani Musa-Fakanle, Aramoko was like a glorified village until the 70s when Chief Fola-Alade appeared on the scene to change the game. According to them, the story began to change when the respected Chief joined hands with other prominent citizens from the district (Aramoko, Erinjiyan, Ikogoasi, Ipole and Erio Ekiti) to see to the establishment of Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School.
This was also corroborated by the President, Aramoko Development Association, Dr. Dipo Aladeloye, who described the late renowned public servant as a “priceless national asset” that never lost touch with his community despite his robust national and international profile.

In a statement issued by ADA to appeal to Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and President Muhammadu Buhari to immortalize his name with appropriate monuments. Aladeloye declared that ‘Chief Alade was not only the architect of the modern Aramoko Ekiti but a special angel in human flesh sent by God Almighty to take the ancient town to its Promised land.

He said: “From anywhere you take the story, it is difficult, if not impossible to profile Aramoko without a special mention of Chief Fola Alade, the Mayegun and Asiwaju of the town. In 1976, arising from his contributions, prodigious delivery on assignments and integrity; the Federal government of the day then sited the headquarters of the present Ekiti West Local Government in Aramoko to encourage him for his unparalleled stewardship and dedication.

“In 1970, he worked assiduously with some notable personalities from the district then (Aramoko, Erijiyan, and Ikogosi towns) and brought what is today known as Aramoko District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko Ekiti.
“In the 80s, Aramoko got into global reckoning when, as a result of Chief Alade’s contributions to national development, prodigious delivery on assignments and integrity; the government of the day sited Nitel IDD and NIPOST in Aramoko to encourage and reward him for his unparalleled stewardship.

“As one of his efforts to attract development and foster unity among his people, Chief Fola Alade, in 1978, brought in the National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA) to Aramoko, including installation of street lights. It was the same year he spearheaded the maiden Aramoko Day Celebration to which he brought in some notable business moguls; Henry Fajemirokun, S.B Bakare, Moshood Abiola and a host of others. This feat of ‘AraDay’ celebration in grand style he repeated at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos in 1982 and a few subsequent years,”
All these did not however go unnoticed as Aramoko never failed to pay back. Until last Friday when he died, he remained the Mayegun and Asiwaju of Aramoko Ekiti.

A life of service and reward
Chief Fola-Alade chose nothing but a good name instead of great riches and this manifested in all his dealings while alive. He lived a life of service which was appreciated by all. As an old boy of the prestigious Christ’s School, Ado Ekiti, where he once served as President of the Old Students, his name is written in gold. As a believer of Christ, the late Chief took Anglican Church seriously and helped to grow the church monumentally.
A former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (1990), Chief Alade also once served as Chairman, Board of Directors of Lafarge Cement (WAPCO) Nigeria.

He clinched the Albert Einstein Bronze Medal in 1985 and American Biographical Institute Medal of Honours in1987. In 1988, he won Albert Einstein International Academy Award and in 1988, he was honoured with Doctor of Science in Architecture (Hon. D.Sc), Marquis Guisepe Scicluna, University Foundation, Malta.

He started work as a Resident architect in the old Western Region and later Lagos City Council. In 1969, he became the first Registrar of the Architects Registration Council (ARCON). He later joined the Federal Civil Service and rose to become Director of Public Buildings. In 1976, he became the first architect to be appointed a Permanent Secretary. He went into private practice in 1979. Fola-Alade was awarded the prestigious title of OFR in 1979.
A role model and destiny helper to many Nigerians, Arc. Fola-Alade sure lived a fulfilling life and left a legacy worthy of emulation by all. Rest well Papa!