THISDAYonline

In the world of industrialization, India has its business Maharajas, Germany its Julius Bergers, Opels and America its Fords, Bill Gates, among others. Nigeria has its Chris Ogunbanjos, Dantatas, Odumegwu Ojukwus, Lawsons, Eyo Itas, Folawiyos, Adedoyins and the Odutolas, among others. But little were known about some of these industrialists.

But after reading Timothy Adetola Odutola...a Legend Lives on: Challenges of Sustainable Leadership & Entrepreneurship, by Prince Lekan Fadina, the reader comes to the knowledge of the invaluable contributions of these patriarchs to the socio-economic, political and industrial development of this nation.

The book which is the biography of one of Africa's foremost industrialists and business magnates, Chief Timothy Adetola, highlights salient aspects and epochs in the life of the entrepreneur, educationist, politician and above all, a statesman. It was commissioned by the offsprings of the late Chief Odutola to mark the centenary of his birthday. But unlike some commissioned book projects, the book is coming from a writer who is close to the subject and is informed on the life and times of the subject.

The author does not pretend to be writing a concise or comprehensive biography of his subject. In his preface to the book, he acknowledges that some other writers have attempted at documenting the life of his subject. "Some books have been written on Chief T. A. Odutola," therefore, his commissioned effort only comes "to remind ourselves of how he (Odutola) lived and what he lived for, lest we forget. We here touch on some of the aspects of his life."

So, in a sense, the author has declared to the reader that the book, Timothy Adetola Odutola...a Legend Lives on: Challenges of Sustainable Leadership & Entrepreneurship, is not the comprehensive biography or the complete story of the life and times of his subject. In fact, how can in one breadth, tell the complete story of the life of a man, who the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) described as the "Grandfather of Nigerian business" and as "the foremost Nigerian and perhaps, African industrialist in history?" His life and what he lived to achieve are far larger than what an author could summarised in one book, even if the author is an encyclopeadic writer.

According to the tale of the author, Odutola is a man with many lives. In everything he did, he strives for excellence and probity and success. He is averse to failure. His life, according to the author, is characterized by a strong desire to always learn and to always strive for the best in life and not settle for less; to stand out from the crowd and not accept mediocrity.

Alhaji Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, another industrialist of repute, writes in his foreword to the book, that the life of the book's subject "is a catalogue of achievements which serve as a motivation to the present and future generations. He averred that Odutola's prominence in the political, socio and economic life of Nigeria which span over 60 years , portrayed as a man of stature that who excelled in all fields of human endeavour.

Odutola developed a unique set of tenets, which stems from his character, background and experiences. To succeed in life he said one "must have mission, vision, ambition, sense of direction, discipline, strength, frugality, determination, total commitment, tenacity, abiding faith in God and credibility". Like Booker T. Washington, Odutola believed that "character is power" but reasoned that outstanding leaders must appeal to the hearts of their followers and their minds. "We must each learn that broad leadership is built from deep character. An infrastructure of great character is essential to support great conduct. The trust and involvement of our followers will be parallel to the level of our own character," he enthused.

The book contains 10 chapters spanning the beginning of the life of the subject in 1902 and his intriguing journey through life to his demise in 1995.

As business man, entrepreneur and industrialist, his business philosophy is anchored on constant learning and interaction. For him, "The more we learn about business the more we are convinced that management decisions are usually based on personal experiences, aims and vision of one person. It is usually the head of business, or the Chairman of a company, but sometimes-crucial decisions can be taken by unexpected people as we found out while researching for this book.

His fleet of companies include: Odutola Nigerian Industries Limited - Manufacturers of bicycle tyres and tubes in Ijebu-Ode, Odutola Tyresoles Company Limited with factories in Ibadan, Kano and Onitsha - re-threading automotive tyres, Odutola Tyre & Rubber Company Limited - factories in Ibadan for Rubber compounding, Adeola Farms - growing of rubber and oil palm, Odutola Food Industries Limited - Manufacturing assorted biscuits and, Odutola Stores Limited - Department Stores. He also held substantial investments in breweries and pharmaceutical sub-sectors. He served as Chairman in many other companies including Kabelmetal Nigeria Limited, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Nigeria Limited, and Unichem Nigeria Limited in which he had substantial share holdings.

Politically, Chief Odutola was a key player in the local politics. He was at the forefront of the demand for the formation of Ijebu-Ode Town Council which later developed into the status of a subordinate Native Authority. He became a member of the Advisory Council of Ijebu Native Administration and later member Ijebu Divisional Council. He served in the old legislative Council from 1945-1951, Member Western Assembly 1945-1959, Federal House of Representatives 1952-1954, and Senator of the Nigeria's Upper House 1960-1964.

A statesman of proven integrity, Odutola was more concerned with the future, development and welfare of the people. He is one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria. He was more interested in the future of Nigeria than material gains of the moment.

Like other nation builders like Samuel Heelas Macaulay, grandson of Bishop Ajayi Crowther, Chief T. A Doherty, Chief Essien Ernest Sisei Ikoli, Dr. J. C. Vaughan, Oba Samuel Akinsanya, Eyo Ita, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Adeyemo Alakija, Obafemi Awolowo, Nwafor Orizu, Abubakar Imam, Dr. Akinola Maja, Malam later, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Odutola was involved in the formulation of the Constitution desired to promote the unity of the country.

His interest in education was fired by his yearning for education as a human development and capacity building tool necessitated the establishment of a secondary school. His concept of education, according to the author, was for "job creation, entrepreneurship and sustainable leadership." On the occasion of his 90th birthday, he reportedly said that "I believe that investments in education cannot be measured in naira and kobo. My vision of a well-educated person is that of a man who gets the best from education..." In fact, he had a famed quotation- "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance"- strategically placed in his office.

Chief Adeola Odutola was born on June 16, 1902 into the family of Sanni Odutola Seyindemi, a prince of the Moloda of Odogbolu Dynasty, a muslim who was married to a converted Christian, Sabinah Otubajo Odutola Seyindemi. He lost his father in 1915 when he was barely thirteen years old. The death of his father led to his acquiring skill that would make him independent and fired in him, a driving spirit for self development which encouraged him to unlock his potentials.

He attended St. Saviours School, Ijebu-Ode and the Ijebu-Ode Grammar School under the great disciplinarian, educationist, motivator and patriarch of the Ransome-Kuti family, late Reverend Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti.

Upon leaving secondary school in 1921, he briefly worked as a clerk in the Treasury Department of the Nigerian Government in Lagos for 8 months before returning home at the request of his mother to join the Judiciary Department of the Ijebu Native Administration and to be nearer home. His first shot at business was as an exporter of cocoa and palm products with business concerns in Britain, Germany and the United States of America. He also imported merchandise from overseas for sale locally. His other lines of business were gold mining and the timber trade.

By early 1950s, Odutola had developed his business activities by establishing tyre retreading, rubber compounding and other allied rubber industries. As one of pioneers of the drive towards Nigeria's industrialization, he extended his investment interest to the production of rubber goods, and started the manufacturing of bicycle tyres and tubes in 1967.

At the same time, he was investing in education. He founded Secondary Commercial School in 1945 and another secondary school known as Olu-Iwa College. He later merged to what is today known as Adeola Odutola College in Ijebu-Ode, with the student population presently about 3000.

Aside endowing a number of scholarship schemes for both secondary and tertiary institution students, Odutola also endowed a Professorial chair at the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Lagos. He also made donations to the University of Ibadan for building of its Social Science Faculty of Law Library and traveling fellowship to the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ibadan. He gave funds to the Ogun State University for the establishment of its College of Agriculture and Business Administration.

The book attempts to capture snap shots of critical and illustrative episodes in the life of the man who is known by different appellations by different people. To some he was " a rare breed", "a legend" the "father of manufacturing industry and "the Grand father of Nigerian Business", among others. It discusses Odutola as a statesman, educationist, businessman, entrepreneur, industrialist, etc. A chapter even attempts to draw parallels between his life and that of his Biblical namesake- Timothy.

Aside providing novel and relevant information on the life of its subject and credible background to further research on achieving sustainable leadership and entrepreneurial development in Nigeria, Africa and the developing countries, the book also provides the reader with illustrative photographs that enhance the author's narrative.

The book also provides the reader with actual seminal and conference papers, lectures, addresses, etc. delivered by the subject during the course of his fruitful life. There are also illuminating letters and other correspondences to and by the authors which also add to the overall value of the book's narrative.

But, like most latter day 'commissioned' biographers, Lekan Fadina could not resist patronising the subject of his book. The reader is presented with a spotless man in the character composition of the subject. He hardly made mistakes and if he did, such instances, either by omission or commission, are ignored deliberately or otherwise, by the author. The Odutola recorded in this biography is near a saintly entity. All deeds recorded of him in the book are painted in glowing colours. Some might be tempted to label the book, 'a praise song.'

Structurally, this book is a success. But in terms of contents it is obvious that it was hurriedly executed. It is very apparent that the author must have rushed the book in time for the centenary celebrations of the birth of the subject. In any case, that is a common plague of commissioned works of this nature. This impacts on creativity, because it is not writing from the point of view of inspiration. He writes from the point of view of a contract with a defined date for publication.

Nevertheless, this is a commendable effort. In a nation where it is common factor to forget history, no matter how recent, in a hurry, this is a welcome addition to the literature of biographies of legends that have left indelible marks in the life of this country. The book is recommended for the reading and enjoyment of policy makers, private sector, academia and students of Nigeria indeed Africa's socio-economic, political and industrial development.