By Tunde Oladunjoye
CITIZENS COMPASS– He means different things to different people; depending on how they met, where they met and on what occasion or issue. But, regardless of the circumstances, many would readily attest that this prodigy of knowledge operates on a frequency of discipline, strictness and insistence on bringing value to the table.
Chief Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf’s usual gaze on you is like that of an airport scanning machine examining your stuffed luggage, trying to know the contents you carry! Or, as it is said in the local parlance, “who you be?”
For over 40 years and counting, Baba Fassy, as I call him, has coordinated the annual Ojude Oba Festival into world reckoning, so much that the Federal Government at the last edition of the now globally-acclaimed festival announced its intention to make it a UNESCO-endorsed event.
The Minister of Culture, Art and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musa- Musawa, said that the Federal Government was considering plans to list the annual Ojude Oba Festival of the Ijebu people in Ogun State as one of the of the festivals backed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
It is by no means a small feat coordinating the special event. From media relations to interaction with corporate organizations and sponsors, interfacing with the Regberegbe (age-groups), Olorituns (communal heads), Councils of Chiefs and Otunbas, and so on, under the direction of the no-nonsense Kabiyesi Alayeluwa, Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona GCON, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land; President of Ijebu Traditional Council (ITC).
For those who know, working with Awujale is a permanent test on its own. You are always on your toes. Awujale has very good eyes for details and a high quality taste. Therefore, the conferment of the unique, high-ranking Chieftaincy title of Baagbimo (The one who consults or plans with the king) on Chief Yusuf by the Awujale, was no doubt, a testament to the prowess, professionalism and proficiency of the goal-getter.
Dr. (Chief) Fassy Adetokunboh Yusuf, was at a time, Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports, Community Development, Culture and Social Welfare in Ogun State.
He exudes so much joy of having mentored a lot of people: “Tunde, e mi ti da gba. It’s good that young people like you are taking over from me. What does it cost me? Nothing. That’s holding the microphone and talking as MC, it’s good for me”, he once told me at the Ijebu State Stakeholders Summit held recently at Aafin Awujale.
Born on January 3, 1955, Dr. Yusuf is a distinguished academic, professional, corporate player, lawyer, community and religious leader, among others.
He has traversed several professions, including Law, Journalism, Public Relations, Advertising, Marketing, Taxation, Corporate Governance, Human Resources and Management.
He holds several academic and professional qualifications including Diploma in Journalism; Certificate of the British Chartered Institute of Public Relations; Diploma in Advertising & Marketing, and Honours Diploma in Communication Studies (the first Nigerian to possess such a qualification) both from the UK’s Communication, Advertising and Marketing Education Foundation; Diploma in Marketing from the British Chartered Institute of Marketing; Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Henley Business School/Brunel University, England; Master of Science (MSc) degree in Mass Communication from the University of Lagos; Honours degree in Law (LL.B Honours) from Ogun State (now Olabisi Onabanjo) University; Call-to-Bar Certificate (B.L) from the Council of Legal Education and subsequent enrolment by the Supreme Court of Nigeria as Solicitor and Advocate; and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Mass Communication, University of Lagos.
A prolific academic and professional, he is a Fellow of many professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and its last Secretary-General; Advertising Practitioners’ Council of Nigeria (APCON); National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) and its former 1st National Vice-President; Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN); Institute of Directors (IOD) of Britain and Nigeria; British Chartered Institute of Management; and Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered). He is also a member of many other academic and professional bodies, including AEJMC (Association of Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication), USA; founder-member of World Journalism Education Council, USA; International Communication Association, USA; African Council for Journalism Education, International Bar Association, UK (and its former Executive member); Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
He has a rich professional pedigree having worked and/or served at several levels, including his three years’ stint with the Nigeria Police; Client Service Executive with Rod Publicity Limited; Editor of Sporting World and Public Relations Manager with King & George Group of Companies; Executive with Adebowale Electrical Group of Companies; Managing Director of Guy Saries Limited (Integrated communication outfit); Council member of African Council for Communication Education; APCON”s Lecturer and Examiner; Council member and Chairman, Legal and Strategy Sub-committee of Outdoor Advertising Association of Nigeria; Managing Director of Weatherheads International Limited; Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Sports, Youth, Social Welfare, Community Development and Culture; Chairman of Sketch Press Limited, Ibadan; Director of Federal government-owned Tafawa Balewa Square Investments Limited; Chief Executive Officer of an integrated communication and management consulting outfit, a publishing company, a law firm; tax consulting firm; and a director of many companies, including Space FM 90.1 Radio Station, Ibadan. Academically, he is a Senior Fellow in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, and a part-time Faculty staff of the University of Lagos Business School.
He was the pioneer President of Olabisi Onabanjo University Law Alumni Association, past National Legal Adviser of University of Lagos Alumni Association Worldwide, presently, the First Vice- President of University of Lagos Alumni Association Worldwide, Coordinator of the Annual Ijebu Ode Ojude Oba Festival, Founder & President of Justice, Communication and Transparency Initiative, etc.
Dr. Fassy Yusuf has authored, edited, co-edited and contributed to many academic and professional books, journals and monographs. He is the author of Alfa Jeje – the biography of Hon. Justice S. M. A. Belgore (retired Chief Justice of Nigeria), editor of Nigerian Judiciary – Perspectives and Profile, editor of Issues in Justice Administration in Nigeria, editor of Issues in Oil & Gas Industry, co-editor of Issues in Fourth and Fifth Estates of the Realm, co-editor of Showcasing the Nigerian Finance and Banking Industry, publisher/editor-in-chief of Communication & Management Review, publisher and editor-in-chief of Law News, and publisher and editor-in-chief of Review of Supreme Court Cases. He is widely travelled having visited over 40 countries in pursuit of professional and academic excellence.
A cerebral community leader, he is a former President of Ijebu Ode Development Association; the Baagbimo of Ijebu (High Chief of the Awujale of Ijebuland); the Asiwaju of Obanikoro; the Baba Adeen of Obanikoro Central Mosque; the Balogun Adeen of Ita Ntebo Community Mosque, Ijebu Ode; and Baba Eto of Itasin Imobi, Ogun Waterside. He is well sought-after locally and internationally as a motivational speaker, multi-disciplinary lecturer and consultant.
Dr. (Chief) Fassy Yusuf consults for select international, national and local clientele aside from his social innovation, local and international engagements. He was Charter President of Rotary Club of Obanikoro-Lagos, a Paul Harris Fellow, a Notary Public and a Justice of the Peace.
Recently, he was elected as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu Ode branch. Even at age 69 going to age 70, and despite his very busy schedules, the enigma still finds time to lecture on a weekly basis at the University of Lagos.
Just before last Christmas and to crown the year 2024, “Fassy”, as many people call him, was appointed a distinguished Fellow/Visiting Professor by the Hallmark University, ljebu-Itele, Ogun State.
As the erudite scholar and encyclopedia of Ojude Oba festival and culture of Ijebu land clocks 70 years today, he has already succeeded in attaining the number one goal or task of a leader; that is, to raise other leaders. To his credit and to the glory of God, a lot of people, too numerous to list here, have passed through his tutelage and are doing very well as captains in their respective fields.
This is to wish Baba Fassy more fanciful and fantastic achievements and many more years on earth in sound health.
Aremo Tunde Oladunjoye, the Onigegewura Akile Ijebu writes from Ogun State.
