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Like the popular source-target metaphorical mapping, ‘life is a journey’. Anyone who wishes to successfully journey through life needs a map or a compass. Such a map is designated as a mentor or a role model. As a young aspiring lecturer, over a decade ago, I needed them seriously. And, in Professor Adeleke Adelekan Fakoya, I found more than one. By God’s grace and with him as my compass, I journeyed through the wilderness of scholarship and emerged as the prince of the academic jungle. Now, let me regale the world with the story of his impact, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday.
Beyond the striking looks, the charismatic carriage and the 21st century pedagogical style which distinguish him, my attraction to Professor Fakoya since 2007 to date was occasioned by the town-gown balance in his scholarship. He would facilitate training one day and be the guest on a TV programme the following day.
Having observed his indefatigability and other sterling qualities, I summoned the courage to ask him in 2010: ‘Sir, what do you teach people in society whenever you facilitate training: basic grammar or systemic functional grammar?’ With a smile, he replied thus: ‘Gani, you will know that soon’. Fast forward to early 2012, he called me one evening and asked that I join him at home the next morning. Expectedly, I was there earlier than the appointed time; after all, I only managed to sleep. Who sleeps well when he has got an early appointment with his mentor, anyway? I realised, upon getting there, that I was to join him as an observer during 10 days’ training with magistrates in Lagos State. I was elated and willing to pay for this. It afforded me a unique opportunity to finally discern the kind of English this colossus teaches the public. Dear readers, the privilege of participating in that training culminated with the identity called GAB today. In astonishing fashion, I was gifted twenty five thousand naira at the end of the training, for conscientiously learning what I would have gladly paid for. This was in addition to the daily bus fare of one thousand naira, and a copy of the manual that I received. I returned home on the last day, counted the money and wept afterwards. I had never worked for such an amount at the time. Why, on planet Earth, did he gift me money for coming to learn for free? The reason was absolutely unfathomable! Well, all I could do was to send a long text of prayer. And, characteristic of the mysterious Lefak, the reply I received in the form of a text embodied a sentence only: Gani, go and do the same unto others.
There and then, I made up my mind that the world would immensely benefit from the unique pedagogical exposure that the training afforded me. That was the genesis of ‘English for Today’. Do you now understand why I call him ‘my lord academic’? If you have ever learnt a thing or two from those daily lessons that I have masterminded for more than 5 years or from that column that has addressed different intricacies in the use of the English language, you owe Lefak a heartfelt prayer! I learnt from him that if you must be the teacher of the general public, then you have to avoid jargon and be descriptive.
Even though that was just the start of the tremendous developments God birthed in my existence, through Professor Adeleke Fakoya, let’s stop here for now. God willing, I look forward to seeing you at the seventieth birthday of this enigma.
My mentor, may the unceasing glory of God continue to radiate in your existence. You started well, you are doing well and you will end well by God’s grace. Happy birthday, Professor Adeleke Adelekan Fakoya. I love you wholeheartedly!
