I had thought over and over how I got close to Dr. Babatunde Aloysius Ahonsi, who turned 60 on February 27, 2024. The young old man from Otuo, Owan East local government area of Edo State is the only person that when I say Dr. in my family, everyone knows he is the one I’m referring to. This is not withstanding the fact that I have other doctors as friends and family members. It was in 2003 when I was selected as a Ford Foundation International Fellow with some other young and not-so-young Nigerians. He just dashed in briefly at one of our orientation programmes and we never saw him again. Studies over in different parts of the globe, I had the opportunity of working with him as a project assistant at the Ford Foundation office in Lagos. It was there I got to know him more closely with a front seat in his life.
I’m proud to call him a mentor, boss, and friend. I also see him as the older brother I do not have and was not shocked when one of his sisters jocularly said that I “snatched” her brother from the family. I just smiled and said, “Dr. belongs to us all.” And truly he belongs to all just as his record of service in Nigeria and globally attests. Though a Christian, humanity is his religion and his incredible faith in the capacity of humans to do well is huge. “Ogbeni,” as he always call me, “let’s hope for the best,” before adding, “let’s keep hope alive.”
True brilliance is humility sums up Dr. Not loud, but super effective. He has ways of communicating profound truths in simple ways. No show, no fuss. When he likes you, he likes you. No prevarications, what you see is what you get. But he has a large heart and always ready to give people second chance. Blowing your chances repeatedly could, however, be dangerous as he walks away without fanfare or show.
I remember how we met a former friend of his at a hotel in Lagos, a typical Nigerian politician. As loud as they come, with the paraphernalia of office and whose story he has told me countless times. Immediately we sighted the man, he wanted to turn away but the politician saw him, and stylishly pulled him back. “Tunde, o sa si ni number mi, please call me,” the politician said. As we walked way, my boss lamented how his friend has been a disappointment in public office forgetting all the ideals they shared as graduate students in England. “’m not going to call him, let him call me if he needs me,” he concluded.
On a ride together earlier this month, I asked whether he is still in touch with this former friend. “Emi ma ti gbagbe e, literally I’ve forgotten about him” and that is vintage Babtunde Ahonsi. Close to power but never in awe of power or never incapacitated from speaking truth to power. I remember how we disagreed on his choice and active support for Buhari in the build up towards 2015 presidential elections. Few months after inauguration, he was humble enough to admit that the Buhari government was not what he thought it would be. A great scholar that he is, he predicted exactly how the government would turn out and the next eight years proved him right.
Our relationship has mutated from manager-subordinate to friendship and I know he sees me as a friend too. He has been there for me in my low moments particularly after a media organisation I worked for became distressed. I remember how he asked me to find tenants for his house in Lagos so that I can earn commission and support my family. Do I talk of other opportunities he sends to me regularly? Or just career advice when needed? A super family man, no discussion is complete without questions about my wife and children. As a father of boys only just like him, he sure has a lot to teach me. Helping others comes to him naturally, abi ki la ma se is his usual refrain whenever people seek his help, always bending over and over.
A major lesson from his life is his deep and abiding love for Nigeria. Few Nigerians love the country the way he does, always believing the best for our country. Not one to be proud to admit he was wrong, his abiding humility is a breath of fresh air. He shuns ostentation and detests those who parade their wealth or possessions. Always grateful for the opportunities that shaped and moulded him to who he is today.
His ascendancy in the United Nations system turned him to a suit-wearing honcho forcing him to abandon his regular short sleeve shirt and a pair of trousers with sandals. Usually brown sandals.
His passion shows in his work too. He surely occupies a prominent position in sexuality education and women empowerment globally. The story of sexuality education in Nigeria, and Africa cannot be told without Ahonsi occupying a prominent place. Between 1997 and 2014, he was with Ford Foundation (covering West Africa) and Population Council covering Nigeria. Currently serving as the resident coordinator of the United Nations in Turkiye having served in the same position in Sierra Leone. He had also served in China, Mongolia, and Ghana.
Thanks for your mentorship and friendship, they mean so much to me and my wife. And you know we love you just as I bask in the fact of your deep and sincere love. Congratulations too to Francisca, your wife, who has been a strong pillar of support in your life journey; and the two boys – now young men in their own chosen careers.
I know you will live long to see Arsenal win not just the Premier League, but the Champions League as well. While we both know that is not happening soon, it’s a testament to the fact that you will live long.
Happy 60th Birthday, Sir.
Fatade, a journalist, lives in Lagos.
