Tribute To My Teacher, Mr. Wale Ologunde

By: Wole Alawode

We were young, impressionable and quite innocent and characteristically oblivious of the demands and challenges of life and living as pupils who were just promoted to Primary 5 of Anar-Ud-Deen Primary School Ijagbo when teacher Wale Ologunde was introduced to us as the assigned teacher for our class. He was young, just some half a dozen years, or less ahead of us. I could not remember if I had known him before then. What we however noticed was, as time progresses, the pleasing fact of having a friend, a mentor and a guide as a teacher. What also remain a fact is that he remained a friend, a guide and mentor to many members of that class for many years after we left the primary school till his very painful exit some weeks back.
Teacher Wale, was our teacher in both Primary 5 and primary 6. He graduated our class. I think he was asked to continue to be our teacher also in Primary 6 when it was realized that he blended well with his pupils and there were positive improvements which the school noticed. He was different as a teacher. The pupils loved him because he was a friend. Yes, he was not feared but loved. His presence, in class, I remember very well was looked forward to. His style was that of a loving brother, not a cane wielding, fierce looking tutor a pupil will normally detest.

Teacher Wale, as was the practice in primary school was the handler of all subjects. He delivered with some clinical effects that made the subjects so endearing and easy. One of the major reasons I will continue to remain eternally grateful to him was that, he succeeded in making his pupils to focus on continuing with education. The late 1980s and earlier 1990s was a particularly interesting times in Ijagbo town and environs. That was the era of ascendancy of the “prosperous’ artisans, especially from Kaduna and other cities across Nigeria. We look forward to their home coming during December period and other festive seasons. They made Ijagbo and other towns bubble. They never disappoint. There were parties after parties that usually added colour to every New Year celebrations after the inimitable sonorous voice of Deacon Femi proclaims the birth of a new year from the loudspeakers of the Baptist Church in Ijagbo. May God bless the soul of Deacon Femi, Reverend Oyewopo and all other leaders of the Great Baptist Church of the period. Whether Muslims or Christians, we all celebrated New Year, and of course our elder brothers from the cities made a lot of difference in the celebration. The ‘prosperous’ artisans from the cities. If truth must be told, were the role models we could easily relate with at the period. We wanted to be like them. We wanted to go to Kaduna or other cities to join them and come back home during festive seasons to bubble. We were already making plans, even involving some of our parents (especially mothers) in this
Teacher Wale, probably not by design, was more interested in our educational progress. Between 1978 and 1979, He worked hard on his pupil to gain admission into some secondary schools. He did not just ensure we passed the First School Leaving Certificate, he guided us to choose the best secondary schools. That was a period of establishment of many secondary schools, some which standard were suspect. He told us without mincing words, some forms of such schools we should not waste our money on. I think he wanted us to attend more established and credible Secondary Schools. Some of us, unfortunately did not eventually attend Secondary Schools, for whatever reasons. Some however progressed and gained admission into some of the best secondary schools around. I gained admission into Offa Grammar School. I remain eternally grateful for my teachers and parents for the guidance.


As I have said, he taught all subjects. Probably the most enduring lessons I learnt at the tender age from all the subjects was from Yoruba. His robust and effective discussions of the lessons from the Yoruba textbook of that time; Adiitu Olodumare has provided some indelible life teachings some of his pupils will never forget. The classic work from the prolific writer D. O. Fagunwa was used by Teacher Wale Ologunde to point out some principles of life and living, the mysteries of creation, the limitations of human being to understand the ways of the Lord, the complexities of human nature and the reward for dedication and steadfastness. Indeed, the book was a point of interest among the pupils in the class. Some of us became avid readers of the book and always look forward to Yoruba class sessions.

In fact some pupils, including Sister Victoria Abolarin and yours sincerely got nicknames from characters in the book. The life lessons from the book and Teacher Wale was ever green in my memory. This creation, by God, is indeed Adiitu. The life of my dear teacher as a primary school teacher who worked his way up to become an accomplished accountant of repute and a staff of the apex bank, The Central Bank of Nigeria was a testimony to the possibilities contained in this complex creation. So also, his unexpected, shocking and painful exit is also a grim reality of the unpredictability of the creation. Adiitu. Humans cannot fully comprehend the ways of the Lord.

Many years after leaving primary school, Teacher Wale has been a constant watch on the progress of my brother, Alhaji Kamar Obelalwo, of blessed memory and I.

He always sought information about our progress. He would ask questions and obtain answers. He would express satisfaction if satisfied and give useful advice if not. When my brother was indisposed and out of visibility, I also remember his concern and constant question: Kamaru nko? Such was his attachment to his old pupils.

There was a chance meeting I had with him during the administration of Dr. Razaq Bello as Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa.

Teacher Wale, already an established accountant and top executive member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) was part of an ICAN delegation to the Polytechnic. I was already the head of Information, Public Relations and Protocol Department of the institution and had to organize and coordinate the reception for the visitors. I did not hesitate to tell the Management of my institution what my former teacher meant to me. He also was visibly elated for his former pupil.

One very important area we had discussed which was also dear to him was entrepreneurship and promotion of small and medium entrepreneurship in Ijagbo and Ibolo land. One day he personally led me on a visit to some financial institutions in Ilorin where I was hugely educated on the help and assistance available for startup businesses. Our visit to the Bank of Industry in Ilorin was particularly spectacular. The military alacrity with which the officers attended to us, I will never forget. I didn’t know he was such a respected officer in the financial circle in Nigeria. The lessons I learnt during the visit has helped in coordinating the Ibolo Chamber of Commerce (ICCIMA) and BOI Business Development Programme currently ongoing.

There are so may good testimonies about the good nature of Teacher Wale. My prayer is that God continue to rest the soul of my dear teacher, brother and friend. My sympathy goes to mama and my sister, the wife, the children as well as the friends, church members, family, my co-pupils he taught, mentored and guided and the entire Ijagbo Community.
Teacher Wale was a good man. May God grant him eternal peaceful rest.

This is surreal. Your teacher Wale reminded me of some great teachers I was opportune to have had from my primary school days till date. Some I cannot forget because they left indelible marks of joy in my heart and some, their memory has gone to oblivion.

I dedicate this post to the memory of Mr. Banji Oguntolu of the Department of Statistics, Federal Polytechnic Ede; who passed on 2nd January, 2003. He believed so much in me that I saw him challenge another lecturer for my sake. May he continue to rest in peace.