 |
| Sola Opesan Brown & Dr. James Raphael at OGTV Abeokuta (Nigeria) |
You are the Director General and founder at Center for Research, Information Management and Media Development (CRIMMD); what motivated you to start this challenging project?
The motivation was to document and
preserve the history of Nigeria, I have been worried and still
worried about how much the incoming generation will know and
understand about Nigeria and that was the push to preserve our
history and to encourage the reading habit in Nigeria. The Center
for Research, Information Management and Media Development, is a
research center, with affiliates including the CRIMMD FREE PUBLIC
LIBRARY – A
strong legacy for the communities of Ejigbo, Isolo, Okota and Ikotun
in Lagos Nigeria where it is situated. CRIMMD library is helping to
keep the youths mind active and away from being the devils workshop.
This has definitely gone a long way to reduce the rate of crime and
produce intellectuals within the environment. No wonder CRIMMD
Library was honoured by Ejigbo Police Community Relation Committee
PCRC, with a Merit Award for its contribution to the maintenance of
security in Ejigbo and environs. The library was officially
commissioned to the public on December 16, 2004, by the former
Federal Minister of Information Chief Sir, Alex Akinyele JP. On April
12, 2006, CRIMMD Sponsored what is today Nigerians Youngest Author,
Oluebuchukwu Sharon James, the six year old girl that wrote ‘Freedom’
a children literature. On August 22, 2006. On December 28, 2008:
CRIMMD visited and donated books to 33 Media Organizations in
Nigeria, as its contribution to boost the reading culture in Nigeria.
There is also CRIMMD PHOTO Museum, CRIMMD Bookstore, there is the
publication unit that publishes The National Biographer Magazine and
African Dame magazine and there is the Book Unit with lots of
published books.
Where did you grow up? Did you move around a lot? If yes, how did
this affect you. If no, how did the stability of living in one place
all your life affect you?
I grew up with my grandma and aunty in the village in Abia state, that brought out the best in me. At first as a child, I felt that they were maltreating me. I was working like a wall clock, all round all the times. When am not on the road to the river to fetch water with my calabash pot, I am enroute to the farm to fetch fire-wood, or to harvest cassava, or I am breaking palm nuts, or we are squeezing out oil from the palm nuts, or in the farm weeding, or harvesting yam, or am in the bush cutting grass for the goats, this was a daily activity, for the goats must eat, or cutting down the bush in preparation of a new farming season, all season of the year, there was something to be done. While some were daily, others were weekly. For example, we must on weekly bases harvest cassava to prepare Garri to be sold in the 7 days market called ‘Ahia Ndoru’. I remember a day when I was in primary six, we had closed from the market and entered the back of a pick-up van, with our loads, my aunty, demanded that she lap me to save cost, I was shy, because they were other of mates there who took a seat to themselves, so I jump down the vehicle and started running home, with full speed, by the time the pick-up got filled up and drove past me I had covered half the distance, by the time the driver finished dropping others in the respective home to get to our compound, I was home and I felt satisfied with myself. My aunty fried ‘akara’, daily, so every morning by 4 am I am awake to blend the beans with a mortar and pestle, I will match the early stage and hand over to my aunty who will do the blending with the required water needed, but it was my sole responsibilities to sell the ‘akara’ before 7.30 am so I can hurry to school. That was my routine every morning until 1979, when I got admission to secondary school in a village miles away from home. After secondary school in the East I relocated to Lagos to join my parents in 1984. As a young man I tried my hand on several things, I contested for the then ‘John Player Disco championship, I did boxing at the national stadium in Surelere, I even went into music, I remember visiting Emma Ogosi in his Oregun house then to assist me with the production of my music, but all that are history today. Then I got admission to Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti now Ekiti State University, where I studied psychology.
I grew up with my grandma and aunty in the village in Abia state, that brought out the best in me. At first as a child, I felt that they were maltreating me. I was working like a wall clock, all round all the times. When am not on the road to the river to fetch water with my calabash pot, I am enroute to the farm to fetch fire-wood, or to harvest cassava, or I am breaking palm nuts, or we are squeezing out oil from the palm nuts, or in the farm weeding, or harvesting yam, or am in the bush cutting grass for the goats, this was a daily activity, for the goats must eat, or cutting down the bush in preparation of a new farming season, all season of the year, there was something to be done. While some were daily, others were weekly. For example, we must on weekly bases harvest cassava to prepare Garri to be sold in the 7 days market called ‘Ahia Ndoru’. I remember a day when I was in primary six, we had closed from the market and entered the back of a pick-up van, with our loads, my aunty, demanded that she lap me to save cost, I was shy, because they were other of mates there who took a seat to themselves, so I jump down the vehicle and started running home, with full speed, by the time the pick-up got filled up and drove past me I had covered half the distance, by the time the driver finished dropping others in the respective home to get to our compound, I was home and I felt satisfied with myself. My aunty fried ‘akara’, daily, so every morning by 4 am I am awake to blend the beans with a mortar and pestle, I will match the early stage and hand over to my aunty who will do the blending with the required water needed, but it was my sole responsibilities to sell the ‘akara’ before 7.30 am so I can hurry to school. That was my routine every morning until 1979, when I got admission to secondary school in a village miles away from home. After secondary school in the East I relocated to Lagos to join my parents in 1984. As a young man I tried my hand on several things, I contested for the then ‘John Player Disco championship, I did boxing at the national stadium in Surelere, I even went into music, I remember visiting Emma Ogosi in his Oregun house then to assist me with the production of my music, but all that are history today. Then I got admission to Ondo State University, Ado Ekiti now Ekiti State University, where I studied psychology.
What comes easier to you as an author?
Well if I get the questions correct, what comes easier to me is the idea, the concept of what I want to write on, for within my environment I get my ideas and once the idea comes in I commence my independent research work on the subject. Even when I work on biographies, I must have carried out my independent research work on the personality before I approach the person.
Well if I get the questions correct, what comes easier to me is the idea, the concept of what I want to write on, for within my environment I get my ideas and once the idea comes in I commence my independent research work on the subject. Even when I work on biographies, I must have carried out my independent research work on the personality before I approach the person.
Is there any political or social issues you feel passionate about?
Yes that should be on how to make Nigerians a reading public, reading for knowledge and not for exams, interviews and maybe for promotions. I believe that if people read and acquire knowledge then they can defend themselves even without a certificate to back it up, this is better than the situation we have today that people carry certificates about and yet can't express themselves. Do you ever wonder why our senators and members of the House of Reps gets physical, it’s very simple, because they can’t express themselves. Same way the bus conductor will get angry and go physical, because he can’t express himself fluently. If we become a reading nation, we will become a leading nation.
Yes that should be on how to make Nigerians a reading public, reading for knowledge and not for exams, interviews and maybe for promotions. I believe that if people read and acquire knowledge then they can defend themselves even without a certificate to back it up, this is better than the situation we have today that people carry certificates about and yet can't express themselves. Do you ever wonder why our senators and members of the House of Reps gets physical, it’s very simple, because they can’t express themselves. Same way the bus conductor will get angry and go physical, because he can’t express himself fluently. If we become a reading nation, we will become a leading nation.
What's success to you?
Success is satisfaction after putting in your very best in whatever you have done; success is that the general public appreciates the best you put in to make a dream come through. Success is when the Nigerian president held a copy of my magazine in his hand and looked up to me and say, “Raphael this is a good job, well researched”. Success is when a Professor of African history travels all the way from Michigan university to my Museum and he looks around and says ‘waooo, this is awesome.”
Success is satisfaction after putting in your very best in whatever you have done; success is that the general public appreciates the best you put in to make a dream come through. Success is when the Nigerian president held a copy of my magazine in his hand and looked up to me and say, “Raphael this is a good job, well researched”. Success is when a Professor of African history travels all the way from Michigan university to my Museum and he looks around and says ‘waooo, this is awesome.”
Personal branding is a leadership requirement; how far would you go
in branding yourself for the success of your career and development
as a leader?
To any positive length. Since I started CRIMMD in 2004, I have maintained it with my workers, that a good name is better than silver and gold, so my grandma thought me as young man. We have been building a name and a reputation for our company. I am not money crazy but then all good jobs demands funds, but we don’t go off our way to soil our image for the sake of cash. We are non-political, as such for example we don’t get involved in party politics. We run our independent research work without bias. I don’t care about the skeleton in your cupboards as far as you don’t come looking for mine. I respect your right knowing that my freedom of speech starts where yours stops.
To any positive length. Since I started CRIMMD in 2004, I have maintained it with my workers, that a good name is better than silver and gold, so my grandma thought me as young man. We have been building a name and a reputation for our company. I am not money crazy but then all good jobs demands funds, but we don’t go off our way to soil our image for the sake of cash. We are non-political, as such for example we don’t get involved in party politics. We run our independent research work without bias. I don’t care about the skeleton in your cupboards as far as you don’t come looking for mine. I respect your right knowing that my freedom of speech starts where yours stops.
What do you plan to have accomplished in five, ten years personally
and professionally?
In the next 5 -10 years, I pray to God and am working towards making CRIMMD the very best research and Information management institution in Nigeria and this include expanding our free public library to other parts of Nigeria and if possible the 774 local governments in Nigeria. Again I am believing God’s willing to have commenced my ZOO, the largest private ZOO in Nigeria, work is on it as we talk and it is in Lagos.
In the next 5 -10 years, I pray to God and am working towards making CRIMMD the very best research and Information management institution in Nigeria and this include expanding our free public library to other parts of Nigeria and if possible the 774 local governments in Nigeria. Again I am believing God’s willing to have commenced my ZOO, the largest private ZOO in Nigeria, work is on it as we talk and it is in Lagos.
Which animal would you compare yourself with?
I am a very patient person as patient as the vulture and yet I am as dogged and determined as the eagle, maybe I should say the eagle.
I am a very patient person as patient as the vulture and yet I am as dogged and determined as the eagle, maybe I should say the eagle.
What or who
is your source of inspiration?
My wife, she is not just behind me but always by my side after my Creator. Also my kids, the fear of not letting them down inspires me to work hard and maintain a great name, for they see me as a role model.
My wife, she is not just behind me but always by my side after my Creator. Also my kids, the fear of not letting them down inspires me to work hard and maintain a great name, for they see me as a role model.
Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the
most significant to you?
I should say it is the CRIMMD MUSEUM OF NIGERIA PHOTO HISTORY - A Nigerian Museum of photo history, rich with photographs and portraits of the slave trades and its relics, through to the famous Berlin Conference of 1884/85; the era of Explorers (Expedition) of Dr. Mungo Park, Richard Landers and others. The onset of the merchants of the Royal Niger Company of Sir George Goldie through to Lord Fredrick Lugard who amalgamated Nigeria in 1914 and his wife, a former colonial secretary of great Britain, Flora Shaw, who historically invented a name for us-from ‘Niger-Area’ to Nigeria. Outstanding landmark personalities abounds: the likes of King Onyeama, King Jaja of Opopo, Queen Amina of Zaria, Bishop Ajayi Crowther e.t.c. Protectorates governors and all former Governor Generals; fire brand die hard Nationalist from Sir Herbert Macaulay through to Mazi Mbaonu Ojike; indigenous Governor General; Regional premiers and Regional Governors; Military Head of States and their deputies; Military governors and the Military Administrators that ever ruled in the making and shaping of Nigeria. Also Civilian elected president and their vice; and all the first ladies from Mrs. Flora Ogbeyalu Azikiwe to Dame Patience Jonathan; elected civilians governors up to the present time, including Your Excellency Sir; Senate presidents and the Speakers of House of Representatives from the pre-independence era to the present time. A pictorial roll call of Chief Justices of Nigeria; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administrators/Ministers; Inspector General of Police (Past and Present); Secretaries to the Federal Government; Chiefs of Army Staff, Naval Staff; Air Staff, Chiefs of Defense and the Ministers of Defence; Comptroller General of Customs Service; Chairmen of Electoral Commissions; Central Bank of Nigeria Governors; notable people in the News; Nigeria women of substance and achievers; Events of the century; the Nigeria Civil War and personalities. There is a section on “The 12 hour revolution of Isaac Boro”; “The June 12 Saga” The Second World War; The Nigerian Civil War; Biafran Republic, including emblems like stamps, currency, coat of arm and many others – relics of historical significance. There are in addition, some historical relics, like stamps - as well as the history of stamps dating back to the era of the first post office in Nigeria, a branch of the British General Post Office in 1851, to the era when the Royal Niger Company operated a parallel post office and postal administration in the Oil Rivers Protectorate of the Niger Coast territories in 1887, to the period when THOMAS DE LA RUE COY LTD. of London was awarded the first contract for printing the definitive Postage Stamps for the colony of Lagos in 1868 by the Crown Agents. It has on display hundreds of stamps printed in the last 100 years. Old currency and coins – Dating to the period, prior to the establishment of the West African Currency Board: samples of used various forms of money including cowries and manilas and other strange commodities that were also used as a form of exchange known as barter. Samples of the West African coins of 1930’s; the July 1st, 1959, Central Bank of Nigeria currency notes and coins; the 1965 denominations; 1968, Nigeria civil war currency denominations; 1973, decimal currency; February 11th 1977 currency denominations; the July 2nd, 1979, currency notes of three denominations and the February 2007, redesigned currency notes. National symbols past and present and a lot more, including different maps of Nigeria displaying state creations from the protectorate era to the present 36 states; old and new national anthem and the composers, amalgamations speeches and all coup speeches, symbols of coat of arms, flags and the personalities behind them. There is also the book section, hosting great biographies of Nigerians, Nigeria history books, Military books, Civil war books and Who’s who in Nigeria books.
I should say it is the CRIMMD MUSEUM OF NIGERIA PHOTO HISTORY - A Nigerian Museum of photo history, rich with photographs and portraits of the slave trades and its relics, through to the famous Berlin Conference of 1884/85; the era of Explorers (Expedition) of Dr. Mungo Park, Richard Landers and others. The onset of the merchants of the Royal Niger Company of Sir George Goldie through to Lord Fredrick Lugard who amalgamated Nigeria in 1914 and his wife, a former colonial secretary of great Britain, Flora Shaw, who historically invented a name for us-from ‘Niger-Area’ to Nigeria. Outstanding landmark personalities abounds: the likes of King Onyeama, King Jaja of Opopo, Queen Amina of Zaria, Bishop Ajayi Crowther e.t.c. Protectorates governors and all former Governor Generals; fire brand die hard Nationalist from Sir Herbert Macaulay through to Mazi Mbaonu Ojike; indigenous Governor General; Regional premiers and Regional Governors; Military Head of States and their deputies; Military governors and the Military Administrators that ever ruled in the making and shaping of Nigeria. Also Civilian elected president and their vice; and all the first ladies from Mrs. Flora Ogbeyalu Azikiwe to Dame Patience Jonathan; elected civilians governors up to the present time, including Your Excellency Sir; Senate presidents and the Speakers of House of Representatives from the pre-independence era to the present time. A pictorial roll call of Chief Justices of Nigeria; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administrators/Ministers; Inspector General of Police (Past and Present); Secretaries to the Federal Government; Chiefs of Army Staff, Naval Staff; Air Staff, Chiefs of Defense and the Ministers of Defence; Comptroller General of Customs Service; Chairmen of Electoral Commissions; Central Bank of Nigeria Governors; notable people in the News; Nigeria women of substance and achievers; Events of the century; the Nigeria Civil War and personalities. There is a section on “The 12 hour revolution of Isaac Boro”; “The June 12 Saga” The Second World War; The Nigerian Civil War; Biafran Republic, including emblems like stamps, currency, coat of arm and many others – relics of historical significance. There are in addition, some historical relics, like stamps - as well as the history of stamps dating back to the era of the first post office in Nigeria, a branch of the British General Post Office in 1851, to the era when the Royal Niger Company operated a parallel post office and postal administration in the Oil Rivers Protectorate of the Niger Coast territories in 1887, to the period when THOMAS DE LA RUE COY LTD. of London was awarded the first contract for printing the definitive Postage Stamps for the colony of Lagos in 1868 by the Crown Agents. It has on display hundreds of stamps printed in the last 100 years. Old currency and coins – Dating to the period, prior to the establishment of the West African Currency Board: samples of used various forms of money including cowries and manilas and other strange commodities that were also used as a form of exchange known as barter. Samples of the West African coins of 1930’s; the July 1st, 1959, Central Bank of Nigeria currency notes and coins; the 1965 denominations; 1968, Nigeria civil war currency denominations; 1973, decimal currency; February 11th 1977 currency denominations; the July 2nd, 1979, currency notes of three denominations and the February 2007, redesigned currency notes. National symbols past and present and a lot more, including different maps of Nigeria displaying state creations from the protectorate era to the present 36 states; old and new national anthem and the composers, amalgamations speeches and all coup speeches, symbols of coat of arms, flags and the personalities behind them. There is also the book section, hosting great biographies of Nigerians, Nigeria history books, Military books, Civil war books and Who’s who in Nigeria books.
How do you unwind?
I
am a stamp collector, so most times I take time off studying and
playing with my stamps, my stamps dates back to 1912, I collect
Nigerian stamps, the British monarch-head stamps and American stamps.
I started collecting stamps in primary 4 after I
watched a movie where a stamp collector was killed. By then I did not
understand the importance of stamp collection until I got to
secondary school and visited a stamp club in Lagos where I met a lot
of stamp collectors. I realised the value in stamp collection then
and went on collecting it. I use to collect fish teeth and coins. I
have coins from 123 different countries of the world. As we speak,
my stamps are in the bank. I have to keep them in the bank because
they worth over N23 million. One interesting thing about stamp
collection is that its value increases as the year progresses. I
don’t take alcohol, I don’t smoke, so my greatest pleasure is
playing with my kids.
For few readers that do not know you, what would you like them to
know about you and to always remember you for?
I
am somebody who knows that I am a somebody and makes no pretence
about it. The publisher of the first biographical magazine in Africa
- The
National Biographer Magazine - A
magazine that showcases and promotes image relation, effective
leadership and transparency skills in service and uprightness in
every spheres of life.
 |
| Dr. James Raphael & Sola Opesan Brown at OGTV Abeokuta (Nigeria) |
No comments:
Post a Comment