WHEN WILL ONDO STATE HONOUR THEOPHILUS IWALOKUN, SIR (DR) SAMUEL LAYINKA MANUWA OBE?

 

During my service year at Nonwa, Tai, Ogoniland, Rivers State, I was in love with Benson Idonije's radio programme, High-life, My Life. On many of his programmes, he always played the songs of Late Theophilus Iwalokun fondly called Theo Omuro or Theo the Sage and would read his biography in such a way that I was always filled with pride any time I heard his voice on Ben Idonije's programme. Again, today, I was reading through one of the great books of the London School of Economics-trained Late Titus Eyidomo Egboworomo and I saw the letter wherein he challenged Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN) on how best to honour the legendary High-life musician of Ilaje-Ondo State origin.

Undoubtedly, Theophilus Iwalokun was one of fathers of modern High-life genre of Nigerian music. He held sway alongside Victor Uwaifo, Victor Olaiya, Immanuel Kehinde Dairo and was a pace setter in his own respect. He was not just an illustrious ambassador of Ondo State in music industry, he was also a national legend in the industry, having been hired by General Yakubu Gowon (GCFR) to entertain his guests at an occasion. While I strongly believe that the honour may be of no use to the man that is now dead and long buried, it is still a way of memorialising his lofty contributions to the development of music in Nigeria and the merchandice of the Yoruba culture for national development in and outside the nation.

As Ondo State enlists great men and women of Ondo State for national honours in 2025, I join my voice to those of other patriotic Nigerians who believe in rewarding hardwork and creativity to say that it is time to honour Late Theophilus Iwalokun and Sir Samuel Layinka Manuwa who was at a time the Acting Governor-general of Nigeria. Layinka Manuwa OBE studied Chemistry and Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, graduated at 23 and became a surgeon in 1926. He designed the master plan of the University College, Hospital, University of Ibadan. They had all paid their dues and they deserve to be honoured even in death.