-By: Oluwadamilare Jesuferanmi
On the 6th of October you invited the emir of Kano, in the person of Ahlaji Muhammad Sanusi to be inducted into sigma. How did you, loyalists come up with the idea of inviting and inducting the Emir?
Sigma Chief: First of all, I am Valentine Igbonekwu, 500 level of law, university of law, the Sigma chief, the visit of emir of Kano was premise to the induction into the sigma role of honour as an honorary Sigmite. The sigma club, university of Ibadan has two categories of membership; the loyal Sigmite and honorary Sigmite. The loyal Sigmites are the current undergraduates of university of Ibadan, who are actually members of the Sigma club. The honorary Sigmites are those who are not privileged to have been admitted into the club while on campus or never attend the University of Ibadan but we have the believe that these individuals, had they have the opportunity of passing through the University of Ibadan would have been loyal Sigmites because they have reason to eminence and prominence in the society and at the same time they possess the qualities of a Sigmite.
What are these qualities? They are of good character, disciplined and integrity, and they have as well contributed to national development, impacted the society through philanthropy. So, these were part of the considerations we made and we wrote to the emir of Kano, invited him into the Sigma role of honour.
Sir, yielding to your invitation, how was the process of getting him here to Ibadan.
Sigma Chief: Thank you so much, this is actually a question I’ve always find it not so easy pizzy to answer because some things are better left unspoken. A lot of things actually went under the bridge before got to him but then in Sigma club as we do our own things I think the process of getting him to be inducted into the Sigma club were just the Sigma club processes, which I humbly request to be left unspoken.
The visit and induction of the Emir, what impacts will it have or it has on Sigma Club.
Sigma Chief: The impact is enormous. One, the emir is a national figure. Secondly apart from that the Emir is a nationalist, he’s someone we to have contributed a lot in the banking industry through his sterling policies reformed but as the chief executive officer of first bank as well as the governor of central bank of Nigeria, and then he’s a first class economist, someone who is known to be a lover of humanity, someone who is a first class Emir and someone who has proven beyond every reasonable doubt, that he has the qualities; he’s visionary and as a matter of fact, he serves as a source of inspiration to the young ones.
From every indication not just Sigma club as a whole, let’s start with the loyal Sigmites, with his antecedent, he’s going to inspire loyal Sigmites, whom I believed will be motivated by motivated by his achievements and they are going to work acidulously not to achieve as to what he has achieve but then to surpass his achievement.
Secondly on the image of the club, sigma club in 1977 inducted late Adobayero, the grand uncle of the current emir of Kano into sigma club as the 12th honorary Sigmite. Therefore, the emir of Kano coming into sigma club was just to step into the sit vacated by his predecessor and by that, Sigma club still maintains their relationship with the emirate and then with the people of Kano. So, it is by extension giving us the opportunity to have a stronger relationship, a permanent as long lasting relationship with the emirate and by the extension, the people of Kano. Aside the fact that the induction, to a reasonable extent flavoured and added bliss and glamour to the image of sigma club that the Sigma club has such traditional first class ruler as a member of the club, aside the fact that, just as we discuss with him, that he’s going to use his good office among several other thing to project and advance the course of the club which are philanthropic as well as the club’s focus on national development, so we believe that with his ingress the club is going to a reasonable extent is going to achieve some of these things.
The visits made by the Emir of Kano to the Obas in yorubaland; Oba of Oyo and Olubadan of Ibadan, are they also Sigmites?
Sigma Chief: Thank you so much. The current Olubadan is not Sigmite but traditionally, a traditional ruler of that calibre cannot just step into another Kingdom without first of all paying courtesy visit to the traditional within that jurisdiction. He has to first of all pay respect to the owners of the land before he can the opportunity, not just the opportunity but the permit to do whatever thing he wants to do in the land. By tradition and custom he has to visit them, pay them the visit and respect as courtesy demands. They are not loyal Sigmites but tradition makes it certain that the Emir has to pay a courtesy visit to them fraternize with them, inform them of his presence in their Kingdom.
Coming down to the upcoming event, which is the 9th public lecture and the 68th anniversary of sigma club. Getting the vice-president, professor Oluyemi Osinbajo is a big show, how did you come about it?
Sigma Chief: Thank you so much, the public lecture is the 9th lecture which is the continuation or part of activities in continuation of the 68th anniversary of Sigma club, which was founded in 1950 and today we are 68 years and now the fact remain that Sigma club, one of the divisions the founding fathers is to contribute extensively to national development and at this point in time where there is clamour for employment and youth empowerment among others and having looked through the mirror see some of the schemes especially the Federal scheme championed by the vice president, so, we thought that that this year it will be important for us to have our focus on youth empowerment and that was why we came up with someone who we’ve heard, he’s a national figure and has a lot of knowledge in respect to youth empowerment, and stands the chance of impacting or whatever solution he might have preferred for the course of the lecture, then he stands the chance of bringing the youth into actualization.
We had to approach, visited him at Aso Rock, presented him with our letter among other things and he accepted to speak. So, the with the grace of God and our own effort made everything to work out.
Okay sir, and thank you for your time sir.
Sigma Chief: I sincerely appreciate, thanks for having me.
