The year 1960 is certainly not an ordinary year for many Nigerians; it was the year our dear motherland Nigeria got her political liberation from the colonial masters. But seven months earlier to that exact date when Nigeria’s political history took a different trajectory, God Himself gave the world a pre-independence gift with the birth of an Amazon, excellence, forthrightness, diligence, resourcefulness, and God’s handmaiden and daughter: Aize Olohigbe Imouokhome Obayan.
Born to the family of grateful parents, Sir Frank and Lady Marian Imouokhome in Edo state, Nigeria; the late Aize Olohigbe Imouokhome Obayan was a child of destiny who continued to walk predestined paths and letting herself loose in the service of God and humanity. As a young girl with keen eyes and a feverish penchant for contributions, achievement and intellectual adventure, the late Professor Aize Obayan never failed to leave a golden ribbon in all she did or touched. She knew the value of work, service and contribution as primary determinants to anyone’s claim to success. Her legacy is partly in her investment in others and the desire to see perfection as something within the realm of human existence and imagination.
The late Professor Aize Obayan’s life, education, work, and personality were never products of fate but faith and certainly not by chance or luck. She walked the path and did the talk by choice and took predestined steps that defined her personality and the remaining steps she ever took. It is often and correctly said you are a product of your earlier exposures and education and that the child shows the woman! Late Professor Aize Obayan was therefore a product of a good home training and good education. She attended (among other schools) the famous St. Maria Goreti Girls’ Secondary School, Benin City, Saint Leonards School for Girls, and for her “A” Levels, she attended St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland – a school which has nurtured many women of international repute and remarkable abilities.
On her return from the United Kingdom, late Professor Aize Obayan gained admission to the University of Benin, Benin City for her Bachelor of Education (B.Ed, English) degree from 1979 to 1982. Her English background was part of that divine preparation for a future at the global stage. Everyone that ever met late Aize Obayan or heard her speak knew her English was impeccable. Listening to her was like watching an opus with a Nightingale on the stage!
After her mandatory National Youth Service Corps deployment in Kano was over in 1983, late Professor Aize Obayan took a dramatic step that defined her personality and the remaining changes that we celebrate today. She got admission into the University of Ilorin, not to study English as expected, but to study Guidance and Counselling. And to prove the validity of God’s leading and walking predestined paths, she earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Guidance and Counselling in record time in 1984 and 1987 respectively; a feat uncommon in such academic climes and era.
Late Professor Aize Obayan did not just become a Professor and a leading voice in the discipline overnight; she played her part and most importantly, paid her dues. Her career in academics began as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 1986. She rose through the ranks, becoming a Reader at the same University in 1995. As at the time of her transition to glory, late Aize Olohigbe Imouokhome Obayan was a renowned and remarkable Professor of Counselling with specialization in Multicultural aspects of Human Behavioural Disposition and later on in career, she carved a niche in leadership, which became one of her notable areas of strength and inquiry.
The late Professor Aize Obayan often told her mentees that whenever the students are ready the teacher will appear, signposting the fact that everything works according to design and order. For the global role she played in redefining higher education and leadership in Africa, late Professor Aize Obayan was prepared by God internationally to assume any role at any time. Her famous departure to the United Kingdom on sabbatical from the University of Ilorin was therefore a divine order. During her United Kingdom experience, late Aize Obayan taught at the University of Roehampton, United Kingdom as a Senior Lecturer in Counselling Psychology between 1996 and 1999 before returning home with her family, again, by divine direction. The follow up from this move led to her appointment as a Professor of Counselling at Covenant University in 2002. That appointment changed her life and testimony as she went on to serve at the highest level of university administration at Covenant University.
Late Professor Aize Obayan was never known to be afraid to tread uncharted paths or venture in so-called areas where only men have dominated and survived. She had blazed the trail on several occasions culminating in her appointment as the first female Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University On February 1, just about one month and three days to her 45th Birthday in 2005. This divine appointment was therefore not a surprise to many who knew her and the passion that drives her contribution mentality. By that appointment, late Professor Aize Obayan became the second substantive Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, the third substantive female Vice-Chancellor in the history of Nigerian tertiary education and the first, however, on the private university platform. She also served as Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University from 2015 to 2017 thus joining the exclusive club of very few Nigerian academics who had served as Vice-Chancellor of more than one Nigerian university in their lifetime. Others in the exclusive club include Professors Ibidapo-Obe and Chinedu Nebo (the former Federal Minister of Power).
Late Aize Obayan years and service as Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University will make a seminal book on leadership that an attempt to describe her tenure and contribution in such a brief profile can only undercut such a contribution. The Chancellor of Covenant University, Dr. David Oyedepo, during the 10th Founder’s Day celebration and announcement of Professor Aize Obayan’s successor as Vice-Chancellor, observed that on her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, that instead of clearing her wardrobe for new arrivals, as many women at her level would normally do, the late Professor Aize Obayan cleared her bookshelf and ordered with open cheque, books on leadership and consumed herself in the quest for a new brand of leadership that will take Africa to the next levels.
In about eight academic sessions as Vice-Chancellor, late Professor Obayan mentored many, catered to more, and sought to be of service to all. Through those years as Vice-Chancellor, late Obayan was privileged to work with the Chancellor and Visionary of Covenant University, Dr. David O. Oyedepo, a man whose commitment to excellence, the restoration of the dignity of the ‘Black’ man, and the apotheosis of the African story, continues to serve as the main inspiration of the Covenant University Vision and Aize Obayan’s personal life story. She shared with the Chancellor the belief that Covenant University is just at the beginning of its quest for the ultimate prize – Its establishment as a World Class University producing graduates and researchers who will be leaders in their fields of endeavour. It is therefore not surprising that her remarkable performance as Vice- Chancellor earned her accolades, awards, recognitions, and many other related assignments in her brief but very impactful and fulfilled lifetime.
The price for hardwork, as often said by sages like Bishop David Oyedepo, is more work. After a successful 8-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, late Professor Aize Obayan also served as the Education Secretary of the Education Commission, Living Faith Church Worldwide, where she oversaw the running of over 100 Primary Schools (Kingdom Heritage Model Schools) in Nigeria and abroad; 14 Secondary Schools (Faith Academy network of Schools) and two flagship universities of the Commission (Covenant and Landmark Universities).
Until her passing on January 29, 2019, late Professor Aize Obayan was the Director, African Leadership Development Centre, Covenant University, Ota, Nigeria where she provided leadership, strategic directions and along with her team, managed the African Leadership Development Centre as driven by the Visionary, Dr David Oyedepo, Chancellor, Covenant University.
As we celebrate the life and passing of this great daughter of Africa, a cerebral academic, mother eagle, Amazon, mentor to many and destiny helper of many others, late Professor Aize Obayan was often described by those who knew her as a faithful and lifelong student of leadership under the mentorship of Bishop David Oyedepo. She always never failed to acknowledge the privilege accorded her to learn from the teacher and mentor, Bishop David Oyedepo. Her first certificate of performance from the Chancellor came on her 50th birthday in 2010 when the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo pronounced that now she has passed the elementary examination on leadership which was epitomised in her hardwork and service delivery to the University and admitted her to a higher school of leadership, when he asked her to transit from diligence to SACRIFICE. Late Professor Aize Obayan bought into this new vision of leadership and sowed her life as a seed for that noble cause. It is no wonder she died in active service in God’s own university.
There is therefore no coincidence in the Spirit or with God. Many years before the Liberation Mandate was delivered to His anointed servant, Bishop David Oyedepo, God had prepared His foot soldiers for the assignment and no doubt, especially on the education commission, late Professor Aize Obayan’s name will surely be listed as one of those that played their part as assigned by God.
On the academic platform, late Professor Aize Obayan, as a Professor of Counselling, specializing in Multicultural aspects of Counselling was involved in extensive work in developing curricula for Leadership Development Studies and Personal Development Programmes. She was also involved in many Leadership Development projects. She was involved in the development, teaching and research in the area of New Leadership Paradigms for Africa (NLPA), working to sustain contextually relevant conversations pertinent to empowering leadership praxis in Africa. Until her passing, she was the convener of the Leadership Development Studies Programme in Covenant University and was a member of the Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered) and National Universities Commission (NUC) Strategic Advisory Committee established to drive the repositioning of University education in Nigeria. She was also involved in extensive research in the areas of Maternal Acceptance/Rejection and Children’s Behavioural Dispositions. Her research also spanned Family Systems with particular reference to the Extended/Extensive Family Systems and its impact on the Counselling Process. Her other research involvements were in the areas of Prevalence and Pattern of Substance Use/Psychosocial Correlates of Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis Use in Nigeria.
At the professional levels, late Professor Aize Obayan registered and was duly certified a Member of the Counselling Association of Nigeria in 1986. She also received her Grade III Certificate in Spoken English in 1978 from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and by 1979; the same London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art awarded her a Grade 1 Certificate in Spoken English with Distinction. She was also a Member of the African Network for the prevention and protection of Child Abuse and Neglect (and served as the Acting Chairperson for the Kwara State Chapter while still leaving in Ilorin, Kwara State). She was also a Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) as well as a distinguished Member of Council of the Institute. And in 2016, she was meritoriously awarded the Leadership and Integrity Award by the Black Heritage Magazine.
Late Professor Aize Obayan is a firm believer in lifelong learning, capacity building and continuous relevance. This is the major reason her academic and professional career and educational trajectory have spanned higher educational and organizational contexts in Nigeria and the United Kingdom with emphasis in the areas of Human Communication Patterns, Group Dynamics, Life Skills Development, Multi-cultural Innovations, Social and Emotional Intelligence, with extensive experience in running Human Groups and Skills Development Workshops both in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom.
The late Professor Aize Obayan was an award winning scholar, leader, and administrator. She won numerous awards among which are Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE)/SHELL Distinguished Education and Mentorship Award (November, 2005); National Universities Commission, Best Vice-Chancellor Award in 2006 (Private University Category); and the National Association of Women Academics Special Award in 2006.
On the 30th of March 2007, she received an Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the growth and progress of the Institute of Strategic Management in Nigeria. The same year, on the 20th of November 2007 to be specific, the Nigerian Institute of Management honoured her with an award for her contributions towards the success of her 2007 National Conference. She was also honoured with a special award for her meritorious service as a member of Board of National Universities Commission (NUC) from October 2005 to November 2007.
Late Professor Aize Obayan was also a Distinguished Diamond Award recipient of the Alumni Association of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (May, 2011). She also received a Leadership Award for Enhancing ICT and Research Excellence in Higher Education in March 2011 from the Southern University A & M College USA and a Special Award from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for her contributions towards Training and Professional Support for Accountants (May, 2011). On the 13th of February 2014, the Nigerian Psychological Association honoured her with the prestigious Award of the Honorary Fellowship of the Association. This was in recognition of her outstanding scholarship in the behavioural Sciences, university administration and national legacy on transformational leadership.
Late Professor Aize Obayan was a favourite speaker at Convocations, Workshops, and professional/academic conferences in Nigeria and abroad. She presented the Keynote Addresses at the Minnesota State University international conference; the ACU supported international seminar in the year 2006 and the main speaker at Nigerian Institute of Management Second Annual National Women-in-Management Conference (11th May, 2006) where she presented a paper titled “Emotional Intelligence as a Critical Factor in Leadership Success”. She was a Special Guest Speaker at 2006/2007 Annual General Conference of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria that held on 30th March, 2007. She was also one of the Resource Persons at the Nigerian Institute of Management’s International Management Conference that held from 19th-20th November 2007 where she delivered a lecture titled “Managing the Success of Yesterday for a Greater Tomorrow”.
As part of her commitment to national/international engagement and collaboration, she participated in the Stakeholder’s Forum of the 16th Commonwealth Ministers’ Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, December, 2006. She was a Keynote Speaker at a National Workshop on Strengthening Advocacy for Use of Alternative Sources of Energy for Sustainable Development by Women in Leadership Positions organized by the Energy Commission, Abuja in October of 2009. She also presented a paper titled New Models of Funding Private Universities at the Plenary Session, 25th Conference of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), Osogbo April 2010. Late Professor Aize Obayan served as a Panelist on the topic: “Governance and Management: Supporting Institutional Capacity for Change” at the 2010 European Union-Africa Summit Side Event on the Nyerere Programme and Higher Education Cooperation in Africa which held in Cape Town, November 2010. She was also a Convocation Lecturer at the 2nd Convocation Ceremony of Crawford University, amongst many other lead speaker engagements.
As a sitting professor of Counselling at Covenant University, the late Professor Aize Obayan delivered the 15th Inaugural Lecture of the University on April 6, 2018. She eloquently delivered a brilliant lecture entitled “Lengthening Cords and Strengthening Stakes: Leadership Praxis and Transcendence in Counselling Practice” to a very diverse and appreciative audience.
At the spiritual level, late Professor Aize Obayan was a child of God, God’s Handmaiden, as she often referred to herself. She was a courageous and overzealous soul winner, a servant of God with proven testimony of His faithfulness. Even when her health was challenged, she continued in the service of God until it pleased the Master to send for His daughter. Until her passing, late Professor Aize Obayan was an active member of the Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship International. She was also an active member of the Hospitality Service Group of the Faith Tabernacle, Living Faith Church, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.
The late Professor Aize Obayan was a family woman that practiced an inclusive family values. She bequeathed the “Extensive Family System” to the Counselling profession in Nigeria. She was her husband’s delight, helpmate and confidant. She was married to Late Engineer Adetokunbo Uchechi Obayan, a leadership consultant and their marriage was blessed with two wonderful children who have continued to use her as a mother-mentor and role model.
Talking about leadership, family dynamics or the power to become, the late Professor Obayan had always woven an indelible story of possibilities. In many ways, she became the fabric upon which many have written their own stories of awakening, their own stories of becoming. She was also a remarkable metaphor for what could happen if people – anywhere – recognized that they are powerful beyond measure, magnificent beyond expectations, and bigger than their old fables suggest. Despite the departure of her husband of twenty-eight years, late Professor Aize Obayan’s faith in God remained indubitable until she breathed her final air on earth. She knew that the future was for those who are with God and believed that one’s spiritual well being must be backed by a life of continuous & lifelong learning, capacity building and contribution to humanity no matter where or the circumstances one finds his or herself.
Late Professor Aize Olohigbe Imouokhome Obayan is survived by aged parents, Sir Frank & Lady Marian Imouokhome; a daughter, Miss Toluwani Obayan; a son, Mr. Joshua Obayan; sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and many other relatives and well wishers.
