To me, he was simply Mike. We met at Igbobi College 70 years ago; precisely in 1946. I can count on the fingers of one hand how many in our set are still around. Mike was in Townsend House. I, in Freeman. Mike's parents lived across the fence demarcating Igbobi College from Somolu. What good fortune for those of us who were Mike's friends.
Against the evidence before our eyes, the senior students would try to convince us that the weevils (kokoro) in our cooked beans were harmless intruders with high nutritional value. We would then be gently chided to stop knit-picking; sprinkle a handful of dry garri on the objects, and do what in the circumstance was absolutely best for us. On such few occasions, one or two of us who were Mike's closest friends would find solace in Mike's home across the fence.
Our attitude was both intriguing and surprising; considering that only a few months earlier, we were highly elated on being admitted into the College, and hardly noticed, much less squirmed at the sight of the weevils! This illustrates how short memories especially, memories of deprivation, could often be. On our part, as we became senior students, we passed on to the junior ones the lesson and wisdom of respecting weevils!
Mike was a consummate all-rounder. I now picture him in his well-starched white shirt and shorts as the school's wicket-keeper. His alertness and stature, for he was just-a-wee-bit bigger than most of us, drove fear into the batsmen. I believe he must, occasionally, have driven fear into our opponents from King's College. They were over-pampered and spoilt with resources and luxury. Why would they not win! Mike at full back, could be counted on to check and repel the onslaught from St. Gregory's boys on the football field. Since Father Slattery's boys, were reputed to pay more attention to football than to academics, we were not surprised they always regarded us as easy prey.
Whether in victory or in defeat, Mike always made us feel very proud of our School. He was one of the finest sportsmen Igbobi had ever produced. He could stand alongside with old boys, like Jide Oshodi, Samuel Okoli, Bolaji Kuti, Emmanuel Omatsola, Samuel Akhidime, and a few more whose names memory has now erased from me. Mike won the cricket colours. He also won the victor ludorum in 1950 jointly with Akin Adegboye, who is still waxing strong.
It was, therefore, no surprise that when it came to our set to head the school, Mike, the all-rounder, was easily picked as senior prefect of Townsend House and the over-all Head Boy of School by the Rt. Rev. Reginald B. Parker, our Principal. This was a most popular choice, even when 'giants' like Kwakwu Adadevoh, (the late Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, father of Ameyo Adadevoh our Ebola heroine), Akin Adegboye, a respected engineer, the late Kolawole Olafimihan, a renowned medical doctor from Offa and others were around.
Mike was in the first set of Igbobi College students who graduated after five, instead of the mandatory six years from the school. They took their school Leaving Certificate in 1950, stayed on for an additional year, and successfully obtained their exemption from London Matriculation.
We all left Igbobi College in 1951, wondering like 'poor orphans' what next was in store for us. Unexpectedly, some good Samaritans stepped in to influence the direction and fortunes of our lives. Through the intervention of our principal, we found ourselves in Bishop's Court Marina, under the tutelage of the Secretary to the Anglican Mission, Mr. George Velacott. Mike, Kwakwu Adadevoh, Akin Adegboye, Samuel Akhidime, J.K. Cole, Donatus Chibututu and my humble self became free tenants living on the grounds of the Cathedral Church of Christ. Compared to the austere boarding house life in Igbobi, we were introduced to a completely new life of unexpected luxury and opulence. For the first time, we tasted bread and butter. We thought it was sweet. Nothing like that. We sipped wine. Most of us spat it out. Tasted cheese. It was sour. We listened to classical music almost every night before we went to bed; and were introduced to all the fine things of life.
While Bishop's Court provided us with more than bread and butter under the towering hovering eyes of, The Most Revd. Leslie Gordon Vining, the first Anglican Archbishop of the Province of West Africa (1951-1955), it gave Mike infinitely more. Mike seized the opportunity offered by this unique and serene environment to define his goal and vision in life. While the rest of us chose the course to higher-studies in the then only existing University, Mike opted for business. Even though a very brilliant student, Mike in his usual self-effacing and self-deprecating manner, announced openly to us that he had no brain or inclination for the tedium and boring pursuit of academics.
He latched on to business; and soon latched on to the biggest conglomerate then in Nigeria, the United African Company (U.A.C), to start off his career with Mr. Jimmy Large. The rest is now history and in the public domain.
From a very humble and modest beginning, with the gift and talent uncanningly spotted by our principal in appointing him the Head Boy; and with dogged discipline and perseverance, Mike Ibru built up a business empire unparalleled for such a young man of his age at that time. What was remarkable about Mike was that he used his business to benefit all and sundry . He was generous to the extreme. He became a father figure to brothers, sisters, relations, friends and to persons unknown.
Mike almost strayed from his destined path to greatness when, in my opinion, he made an unexpected incursion into politics; wanting to be governor of his State. Fortunately, he pulled back; just at the right time. The lesson learnt was that you can hardly achieve fame, if fame is your goal in life, by driving your ambition on too many fronts. You may, however, succeed, through a single-minded devotion and pursuit in your area of expertise.
He loved and enjoyed good living and life itself. He loved clothes. When we were in Bishop's Court, he patronised in droves, a single tailor, Laguda, off Oshodi street Lagos. He had great sartorial taste and undoubted good looks. You can imagine what went along with that. He was bold. He took great risk which paid off for him because he was cautious, wise, and gifted with immense common sense. He had a good heart. To the best of my knowledge, he never spoke ill of anyone; nor planned evil for any person.
He was a man of deep faith. How would he not have been; given his background at Igbobi College, a combination of the Anglican and Methodist creed and denomination. He must have been blessed and influenced by out-standing men of faith. Not charlatans. These were men like the Leslie Murbys, the Howells, the Lucases, the Masons, the Soremekuns, the Adelajas, the M.O Dadas, the Horatio Thomases-- ordained clergy men and lay men alike. Their soul-lifting sermons must have made a dent on our youthful minds and, certainly, in our lives. The discipline of Bishop's Court also moulded him; not to talk of the positive and lasting influence of his parents across the fence.
My deep condolences to his spouse, Cecelia, (CY), to Mike's children, their spouses, and to the entire extended Ibru family.
In spite of his enormous success in life, Mike remained his simple self. He remained Mike to me. Just Mike.
Rest in peace dear friend.
Ignatius C. Olisemeka, CON
Ambassador
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs