Dr Christopher Kolade, one of the doyens of the boardroom, broadcaster and teacher, today died peacefully aged 93.
Born in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Nigeria, in 1932, Dr Kolade was the son of an Anglican missionary and completed his secondary-school education at Government College, Ibadan, after which he studied at Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone.
A man whose life embodied excellence, integrity, and service to humanity, Dr Kolade was also a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, veteran broadcaster, distinguished corporate leader, and moral compass of his generation.
Pa Kolade stood as a towering example of what it means to live a life anchored on truth, diligence, and unshakeable faith. From his early days in broadcasting, where his golden voice graced the airwaves, to his later years steering some of Nigeria’s largest corporations and serving the nation in diplomacy, he carried himself with uncommon humility and purpose.
To corporate Nigeria, he was the embodiment of ethical leadership. To the Church and civil society, he was a beacon of light. To countless young professionals, he was a mentor whose words carried wisdom forged through decades of principled living.
Pa Kolade’s name became synonymous with integrity — a virtue that often feels endangered in our times, but which he proved could still thrive in the Nigerian soil. His life’s work was not just about success…. it was about significance.
As we mourn his passing, we celebrate the legacy he leaves behind — a life that inspired countless others to walk the path of honesty, service, and excellence.
May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.
