President Bola Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to the late Dr. Christopher Kolade, describing him as “an icon of integrity, patriotism, and excellence” whose life embodied the highest ideals of service and leadership in Nigeria.
In a statement personally signed by the President on Thursday, Tinubu said he received the news of Kolade’s death “with profound sadness,” calling the 92-year-old diplomat, broadcaster, and corporate leader “one of Nigeria’s intellectual treasures and a custodian of our enterprise history.”
“Dr. Kolade was among the finest of men. He was exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, diligent, and had unimpeachable integrity. He was not only a boardroom icon, serving as one-time Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, but also a patriot and an uncompromising advocate of transparency and accountability in governance,” Tinubu said.
The President noted that Kolade’s public service career, spanning from the colonial era to Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, reflected “uncommon dedication to the nation’s growth and moral capital.”
“From working as a colonial-era education officer to serving as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Kolade left ineffaceable stamps of distinction in every endeavour,” Tinubu added.
He also commended Kolade’s humanitarian work through the Christopher Kolade Foundation, particularly his lifelong advocacy for ethical leadership and his support for people living with sickle-cell disease.
“He lived not for wealth or fame but for impact. His passing is agonising but worth celebrating. He immortalised himself through uncommon service to our nation and humanity,” Tinubu stated. “He was a true Nigerian—selfless, resilient, and guided by faith. May God Almighty, whom he served faithfully, grant him eternal rest.”
In Osun State, the Alua of Erin-Oke, Oba Ayodeji Akintola, also mourned the elder statesman, describing his death as a great loss to the community and the nation.
“It hurts me deeply because he promised to support our development efforts. He told me that if I needed anything—be it a school, hospital, or federal project—I should reach out to him. He was my father and kinsman, and he had a global reputation that brought pride to Erin-Oke. God knows best,” the monarch said.
Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Kolade was the son of an Anglican missionary. He attended Government College, Ibadan, and later Fourah Bay College, Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he completed his higher education.
He served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, and pioneer Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). He was also a leading advocate for ethics and corporate governance at the Lagos Business School.
In a family statement announcing his passing, the Kolade family said, “We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings.”
