All Igbobians – students of Igbobi College – must know about the big fruit tree between the Dining Hall and the Chapel. This tree has been there like forever serving as a rendezvous of sorts for many school events. I believe it is one of the fixtures that can tell the story of the school. Some forty-five years ago, a handful of Old Igbobians met there for an event. I remember it was early evening and visibility was low.
We were asked to introduce ourselves by stating name, set, house and the sports we participated in while in school. It was not an uncommon ritual. I had just finished this chore when I heard a voice behind me say ‘so Muyiwa Adetiba came to Igbobi. No wonder.’ I looked back in surprise to identify the voice. It was from an older man, probably a senior who had left school before I entered. I met a warm smile as I nodded my head in acknowledgement and respect. Honestly, it was at the time, one of the best compliments I had received in years. All true Old Igbobians would know why.
The moral and intellectual standards set by the school were high and this seemingly off-handed compliment, was for me, a tacit acknowledgement, that I had at least, met some of them. I was to be a proud recipient of a few ‘no wonder’ comments from Old Igbobians during my years as an interviewer. Some of them were probably in school about the time I was born. Quite a few willingly helped me to get difficult interviews by either using their connections or vouching for me. A good example was Chief Chris Ogunbanjo, an Old Igbobian, whose vouching for me overcame the understandable reluctance of Chief Justice Fatai Williams when I wanted to interview him immediately after the Supreme Court judgement on Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s presidential bid.
