Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Tribute to Ralph Alabi (II)





Engr.(Chief)Rapheal Adeola Alabi,(a.k.a RAA)M.O.N,The Aruwajoye of Akure, would have clocked 70years today were he to still be alive;this tribute,given as promised on his posthumus birthday is in his honour.

I entered into the services of Chief Adeola Alabi in November 1994 as his Executive Assistant when he was just promoted MD/CEO, Guiness Nigeria.

Now that was more than 15 years ago and I worked closely with RAA for only 15 Months.
So,i will sort of reminiscence and in so doing try to bring out what i was able to learn from the life of this Great Man:

1.RAA WAS AN EARLY BIRD
Chief Adeola Alabi (I can tell you that he hated that name 'Ralph'because he felt it symbolises his neo-colonised status)was an early riser (I dont know when he wakes,but he beats everybody to the office,sometimes ,by as much as 90 minutes!)So, RAA will resume work at sometime between 6.30am and 7am. This he did for 40years!!
I know it used to be a nightmare for his drivers to be positioned behind the wheels,ready to drive him to Guiness Nigeria HQ.by the time he comes down from his bedroom at 6.00am.(That man will not last long as his driver,if he had to wait for him to 'resume'work for more than a few times!)

2. RAA WAS A 'FIRST IN LAST OUT' EXECUTIVE

Early to bed,early to rise was not a maxim operated by RAA. He worked till very late in the office,sometimes till well past 8pm (on days when he had no oustide late evening appointments).His office and personal staff necessarily worked late with him.In fact he was fond of saying jokingly "go and see the daylight of your home" to his staff whenever they are lucky enough to be sent home early(maybe about 6 something or 7pm!)

3.RAA WAS A WORKAHOLIC
We "Opened Shop" at approximately 7am - a clear one hour before people bagan to arrive work in the busy GNPLC HQ. Located in Ikeja Lagos.This is after RAAmust have finished talking to London;both to GBW (Guiness Brewing Worldwide) and to his family (as at 1995,four of his children lived in his house in London).Every minute of the rest of the day from shop opening to 'Shop Closing' circa 7pm,is planned with little flexibility(something that made my job a pain in those days ,what with liscentious Nigerian public!)RAA THOUGHT ME,COMING THEN FROM THE TYPICALLY CHAOTIC TECHNICAL DIVISION,THE USE OF THE DIARY,AN OFFICE NOTEBOOK(JOB/TASKS LOGS),AND AN ELECTRONIC ORGANIZER!Now we had no GSM in those days...it sure would have helped.


4. I LEARNT ATTENTION TO DETAIL

For a Chief Executive,RAA,paid so great an attention to details,that i learnt that little things matter.He would not suffer you to mispell anyone's name in a memo or letter;or even to mispronounce it to him!In fact he used to say something like 'if anything can go wrong,chances are,it will!'We had a manager for every activity -especially,the parties!Before long i began to bring this inbibed culture into the planning of my business and socials,at home...today, i an certain i exasperate my kids with my tardiness.

5. RAA WAS A CHEERFUL GIVER

Working for RAA,as the EA or PA,You can be sure of a contant stream of weekend activities,mostly socials!There is always a card & gift to deliver to someone.Rhoda George(Mrs),his Kenyan born PA,was kept very busy runing to and from MATE SUPERMARKET buying gifts. Representation were too numerous to count.I remember a day in 1995 when i had to represent RAA at a wedding in far away Benin City,Edo State of Nigeria, as well as a birthday in Sango Ota in Ogun State.Somehow,i made it and stayed alive!

6.RAA WAS A PERFECTIONIST

I remember finding myself in the private study of RAA in his 3,Remi Fannikayode,GRA Ikeja residence.I was surprised to see that the room was so small,obviously an improvision,and it ws cluttered with books and diaries!
But the real item of intrest was a small tape recorder(?) RAA then explained to me that he used the machine to record his speeches rehearsals,which he then plays back for corrections.(At about this time also,he requested me to get him a dictaphone for
use in the car)He demostrated this streak for perfection when,shortly before the first launching of Satzenbrau in Nigeria at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel,he gathered the company's directors in the board-room and insisted they all get the pronounciation of the word 'satzenbrau'right,stressing that it must be pronounced sameway by all who had speeches to present that day.
Can i even copmplain of the many times i go back and forth,his office with yet one more 'final' correction on a letter, a speech ,or some other report?

7.RAA WAS A FAMILY MAN,A RELIGIOUS MAN,AND MORE....
RAA had a large heart,a large family and a big home;Many people were there,extended family and all.He was a father of many,but,to my best knowlegde,a husband of one(Mrs Yemisi Alabi)I have often wondered how he coped.There were also the grey areas,the mystererios relationships,the early morning calls (calls which probably could not be taken at home?)There were schooling matters attended to on his behalf that aroused my suspicions that he sired children out of wedlock.Then came the day i represented him at the 10th anniversary of a school - and the proprietess confided in me with a proud but secretive smile that RAA was her Dad!?

Sometimes ,I wonder why,on each birthday,whenever RAA had a document to sign and date,he would inadvertently write 14:04:39!This also happened whenever he had to fill in personal data in a form or other documents......i wonder,would RAA really have been 70 or 72 were he to still be alive today?The answer is confined to the enigma of 'official age'

In the last 10 years of RAA'S life, we made no contact at all;but I was delighted to learn from my namesake Mr Taiwo Obe's article in the Guardian published shortly after his death,the he died a Pastor! I will give a lot to assess the contents of the three (3) blue books of his 'messages'.

RAA did not leave anything to 'chances' he made things happen...but i feel quite sure he strove lawfully.For example,back in 1994 there were people who sought to influence him,to gain business advantage and came to me to search out his name from several membership lists of secret societies,to the Glory Of God,we could not find his name on any such list!I thank God for this.He had to make the rounds of many churches for 'Thanksgiving' after his promotion to CEO Postion in GNPLC.Not to talk of the 'church in his house'the prophetic ministry from his home town Akure,which held monthly night vigils at his official residence when he was MD 1994/96.
One of the most impactful words he left imprinted on my mind was taken from his message to the entire workforce of Guiness Nigeria,during the Christmas of 1994,shortly ater his assumption of office:"Be The Driver Of Your Own DESTINY"

I struggled with this doctrine for quite a while then,compare Heb 12:2, for I was looking on to Jesus 'the author and finisher of my faith...' Now I have learnt,additionally, to 'work out my salvation;with fear and trembling' NOT TO DO ONE AND NEGLECT THE OTHER.

I SUGGEST THAT YOU DO LIKEWISE.RAA WAS AN ACHIEVER,RAA WAS SUCCESFULL,YOU TOO CAN SUCCEED.

Adieu Chief(Engr)Rapheal Adeola Alabi,M.O.N,MNSE!Adieu RAA!!Rest In Peace!!!

Taiwo Ogunkoya
DreamDreamer