Salako at 60: Tough trip to the top

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Salako at 60: Tough trip to the top

“WE all need resilience to live a fulfilling life. With resilience, you’ll be more prepared to take on challenges, to develop your talents, skills and abilities so that you can live with more purpose and joy.” These were the words of the 56th governor of Missouri, United States, Eric Greitens. This philosophical perspective vividly captures the life trajectory of the current Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako, who turns 60 today. Salako, the last born of 18 children from a polygamous family, has indeed displayed a high level of resilience and determination before attaining the present enviable status. His story, which is very instructive to the present generation of “microwave mentality”, is better captured as a tough trip to the top, indicating that even if one’s road is rough as advocated by the legendary  Tai Solarin, difficulties are not meant to destroy us but to rouse us and develop our spirit. In other words, with resilience and determination, there is no excuse that is tenable for failure.

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From childhood, Salako, today fondly addressed as BLS, has been intensely motivated, doggedly driven, relentlessly inventive and remorselessly tenacious. He became the Senior Prefect in his final year and graduated in grade 1 with an aggregate  of 16, the best result in Ansar–ud-deen College Offa, in 1979 where he finished his secondary school education. Interestingly, it is still the same spirit of resilience, relentlessness and tenacity that has kept him going till today. He is a workaholic, justifying Colin Powel’s assertion that “a dream doesn’t become reality through magic; rather, it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” I have come across so many people who complained that the reason they didn’t go to school was because they are from polygamous families where the father’s resources must be shared on a rotational basis. Such people had better come and learn from Prof. Salako who went through tough times to get to the top.

However, besides his resilience and iron-cast determination, Prof. Salako represents Yoruba cultural concept called omoluabi. Who is omoluabi? This is a person of honour who believes in hard work, respects the rights of others and gives to the community in deeds and in action. An Omoluabi is a person of integrity who is celebrated for his virtues and values. All the ingredients of this concept are inherently visible in the life of today’s celebrant who is regarded as an irredeemable bibliomaniac by some of his friends. In examining his trip to triumph, one discovers that BLS, a scientist with social conscience, is a man of courage, conduct and class. His intellectual savvy, uncompromising sense of justice and steely grit in defence of justice are amazing. Considering the lowly background from whence he emerged, one comes away with an impression that, in addition to the fact that providence is always in action in his life, BLS does his job with managerial panache and with an uncanny capacity to dream and dare. Yet, he comports himself in a way that conforms to the tenets of civilised conduct.

In celebrating him, therefore, a guest lecturer from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, Prof.  Ikechi Okpechi, a Professor of Medicine,  will be in Ibadan to speak on “Cutting Edge Research in Non-Communicable Disease in Low and Medium Income countries : Raising the bar” under the Chairmanship of immediate past Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, his mentor. Besides, there will be a book launch in his honour. The title of the book is “An Encounter with BLS: Tributes and Autobiography of an Icon at 60.” The ceremony promises to be colourful. Personally, I first had an encounter with Prof. Salako in 2014 when he was the provost of the College of Medicine. A friend of mine wanted medicine admission for his daughter. Prof. Salako, in his usual respectful attitude to people, took explained the process of admission, the difficulties and challenges and why he could not accede to our request. We left his office happier than we came despite the fact that our request was not granted because of his friendliness and amiability. I became one of his admirers and followers as his intellectual heftiness,  the street wisdom, the personality,  impressed  me to no end.

To him, anything less than total commitment to excellence is an acceptance of mediocrity. His strides are distinguished as he holds himself to best practices and international standards. Yet, he remains humble. Prof. Salako certainly knows much more than he says, thinks more than he speaks and notices more than people realise. Still, he speaks ill of no man, and speaks the good he knows of everybody.  Asked to assess him, the NIMR Director of Administration, Alhaji Yunusa Zauzzau said, “Prof. Salako is a man of humility and deep respect for others. He calls me his boss despite the fact that he is my boss. I have worked with four Director-Generals; Prof. Salako is the best. He is above everybody. He is too nice to a fault. He is Godly. He has changed the operational processes and methodology from what it used to be to a better one. He will give you what is yours. He does not take bribes. I have told him that once he leaves, I am leaving.” In the same vein, Mr. Monzur Olohungbede who has been so close to him, described Prof. Salako as a prophet, mentor and motivator. According to Mr. Olohungbede, “In the past, we told him to seek greener pastures overseas just as his peers were travelling out of the country. He refused, saying he will stay in UCH and from there he will be going to different parts of the world. That has happened and that is why I described him as a prophet. He has also refused to send his children abroad for education. He argued that with hard work, they could achieve any level of success in Nigeria.

Prof. Salako would not bear down on you unnecessarily. He is a man of peace who will allow you to move at your pace. If he tells you that he wants to write a paper, you should know that he has gone half-way. He does not joke with his work, “Olohungbede added.This man, whose worldview is shaped by both cultural and Islamic influences always gives his time, treasures and talents to any task at hand.

• Saanu is Media Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan

Salako at 60: Tough trip to the top
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