society
IGNORANCE & EGO IN MISUNDERSTANDING OF NAMES & TITLES IN AFRICA
IGNORANCE & EGO IN MISUNDERSTANDING OF NAMES & TITLES IN AFRICA
I have listened to many people in Nigeria who when you ask them to tell you their name; you hear words like” My Name is Dr. XYZ, My name is Prof. XZY., My name is Chief XYZ.
1. In fact, I recall some years ago, someone was introduced, and the person got so angry that Otunba was omitted in his name.
2. Let me correct this wrong notion that Profession is not a name and title is not a name.
3. You hear people say I am surveyor XYZ…No…it is wrong. It should be for example my name is Gbenga Adeoye., I am a Land or Estate Surveyor & Valuer. ( The author is not a surveyor, please )
4. This desire for title is a sign of emptiness, and it has entered the church too.
5. Some want to be addressed as Evangelist XYZ..even young boys singing here and there now add prefix of evangelist this and that …
6. This is what inferiority complex and ego is doing to us in Africa.
7. In US, I recall, even we executive students that came to Harvard for a short time address our lecturers by first name. We call them ..Mike, John…etc. You hear words like
“Join me as I welcome John Bedford.
John is a Professor of Business Management.”
8. Great men like Bro Gbile Akanni are still brothers .
9. Small boys are now Apostles because despite no spiritual result to show ; they just want to copy some Apostles that have result to show for their labour.
10. Some people who are now called Apostles and Bishops, even in their hearts, knows they do not carry such title in their work with God. It is fake, until it becomes real.
11. I know a billionaire who cautions somebody to address him by his name and not add Alhaji to it.
12. My concern rose when I watched the Senate screening of a nominee who got angry that his name is Professor XYZ, and they have been addressing him as Mr.XYZ.
13. This is a very serious problem in Nigeria and Africa.
14. There is a level you will get to that your title become attached to your name when people want to mention your name. That is a level that Prof. Wole Soyinka had gotten to many years ago.
15. The likes of Pastor E.A Adeboye and Pastor Kumuyi are at that level too where anyone who wants to mention their names finds it uncomfortable, not to add that prefix.
16. I do hear people ignorantly say … point of correction . My name is not Mr XYZ…My name is Dr. XYZ or Prof. XYZ…or Engr. XYZ..or Chief or Otunba XYZ.
17. The point of correction is to you because you do not know the difference between what a name is or what a Prefix or title is.
18. Here is the way to answer question like tell us your name and who you are or brief about yourself, I am Olugbenga Adeyemi ADEOYE.
I am from Ogun State.
I am a Professor of Accounting or Law or Medicine at XYZ University.( hypothetical example)
19. As a matter of fact, if the questions end at your name.
You just say I am Gbenga Adeoye.
20. This misconception was properly addressed by Adams Oshiomole that Professor is not part of your name during Senate committee screening of a nominated INEC commissioner. (Although I wish he spoke more about it)
21. I hear people say :
I am Senator XYZ .That is very wrong.!!!
Rather, you will say I am Olugbenga Adeyemi Adeoye ; senator representing XYZ Constituency of XYZ state.
22. The honour of prefix attachment to your name is better done by people, not you adding it when people ask for your name.
23. Please, let no one get me wrong …I am an advocate of the fact that if you truly work for your PhD . Put it on your card, even if you have written Dr. XYZ …I argued that “PhD” showing on your card is what differentiate you from the bastardized honorary doctorate degrees around Nigeria where everybody now call themselves Dr. XYZ but if you add PhD in front. Then we would know your Doctorate is as a result of hard work of research .
24. I do know of course that, there are people who didn’t go for proper study or research and all of a sudden, you just hear them say they now have PhD…
25. You only need to ask them few questions to know they are fake PhD holders, such as:
i. What was your research based on?
ii. Who supervised your thesis.?
iii. Who was your external examiner?
iv. Who was your internal examiner?
v. What was the addition you added to knowledge?
vi. When was your doctorate declared?
vii. How was your Pre – Field ?
viii. How was your Post-Field?
ix. How was your Oral?
26. If you ask someone who bought a PhD or holding a fake PhD any of the above questions, you will see them confused because they never studied nor carried out any research to get it.
27. It is very worrisome that in various departments of our institutions of higher learning in Africa; there are people holding fake certificates and yet working as lecturers. How then do you want to end examination malpractice?
28. These are the kind of lecturers that demand money from students.
29. I understand we even have such people in Secondary Schools as teachers now.!!!
Teachers who sell grades to students in high schools. Men and women without conscience. Those who cannot give them money will get low scores.
It is better not to have enough teachers or lecturers than have people who compromise academic standards.
No wonder, most high school students see cheating in WAEC or NECO or JAMB exams as a way because evil teachers have made them to believe you must buy grades.
CONCLUSION
Title is not a name and let us know that Profession is also not a name.
While we give honour to whom honour is due, we must find a way to flush out fake degree holders from our system .
We must focus on having men with integrity and truthfulness as teachers so that we can produce graduates with character and not just mere certificate with too many dishonest and wild people around .
The Aurthor, Gbenga Adeoye is a Lawyer and Chartered Accountant with a PhD in Management Accounting and an LLM in International Business Law
He can be reached via email at
[email protected]
FRSC@ 38: SHEHU MOHAMMED STEERING NIGERIA’S ROAD SAFETY REVOLUTION TO GREATER HEIGHTS
By Deputy Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem (Rtd) fsi, MNIM, anipr
When Mallam Shehu Mohammed assumed leadership as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), he inherited not just an institution with history, but a national mandate that touches every family, every highway, and every community in Nigeria. At 38 years, the Corps stands tall as Africa’s model road safety agency, and under his stewardship, that legacy is not merely preserved, it is being boldly redefined.
Nigeria’s highways were once synonymous with fear. Before 1988, the World Health Organisation ranked Nigeria among the most dangerous countries in the world to drive. It was a troubling indictment that demanded courage and clarity of purpose. The establishment of the FRSC under Decree No. 45 of 1988 laid the foundation for reform. But sustaining and advancing that reform across decades requires visionary leadership, the kind now exemplified by Mallam Shehu Mohammed.
Today, under his command, the Corps is consolidating its position as one of the most technologically advanced and operationally efficient law enforcement institutions in Nigeria. With renewed strategic focus, the present leadership has deepened the Safe Systems Approach built on people, processes, and technology, ensuring that safety interventions are not reactive, but preventive and intelligence-driven.
One of the defining hallmarks of his administration is accelerated digital transformation. Within six months, over 3,000 personnel were trained to strengthen operational competence and technological adaptability. More than 95 per cent of the Corps’ administrative and operational processes are automated, supported by over 30 web-based applications that enhance traffic governance nationwide. From the National Crash Reporting Information System (NACRIS) to the upgraded e-ticketing platform, innovation is no longer optional; it is institutional culture.
Emergency response under the current Corps Marshal has become faster and more coordinated, with nationwide response time reduced dramatically from 50 minutes to 15 minutes. The 122 toll-free emergency line and 24-hour National Call Centre continue to serve as lifelines for distressed road users, reflecting a leadership that understands that every second counts.
Strategic stakeholder engagement has equally flourished. Safe corridor initiatives have been strengthened, collaboration with transport unions intensified, and enforcement around articulated vehicles tightened. The result is a significant reduction in tanker-related crashes, a development that speaks to deliberate policy direction and disciplined implementation.
Under Mallam Shehu Mohammed’s leadership, data has become a central pillar of enforcement and planning. Through strengthened collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics, and the Nigeria Customs Service, the Corps has advanced harmonized data systems that support evidence-based interventions. Transparent weekly crash trend reporting now guides targeted deployment and corrective strategies.
Nigeria’s standing on the global stage has also been reinforced. The country remains an active participant in the renewed UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) and continues alignment with international road safety conventions. These achievements build on the solid foundation laid by past leaders from Olu Agunloye and General Haladu Hannaniya to Chief Osita Chidoka, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, and Dauda Ali Biu, but under the present Corps Marshal, the momentum has unmistakably intensified.
Operationally, the Corps’ footprint now spans 12 Zonal Commands, 37 Sector Commands, over 300 Unit Commands, over 700 Station Offices, 59 Zebra Emergency Ambulance Points, and presence in all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria. Yet beyond physical structures lies a stronger institutional spirit, one driven by discipline, professionalism, and accountability.
From a nation once ranked among the most unsafe for motorists to a continental pacesetter in road safety management, Nigeria’s transformation story is inseparable from the strength of its leadership. At 38 years, FRSC is not simply celebrating longevity; it is celebrating purposeful stewardship.
Mallam Shehu Mohammed represents a generation of reform-minded leadership committed to smarter mobility systems, data-driven enforcement, and people-centered safety administration.
His tenure reflects continuity with courage sustaining the Corps’ proud legacy while boldly steering it toward greater innovation and measurable impact.
The road ahead is demanding. But under his steady command, Nigeria’s highways are safer, its systems smarter, and its future brighter.
Fashion/Lifestyle
Introducing “Atupaglowco” : Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Introducing “Atupaglowco”: Where Fragrance Meets Feeling; The Story of Our Beginning
Every great journey begins with a sense of anticipation. For us, it began with a simple belief that a space should do more than exist, it should speak comfort and glow.
In a world filled with noise, stress, and endless motion, we realized something powerful. Fragrance can transform not just rooms, but moods. A familiar scent can calm anxiety. A warm aroma can turn a house into a home. A gentle glow can bring peace after a long day. This realization gave birth to “Atupaglowco.”
Atupaglowco was not created to sell diffusers, room sprays, or candles. It was created to create experiences. To create moments. To create atmospheres where people can breathe, reflect, and feel whole again.
The name itself represents more than a brand. It represents warmth. It represents light. It represents presence. We remember the early days, the planning, the testing of scents, the moments of doubt, and the moments of excitement. Each candle poured was a step of faith. Each fragrance blended was a piece of our vision coming to life. We weren’t just building products; we were building something meaningful.
Our diffusers were designed to quietly fill spaces with elegance.
Our room sprays were crafted to instantly refresh and revive environments. Our candles were made to bring calm, beauty, and a soft glow into everyday life.
Atupaglowco was born from passion, patience, and purpose. This launch is not just the start of a business. It is the start of a movement to help people create spaces they love. Spaces that inspire rest. Spaces that inspire joy. Spaces that glow.
We believe fragrance is personal. We believe glow is emotional. We believe every space deserves both.
Today, we proudly introduce Atupaglowco to the world.
This is only the beginning.
Ajadi Hails Oyo Speaker Ogundoyin at 39, Describes Him as Beacon of Purposeful Leadership
A leading governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has congratulated the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin, on the occasion of his 39th birthday, describing him as “a symbol of resilience, maturity and purposeful leadership in Nigeria’s democratic journey.”
In a congratulatory message made available to journalists on Tuesday, Ajadi praised Ogundoyin’s steady rise in public service, noting that his emergence as Speaker at a relatively young age reflects the possibilities of responsible youth leadership when combined with discipline, vision and service.
“Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin’s leadership has shown that age is not a barrier to excellence,” Ajadi said. “At 39, he stands tall as one of the most impactful Speakers in Oyo State’s history—calm, inclusive and deeply committed to democratic ideals.”
Ogundoyin, who represents Ibarapa East State Constituency under the Peoples Democratic Party, has served as Speaker since 2019 and was re-elected to lead the 10th Assembly in June 2023. His tenure has been marked by legislative stability, improved executive–legislative relations and youth-inclusive governance.
Ajadi commended the Speaker for fostering unity within the Assembly and prioritising laws that strengthen grassroots development across Oyo State. “His humility, accessibility and focus on people-oriented legislation have earned him respect beyond party lines,” he said. “He exemplifies the kind of leadership Oyo State needs—one anchored on service, accountability and progress.”
The governorship aspirant further described Ogundoyin as a rallying point for young Nigerians aspiring to public office. “In a country searching for credible leaders, Ogundoyin’s story offers hope,” Ajadi added. “He has shown that when young leaders are trusted with responsibility, they can deliver stability and results.”
Ajadi wished the Speaker many more years of good health, wisdom and greater service to Oyo State and Nigeria at large, praying that his leadership journey continues to inspire a new generation of public servants.
Ogundoyin, one of the youngest Speakers in Nigeria, has continued to attract goodwill messages from political leaders, civil society actors and constituents, as Oyo State marks another year in the life of a lawmaker widely regarded as a steady hand in the state’s legislative affairs.
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