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MUSTARD III – Ch. 16 | KT OLLA

NOW Morrow gained entry to a new federal college, sited temporarily in the city of Ibadan.

The new outfit was first patterned after the University College, Ibadan, which was built in the 50’s by British rule.

Yet this new one like the premier University College, started in the wake of the country’s independence... some two years after that history.

Now it was built in 1962, then run as an affiliate college.

And though affiliated with the University of London on its first graduate certificates, it had changed its state and status in 6 years.

In the Year ’66, Joshua Morrow gained admission into the new college at its temporary site in Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa.

Robed in a matriculation gown, he took a still photograph to commemorate his time.

He wore a one-piece suit (and shirt) that seemed like some deep tone from the monochrome photo...

He had a deep-coloured tie too, with a thin highlight of white. It was a simple style line from knot to silver clip.

He wore a wry smile, standing a 41-year-old... October 1966.

Bamiji started out there with the school in Ibadan, and then it moved to Ife with that new set.

So, starting in the early 60’s, the little college slowly moved to a proper place in Ife, close to Banji’s hometown.

So, Mr Morrow enrolled for an arts degree in English, specialising in literature.

Then he minored in religious studies – with a focus on Christianity.

Morrow’s courses were in arts and humanities. Then it was that faculty that first moved to Ife... with Basic Sciences, also.

So Joshua, again, went first. The first set of students to start Ife.

They named the school the University of Ife – ending its prior status as a college of London.

It was later re-named Obafemi Awolowo University (dubbed “Great Ife”).

Now Joshua finished there in three years. And was the first graduate from his town, 1969.

He was first of many things.

So Jo returned to his teaching job, then ranked higher. He went upwards and upward still.

For no one taught kids with a Bachelor’s those days. They were called to lead.

Soon Morrow became Vice, then Principal of high schools. (But this man was a bachelor and had no kids.)

And so, just when Morrow thought to settle down, he got a summon home, a call from hometown.

And that call, it twisted everything

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