Olorogun Dr. SONNY KUKU Tells City People
The name, Olorogun Dr. Sonny Kuku, is one that commands a great deal of respect anywhere it is mentioned. He is one of the most respected and distinguished Nigerians alive today. The Olorogun is one of those few Nigerians who get a lot of attention and huge reception whenever they step into a gathering, whether it is informal or otherwise. He is an accomplished man whose larger than life image transcends his core constituency, which is medicine. And now that he was recently installed the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, his already massive status has become even more elevated.
Olorogun is a man of many parts. He is an Endocrinologist, Administrator, and Entrepreneur, Dr. Sonny Folorunso Kuku was born in Jos, Plateau State on January 3, 1944. He obtained his tertiary education at the University of Lagos and University of London, and graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Science [Hons.], Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery [MB, BS], Master of Science in Pathology, Doctor of Medicine, & Doctor of Philosophy.
Dr. Sonny Kuku’s working career has taken him through critical appointments within and outside Nigeria. They include Pre-Doctoral Fellow University of Rochester, New York [1968-1969], House Officer, Lagos University Teaching Hospital [LUTH, 1970-1971], and Research Assistant, Royal Post-Graduate Medical School, London [1971-1974].
A Senior Fellow at the Pritzker School Medicine, University Chicago, Illinois [1974-1975], Dr. Sonny Kuku also served as a Senior Lecturer at the College of Medicine of University Lagos for about three years.
In 1978, he and two other eminent medical experts – Drs. Eneli and Obiorah – established The EKO Hospital – easily one of Nigeria’s best medical facilities. He is a Joint Chief Medical Director of the Hospital as well as the Chairman, Immunoassay Laboratories Limited and Ekocorp. PLC.
Beyond the field of medicine, Dr. Sonny Kuku has been pressed into service on some other national assignments. He was Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Ogun State [Olabisi Onabanjo] University, Ago-Iwoye between 1993 & 1999, Chairman, Committee of Pro-Chancellors of State Universities & Tertiary Hospitals, from 1995 to 1999, and Director, Midas Merchant Bank for about five years. He has been the Chairman of Midas Stockbrokers Limited since 1990.
At the installation of Dr. Sunny Kuku as the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land, a lot of prominent Nigerians turned out to honour him. He enjoys lots of goodwill from highly placed personalities who hold him in high esteem. At 80 years of age, Dr. Sonny Kuku is still very active. He doesn’t even look 80. He still stands tall, carries himself very well and still possesses a vey sharp memory. The Olorogun is still very co-ordinated in his thoughts and remains as intelligent as ever, despite his age. He was recently honoured at the City People Excellence Awards held at the events hall of the Lagos Country Club. City People’s Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) had an engaging session with the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu land during which he explained the importance of the Ogbeni Oja title and how he has been able to stay active and relevant for over 50 years. Here are excerpts of the interview.
Please share with us your thoughts on the Lifetime Achievement award you just received from Ciy People moments ago?
I feel very, very honoured to receive the award. And you know, City People magazine has been a magazine that speaks the truth and also tells it as it should be. If they didn’t think I deserved the award they wouldn’t give it to me. It is always so gratifying to be recognised in your own field. It is also a good thing that you people are doing this because you’re rewarding people in their life time. That will encourage other people because people want to be recognised for their contributions to society while they’re still alive, not after they have gone home to rest. City People has done well, it’s a magazine that has survived against all odds. We must encourage the magazine to continue to survive.
It’s so easy to see that you have a strong passion for City People as a brand and a deep likeness for the publisher and I remember that several years back when you were much younger, you were always featured in City People, for the right reasons, of course. How do you feel when you look back at those good old days when you and your contemporaries were always making headlines back then?
(Smiles) Those days, you know there was no social media, so every week, everybody is looking forward to reading City People and the others like Encomium, etc. I had a friend who used to tell my other friends that if they don’t know where I am, they should read City People.That was our own Instagram then. If I attended any big party, City People will report it, take pictures and my friends will see me and say, oh, Dr. Kuku is alive and well. And that wasn’t the case for me alone, it was same for so many people. So, you had to be very careful about your behaviour and conduct in public because you will be spotted out by City People.
I remember there was a day I was in Abuja and I took a cab which I shared and they said, come and see, Dr. Kuku is sharing a cab. And I said, ‘Ah, Abuja loun loun!’ That time, it wasn’t easy for the media to monitor people all over the place. So, people had to be of good behaviour because of City People. But it was all good. Those were the good old days. So, City People has been able to carry on, despite all the challenges. They are also online now. That means you’re moving with time. And with brilliant people like you working with him, who understand the business, younger people like you who work hard for the company and bring in ideas and he listens to you, I believe that’s why the company has been able to survive for this long.
Share with us your staying power, sir. You have been in the limelight for decades running. Your personality has transcended your core constituency which is science, and you’re a man of many parts. And as a journalist, I know you enjoy tremendous goodwill from people because of your likeable personality. But what really would you say is your staying power, sir?
Thank you very much. For me, first is striving for excellence in your field. And you are transparent and you have integrity as well. People admire that. And of course, you must also make it a rule not to look down on others. I could’ve said, this City People event, what am I going to do there? You have to relate with people of different strata. Like when I was doing my installation, the amount of goodwill I enjoyed was tremendous and it all boils down to how I relate with people, my relationship with them. And you, yourself, you should try to be a man of integrity so that other people will strive to be like you. A lady walked up to me moments ago as I got in here and introduced herself to me and it tuns out she’s my niece. I didn’t know who she was at first was but I warmed up to her as she approached me. So, you must be nice to people. And don’t carry malice. People like me sometimes attract a lot of envy, jealousy and anger. If you don’t have people who are envious or jealous of you, then you’re a nobody. In fact, if people show you envy and jealousy, it’s a good sign that you’re moving in the right direction. Like your magazine now, a lot of others may be envious of you because after all these years when a lot of your competitors have closed shop, you are still standing.
Your new title, the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, we understand it is one of the biggest and most revered titles in Ijebuland today, what were your immediate thoughts when you were informed you were going to be installed as the next Ogbeni Oja, what was going through your mind at the time?
It was a big surprise to me because my mind wasn’t there at all. Even when I was installed as Olori ogun, that was a very high title. But this particular title, a lot of people have been vying for it, a lot of people have been pushing for it, but I never really went for it. One of the reasons why I didn’t think of going for it, my uncle was the last Ogbeni Oja. And if you go back in history, its very unusual for that kind of title to be held by my Uncle and then several years after, come back to me because it is the prerogative of the Awujale. So, when he called me and told me about it, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t believe it because that title is so high. It wasn’t designed for businessmen, its for people who have leadership qualities. So, I guess Kabiyesi saw those leadership qualities in me. I was chairman of the Council, he must’ve been impressed with the way I conducted it’s affairs. For instance, yesterday, at a very big event, Kabiyesi was there. I gave a speech and when Kabiyesi was also asked to speak, he said Ogbeni Oja has spoken on my behalf. That’s how important the title is. Because he believes that whatever I say would be a perfect reflection of his thoughts and opinions. And in the good old days, when there was no democracy, Ogbeni Oja was chairman of the local government council and that was a whole lot back then. He is also the chairman of the kingmakers, there is so much to it. But for me as a person, I think I have done very well in some certain areas and I didn’t think I should be competing with others for anything. I have done my best and people generally say I’ve been a good person and I thank God for that.
Share with us, sir, the massive goodwill you enjoyed at your installation, were you expecting that sort of turn out and goodwill?
To be frank, I was worried that I would be overwhelmed, that I may not have enough space because people came from all spheres of life – the Academic, the business, the professionals, the financial sector, the traditional people, the students. You know, I am the president of Alumni association of Kings College at the University of Lagos, they all came in full force. So, really, my worry was that whether we would be able to contain the crowd and you all saw what happened, it was jam packed. So, it was a good feeling. Imagine preparing for such a big occasion and nobody shows up. I thank God how everything turned out.
Finally, share with us some of the things you do that have enabled you stay strong and active despite your age. Sure, its easy for anyone to say, oh, he is a medical person so he can navigate around these things. But there must be some basic things you do that have helped you stay strong and active over the years…
You know, my field is Endocrinology, which Diabetes is a part of, so the most important thing to pay attention to is lifestyle. You have to watch your lifestyle. What that means is that you watch the quantity of meals you take at all times . You don’t use alcohol excessively, don’t smoke, do your exercise and I have been doing that forever. When I see people now just talking about lifestyle, I laugh. This is what I have been doing since I was thirty years old. And go for regular check up, that is the most important thing. You must not joke with your exercises. Some people wonder how I work very hard, but I also play very hard. And I am so organised with my time. No matter what it is, there is no day I don’t sleep seven to eight hours. Some people see me in different places and they think I don’t have time for myself. I always make sure I create time for my rest.
How about special diet, do you have particular meals you can’t touch or something?
The law about diet is very simple, eat anything you like, but it must be in moderation. Once you have done that, you are 90 percent on the way. Then, avoid things that are injurious like sugar, like oily foods. Once you reduce your sugar intake, reduce your oil intake, you can eat anything. Even Coke, you can drink it. Take a quarter of it, just to get that sweet taste, that’s all. So, that is all I can say, we leave the rest to God. No matter what you do, God has to be with you.
