By Our Reporter
Nigeria has lost one of its most respected elder statesmen, Dr Christopher Kolade, who passed away at the age of 92.
His family announced his passing in a statement on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, saying:
> “We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings.”
Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Dr Kolade lived a life defined by integrity, leadership, and public service.
A son of an Anglican missionary, he attended Government College, Ibadan, and later studied at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Over the years, his contributions to education and leadership earned him honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Sierra Leone (1976) and McPherson University (2016).
Dr Kolade began his career in broadcasting, rising to become Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He later transitioned into the corporate world, serving as Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he was widely admired for his ethical leadership.
His distinguished career extended into diplomacy when he was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a position he held with honour and distinction.
Following his diplomatic service, Dr Kolade became an academic mentor, teaching Corporate Governance and Human Resource Management at the Lagos Business School, and Leadership and Conflict Management at the School of Media and Communication, both under Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. He also served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the university.
Throughout his life, he held leadership roles in several professional and faith-based organizations, including the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the International Institute for Communications, and the World Association for Christian Communication.
For his remarkable service to humanity, he received numerous honours, including the Order of St. Augustine Medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In 2012, then-President Goodluck Jonathan appointed him as Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Board.
Dr Kolade remained a lifelong advocate for transparency, integrity, and ethical governance. He chaired both the Integrity Organization Ltd. GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd. GTE, championing accountability in public and private sectors.