President Bola Tinubu paid tribute to the late Dr. Christopher Kolade on Thursday, calling him “an icon of integrity, patriotism, and excellence” whose life exemplified Nigeria’s highest principles of service and leadership.
In a statement signed by himself, the president said he received the news of Kolade’s death “with profound sadness,” describing the 92-year-old diplomat, broadcaster, and corporate leader as “one of Nigeria’s intellectual treasures and a custodian of our enterprise history.”
“Dr. Kolade was among the finest of men. He was exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, and diligent and had unimpeachable integrity. He was not only a boardroom icon, serving as a one-time chief executive and chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, but also a patriot and an uncompromising advocate of transparency and accountability in governance,” Tinubu said.
Tinubu noted that Kolade’s public service career, spanning the colonial era to Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, reflected uncommon dedication to the nation’s growth and moral capital.
“From working as a colonial-era education officer to serving as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Kolade left ineffaceable stamps of distinction in every endeavor,” he added.
Tinubu also praised Kolade’s humanitarian work through the Christopher Kolade Foundation, particularly his lifelong advocacy for ethical leadership and his support for people living with sickle-cell disease.
“He lived not for wealth or fame but for impact. His passing is agonizing but worth celebrating. He immortalized himself through uncommon service to our nation and humanity. He was a true Nigerian—selfless, resilient, and guided by faith. May God Almighty, whom he served faithfully, grant him eternal rest,” the President said.
Kolade, who died peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the age of 92, was a former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, and the first Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.
He was also a leading voice on ethics, leadership, and corporate governance at the Lagos Business School.
In Osun State, the Alua of Erin-Oke, Oba Ayodeji Akintola, stated that the community had lost a precious gem whose life was dedicated to service and moral greatness.
Speaking to reporters on behalf of the Erin-Oke community, the monarch revealed that he had planned to meet with the late elder statesman to discuss the town’s development before his death.
“It hurts me deeply because he promised to support our development efforts. He told me that if I needed anything—be it a school, hospital, or federal project—I should reach out to him. He was my father and kinsman, and he had a global reputation that brought pride to Erin-Oke. God knows best,” Oba Akintola said.
Kolade was born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, as the son of an Anglican missionary.
He attended Government College in Ibadan, followed by Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he completed his higher education.
In a statement announcing his death, the Kolade family wrote, “We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings.”
