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In a world often deafened by noise, the departure of a quiet giant demands a moment of profound silence, punctuated only by the sounds of reverence. For Dr. Christopher Olusola Kolade, a man whose life was a symphony of service, faith and integrity, his final journey home began not with silence, but with a soaring, solemn melody. On Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the corporate titan, diplomat and moral compass for a nation, was escorted into history with the grace and dignity that defined his 92 years sojourn on earth. AFIONG EDEMUMUOH writes. The morning sun bathed Lagos Island in a gentle light as a scene from a bygone era unfolded at the entrance of St. Peter’s Church, Faji, Lagos Island. At 10:20 a.m., a white horse-drawn carriage, a symbol of purity, royalty and a serene goodbye, delivered its sacred cargo. Parked at the church gate, the hearse held a brown mahogany casket, adorned with gold embellishments, housing the remains of the revered doyen of the boardroom, business mogul, and perhaps the symbol of corporate Nigeria, Dr. Christopher Olusola Kolade. And as somber tunes distilled into the atmosphere from trumpeters who stood sentinel, producing sober, soothing tunes that wrapped the gathered crowd in a collective embrace of reflection, the pallbearers from The Ebony Funeral Home, decked in black suits, stood ready, a picture of solemn duty. It was indeed, a reflection of a people, a community, a nation, ready to pay her last homage to a man that changed the dynamics across every strata he planted the sole of his feet for a century less eight years. As guests and family members, a veritable roll-call of the country’s high and mighty, trooped into the historic church, soulful music played softly in the background, setting a tone of worshipful remembrance. The air was thick with a sense of occasion, not of mourning, but of a triumphant send-forth for a soldier of Christ who had finished his race. The funeral service commenced with clerical precision and spiritual depth at 11:00 a.m, following prayers by a procession of ministers. The Bishop of Lagos Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Ifedola Senasu Gabriel Okupevi, commenced proceedings with the “reception of the body.” As he read from the Psalms, the congregation responded in unison, their voices rising as the pallbearers carried the casket into the church and positioned it in the centre of the nave, a focal point for the celebration of a life well-lived. The timeless order of the Anglican service unfolded with a comforting rhythm. The congregation lifted their voices in the opening hymn, “O Lord My God,” before the scriptural readings commenced. A family member read from the book of Ecclesiastes, its poignant verses on a time for every season under heaven resonating deeply: “A time to be born and a time to die.” The epistle, taken from 2 Corinthians 5, spoke of the eternal dwelling in heaven, a building from God, not made with hands. The gradual hymn, “Servant of God, Well Done,” was a fitting and emotional tribute, its lyrics a direct address to a faithful steward entering his rest. The sermon, delivered by the Bishop of Ilesa Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dapo Folorunsho Asaju, was the spiritual centrepiece of the service. Titled: “The Essence of Life,” his message was both a theological anchor and a personal eulogy. He began by offering comfort to the family, assuring them that for a Christian, death is not an end but a “convocation and graduation.” “Many people are apprehensive about their lives after death,” Bishop Asaju stated, urging the congregation to think about the future with faith, not fear. He described the earth as a place of vanity, illustrating his point with the instructive story of Alexander the Great, who, on his deathbed, commanded that the best doctors carry his casket to illustrate that despite all worldly power, they could not save him from death. “When people are at peace with God, it shows on their countenance when they are about to die,” the Bishop noted, contrasting this with the troubled ends of those who reject God. “Your knowledge, your philosophy will not count when you stand before the judgement of God. Despite all the great positions you hold on earth, the conclusion of the whole matter is your end when you die.” He then turned his gaze directly to the life being celebrated. “It is certain that the deceased is in heaven because of the kind of life he led while alive,” he declared, a statement met with soft murmurs of agreement. He recalled a tender moment from the week before Dr. Kolade’s passing, where his wife, Beatrice, had lamented that she did not want him to go. The Bishop assured her she would not be left alone, comforted by Christ and the family. He held up Dr. Kolade as a “worthy role model,” whose life made everyone proud. In a moving shift, he lamented the poor state of the nation’s roads and prayed for leaders to rise to their responsibilities, urging them to emulate the deceased’s integrity. His closing exhortations were a blueprint for a life of impact: “know God genuinely, serve Him with all your resources, build a godly home, lay up treasures in heaven and leave a good legacy.” “Leave a good name. Be an ambassador of God on earth. Bring joy to people, help humanity, be the light of Christ. Don’t join them in stealing public funds,” he urged. Finally, he charged all to “finish well,” ensuring they die in Christ, as Dr. Kolade assuredly had. The service continued with the sacred mystery of the Holy Communion. The Processional Hymn, “I Vow to Thee, My Country,” echoed Dr. Kolade’s profound patriotism, while the Offertory Hymn, “In Christ Alone My Hope is Found,” affirmed the foundation of his faith. As the ministers administered the Eucharist, hymns like “The Strife is O’er, the Battle Done” and “Nearer, My God, to Thee” filled the church, a powerful soundtrack to the communal act of remembrance and hope. And the tributes flowed endlessly- not just in words, but in songs, for Dr. Kolade was a renowned lover of music. The former choristers of the Diocese gathered around his casket to render “O Jesus I Have Promised.” They were followed by the old boys of his alma mater, Government College, Ibadan, who surrounded their distinguished comrade one last time. The Erin Oke connection and the St. Peter’s Church Faji Christian Torch Bearers also paid their respects in songs, their voices weaving a tapestry of shared history and profound loss. The Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, The Most Reverend Dr. Henry C. Ndukuba, then brought words of consolation on behalf of the entire church. “Dr. Kolade was indeed our very own,” he stated, tracing his roots to an Anglican missionary family in Erin Oke, a town in the Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. He celebrated the late icon’s “lifelong dedication and service to humanity,” from his work as an education officer to his service as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. “His impact on the church and his contribution to the body of Christ were significant,” the Primate affirmed, before pronouncing a blessing of eternal rest and glory upon his soul. Read Also: Experts call for national care framework to unlock economic power Bishop Okupevi returned to welcome the dignitaries and reinforce the message of hope. “We rejoice in the Lord for the life and times of our dear father, for the life that he has touched and for the heritage that he has left behind,” he said, directing a prayer of comfort to Dr. Kolade’s widow, Beatrice, and the entire family. The service drew to a close with the Recessional Hymn, “Sing Alleluia Forth in Duteous Praise.” As the ministers and choir filed out, the pallbearers once again shouldered their sacred burden. The trumpeters resumed their solemn melody, their notes guiding the casket out of the church and back into the white hearse at 1:50 p.m. The body was then accompanied on its final earthly journey to the Ebony Cemetery, where Dr. Christopher Kolade was committed to mother earth. The dignitaries present, a testament to his cross-generational influence, included former President Olusegun Obasanjo; wife of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Bola Obasanjo; former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and her husband, Akin Kekere-Ekun; Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election Mr. Peter Obi; Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; the PDP Edo State governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Also present were the Director-General of the Budget Office, Ben Akabueze; MTN Nigeria Chairman Dr. Ernest Ndukwe; Channels Television Chairman, John Momoh, among others. They had come to honour a life of purpose and integrity; a man who, from his beginnings as the son of a missionary in Ido Faboro, Ekiti State, rose to the pinnacles of broadcasting as Director-General of the NBC, corporate leadership as Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria, diplomacy as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, and education as a pillar of the Lagos Business School and Chancellor of McPherson University. But more than his titles, they celebrated his character. Dr. Kolade lived by the creed that “if you lose your integrity, you have lost everything.” He was a man who proved that competence and conscience are not mutually exclusive, but are the very essence of true leadership. As the last notes of the trumpet faded and the earth received its faithful servant, the legacy of Dr. Christopher Kolade remained a quiet, enduring melody of a life lived in service to God, country, and humanity. He ran well, he finished strong and his light, a beacon of unwavering integrity, will continue to shine. A Life of Purpose and Principle To understand the magnitude of the moment, one must look back at the man himself; a life lived in remarkable service and grace. Born on December 28, 1932, in Ido Faboro, Ekiti State, to Rev. A.O. Kolade, a missionary and educator, young Christopher grew up surrounded by discipline, faith, and a deep respect for education. These early foundations shaped a man who saw every position of influence as a platform for service. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in English from Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone, in 1954, he began his career as an Education Officer before joining the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in 1960. By 1972, at just 40, he became Director-General, ushering in an era of ethical journalism and professional excellence. His mantra was simple: Do the right thing, even when no one is watching. That creed guided him through decades of public and private service—from his tenure as Managing Director and later Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, to his leadership at the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management. Dr. Kolade’s influence also extended to academia and faith. He served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council at Pan-Atlantic University, home of the Lagos Business School, where he taught Ethics and Leadership. His classes were known to blend wisdom with spirituality, inspiring students to lead with both head and heart. In 2002, President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed him Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, where he represented the nation with quiet authority and grace. A decade later, as Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), he once again demonstrated that public service could be clean, transparent, and impactful. Beyond the boardroom, Dr. Kolade’s faith found expression through the Convention on Business Integrity, Managing Business for Christ, and the Apostles in the Marketplace—platforms where he championed ethical leadership rooted in Christian values. He also founded the Christopher Kolade Foundation (CKF), focusing on education, leadership training, and the empowerment of young women in science and technology. The Man behind the Achievements To those who knew him personally, Kolade was not just a statesman but a mentor, a teacher, and a friend. His humility was legendary. He was known to treat everyone, from janitors to CEOs, with the same respect. His humour was gentle, his words deliberate, and his integrity unwavering. He was twice married, first to Nancy Omolabi Williams, with whom he had two sons, both of blessed memory and later, to Beatrice (née Ukogu), who remained his devoted companion until his passing. His life was one of simplicity and service, anchored in faith. As he often said, “When you are in a position of authority, you are there to serve people, not yourself.” A Legacy That Outlives a Lifetime Dr. Kolade’s journey ended as gracefully as he lived, without noise, vanity, or fear. His passing at 92 marked not just the end of a remarkable personal story, but the closing of an era defined by integrity, moral clarity, and public trust. From the newsroom to the boardroom, from the pulpit to the diplomatic hall, he remained unwavering; a man whose word was his bond. As the hearse slowly disappeared from sight, the solemn notes of the trumpets faded into the distance. Yet, for many, the melody of his life continues to echo a song of faith, discipline, and enduring light. It was, indeed, a farewell befitting a man of many parts, a final earthly salute to one whose life embodied grace and service. And when the heavens opened with a downpour as his body was to be laid to rest, many took it as a divine confirmation that Dr. Kolade’s soul departed bearing blessings and hope for the nation he so dearly loved. The rains, they said, were showers of blessings from a hero who lived and left with purpose.
