On Monday 17th December 2018 the Annual Thanksgiving Service for late Chief J.K. Randle M.B.E; M.V.O was held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos. The service commenced promptly at 2 pm and even though it was Monday, the church was full. The Provost, Very Reverend Adebola A. Ojofeitimi who presided over the thanksgiving was assisted by Reverend Canon Adekunle Ajado. Also, in attendance was Bishop (Dr.) George Amu (old boy of St. Gregory’s College; Bishop of Goodnews Miracle Bible Church and Chairman of Lagos State Christian Association). The closing prayers were delivered by the retired Archbishop of Ile Ife, Bishop Oluranti Odubogun (an old boy of King’s College).
This was followed by a reception at “XKPMG House”, One King Ologunkutere Street, Park View, Ikoyi where the theme was: Anyone Who is ungrateful is a great fool. Chief J.K. Randle, Lisa of Lagos died on 17th December 1956 at the age of 47 years, shortly after his return from the Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia. He was the Chef-de-Mission of the Nigerian Olympic Team, while the Captain of the team was Alhaji K.A.B. Olowu. The 10 athletes on the trip were captain (100m and long jump athlete), K.A.B. Olowu; R.A. Oluwo, a pole vault athlete; J.O. Chigbolu; Vincent O. Gabriel (deceased), the late E.A. Ajado, 100m and 4x100m relay; T.A. Erinle; T. Obi; A.K. Amu (deceased), P. Esiri (deceased); and former Attorney-General of the Cameroons, P.B. Enigo, who participated in the triple and long jump events. The accompanying officials, all deceased, were Randle, (Chef-De-Mission), A.A. Ordia (coach), J.A. Enyeazu (assistant coach) and Arthur Cooper, Nigerian Attache, Melbourne. Chief J.K. Randle was also the Chairman of Lagos Island Club and the Lagos Racing (Horse Racing) Club as well as a member of Lagos Town Council and member of the Lagos Executive Development Board. He was a businessman, politician, philanthropist and outstanding all round sportsman (cricket, football, boxing, athletics, draughts etc).
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While still a student at King’s College he played cricket at the international level as a member of the Nigerian team against Ghana (then known as Gold Coast) in 1929 and scored a century. Incredible!!
Special prayers were also offered for the abducted Chibok girls who had been in captivity for over four years. The sacrifices of the soldiers/security forces and the tragedy of victims of insurgency also merited prayers.
Chief J.K. Randle belonged to a generation of Nigerians whose influence cut across ethnicity, religion, race or whatever. Patriotism and selfless service were the hallmark of their commitment to building a great nation that would command the respect of the international community.
Several streets are named after Chief J.K. Randle in Lagos, Apapa and Surulere. Also, the Chief J.K. Randle Memorial Hall at Onikan, Lagos (which was demolished by the Government last year) was built in his memory. Furthermore, Randle Secondary School, Apapa and Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Lagos are named after him. He has bequeathed a huge legacy of goodwill and sportsmanship.
The Covenant between the Randle family and Nigeria as well as the crusade against oppression and injustice precedes the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates by Lord Frederick Lugard in 1914. As far back as 1898, Dr. John Kehinde Randle; Dr. Akinwande Savage; and Joseph Ephraim Casely Hayford (of the Gold Coast) the founders of the National Congress of British West Africa had begun to agitate for the Independence of what later became Nigeria and the rest of West Africa. Praise God, both Lagos and Nigeria have flourished as non-moveable assets. It bears repetition: Anyone who is ungrateful is a great fool
BASHORUN J.K. RANDLE
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