Let us not forget the widespread epidemic of leprosy in the entire stretch of Egba land between 1857 and 1859, this led to the establishment of the 1st Hospital in Nigeria by Reverend Father Coquard of the Catholic Church in Abeokuta. The hospital was the first set up as a world-class healthcare and research centre then. The Hospital which is known as the “Sacred Heart Hospital” still stands today at Itesi in Abeokuta.
The smallpox crisis led to the establishment of medical research departments in Lagos where some of these vaccines were produced locally and also led to the establishment of the Infectious Disease Hospital in Lagos in 1899 and Abeokuta in 1923.
A key lesson that was learnt from these cases was that it is important to be extremely proactive in situations like this. Proper hygiene and adherence to government regulations are key. Closure of borders and restricting movement of people from affected areas to non-affected areas is crucial.
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Dr. J.K. Randle appealed to the Colonial government for money to build public toilets and refuse disposal units in Lagos. He was turned down. He therefore proceeded to use his money to build them.
Fortunately, some of them are still with us – at Olusi Street; Ita Faji; Iddo Motor Park; The Marina; Igbosere Street (behind King’s College); Ajele Street; Cow Lane, etc. Sadly, most of them have been hijacked by politicians who have “privatized them!!
(i) Chief J.K. Randle – He was born on 28th July 1909. He attended King’s College, Lagos where he was the House Captain of Hyde-Johnson’s House. He was the captain of athletics, hockey, football, cricket, boxing etc. He also excelled at draughts. He was a sports legend; business titan; and phenomenal philanthropist.
He was the Lisa of Lagos (Prime Minister); Chairman, Lagos Race (Horse Racing) Club; Chairman Island Club; President Nigerian Cricket Club; Vice-President Nigerian Olympic Committee. He died on 17th December 1956 shortly after returning from Melbourne, Australia where he attended the Olympic Games as Chef de Mission of the Nigerian Team. He left very generous bequests to C.M.S. Grammar School Bariga; Holy Cross School, Lagos; Ahmadiya College, Agege and Ansar-ru-deen College, Isolo for sports and education.
(ii) Bashorun J.K. Randle – He was born on 13th January 1944. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant (England and Wales) in 1969. He retired in 2004 as the Chairman & Chief Executive of KPMG Nigeria and Chairman of KPMG Africa. He is a past President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria [ICAN] and a former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Lagos State University. He also served on the Governing Council of the University of Benin as well as being Chairman of Eko Hotels Limited. He is a versatile and prolific writer and lecturer. For fifty-five years he has been writing weekly columns in Nigerian newspapers in addition to delivering lectures at various fora in Nigeria and internationally.
Read Also: #BoJuBoJu @ Lagos
He is currently the Chairman & Chief Executive of J.K. Randle Professional Services (Chartered Accountants and Consultants). He has published thirty books amongst which the best known are:
(i) “The Godfather Never Sleeps”
(ii) “God Does Not Live In Los Angeles Anymore.?
(iii) “Who Is Fooling Who?”
(iv) “The Natives Are Friendly?”
(v) “The Duke and the Soul Princess”
He is a Trustee of King’s College Lagos Old Boys Association and the “In-Coming President” of St. Gregory’s College Old Boys Association!!
Sometimes fake news is not fake news at all as evidenced by the following report:
“SanwoOlu inaugurates J.K. Randle Centre Board of Trustees, Randle family head absent.”
“Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the Board of Trustees for the J.K Randle Center for Yoruba History at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, today.
The board has Babajide OlusolaSanwo-Olu as (chairman), Sherifat Folashade Jaji (vice chairman), Adenike Adedoyin-Ajayi (secretary), Olubunmi Osiewu (treasurer), Polly Alakija, Euzebio Jide Damazio and AbdulRafiu Adewale. However the head of the Randle family was absent at the event.”
For several years, the Dr. J.K. Randle Swimming Pool was left in ruins by the government, which converted it to a parking centre for Fire Brigade trucks and tricycles seized by ruthless and corrupt LASTMA (Lagos State Traffic Management Authority) officials.
