Ferdinand Agu: Brother, friend, intellectual

…And my friend, Ferdinand Agu passed on!

Two years ago, when I turned the special age of 60, there were a rash of celebrations. A couple of shindigs by friends and family. It was in October, but I was still hunted by a gap that needed to be filled. A creative one. Something away from the usual. Something possibly intellectual. As I mulled the idea in my head, I picked up a theme for this side of my 60th. The wisdom conversation It was a defining moment, for I felt that at this age, if wisdom was not being discussed, then what should we then talk about?

I carefully curated a panel that included people with the clarity of mind to discuss wisdom in all its ramifications. My brother and colleague Cyril Stober, my sister, Ms Christie Adejo, and another brother, Dr Akin Oke. These were the panellists. And I was a moderator. It was an exciting discussion on the wisdom of respect, time, and fame, amongst other things. The programme required a high point, and I carefully chose the person who would deliver the dialogue. I picked my brother, who is highly cerebral. Architect, public analyst, former presidential adviser, former DG of a federal agency, chairman of the Abuja Literary Society, father, husband, and friend of Dr Ferdinand Agu.

The clarity of his mind when he delivered his epilogue The wisdom of books and the books of wisdom was a show-stopping performance. Erudition at its best. Content at its zenith. I present excerpts.

What is the wisdom of books? There is a special place and role for books in the story of mankind. Books are some of the most lasting testaments of any civilisation. Books chronicle the conversation within and between generations, their ways of life, and the ebbs and flows of their histories, legends, and legacies. Books take the form of fragile papyrus scrolls from ancient Egypt and China, or manuscripts elaborately copied and recopied by monks, scholars, and amanuenses of various religions, regions, and cultures in centres of learning through the ages.

Books tell and preserve the stories and drama of human existence, our search for meaning, and our struggles for survival. With the vast industrial output of printed matter since the invention of the Gothenburg Press in the mid-15th century, mankind has produced well over 130 million unique copies and titles of books. Presently, over 2.7 million different books are produced every year in the English language alone.

There is a clear co-relationship between the quality of records of a civilisation and its global impact on the human story; between reading habits and a people’s national development; between a nation’s pool of readers and its quality of leaders. Part of the treasures of books are the records, systems, precepts, and acts of wisdom that can shape or change individual lives as well as entire societies.

There is wisdom in all genres of literature. In years past, the most famed books on wisdom were almost entirely religious and philosophical. Depending on one’s beliefs, inclinations, and preferences, most people will find the most solid foundation for wisdom in the Christian Holy Bible, Islam’s Holy Koran, or the Hindu’s Bhagavad Gita. While the Buddhist scripture is not bound in a single book or volume, the Tripitaka and the Tradition of the Elders are more than adequate for any earnest seeker of wisdom.

The works of ancient sages often bestride the religion, moral philosophy, statecraft, strategic thinking, and science of their times. One can think of Confucius, Sun Tzu, Lao Tzu, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, the stoic philosophers, enlightenment thinkers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and even scientists like Sir Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein, etc. Their works, regardless of differences in topics, are rich in wisdom.

Today, many books on self-improvement and even psychological branding are rich with wisdom on how to pursue and culture it. Though dated, I particularly enjoy Meditations by Emperor Marcus Aurelius, The Confessions by St Augustine of Hippo, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason, Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, Sapiens by Yuval Hariri, and The Art of Happiness by Dalai Lama. Today, there are literally thousands of outstanding works in all cultures and languages that teach timeless lessons in wisdom. The lessons of these books transcend culture and geography and can be applied as much in Nigeria as in any place in the world.

If we all leave her with a better appreciation of the wisdom of books, Eugenia will feel fulfilled today. She will want us to spread the habit of reading books of wisdom. She will insist that we not only read books but that we must also reflect and, indeed, meditate on what we read. In that way, we would steadily internalise the precepts and concomitants of wisdom and then consistently take actions as may be appropriate for each moment. That would be our path to wisdom. I earnestly hope that this conservation of wisdom gathers more speed, steam, and prominence. Let us resolve to work with Eugenia to help her mainstream this conversation on wisdom. By doing so, we also serve the land we all love so much—Nigeria.

Farewell, my brother Ferdinand. It has been a difficult three weeks since you passed. My uncle Admiral Ogohi passed, and my cousin, Brother Christian Amodu, also passed. Adieu, till we meet to part no more.