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| Dr. Raphael James |
Guests who
attended 50th birthday celebration of the founder and Director General of
Center for Research, Information Management and Media Development (CRIMMD) and founder
of the Photo Museum of Nigeria History, Dr. Raphael James, last weekend, will
not forget the frills and thrills of the event in a hurry.
The golden
birthday celebration was a five-day event and the Nigerian publisher from Abia
State used the five-day occasion to touch many lives in many ways. Day one
(Tuesday, January 6) was a visit to an orphanage home. The second day
(Wednesday, January 7) was a visit to a primary school to make presentation of
50 books. Day three (Thursday, January 8) was a visit to a secondary school to
make presentation of yet another 50 books. Day four (Friday, January 9) was a
visit to a home of people with disability to make presentation of wheel chairs.
Day five was the grand finale of the celebration and the commissioning of
CRIMMD Bookstore, strictly for books by Nigerian authors. It was commissioned
by Chief Sir Alex Akinyele.
Eulogies and
encomiums filled the air when his family, friends, colleagues in the literary
world and students shared their encounters with James.
His
Godfather, former Minister of Information, Chief Sir Alex Akinyele, in his
opening speech as the Special Guest of the occasion, said he had learnt a lot
from James. “I admire his humility and hard work. He is somebody who is
absolutely detribalized. He relates with everybody, not minding their ethnic
affiliations,” Akinyele said.
He added
that: “There is a saying that as a man reads, so he is. “Books are fundamental
to human beings. If you can afford to read every day, you will be well
informed. Before we came here this morning, I had an ambition to build a
university in Ondo Town, but I changed it and now want to build a library. I
gained that from James’ birthday celebration and that is to show you the
importance of books.”
He further
said that in the world today, information has gone bananas. “Dr. James took the
right step to ensure that Nigerians are well informed. The problem of
information system is not the fault of the information minister but due to the
fact that wrong pegs are put in the wrong holes.”
Radiating
with smile, the celebrant gave thanks to God for keeping him till his 50th
birthday and also thanked his parents, wife, children friends and colleagues
for their support. He revealed that his parents prayed for him around 12 midnight
and asked God for more grace, long life and prosperity upon his life.
Asked what
his greatest achievement was, at 50,
the author
of many books and the publisher of African Dame and The National Biographer
Magazine, said he was not sure he had not achieved anything and asked God to
forgive him for that statement. “As a young man, my ambition was to know my
position in the world. I used to say that, just like President Jonathan is
number one citizen in Nigeria, mine was to know my position in the world,
probably become a United Nations’ Secretary-General. If you asked me what
ambition I have achieved, I don’t know. I thank God I have a wife and beautiful
children. They are even doing much better than me so I thank God for that,” he
said.
Speaking on
why he opened a bookshop for only Nigerian books on his birthday, he said he
did it to alleviate the challenges of Nigerian writers. “As a writer, I have
unpalatable experiences from the hands of booksellers. Give them some books to
sell, when you go back to check whether they have sold the books, they would
tell you they have not sold the books. Meanwhile, the books are no longer in
the shelves. They would sell the books and refuse to give you your money. So I
decided to encourage myself and other writers by setting up the bookshop. And
we said we are going to deal strictly with Nigerian books. It is a way to
encourage authors and the public to have a place where they can visit and buy
their books. Most authors have their books in their homes. We now have a centre
point where authors and the public can come and get books.”
Born on
January 10, 1965, he attended Isolo Grammar School, Isolo, Lagos. He studied
Psychology from the Ondo State University, holds a Certificate in Conflict
Resolution from the California State University and many other qualifications
including Diploma Certificate in Journalism.
He began his
working career as an Administrative Officer in Ondo State University during his
National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from 1992 to 1993.He was the Administrative
Manager, Nigeria Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Apapa, from 1997
to 1999, Media Relations Manager, Slok Group Limited from 1998 to 1999, Special
Assistant (Research) to Chairman NARECOM in the Presidency, Abuja in 1996 and
Media Assistant to Abia State Governor, Government House, Abia, from 1999 to
2000, among others. He has a total of 50 awards including
appreciation/commendation letters.
James is
married to Princess Folasade from Ogun State and they are blessed with three
children: a boy and two girls.
Personalities
who graced the occasion among others included: the celebrant’s father, Chief
James; Poet and former Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (SNA), Lagos
Chapter, Daga Tola; poet
and former Chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Abuja chapter, Eriata Oribhabor; Literary icon and media expert, Richard
Mammah; Dike Ejiagamba 1 of Ndigbo, Dr. Cyril Osuji; founder of Kinder Heart
Foundation, Chaplain Justina Kelechi; James’ friend who read his citation,
Dickson Onuoha; Pastor and a magazine publisher, Dr. Emma Andrew; and founder
of the Children And The Environment (CATE), foremost Nigerian non-governmental
oragnisation (NGO), Miss Sola Alamutu.
To spice up
the event, students from Mercyfield College, Lagos entertained guests with choreography,
drama titled ‘Shole’ and dancing completion.
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