By Olayinka Ajayi & Gerald Onwuka

Prince Rabiu Adio Oluwa is the new Chairman of Island Club, Lagos founded in 1948 by 50 prominent Nigerians. The Club’s membership cuts across all tribes and tongues. In this interview, Oluwa, who is also one of the trustees of Waka Club, founded in 1945, speaks on the challenge of matching today’s Island Club to the good old days. Excerpts:

Being a very busy individual, what compelled you to contest for the chairmanship of Island Club?

I am a socialite and we have about six or seven groups in this Club. When the opportunity came for the election, my friends came to me, saying with all the problems we faced in the Club, I am the only one they felt could address them head on. Initially I told them no, but when they insisted, I had to summon the courage because I don’t want the Club to die. There were three of us who contested for the chairmanship, but one thing is germane: I did not hold any office before but, during the campaign, the elders wanted to keep to tradition. One of the aspirants was Assistant Social Secretary, another Social Secretary, and the third Vice Chairman. So it was a matter of fighting the tradition of the club.

What are your plans and programs?

We have many plans and programs which we promised during our electioneering campaign. We identified about two or three major challenges. One is the epileptic power supply which is giving us concern especially in the area of the cost of diesel. You are aware of the cost of diesel. The second is our car park, members used to park their vehicles outside but due to insecurity we don’t allow vehicles to park outside anymore. We can’t park about 30 vehicles when we have over a thousand members.

How do you describe the influence of members today when compared with the intimidating credentials of the founding members of the Club?

Island Club is a premier social club in Nigeria especially when you hear of the founding fathers like Sir Adeyemo Alakija, JK Randle, Akerele and Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu among others. Island Club is a place where Nigeria’s problems were solved. The former Prime Minister of Nigeria Tafawa Balewa was living close to the Club; next to him was Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh among other prominent Nigerians.

Some people are of the view that the Club should be what it used to be during the good old days?

At that time, we had a lot of judges, lawyers, and top Nigerians who were members. In fact, Island Club was Nigeria itself. In those days, being a member was very rigorous in terms of the screening and interview. For instance, when I just came back from London, I wanted to become a member in 1970, but I was prevented from joining the Club. But, nowadays, things have changed.

Now that you are Chairman, how do you reverse the trend?

We can only do things that perhaps would raise the standard for people to be part of us but we cannot get back to the old days. It’s impossible. But we will raise the standard to a level that the founding fathers would be proud of.

Don’t you think you possess the stamina to match the good old days?

All I am saying is that the social aspect of it will be challenging. Look at life members, for instance, they have been here for the past 60 to 70 years. Many were young managers of companies, CEOs but are retired; they only come once in a while.

What are the goals you intend to achieve during your tenure?

Like I said earlier, we are determined to achieve most of the projects we have set before us as a Board like reuniting members, attending to the epileptic power challenge and reconstructing the car park. Island Club is not a stock exchange or financial market, it is a place where members come to unwind and network with friends.

When do you intend to bring to the fore issue based programs and issues that affect Nigeria?

We do have it occasionally but we are going to improve on that. I don’t belong to where they are creating problems. I am a problem solver. So, very soon, things will take shape.

Tell us about the dispute resolution mechanism of Island Club…

There’s nowhere you don’t have problems , but one thing that is so important is that this is a Club where you come to enjoy yourself and not a place where you play politics. So there’s no problem that is not surmountable.

Is it still a detribalized Club?

There’s no question of tribalism in Island Club. It’s a Club for all Nigerians as a whole, we don’t discriminate.

What is the structure of the Club?

We have the Chairman, we have the Vice Chairman, we have the Secretary, the Management Committee, about 10 of them, we have the Board of Trustees who are the elders among others.

How is the members’ strength?

We have about 50 members who are co-founders of this Club. And currently we are over 7,000 members. Many are distance members. In the last election, about 400 members voted. Distance members don’t live in Lagos, many of them reside abroad but anytime they are in Lagos, they come to the Club.