I have had three memorable encounters with Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi. They all happened under one week. And at different Rotary International programmes. The first was on Friday, July 1, 2022, and the second, on Saturday, July 2, 2022. The third was during the District Governor, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson’s visit to Rotary Club of Ikeja, on Monday, July 4, 2022.
“You are good!” He had said to me on the first day, holding one of my hands. As my head was “swelling”, like we say in Nigeria, he finished me off with, “and you are handsome too… How do you cope with… Please, take it easy o…” Sincerely, I was almost rolling on the floor, choking in laughter, as he went on and on teasing me.
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi is unarguably and undebatably too a very pleasant man. The octogenarian, who is still looking very good and agile for his age, has a way of making you feel relaxed in his presence and company. One of the ways the Ekiti prince does it is by dropping those unique one-liners of his that leave your ribs begging for mercy. Of course, he usually waits for you to catch some breath before dropping another. And another.
As the current District Secretary, I had devoted ample time to reading up and refreshing my memory on the profile of the doyen of our Past District Governors, in District 9110 Nigeria. Therefore, as soon as he was ushered into the hall, on my principal’s first day in office, to recognize and officially welcome him, I described the respected and reverred Rotarian as one of the untainted elder statesmen still standing strong; always immaculately and impeccably dressed, a lover of colour white and alphabet J, etc.
From the mic stand where I was calling the shots as the compere, I could see this heavy hitter who has remained as handsome as ever and aging gracefully nodding his head, with a smile on his face.
Done with the day’s programme, and as we filed out of the Keystone Bank hall, again, he pulled me closer and said, “What’s your profession?” We call it classification in Rotary. Immediately I mentioned journalism, he said no wonder! Quite a number of our District leaders, including the DG and first woman to attain that position in all of 42 years, saw him off to his SUV and he departed.
Day 2. This was at the installation ceremony of Mrs Lawson, aka Koseleri. It held at Highpoint Event Centre, in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. As soon as I went to his table to pay my obeisance, prior to the commencement of the programme, he teased me yet again by saying ‘our handsome DS.’ Ever generous with kind words and a smile so disarming, he commended my efik attire and from there returned to my performance at the previous programme.
Fortunately for me, towards the end of the programme, I sighted him making his way out of the hall and decided to accompany him to his SUV. He waved as I closed the door for him, and the driver sped off.
Enter day 3. The venue this time was the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja. A respecter of time and an epitome of everything excellent and exceptional, he arrived minutes before the 1PM agreed time. Again, he commended my bow tie as soon as I went to greet him. Wearing his trademark smile, he tried as much as possible to make the DG and members of her team feel at home. This was at the hotel lobby.
Inside their meeting venue, it continued. But this time with more fervor. Providentially, I found myself sitting next to him on the service table – and that was where and how my journalism antenna started working.
I knew without being told that, as an editor, if a reporter had returned from such an assignment and reported that he sat next to the founder of the first indigenous quoted company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Juli Plc as well as an erstwhile minister of health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without asking him a few questions, I would blast and tongue-lash him or her.
So, what did I do? I quickly brought out a note pad and biro. Positioned them well on the table, and then announced my intention or desire.
Gladly, he asked me to go ahead. First, as a student of success and also as one who has written seven solid books on that subject, I began our impromptu chat from there.
What exactly is the secret of success? I asked him pointedly. Adjusting his sitting position and his sparkling white agbada, he said: “First, you need to be content. Keep to your lane. Be grateful to God. Establish your lane. Identify a programme and focus on it. If you focus on your focus, you will become the focus. And good examples are Awo, Fela…”
On why he has continued to remain humble despite how high the Lord has taken him, he said: “You must know that you are not the one doing it. It is God that is using you as a messenger. So, it’s not you. You are only in a representative position.”
Back to success again, the pharmacist and lawyer who speaks multiple languages confirmed that “people are often offended by people who are successful.” He, however, advised that that notwithstanding, you still have to “keep to your lane, travel on it effectively and success will definitely be yours.”
Warming up to ask more questions, he whispered to me that another urgent and pertinent appointment was beckoning. Then, got up from his seat, exchanged greetings with his club members, especially those on the service table, nicely and neatly adjusted his agbada, and off he went.
As his white agbada and green pair of shoes and fila began to disappear, very close to the exit door, I muttered to myself: “Azuh, you must find a way of sitting down again with the Doyen of PDGs for a full interview. This is just an appetizer!”
Please, don’t ask me when and how. All I know is that God willing, we are definitely going to start from where we stopped when next I see this great man who epitomizes everything Rotary and currently serves as the chairman of MTN Foundation.
– Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of the bestsellers, The CEO’s Bible and Success Is Not Served A La Carte