Nigeria, Jan. 29 -- It was in the heat of the day's activities that the news filtered in that a new deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) had emerged at the Lagos State University (LASU), and it was no other person than the cerebral Professor Oseni Taiwo Afisi. The first person I called was Dr Adeolu Oyekan, my lecturer turned bosom friend. "It's true," he confirmed to me, disclosing that he had just ended a phone conversation with the second most senior official in the LASU hierarchy.

I rang Professor Afisi to congratulate him but he was on another call. After reading my WhatsApp message much later, he called back. "George!" to which I replied, "DVC, sir, Congratulations!" The conversation was brief but it left me inspired. Professor Afisi has b...