EYITAYO LAMBO:

Unhindered by Life's Struggles...

Born December 28, 1944 in Isanlu, the headquarters of Yagba East local government area in Kogi State, Lambo was the first son of his elite father, Frank who was one of the first set of people to be exposed to western education in the area. His father retired early from government service due to ill health and became a farmer and aso-oke weaver. His mother, Rebecca was a petty trader, a clothes weaver who also made iru (locust beans). She was also a staunch member of the apostolic church where she was deaconess. His father was determined that Lambo must get education, and even though the young Lambo’s hand could not touch his opposite ear (as required at the time), the older Lambo pulled strings to get his son enrolled in primary school at the age of four. Of course, he was the youngest and smallest in his class, but he quickly excelled in his studies. His small size would later plague him several times later in life.

“Sadly, it was the very day we vacated when I was in Standard two that he passed on. I had looked forward to that day because I was coming home with a good result and I wanted to proudly hand it to him. He had been taken away from the house, a few days before then, but that day I saw people coming to console my mother very early in the morning, she was crying but that meant nothing to me. Next thing was that my siblings and I were taken to stay with my aunt. I was told my father had travelled and would bring me bread and butter when he returned; that consoled me,” he said.

When for several days after that, he could not find his father to hand over his results to he started to suspect something had gone wrong. He was seven at the time. His mother never remarried, remaining a widow for 58 years until she died in 2009 at the age of 92.

His father’s words however resonated with him through life.

“As young as I was, he told me a few things, and I am happy he told me those things that early in life. One, that I have to work hard, and with hard work, God would make me achieve anything, but that to succeed in life anywhere, education is vital. He promised to give me the