By Alex Adeiza
Dr. Thomas Adaba is his name, but popularly called Dr Tom. I’ve met this man just twice. And those moments, are of great fulfillment to me. Especially the second time I met him.
Let’s talk about the first. I was in my departmental library, casually perusing through the shelves like a playful child who is not ready to read anything book. But my mission there became defeated the point I set my eyes on an NBC magazine. I picked it up, and began to skim through the pictures, merely attending to captions. Just like every average Ebira youth, I was already conversant with the name Dr. Tom Adaba, but had no idea that I share the same field, same hobbies and passion with the man who is 75 today.
Looks like I’ve derailed from my story. Yes! The magazine. I got to a page where top stalwarts of NBC are listed. And my eyes bounced on a name that would sought for a ‘rebounce.’ You already know the name right? Then let’s not waste time. That was how I picked my phone, and googled the name to see what I should have known. That was still how I got a role model in the field of Mass Communication, specifically, BROADCASTING.
Have you ever longed to meet someone? That had been my case till the day I met Daddy Tom, not on a page of a magazine anymore, but physically. We sat together. That is the second time I met him.
As an intern with Tao FM, early this year, I was privileged to be part of a broadcasting seminar organized by Ovidi Communications. Guess who was there to take us. Something tells me your guess was as wrong as one who was not part of that seminar. The person is Onimisi Adaba, an On Air Personality with the name O.J. (don’t know the meaning anyway). He was a perfect definition of a professional broadcaster; a confirmation of the quote, “a lion does not give birth to a goat.” Dear O.J., since this article is not for you, let’s go back to Daddy.
Daddy Tom came in while the seminar was already on. And he sat just by my side, like my close friend in class. He paid good attention to the lecture, but I was distracted by his huge, charismatic body. Just to add, he was so handsome on what I call “Doctoral Glasses.” The different times he took permission from his son to either buttress a point, answer a question, tell his story as a journalist during the military era, or even ask us questions, I marvelled at not just his experiences and wisdom, but his spoken English, and of course, his firm grip of the language of his forefathers.
Within me, all I could ask for, is a third time with Daddy. And even if I meet him tomorrow, if it is not as a graduate and an OAP, with his role model, then the third time has not arrived.
Happy 75th Birthday Daddy,
Your Boy,
Alex Adeiza (the one O.J. gave ‘Double A.’)
