Nigeria has lost one of its most revered elder statesmen, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who passed away at the age of 92.

His family announced his passing in a statement on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, expressing gratitude for his impactful life.

“We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service, and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings,” the family said in part.

Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Dr. Kolade lived a life defined by integrity, discipline, and public service. The son of an Anglican missionary, he attended Government College, Ibadan, and later Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where his academic brilliance stood out. He received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Sierra Leone (1976) and McPherson University (2016).

Dr. Kolade began his career in broadcasting, rising through the ranks to become Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He later transitioned to the corporate world, serving as Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where his leadership earned widespread respect.

His distinguished record led to his appointment as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, a role in which he represented the country with honour and integrity.

Following his diplomatic service, Dr. Kolade became a leading voice in academia. He lectured in Corporate Governance and Human Resource Management at the Lagos Business School and in Leadership and Conflict Management at the School of Media and Communication, both under Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, where he also served as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.

Beyond academia, Dr. Kolade held key leadership positions in several professional and international bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the International Institute for Communications, and the World Association for Christian Communication.

In recognition of his service to humanity, he received numerous honours, including the Order of St. Augustine Medal from the Archbishop of Canterbury. In 2012, he was appointed by then-President Goodluck Jonathan as Chairman of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Board.

A tireless advocate for ethical leadership and transparency, Dr. Kolade also chaired the Integrity Organization Ltd GTE and The Convention on Business Integrity Ltd GTE.

His death marks the end of an era for a man celebrated for his moral courage, humility, and lifelong commitment to nation-building.