User:EMIJEBODA/sandbox

JOSHUA OLUWAFEMI IMMANUELLEKE JEBODA (JOJ)

Femi Jeboda, popularly referred to as JOJ, was born on 11 September 1933 in Odogbolu, Ogun State, Nigeria. He died peacefully at home in Ibadan on 30 July 2017. He is survived by wives, several children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Femi Jeboda was a Spiritual Philosopher, Educator, and Writer. He worked as a Secondary School Tutor, Headmaster, Journalist, Author, Publisher and Company Executive.

Femi Jeboda was a Trained and Certified tutor, and a Freelance writer in Yoruba and English language. He was renowned for his work on popular Yoruba fiction book – OLOWOLAYEMO.

Early Life

Femi Jeboda attended Olowogbowo Methodist Primary School, Lagos from 1941 – 1944 and then St Paul’s (Anglican) Primary School, Odogbolu from 1945 – 1947.

For his secondary education, Femi Jeboda attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos from 1948 – 1952 and eventually Ifako Teacher’s College, Agege, Lagos from 1953 – 1954.

Femi Jeboda proceeded for his Tertiary Education and Trainings in the following:

Apprentice/Sub-editor, Daily Times, Lagos (1959 – 1960)

In Service Training on Social Development in the Public Service of Old Western region of Nigeria (1960 – 1966)

Training in Social Investigation Methods by secondment and attachment to Harvard University programme based at The Nigerian Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), University of Ibadan (1963 – 1964)

Studied for B.Sc. Economics degree as a private student (1959 – 1964)

Obtained a degree in Philosophy, University of London (1965)

Advanced Studies in Creative Writings in United Kingdom (1978 – 1985)

Advanced Studies in Ecumenical Matters in the UK, Nigeria and USA (1985 – 2007)

Career and Jobs

Femi Jeboda worked as a Trained Primary School Teacher from 1954 – 1956, and then became a Headmaster (within last two years of employment). Between 1957 and 1958, he worked as an English Master at Secondary Modern School after which he worked as a Yoruba teacher/Head Teacher at Ago Iwoye Secondary School from 1959 to 1960.

In order to pursue his passion for writing and creativity, he became an Editor of Children’s magazine and Community Development Bulletins for Ministry of Economic Planning and Community Development, Old Western Region in 1961 and stayed in the position until 1966 after when he became the Western Regional Representative for Longmans Nigeria Limited in 1966 until 1970.

Subsequent jobs include Publicity/Sales Promotions Manager at Oxford University Press, Nigeria from 1970 to 1972, Marketing Manager at CSS Bookshops, Nigeria from 1972 to 1976 before he travelled to UK where he worked in several positions in Cinema and Entertainment Business from 1979 to 1999 whilst undertaking Part Time Advanced Studies in Creative Writings and Ecumenical Studies in United Kingdom. He eventually retired as a Casino Cashier whilst undertaking Part Time Advanced Ecumenical Studies, a position he held from 1999 to 2005.

Publications

Femi Jeboda published several pamphlets in English for Primary and Secondary Modern Schools in Nigeria; he also published several pamphlets in Yoruba for the Western Region Literature Committee which later became the general publications section of the Ministry of Education, Old Western Region, Nigeria.

In 1960, Femi Jeboda wrote OLOWOLAYEMO, the first realistic novel ever written in Yoruba, although this was eventually published in 1964, it won the 1st prize for original realistic novels in Nigerian languages organised to mark Nigerian independence in 1960. OLOWOLAYEMO earned Femi Jeboda an entry into many encyclopaedias including Encyclopaedia Britannica under African Literature ( https://www.britannica.com/biography/Femi-Jeboda).

Femi Jeboda’s second main book entitled AFINJU ADABA, a Yoruba novelette was published also in 1964 and subsequently, his OLOYINMOMO consisting of  Books 1 – 5 (now known as YORUBA GBAYI) was published in 1977.

Prior to his passing, Femi Jeboda was working on ‘My Ecumenical Studies’, which focuses on his studies on Christianity, this is expected to run into eight books.

Interests

Femi Jeboda was passionately involved in the ‘Christian Faith’, he spent all his adult life involved in church work and was writing books on the subject before passing away.

Femi Jeboda retired a full time writer in both English and Youruba language

Although not a politician, Femi Jeboda had followed Nigerian politics from age 19. One would be surprised how much he knows about Nigerian politics despite living in UK for over 30 years.

Femi Jeboda was truly an icon whose contribution to Yoruba Literature will live on.