"Unparalleled excellence always seems to draw some mystery to itself …"
Femi J. Kolapo
Absolutely!
Permit me to add the following story to the many about Professor Toyin Falola that illustrates the above point.
Years ago, when I was still serving as the editor in-chief of the International Journal of Nigerian Studies and Development, we received a submission/article on a topic that relates to one of Professor Falola's areas of expertise. (I will keep the exact topic and title private to "protect the innocent", as they say).
Anyhow, I sent the paper to Falola and two others for blind peer review (after checking signals as is customary to make sure potential reviewers are willing and able to find time to do so in a timely manner giving other and more important things on their schedule). I asked the reviewers to let me know their overall disposition (i.e. if the article should be: accepted for publication or accepted for publication contingent on minor revision or undergo major revision or rejected). I also asked that they be as specific as possible about what needs to be changed or improved and how; and supplement with comments in the paper, If suggesting revision or improvement. And I suggested that they consider the following criteria in the review:
CONTENT
CONTRIBUTION: Expands or updates research and knowledge base about Nigeria/ Africa.
USEFULNESS: Includes theoretical or practical implications that can help development professionals and policy makers improve their effectiveness.
RIGOR: Content is logically or theoretically supported and based on valid and reliable information.
READABILITY
INTEREST: Captures and holds your interest and attention.
MECHANICAL ACCURACY: Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, etc.
The "over achiever cum servant leader extraordinaire" that he is, Falola was not about to simply review the paper on its own and according to the above general instruction. Instead, in addition to the above criteria, he wanted to also review the paper in the context of our journal's history and record. (An example of how Falola goes the extra mile routinely and with grace.) Towards that end, Professor Toyin Falola took time from his very busy schedule to search the University of Texas at Austin library for back issues of our journal. When he could not find that at the library, he contacted me to request electronic copies, which I sent to him. And, he completed and sent his meticulous review in a timely fashion. The paper was rejected based on feedback from all the reviewers, but the fantastic review and feedback from Falola helped the writer understand not just the shortcoming, but what to improve on and how. And through that simple interaction with Falola, I learned a little more about selfless service, hard work, and search for excellence. So to my broda, Toyin Falola, I say thank you and congratulations. May your days be long.
Okey Ukaga
--Proud to belong.Professor Ayandiji Daniel AINA, PhDDean, Babcock Business School,Babcock University,Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State,Nigeria.Main email: ainaay@babcock.edu.ngAlternate email: dijiaina@yahoo.com"Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less" - Rick Warren.My Prof,
Congratulations again, again and again. You deserve to. Be celebrated by ALL. You have really done us proud. May God protect and preserve you in the years ahead. Amen!Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2013 02:05:10 +0000To: townendp@uncw.edu<townendp@uncw.edu>; Ezekiel Walker<Ezekiel.Walker@ucf.edu>; Samuel Oloruntoba<soloruntoba09@gmail.com>; theai@earthlink.net<theai@earthlink.net>; fleming_tyler@columbusstate.edu<fleming_tyler@columbusstate.edu>; oyeniyib@gmail.com<oyeniyib@gmail.com>; Caroline Tushabe<tushabe@k-state.edu>; Hallie Ringle<hallieringle@gmail.com>; bimbola adelakun<adunnibabe@yahoo.com>; Paul Brenard Chiudza Banda<pbchiudzabanda@mix.wvu.edu>; Michael Vickers<mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>; misschristines@yahoo.com<misschristines@yahoo.com>; esperanza26@mac.com<esperanza26@mac.com>; morenikeji_asaaju@yahoo.com<morenikeji_asaaju@yahoo.com>; Daniel.stephen@colorado.edu<Daniel.stephen@colorado.edu>; ShainR@philau.edu<ShainR@philau.edu>; tonyafejuku@yahoo.com<tonyafejuku@yahoo.com>; chikowero@history.ucsb.edu<chikowero@history.ucsb.edu>; Omar H. Ali<ohali@uncg.edu>; Professor Rosalyn Howard<rhoward@mail.ucf.edu>; babatunde@lincoln.edu<babatunde@lincoln.edu>; Segun Ogungbemi<seguno2013@gmail.com>; benweiss13@gmail.com<benweiss13@gmail.com>; ARIBIDESI.USMAN@asu.edu<ARIBIDESI.USMAN@asu.edu>; agoyito2006@yahoo.co.uk<agoyito2006@yahoo.co.uk>; Doron, Roy S.<doronrs@wssu.edu>; mickie@mwanzia.com<mickie@mwanzia.com>; Daniel Jean-Jacques<daniel.jean-jacques@hotmail.com>; rparise@emory.edu<rparise@emory.edu>; Kofi Asante<kofiasante2015@u.northwestern.edu>; Bridget Teboh<bteboh@umassd.edu>; umukoro_nathaniel@biari.brown.edu<umukoro_nathaniel@biari.brown.edu>; bisolafalola@gmail.com<bisolafalola@gmail.com>; ngithuku@mix.wvu.edu<ngithuku@mix.wvu.edu>; oabegunrin@Howard.edu<oabegunrin@Howard.edu>; Murrell, Samuel<murrells@uncw.edu>; Silvia Lorenso<silvialorenso@gmail.com>; meh3xa@virginia.edu<meh3xa@virginia.edu>; Heaton, Matthew<mheaton@vt.edu>; aborisade<olaaborisade@msn.com>; emeagwali@mail.ccsu.edu<emeagwali@mail.ccsu.edu>; udoguei@appstate.edu<udoguei@appstate.edu>; Steven J Salm<sjsalm@xula.edu>; nana Amponsah<amponsahn@uncw.edu>; dialogue<USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; Yoruba Affairs<yorubaaffairs@googlegroups.com>ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.comSubject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Successful conference of TF at 60: GratitudeDear all:
In the wake of so successful a conference as the one we have shared this weekend, I find myself compelled to express my deep gratitude to all involved. This was truly an incredible event, and the contributions necessary to make it happen are certainly not lost on me. To all those who traveled great distances to share this time with me, I extend my thanks. The life of a scholar is not one of leisure, and so I appreciate the sacrifices the participants in this conference made to be present. To those who could not be present, I also extend my warm regards. Though you could not be in Wilmington in the physical sense, I know that it would have takenmany more tables to accommodate all those who were there in spirit.
Most of all, I would like to thank those who gave of themselves to make this conference a reality. I wish to thank the Department of History, University of North Carolina, Wilmington for hosting this event on a beautiful campus – a setting truly befitting the distinguished scholarship which this weekend has witnessed. I further wish to thank those who contributed from their own means in order to finance this conference. That so many great scholars would give of their own purse to honor me in this way is humbling to consider. I cannot thank all of you enough. Of course, in addition to treasure, it is clear that this conference also required a great deal of sweat. To all those who put their backs to this burden, especially Dr. Nana Amponsah whose leadership in this effort was the firm foundation upon which this conference was built, I am eternally grateful. The effort that went into pulling the plough has truly shown itself in this weekend's rich harvest.
This conference has been a tremendous experience. To join respected colleagues, former students, and old friends – fromall over the world – in coming together to share in scholarship is the best way I can imagine to celebrate my sixtieth year. This conference has been a celebration of the intellectual pursuits to which I have dedicated my life, and it has not only reminded me of the accomplishments of Africanists in the past but also has assured me that such accomplishments will continue well into the future. Perhaps the greatest honor of all, however, was to be able to look across rooms full of colleagues and friends and know that my humble efforts over the years have had a real impact in my field and on thelives and careers of my colleagues. I count myself a truly fortunate man. Thank you.
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Executive Director and Extension Professor,
"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." - Richard Buckminster Fuller
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