Tribute: C.K George, Epitome of Courage, by Kunle Awobodu

On Tuesday, 13th February, 2024, in the midst of activities on a building site at Lekki, Lagos, the thought of Tpl. Mrs. Catherine Kehinde George lacerated my concentration.

I made a call to her husband, Arc. Gilbert Akintola George, an architect. He informed me that she would be discharged from hospital later in the day. I heaved a sigh of relief.

” I’ll endeavour to pay her a visit at home tomorrow morning,” I asseverated to the husband, inwardly nursing an exciting hope.

Later that night, I received a text message from Arc. George, ” Sad! We lost the battle.”

I could presume the lugubrious look of the bereaved. Before my imaginary gaze, I could see the hope I built throughout the day swaying. Suddenly, it collapsed, splintering unsalvageably on the ground. Forlorn hope!

I braced up and made some phone calls. An arrangement was concluded with notable BCPG leaders to pay a condolence visit to her family the following morning.

From the window of my room, I glanced at the firmament. A click in the hindsight flickered and reeled out her activities in my subconsciousness. The apogee of our professional relationship that fossilised deep in my memory began to dangle before my implacable glare.

Her participation in the activities of the multi- disciplinary organisation named Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) revealed the stuff she was made of.

Mrs. C.K. George, an Australian trained and a seasoned Nigerian town planner, belonged to the sparsely populated class of resolute women, who, against all odds, would pursue the mission they believed in with great vigour.

In those days, it was only the exceptionally courageous female student that pioneered ventures into the male-dominated course of study/ profession.

One of the most sensitive roles of BCPG is correcting the corrupt practices that enhance the causative factors of building collapse.

Added to this challenge is the egoistic attitude of the conservative ones in the system who are determined to preserve the status quo, repelling innovative support from professionals in the private sector.

Territorial defence: Under this circumstance, some toes are bound to be stepped upon in the evangelism against building collapse.

In reality, the work against building collapse menace is not an easy row to hoe. Threats and calumny could be harvested, tempting one to succumb to cowardly retreat.

However, commitment is strengthened by Edmund Burke’s maxim that, “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing.”

Lagos is considered as the epicentre of building collapse in the world. Many lives have been lost, several people have been injured, countless property destroyed in collapsed buildings that could have been averted. How would the concerned salve their conscience?

Should professionals in the Nigerian built environment fold their arms while their reputation, credibility and competence are being subjected to ridicule in the global world?

There are four major qualities that make one qualify for a leadership position in the BCPG voluntary service: Professional competence, integrity, passion for selfless service and courage.

On Thursday, 7th February, 2013 at the BCPG meeting held at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners ( NITP), Ikeja, Lagos, Tpl. Mrs. C. K. George was unanimously elected to succeed the outgoing Chairman Of Building Collapse Prevention Guild Lagos State Chapter. She possessed all the four intrinsic prerequisites for the BCPG leadership.

Her impressive pedigree as the first female town planner in Africa and the only female that held the chairmanship position of the NITP Lagos State Chapter, recording creditable performance ossified our resolve to support her nomination as the first female to lead BCPG in Lagos State.

Despite her age, on Tuesday, 19th of February, 2013, she was prominent in the BCPG team that went to Abeokuta for a meeting with some leaders of the built environment professional bodies in Ogun State towards the establishment of BCPG in the state.

For many months that followed, Mrs. C.K. George was in the forefront of BCPG campaigns to the general meetings of all the seven built environment professional bodies in Lagos State. She attended programmes of BCPG Cells ( branches) across Lagos State.

The advocacy against building collapse that has gained remarkable momentum, constant and wide press coverage/ publicity was taken by her to the door steps of relevant state government agencies and local government authorities.

One must commend her husband, Arc. G. A. George for donating sufficient tolerance that buoyed up her activities.

She made sacrifices, served meritoriously and completed her tenure as the Chairman of BCPG Lagos State Chapter.

On Thursday, 15th January, 2015, at the BCPG General Meeting held at the Secretariat, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors Lagos State Branch, Ikeja, Lagos, she handed over the mantle of BCPG leadership in Lagos State to Arc. Wunmi Agbaje.

Her active and glorious tenure with her dependable exco members was applauded with epithets.

She symbolised the patriotic Nigerian of the early independence period that could expend personal resources for the betterment of mankind. What a selfless and courageous woman!

On 24th October, 2016, she presented to the BCPG Library her book titled, ‘ Basic Principles and Methods of Urban and Regional Planning’.

The foreword of the book was written by the Governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, attesting to the proficiency of ‘Mama of Planning in Africa’.

In recognition of her achievements as the Chairman of the NITP Lagos State Chapter and Chairman, BCPG Lagos State Chapter respectively, she was honoured as one of the seven distinguished Amazons in the Nigerian seven built environment professions. The memorable event was hosted by BCPG Kosofe Cell at Ogudu, Lagos on Thursday, 6th July, 2023.

The event turned out as the last harmony of accolades, heralding her final and permanent retirement from professional activism.

Though she died at a prime age of 75, the sermon of Seneca, the Roman tragedian is very applicable to her experience, ” Life is not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.”

Indagating apposite epitaph for the BCPG Mama that will be interred in Lagos on Wednesday, 24th of April, 2024, I have found the unusual one habilitated in ABSOLUTE COURAGE.

Sustainability of her legacy in the struggle against the inhuman building collapse menace and promotion of safe and organised built environment will serve as the consolation for the loss, her eternal rest.

Adieu our indefatigable, undaunted and focused BCPG Leader.

I hereby give a final appreciative salute to a patriotic Nigerian in a nation where patriotism has become a very scarce commodity.

*Builder Kunle Awobodu, an advocate against building collapse, is the pioneer national President of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild ( BCPG) and a past national President of the Nigerian Institute of Building ( NIOB).