I am out to enhance relations between Nigeria and Germany. Would you like to be personally involved? I am open to friendship and projects. Germany and Nigeria have the largest economies in Europe and Africa respectively. The German day of Unity is October 3, whereas the Nigerian day of Independence is October 1. Germans and Nigerians excel in Mathematics, Science, Engineering, Technology, Sports and Culture.
For instance, German and Emeritus Pope Benedict was head of 1.2 billion Catholics, whereas Obasanjo by virtue of being the President of Nigeria, the world’s most populous black country, had been referred to as the torch bearer of 1.2 billion blacks worldwide.
Emeritus Pope Benedict and Ex President Obasanjo both have Doctorates in Theology. The Pope wrote his PhD titled ‘The People and the House of God in Augustine’s Doctrine of the Church’ whilst Obasanjo’s thesis is titled: ‘Resolving the unfinished Agenda in Liberation Theology; Leadership, Poverty and Underdevelopment in North Eastern Nigeria’.
Benedict was Pope for 8 years and Obasanjo was President for 8 years.
Benedict was consecrated Archbishop of Munich and Freising on 28 may, 1977, whereas Obasanjo was sworn in as President on 29 may, 1999.
Benedict was a soldier in the Second world war and Obasanjo a soldier who saw action during the Nigerian Civil War.
Secondly, Late Dora Akinyuli, then Nigerian Senatorial candidate and Doro(thea) Merkel the Present German Chancellor, were born July 14, 1954 and July 17, 1954 respectively. Both women bagged Doctorate degrees; Akinyuli in Pharmacy and relatedly, Merkel in Chemistry. Both Women served as ministers in the federal cabinet in their respective countries. Both women have been featured in the Forbes list of powerful women.
Oby Ezekwesili co-founded Transparency International in Berlin, Germany. She has been listed by the Albert Einstein foundation as one of the 100 top visionaries of her generation to mark the 100th anniversary of the presentation of Albert Einstein’s General theory of Relativity then in Berlin on November 25, 1915. This same day November 25, 1915, Chief Mrs. HID Awolowo was born and she became first lady of western Region in Ibadan – like Berlin, the political capital of Western Nigeria and the cultural capital then of Nigeria. Interestingly, Oby Ezekwesili was invited to give the first HID Awolowo Memorial Lecture. The Nigerian President would be sworn in on May 29, 2019, the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the General Theory of Relativity.
Albert Einstein and Wole Soyinka, the first Obafemi Awolowo Leadership Prize winner, are both Nobel prize winners, both composers, and both associated with the unconventional. Einstein loved sailing and Soyinka is a self-confessed Seadog. Einstein was born in Ulm (three letters). Soyinka was born in Ake (three letters). Einstein was at the University of Berlin, and Soyinka was at the University of Ibadan.
Max Planck and Sam Bajah were Physicist and Chemist respectively. Planck was the recognised head of German science and Bajah was honoured for his distinguished service to science worldwide. Planck was born April 23, 1858, and Bajah April 24, 1934. Planck and Einstein parted ways. Bajah was interred on march 14. 2008. the anniversary of the birth of Einstein. Bajah passed away on Februrary 23, 2008, three days to the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Max planck society for the promotion of science. Planck retired from the University of Berlin and Bajah Retired from the university of Ibadan.
