Tanimowo Oyesanya
Eighty-two-year-old Tanimowo Oyesanya shares the story of her life and practice as a law librarian with GBENGA ADENIJI
When were you born?
I was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State on February 2, 1932 to the late Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Abraham Okupe and OloriJolade Okupe. My mother was the first wife and I am the first of her four children. I attended Methodist Nursery School at Isale-Oko, Sagamu, Ogun State and later Sagamu Girls’ School. I was there till 1946 before I moved to Methodist Girls’ High School, Lagos. After leaving the school in 1950, I went to the United Missionary College, Ibadan, Oyo State.
What did you do next after leaving the school?
I went to teach for sometime at Sagamu Girls School. It was like a teacher training college for females. I taught English Language, Mathematics and History. The teaching experience was great and I did my best to educate the pupils who were mainly female. It was from the school that I moved to the United Kingdom for further studies in 1954.
How were you able to withstand the stress of moving from one state to the other to study?
I once stayed with my grandmother when I was in Ogun State. At Ibadan, I lived in the school. While I was in Lagos, I lived with my aunt, Mrs. Adepero Adebiyi, who was a lawyer. She took good care of me and ensured I lacked nothing. My parents also made sure I was comfortable as I moved out of their sight to acquire more education. When I was in the palace, there was restriction. People only visited and after they finished what they came for, they left. Life in the palace was a regimented one for me then.
What course did you study in the UK?
I studied Law on the encouragement of my aunt. She once told me that she would love me to study Law. I loved her so much and would do anything she wanted me to do. That was why I decided to study Law. Besides, I was impressed with the way she carried out her profession. My mother was a teacher but she quit teaching when she got married.
How did your parents react to your decision to study Law?
They did not object to it. In fact, they liked the idea that I was going abroad for further studies. Life in the UK was interesting; we always had fun on weekends. We would dance to the music of the late Fela. We also watched good movies at the cinemas during our leisure time. My best film then was My Fair Lady; an adaptation of the stage play written by Pygmalion and George Bernard Shaw. The lectures were rigorous but I was able to blend well. I was eventually called to the bar at the Lincoln’s Inns in 1961.
Did you have any male admirer while you were in the UK?
There were many admirers but I had a man I wanted to marry. We courted for about 10 years. We continued the relationship in London. When we were courting, we did not see each other all the time but knew we would marry because we were serious about the relationship. My mother was aware that we were dating and she approved it. We got married on December 24, 1960.
What qualities did you see in him?
My husband, Olu Oyesanya, was a journalist. He was passionate about how to make the profession prestigious. He had a calm voice and was a polite man. These were the qualities I was looking out for in men before I met him. Why I rejected other men and married Olu was because, apart from the fact that they lacked the qualities I saw in him, they were too much in a hurry about everything. I wanted a cool and quiet gentleman. He was also very sound and when he said no, he genuinely meant it.
When you returned to the country, did you practise law?
Yes, I practised law for some years at my aunt’s chambers. I was there before the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, invited me to work as the librarian of Nigerian Law School. I was there for 30 years from 1962 to 1992. My job involved making law books, local and international journals on law available for law students and law teachers. I read the books and assisted lawyers who wanted certain law books. Lawyers also came from abroad to the Law School to inquire about the laws of Nigeria and I assisted them. It was quite challenging. My job allowed me to be able to contribute my quota to the training of lawyers and assist those researching about the laws of the country. As at the time I started the job, my child was always sick and I had to take her to the hospital. I was then getting late to the office. I even had to change to a private hospital because it was quicker. But I kept on with the job because I loved what I was doing. There was a day I got to the office late and my boss told me to choose between my career and family. I told him there was no way I could make such a choice and that my family was paramount to me. Since that day, he did not say anything since he was also a married man. I am fulfilled as a lawyer because I was able to help young student lawyers achieve their dreams. I did my work well and loved it while it lasted.
What have you been doing after your retirement?
After my retirement, I inaugurated a Non-Governmental Organisation to reform offenders. We visited prisons to counsel the inmates and we gave them some used clothing materials. I also established the Law Library Association and members came from the Harvard, Columbia and Yale universities. There was a man named Mr. Andrew Cohen, who supported me with the idea and mobilised the law librarians who partook in our meetings. It is correct to say that I am the first law librarian in Nigeria.
How many are your children and what do they do?
I have five children; four girls and a boy. Two of them are lawyers. One is an engineer, another is a public relations practitioner and there is also a businessman among them.
Did you encourage the two of them who studied Law to do so?
No, I did not encourage them to study law. They did so of their own volition. They chose the career path they desired. I don’t believe in choosing courses for children. It is always better for parents to allow their children to study what they desire and have capacity for.
What kind of training did you give your children?
I trained them to be independent and become responsible individuals.
Where is your husband?
He took ill and died after sometime. He died on October 24, 1999. We had a very wonderful time together before he passed on. He was a very good journalist and he later became a diplomat. There was a time he was called to serve as the Director of Information attached to the Nigerian High Commission in the UK. While we were abroad with the children, I met the Queen more than three times at Buckingham Palace. Sometimes, family members of diplomats would be asked to formally introduce themselves. When it got to my turn, I would jokingly say, ‘I am Princess Tanimowo Oyesanya from Nigeria’ to show that I am from a royal family. It was fun as he took the family to many interesting places. He was really a good man.
How did your family cope during the civil war?
My husband was still working in the UK then and the family moved there to join him. We returned after the war in 1971. He later joined us because he was still busy with his work at the time we were leaving for Nigeria.
How has it been coping without him?
I try to live with the reality of his death. After his death, I used to keep myself busy with the activities of the NGO in order not to think too much of him. It was not easy to cope without him but now that I am old, I don’t feel it much because my children and grandchildren are always around me.
How do you relax?
I relax by chatting.
Do you do any form of exercise?
Yes, I ride my immovable plastic bicycle an hour every day. I don’t ride more than an hour so that I don’t overstretch my muscles.
What is your favourite meal?
I enjoy any meal that is well prepared. Specifically, I like ebiripo (cocoyam meal) ebe (porridge), ikokore, fried and jollof rice.
What differences have you noticed while studying Law and now?
In my time as a law student, there were more male law students, unlike now that females studying law have increased. It is a good development and I also want to encourage female lawyers to continue to distinguish themselves professionally.
What challenges do law librarians face?
There are many challenges they face. The first challenge is that they are seen as only assisting law lecturers. People often say they are not lecturers and all those funny remarks. The truth is that they are very relevant in all law institutions. In every law faculty in any university, there is a law librarian to make useful law books and materials available for law lecturers.
What is your advice to parents and aspiring lawyers?
Parents should not force their children to do anything against their wish. It is good that they consistently guide them in the right path, but they should be careful not to overdo it. They should also create time for them and not be too busy to give their children attention. This is very important. For those who want to study law, they should show commitment to it from the beginning and study hard. I also want to advise them to be focused and give their best to their education and not give their attention to many things at the same time.