Veteran broadcaster and former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Christopher Kolade, is dead. He was 92.
The family announced the elder statesman’s death in a statement on Thursday.
The statement said the late former Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria died peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
“We are thankful for his incredible life of faith and service, and are grateful for God’s abundant blessings,” the statement read in part.
President Bola Tinubu in a statement of condolence over the death of the elder statesman said, “I received with profound sadness the news of the passing of the inimitable Dr Christopher Kolade, a broadcaster and boardroom guru who is one of Nigeria’s intellectual treasures.”
Kolade had a distinguished career as a diplomat, academic, advocate for integrity and corporate governance, among other things.
Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Kolade was the son of an Anglican missionary. He attended Government College, Ibadan, before proceeding to Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he completed his higher education.
Kolade began his career in broadcasting, eventually rising to the position of Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation.
He later became Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he was widely recognised for his ethical leadership and corporate reforms.
He was also Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, leaving behind a legacy of diplomacy, integrity, and professionalism.
Kolade taught Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at the Lagos Business School and Leadership & Conflict Management at the School of Media & Communication, both part of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos.
He was a member of the university’s Governing Council, also served as its Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, and was later Chancellor of McPherson University, Ogun State.
President Tinubu’s personally signed statement reads:
“I received with profound sadness the news of the passing of the inimitable Dr Christopher Kolade, a broadcaster and boardroom guru who is one of Nigeria’s intellectual treasures.
“Dr Kolade, 92, was a custodian of our enterprise history, especially concerning corporate governance and human resources management. He was a principal figure in reputable institutions like the Lagos Business School.
“He was among the finest of men. He was exceptionally brilliant, statesmanly, diligent, and had unimpeachable integrity.
“Dr Kolade was not only a boardroom icon, serving as one-time chief executive and chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, but he was also a patriot and an uncompromising advocate of transparency and accountability in governance.
“He served Nigeria dutifully, with honesty and great dedication. From working as a colonial-era education officer to serving as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and director-general of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr Kolade left ineffaceable stamps of distinction in every endeavour, whether in the boardroom, on panels, or public office.
“I recall his many humanitarian interventions through the Christopher Kolade Foundation, especially his support for sickle cell patients, a cause to which he donated a chunk of his earnings.
“Dr Kolade’s passing is agonising, yet we must celebrate his life and legacy. He lived an exemplary life and immortalised himself in his uncommon service to our nation and humanity.
“He will remain an inspiration for us and for many generations. He was a representation of the true Nigerian, selfless and resilient. May God Almighty, whom he served so faithfully, grant him eternal rest.”
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President & Commander-in-Chief,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
