Revered Nigerian elder statesman, diplomat, and academic, Dr. Christopher Kolade, has died at the age of 92. His family announced that he passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Born on December 28, 1932, Dr. Kolade was widely known as “Mr. Integrity” for his unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and corporate governance. His career spanned several fields, beginning as a colonial era Education Officer before transitioning into broadcasting. He rose to become the Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).
He later served as the Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he was credited with leading the company through its “golden era.” In diplomacy, he served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2002 to 2007.
After his diplomatic service, Dr. Kolade returned to academia, teaching Corporate Governance, Leadership, and Human Resources Management at Lagos Business School (LBS) and the School of Media & Communication (SMC) at Pan-Atlantic University. He also served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Pan-Atlantic University and was the Chancellor of McPherson University.
Dr. Kolade’s legacy includes his work in promoting business integrity through organizations like the Convention on Business Integrity and his role as the founding patron of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative. He was awarded the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2000. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice, and two sons.
