John Adeomo Adeniyi Daudu

(aka FORMULA)

Mr. John Adeomo Adeniyi Daudu A.I.S.T; S.I.M.A; A.M.R.S.H; N.I.S.T. ( aka FORMULA )

John Adeomo Daudu, popularly known as FORMULA , was the eldest son of Lydia Olawumi Asiribo. He was born in Ogori, on 24 May 1941. He completed his primary education in Saint Andrews Catholic School Ogori in 1956 with a brilliant performance in the First School Living Certificate Examination.

He left home as a teenager to places where he could find greener pastures and did not return for a long time. He began his career as a Laboratory Technician in Ahmadu Bello University in 1960, and in 1965, was awarded the Bell and Howard Motion Picture Projector Operator Certificate. In 1970, he obtained the London City and Guide Ordinary Diploma in Science technology, and in 1977, he bagged the Advanced Diploma in Laboratory Instrumentation from the Chadwell Health Training Centre in London.

Mr. Daudu also obtained the Paddington College Certificate in Instrumentation and the Science Laboratory Technician's Part II Certificate in 1978. In addition, he also took and passed the Joint Instrument Manufacturers' Association and Paddington College Systematic and Environmental Biology Laboratory Technique courses in 1979.

Mr. Daudu has worked as laboratory technician in several institutions in this country. These include (1). The Catholic Mission Hospital, Kabba; (2). Ministry of Agric, Kabba; (3). Nigerian Brewery LTD, Kaduna; (4). Nortex Nigerian Ltd; and (5). M.O.W.H.O, Kaduna.

He joined the staff of Ahmadu Bello University in 1964 and rose to the rank of an Assistant Chief Technologist before his retirement in 1996. While in ABU, he had served in many laboratories the last two of which were those of SBS, and SGRS.

He was very intelligent stern and energetic. It would be right to say that Formula seemed to have fewer outlets to display his ingenuity than were available especially in his youthful days. It was sometimes difficult to classify him under one type of technical skill or the other because he constructed and dismantled just anything (wood, metal and plastic) as necessary and with similar expertise. His home was like a workshop and beside every home he lived was a garden with rich and succulent fruits of all kind. He also maintained relatively large farms in Zaria where he worked most weekends. He was excellent in organizing things and events.

FORMULA, as he was fondly known by all and sundry, was one of the most sociable persons among the community where he lived and worked. Students and Staff of ABU, especially the defunct SBS would never forget him. Tough as registration and examination organization was, he would fix everything and make sure that they ran smoothly. He was both feared and admired by students.

In his youth he owned a one-in –town motorcycle; and as he rode it through the streets of Zaria, he was hailed “Formular”, “Formular' by both young and old from all corners. Besides, he amazed people by the display his wits mixed with exaggerated humour. This attitude added to his fame as a man of formula. You could never cheat Formula. If he keeps quiet, you could be sure that he was planning a “bombshell” on you or someone who had stepped on his tows – all for a joke. He hardly gets angry, let alone quarrelling, because he is would always have the last laugh. His character is best described as ambivalent . Formula was, in reality an honest man: he did not care who gets hurt because he would always want to pursue truth to the best of his ability. Although he was a controversial figure, meaning different characters to different people – a phenomenon that earned him the name “Formula” , he was very humane, kind, generous and jovial.

He loved and was endeared to all who really know who he was. He was a disciplinarian, yet very compassionate. His house served as the first accommodation for all newly admitted Ogori and none Ogori students to ABU who had accommodation problems. It also served as refuge for visitors, particularly applicants. He would accommodate you as long as you are ready to take the discipline he meted out to his own children. Besides school fees and basic requirements which he gave to his children only, there was no discrimination among all that resided in his home. He gave equal food, shelter and responsibilities to them.

He was always concerned about the problem of others and would do all his best to assist. This was testified to by various people who gave testimony during his funeral; notably one of his beneficiaries who was in a desperate situation when he was in London.

Mr. J.A Daudu was also a religious man. He was strong adherent to the Catholic faith, and he was not only very active in church activities, he performed them with all his vigour. He put the same energy into his religious activities as he did for his secular jobs.

Among his children are:

5. Eboshun Eshagbaje	4. Bose

Formula died at the age of 60, on 29 th December 2001, after a brief illness. His funeral was a “one of”, both in the series of activities that followed and the “who is who” across the country that paid him the last respect. The memory of Formula and his selfless service to humanity will ever remain green in all who have come in close association with him.