“If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you die and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth writing” – Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790, First US Postmaster-General.
While writing this tribute, I found the above quotation by an American historical personality who died over two centuries ago (234 years!) irresistible because of its “glove fit” to the life and times of the late Tpl. C. K. George, whose sudden death occurred on February 13, 2024.
Tpl. C.K. George’s character and personality: She embodied hard work, integrity, aplomb, courage, charisma, intellect, humility, patience, simplicity, comportment, beauty, brain, decency, and religiosity.
Primus inter pares professional of no mean achievements: Professionally, she was a trailblazer with a string of “firsts” achievements that stood tall among her gender professional peers. Please permit me to reel them out:
- The First Female Professional Town Planner, 1972.
- The first female Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, 1987.
- The first female African Chartered Fellow of the Royal Town Planning Institute of Britain, 1990.
- The first female Chairperson of Lagos Mainland Local Planning Authority, 1998-1999.
- The first female Chairperson of NITP Lagos State Chapter, 1998-2000.
- The first female African Town Planner inducted to the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame at Abuja in November 2007.
She received uncountable professional and women leadership awards nationally and internationally.
An excellent educator: Her depth of professionalism was evident in how she imparted knowledge to her students as an academic, initially at the Lagos State Polytechnic 1986 and later at Yaba College of Technology 1986-2000, where she honed her teaching skills in Town Planning.
From sampled opinions among the students under her tutelage and guidance over the years, she was held in high esteem. She was acknowledged as a committed lecturer with a knack for details and an encourager who made her students learn, grow, and feel welcomed in her campus office.
A former student with whom this writer interfaced quipped, “My lecturer (Mrs. C. K. George), with her intimidating body frame and towering height, seems larger than life but, on close contact, she is approachable, friendly and motherly with her infectious smile.”
An accomplished author: Going back to Benjamin Franklin’s axiom quoted above, Tpl. C. K. George was an inimitable, prolific writer. She had both collections of intellectual works and books worth reading. Her books delight readers of all ages, especially the 4th edition of her seminal book on the Basic Principles and Methods of Urban and Regional Planning, rated variously in glowing praises by most reviewers/readers as “authoritative, value-added, comprehensive, lucid, reader-friendly and well-fortified with examples and live case studies. The book is invaluable for town planning professionals, train-the-trainers, and predominantly urban and regional planning students.”
Her legacy: Tpl. C. K. George left a legacy of practical wisdom. She helped to fill a void in planning literature. She did many commendable things to increase the visibility of the town planning profession in Nigeria, which are worth writing about but impossible to capture in this brief tribute due to space constraints. An appeal to her professional colleagues and students is that they should sustain the legacy of Tpl. C. K. George for posterity.
The threnody: Tpl. C. K. George left us when we least expected. Her departure to the celestial world was heartbroken, but who are we to question the all-knowing God? As a woman of undiluted faith who served God conscientiously, she would be warmly received in heaven, her eternal home.
We commiserate with her immediate and extended families in their period of grief. The good Lord shall continue to console them and wipe their sorrow away. Adieu.
By Tpl. Yacoob Abiodun (Pioneer Secretary, Housing Policy Council; Planning Advocate)
