Ambassador Cyprian Terseer Heen and spouse.
By Milton Tella – The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Cyprian Terseer Heen has described the immediate past High Commissioner, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola as a man of honour, a remarkable individual who has dedicated his life to the service of Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria and indeed to humanity.
He traced Ambassador Isola’s successful public service and particularly at the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom to his unwavering dedication, notable accomplishment and exemplary leadership.
Ambassador Heen said, “His Excellency, Sarafa Isola, during his service he consistently demonstrated effective governance, with grace and dignity.
During his tour of duty as High Commissioner of Nigeria to the UK, he demonstrated his diplomatic finesse, administrative prowess and strategic vision.
Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with Britain became strengthened under him. Nigeria was able to show visibility at the Commonwealth and in the International Maritime Organization (IMO). Nigeria’s position on the global stage under him became greatly enhanced. As chair of the Commonwealth Accreditation Committee, he played a pivotal role in ensuring the effectiveness of that committee.”
Ambassador Cyprian Heen made this revelation during the valedictory ceremony held in honour of the former Nigeria High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola on Friday 27 October 2023 at the Tafida Hall of the Nigeria High Commission London.
Ambassador Heen further said, “As we celebrate His Excellency, Sarafa Isola and send him forth, we sincerely wish him and his family members, as they embark upon the next chapter of their lives, very graceful endeavors.
Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola has left a legacy and vision, which we all that as we seek for further visibility, we wish this vision will continue to guide and lead us. On behalf of the entire members of the High Commission, I wish to express our profound gratitude to His excellency for his visionary leadership, his exemplary life and for the commitment he has shown in deepening and enhancing Nigeria’s diplomacy in the UK. We pray that as you move on, God will continue to lead and guide you. May your contributions to the progress of Nigeria continue to be remembered as you move on.”
The boisterous house full of diplomats, service support staff of the Nigeria premier mission and some members of the diaspora community in the UK, expressed their love and admiration for the outgoing Ambassador, who many described as a father figure, leader, administrator and role model.
The Head of Chancery, Ms Benita Obazee in her remarks, said, “Ambassador Isola has spent a little over two years at post, it is not the shortest and not close to the longest but arguably the most impactful time of any High Commissioner in the United Kingdom. Ambassador Isola has served his country with wisdom, integrity and vision. In the areas of strengthening relationships. He has been able to take the Nigeria High Commission to its rightful place among other missions in the UK. For these we are very appreciative of the High Commissioner.
In terms of the facilities, he has made a tremendous impact in giving a facelift to our properties all over London, about 22 of them. He has given a facelift to the embassy building with a digital facelift to promote the rich cultural heritage of Nigeria, a new in house canteen with safety and quality standard of the UK, and the most clamored initiative which is the redesign of the High Commission’s website. For all these we are really appreciative of the High Commissioner.
Ambassador Isola is an empathetic leader. He prioritizes the welfare of his staff. I don’t think there is any staff that will say Ambassador Isola has not impacted their lives one-way or the other positively. So we are really grateful. You have been an inspiration.
This is certainly not a goodbye. We know you are going to a higher place, for these we are very grateful.
All of this will not have been possible without the strong pillar of support, her ever resplendent, Her Excellency, Bolanle Isola.
Thank you for your contribution and support. Without the home front being peaceful. I doubt if Ambassador Isola will have been able to achieve all he has achieved.
We all know coming to London has always been a nightmare posting for many but he has managed to change the narrative, from a nightmare to a desirable posting.
He has managed the funds of the mission to the point that we do not know when there are no funds, with his shroud financial engineering he has managed to mitigate the paucity of funds.
On a personal note, I want to say thank you for the trust you reposed in me to be your Head of Chancery. Thank you for being a mentor; a father and I will forever be grateful for all you have done for us.
You made it so easy for anyone to stand up here and say positive things about you. We have been fortunate to have you as High Commissioner.”
Taiwo Osunaiye, Counsellor read the citation of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola to a resounding applause from the guests as others took turns to say their farewell messages.
Amir Bagwanje, Chairman of the service support staff of the Mission in his goodwill message, emotionally expressed the close relationship they have enjoyed with Ambassador Isola for over two years and attributed the enormous success of his administration to inclusive leadership.
Amir said, “The Ambassador promised unlike in the past never to owe staff salary and to improve the image of the Mission. Ambassador Isola has largely achieved all he promised.”
Amir Bagwanje presented an outstanding achievement award to Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola on behalf of the service support staff. The representatives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) UK also presented him with a gift for his service to humanity.
As the ceremony drew to a close, many of the staff and diplomats one after the other praised Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola for his kind gesture and wished him well in his next assignment. The staff of the High Commission presented a parting gift to the Ambassador.
Group Captain Wakili presented a toast to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the toast to the Guest of Honour, Ambassador, Sarafa Tunji Isola was by Abdulmumuni Dirisu, the Alternate Permanent Representative of Nigeria at the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
In his remarks, the outgoing Ambassador, His Excellency, Sarafa Tunji Isola in appreciation said, “There is nothing as good as being celebrated. In my journey through public service, God has always supported me in leaving every institution l led better than l met it. The High Commission l am leaving now has a renewed hope.
You the staff that l met here are good people what l provided is good leadership. The Nigeria High Commission is now perceived as an improved diplomatic mission. To attain excellence is much easy than sustaining it. I strongly believe those legacies will be sustained since it was a teamwork.”
Ambassador Isola expressed his appreciation to Buckingham Palace, FCDO, the Parliament, N0.10 and Nigerians in the UK for their support.
Ambassador Isola enumerated key values that have helped him to succeed in office as follows: God fearing, for a leader to be successful, you must be God fearing. You must be patriotic – you have no other country but Nigeria. Patriotism is in espousing those good things about our country. Patience – as no situation lasts forever. Patience is to arrive at the market at 4am and leave at 10pm. Humility – is never too much. When you are humble, God will honour you. Kindness – God has not created us to be independent of others. Kindness is not expressed in money alone, even by words. You must be kind not only materially.
He acknowledged that in the last two and half years, he has seen the Mission as his home, talking about the people. “When l had my daughter’s wedding in Abeokuta last year at least five senior officers were present. That is something that will continue to be in my memory forever. I use this opportunity once again to thank them for their attendance.
The Nigerian diaspora community in the UK will always benchmark High Commissioners with British standards, which is why most High Commissioners find that examination hard to pass.”
He then urged the Nigerian community in the UK to temper justice with mercy.
The delegation of Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola at the valedictory ceremony included his spouse, Dr (Mrs) Bolanle Isola, daughter Laide Isola and son Kabir Isola, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the family.
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