Born: 6 June 1904
Died: 19 November 1994
Titles: MBE, OON, CFR
Notable Roles: Principal, CMS Grammar School, Lagos; Bishop of Lagos

Early Life and Education

Seth Irunsewe Kale was born on 6 June 1904 during the British colonial period in Nigeria. Raised in a Christian family, he came of age in an era when missionary education offered one of the few avenues for Nigerians to advance academically and professionally.

He attended CMS Grammar School, Lagos, the first secondary school in Nigeria, before proceeding to Fourah Bay College, Sierra Leone. At Fourah Bay, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology, equipping him for a dual career in education and the Anglican ministry. His formative years in both institutions instilled in him a blend of intellectual discipline, moral integrity, and Christian devotion that would define his life’s work.

Career in Education

In 1944, Kale was appointed Principal of CMS Grammar School, Lagos, a position he held until 1950. His tenure coincided with Nigeria’s nationalist awakening, as the push for self-government gained momentum.

Under his leadership, the school maintained its reputation for academic excellence and Christian discipline while also nurturing students who would later play influential roles in politics, academia, and church leadership. Kale’s stewardship helped solidify CMS Grammar School’s position as a premier educational institution in West Africa during a transformative period in Nigerian history.

Ecclesiastical Career

Kale’s calling extended into the higher ranks of the Anglican Church.

In 1960, he was consecrated Assistant Bishop of Lagos, reflecting his growing prominence within the Church Missionary Society’s Nigerian structure.

By 1963, he was elevated to Bishop of Lagos, one of the most prestigious dioceses in the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion). He served in this capacity until 1974.

As Bishop, Kale oversaw the church during a turbulent post-independence period marked by political instability and the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970). He worked to strengthen the church’s institutional presence, promote unity, and ensure that Anglicanism remained a stabilizing moral force in society.

Honors and Recognition

Kale’s service was recognized both within and beyond Nigeria:

He was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) during the colonial era.
After independence, the Nigerian government honored him with the titles of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

These awards reflected his dual contributions as both an ecclesiastical leader and a nation-builder.

Later Life and Death

After his retirement in 1974, Kale continued to serve as a respected elder statesman of the church. His wisdom was sought on matters of faith, education, and governance, and he remained deeply connected to the Anglican community until his passing.

He died on 19 November 1994, at the age of 90.

Legacy

Seth Irunsewe Kale is remembered as one of the foundational figures of Nigerian Anglicanism in the twentieth century. As Principal of CMS Grammar School, he helped mold a generation of leaders at a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. As Bishop of Lagos, he provided stability and spiritual guidance during Nigeria’s early years of independence.

His life bridged the missionary-led church of the colonial period and the African-led Anglican Church that emerged in the post-independence era. Kale’s legacy continues to be honored within both educational and ecclesiastical circles as a symbol of integrity, scholarship, and faithful service.

Sources:
Storer, Richard. Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions (1974)

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A popular Nigerian TikTok creator, Amadou  Aminata, widely known as Jarvis recently shared insights into her relationship with her boyfriend and creative partner, Peller.

During a candid TikTok live session sighted on Monday, she expressed her readiness to settle down but noted that Peller’s younger age is a key reason they haven’t yet taken the step toward marriage.

Recently, speculation has been growing among fans about when the couple might get married. Many of their followers have noticed their strong chemistry and assumed that marriage might be on the horizon. The two have built a strong online following, with fans closely following both their content and personal relationship.

In the viral conversation, Jarvis looked at Peller and stated, “Let us not lie, the age difference is there because I am older and I accept that and I don’t want it to look like since I am older, I am pressurising him to get married at the wrong time and of course, this is a wrong time for him. Let us be real and logical.

“I am not pushing you, and I am after your happiness, and I don’t want you to get married and start to regret rushing into marriage,” she added.

Her remarks quickly gained traction online, sparking widespread discussions about relationships with age differences and capturing the attention of their large fanbase.

During the conversation, Jarvis looked directly at Peller and said, “By now, I would have gotten married, but your age is the one slowing me down. If you were older than me, we would have gotten married.

“Her statement quickly drew attention online and has since gone viral, with many people sharing their views about relationships where one partner is younger.

Jarvis, who is 23 years old and from Benin City in Edo State, first became famous for her unique style of acting like a robot in her videos.

She started creating content during a period of university strike when a friend encouraged her to try out TikTok

What began as a casual activity soon grew into something much bigger, as people across Nigeria and beyond became attracted to her creative content.

Later, Jarvis teamed up with Peller, who is now her romantic partner as well as her creative partner.

In the early days, she revealed that she was the one supporting him financially while he tried to build his presence online.

With time, Peller also grew in popularity and became more established as a creator. Their teamwork and chemistry made them a well-known pair among young people who follow them on social media.

Today, Jarvis has more than seven million followers on TikTok, making her one of Nigeria’s most successful and easily recognised online personalities. Despite her fame, she continues to face questions from fans about her personal life, especially her relationship with Peller.

Her recent comments about marriage and age have once again placed her in the spotlight, sparking discussions about love, maturity, and the expectations placed on young couple.

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Jonathan Adagogo Green (1873–1905) occupies a unique place in Nigerian cultural history as the country’s first indigenous professional photographer. At a time when the camera was still a rare and foreign tool, Green used it to document the Niger Delta during an era of social transformation, leaving behind an invaluable visual record of both tradition and colonial encounter.

Early Life and Education

Born in Bonny, Rivers State, Green was of Ibani (Ijaw) heritage. His upbringing placed him at the heart of a cosmopolitan trading hub, where encounters with Europeans, missionaries, and local aristocracy shaped his worldview. Photography was still an emerging craft in West Africa when Green showed interest. He pursued formal training in Sierra Leone, where he studied the technical aspects of photography, though some scholars suggest he may also have apprenticed with European photographers in Nigeria before traveling.

By the time he returned home, Green had mastered his craft and set up his own studio in Bonny, a groundbreaking step that made him one of the first Nigerians to establish a professional career in photography.

Career and Artistic Vision

Green’s portfolio was as diverse as it was culturally rich. His subjects included:

Local chiefs and dignitaries, often portrayed in elaborate regalia that emphasized traditional authority.
British colonial officials, reflecting the growing imperial influence in the Niger Delta.

Everyday life, trade, and rituals, which provided an intimate glimpse into the rhythms of a society navigating both continuity and change.

His work was widely distributed in postcards and albums, circulating within Nigeria and beyond. This not only shaped local identity but also framed how outsiders perceived the Niger Delta.

Green had a distinctive eye for balance. His portraits often juxtaposed tradition and modernity—capturing chiefs in ceremonial attire alongside colonial officers in uniform, or Nigerian elites in European suits still rooted in indigenous culture. His photography, therefore, was not merely aesthetic but interpretive, offering commentary on the hybrid realities of colonial-era Nigeria.

Challenges of Recognition
For decades, Green’s identity was obscured by his English surname. Many early historians mistakenly assumed he was a European photographer, which delayed the recognition of his role as a Nigerian pioneer. It was only through scholarly research that his Ibani (Ijaw) heritage and indigenous identity were firmly established.

Legacy

Though his career was cut short by his untimely death in 1905 at just 32 years old, Jonathan Adagogo Green left behind a powerful archive of images that remain central to Nigeria’s visual history. Many of his works are preserved in the National Museum, Lagos, as well as in international collections.

In 2003, the National Gallery of Art in Abuja curated an exhibition of his works, reaffirming his status as the “father of Nigerian photography.” Scholars like S. O. Ikpakronyi have since helped cement his rightful place in the narrative of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.

Today, Green is celebrated not just as a photographer but as a visionary who understood the power of the image in defining identity, culture, and history. His work bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire generations of Nigerian photographers and visual storytellers.

Source: Ikpakronyi, S. O. Jonathan Adagogo Green: Pioneer Nigerian Photographer. National Gallery of Art, Abuja, 2003.

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