Great Attitude and Gratitude
Francis Onaiyekan
Board Member, The Guardian Newspaper
October 26, 2025
Prof. Isaac Megbolugbe (Bros Isaac to me) comes across as a man of
‘grattitude’ ( a combination of great attitude and gratitude) by his total and unapologetic devotion to his mentor, Emeritus Prof. Akin Mabogunje. This he proudly demonstrate at every opportunity. This piece posted on the GiVA Ministries platform is only one example.
Of course, to be mentored by Baba Prof, a globally acknowledged giant in his field, professor of professors, archetypal leader, and a very good man too, this is an honor immeasurable for which Bros is eternally grateful to God and to the man.
Megbolugbe drank from the Mabogunje fountain of knowledge – an intellectual powerhouse of workable ideas in the fields of Geography and Urban Planning. Besides, he absorbed some of the man’s values especially, the social relevance of the intellectual by which I mean the application of academic theory to solve real (urban) problems of society.
Bros also seems to have imbibed from Baba a measure of spiritual enlightenment that continues to sustain him through life’s vicissitudes.
It is no wonder that Megbolugbe is not only a proud mentee but an incorruptible disciple of the great man ‘ALM’.
“Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace” writes Arianna Huffington.
To his mentor, Bros Isaac demonstrates such great attitude of gratitude that keeps open to himself – and to others – a gateway to Mabogunje’ s ” measure of grace”. That is indeed ‘grattitude’.
I am glad and grateful to contribute professionally to the efforts of an eternally appreciative mentee to keep alive the memory of his benefactor.
