- Chief J. K. Randle was a 1956 Olympian and all-round sportsman.
- His legacy is honoured by numerous dedicated public institutions and roads in Lagos.
- His family has held a thanksgiving and memorial service for him every year since his untimely passing.
The family of Chief J. K. Randle (Lisa of Lagos) has announced plans to hold its Annual Thanksgiving and Memorial Service for its late patriarch on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the service will take place at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos, from 2pm.
EDITOR’S PICKS
A reception for guests will follow at the X KPMG House on One King Ologunkutere Street, Park View (Opposite Astoria Hotel), Ikoyi, Lagos.
Chief Randle died on December 17, 1956, at the age of 47, shortly after he returned from the Olympic Games held in Melbourne, Australia, where he was the Chef-De-Mission of the Nigerian team.
The 10 athletes on the trip were captain and 100m and long jump athlete, Alhaji K.A.B. Olowu; R.A. Oluwo, a pole vault athlete; J.O. Chigbolu, V.O. Gabriel, E.A. Ajado, 100m and 4x100m relay; T.A. Erinle, T. Obi, A.K. Amu, P. Esiri and former Attorney-General (of the Cameroons which was then part of Nigeria), P.B. Enigo. The athletes participated in the triple and long jump events of the 1956 Games.
Following the demise of Alhaji Olowu on August 14, 2019, all members of the team have died.
Chief Randle was also the Chairman of Lagos Island Club and the Lagos Racing (Horse Racing) Club as well as a member of Lagos Town Council and member of the Lagos Executive Development Board.
He was a businessman, politician, philanthropist and outstanding all round sportsman (cricket, football, boxing, athletics etc).
While still a student at King’s College, the Olympics veteran played cricket at the international level as a member of the Nigerian team against Ghana (then known as Gold Coast) in 1929 and scored a century.
As if that wasn’t enough, Chief Randle was also an undefeated champion at draughts. He belonged to a generation of Nigerians whose influence cut across ethnicity, religion, race or whatever.
Several streets are named after Chief J.K. Randle in Lagos, Apapa and Surulere. Also, the Chief J.K. Randle Memorial Hall at Onikan, Lagos was built in his memory.
Furthermore, Randle Secondary School, Apapa and Randle General Hospital, Surulere, Lagos are named after him.
He has bequeathed a huge legacy of goodwill and sportsmanship. Chief Randle was passionate about Lagos and Nigeria in addition to being stoutly against racial discrimination, ethnic jingoism and religious intolerance. Some of the beneficiaries of his philanthropy are two Christian schools and two Moslem schools: Holy Cross Primary School, Lagos; CMS Grammar School, Bariga, Lagos; Ansaru-deen College, Isolo, Lagos, and Ahmadiyya College, Agege.
The late sportsman was the School Captain (1928/1929) at King’s College, Lagos. He was a legend in his lifetime and an enduring inspiration.
Chief Randle is survived by his children; Mrs. I.M. Adelaja and Bashorun J.K. Randle, a past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Lagos State University (LASU) as well as former Chairman of KPMG Africa and KPMG Nigeria.
FURTHER READING
His favourite music was (melodious/satirical) SAKARA.
Click here to watch the video of the week below:
