Veteran Nigerian actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has revealed how Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, and late poet and playwright, Prof. J.P. Clark, influenced his values of discipline, punctuality and responsibility.
RMD disclosed this while speaking at a recent event, where he also reflected on the values instilled in him by his mother while growing up.
The actor said his mother constantly reminded him of his background and the responsibility that came with it. 
According to him, one statement she repeatedly made to him was, “Don’t forget whose child you are.”
He said the lesson stayed with him and taught him that people represent more than themselves at different stages of their lives.
“She nurtured me and taught me that, at different points in our lives, we represent different people, families and institutions,” he said.
RMD also credited the schools he attended and people he worked with for shaping his approach to discipline and punctuality.
“I was also fortunate to have been well trained in the schools I attended and by the people I had the opportunity to work with. They taught me the importance of discipline, punctuality and responsibility,” he said.
The actor recalled his encounters with J.P. Clark and Soyinka, saying their commitment to punctuality left a lasting impression on him.
He said he first encountered J.P. Clark in 1984 while serving as a resident actor at the J.K. Randle Centre.
“I also had the opportunity to encounter Wole Soyinka as a director. If you have encountered Soyinka, you would understand what I mean. If he says 4pm and you get there at 3:30pm, he is already there,” RMD said.
He added that the experiences influenced his own attitude to time.
“Timeliness is important to me. If someone tells you to be somewhere at 8 o’clock, you should get there by 7:30. That way, when they encounter you, you are already prompt and ready to take off,” he said.
RMD expressed hope that people who interact with him would also learn from the values he has embraced throughout his career.
“I was privileged to work with people who embodied those values. Those are the kinds of people I have had the opportunity to work with, and I imbibed that culture. I hope that those who encounter me will also be conscious of what they can learn from me,” he said.
Reflecting on his experience in public service, RMD said he served in government for eight years and came to understand the potential of government to bring about positive changes.
However, he said individuals entering the system need deeply rooted values to avoid being influenced by negative practices.
“I served government for eight years, and during that period, I realised that government has tremendous potential for good. You see that you have the ability to change things for good, but the system is sometimes built in such a way that when good people come into it, if their values are not deeply rooted, the system can suck them in,” he said.
RMD said his experience in government reinforced his belief that people should remain committed to their values.
“When I came into government, I was determined to fight to change the attitude that some people brought into the system. That experience taught me something important: if you can’t fight the system, get out and go build somewhere else,” he said.
