It is with a deep sense of loss that I write this treatise.If it was foretold that I will be writing a tribute to my academic father at this time, I would have cast and bind such prophet of doom.
It is unfortunate that I started writing for the newspaper at a time he was in and out of the hospital, so Prof did not have the luxury of reading from a boy he fondly referred to as a ‘ professor’.
Sadly,I will be writing on the life and times of an academic heavyweight who has left the shores of this world at a time we needed him the most.
Like I often say,I delved into the field of research by divine ordination without a single mentor.However,in keeping to the maxim that if you desire to go far,stand on the shoulders of an eagle.Fate and divine providence brought me in contact with a man I refer to as a supersonic scholar and my academic father.
Since our first encounter which was virtual,we developed a great deal of mutual affinity which metamorphosed into proximity as I became his academic protegee.At different times he sought audience with me only for him to say I called you to offer advice on this and this area.
This is a man once rated number one globally in the field of e-governance who will send me e-mails asking for my opinion on a paper he was working on.How can I describe such humility from one at the peak to a little boy like me who can be categorized as being at the base.
He identified with the lowly placed by seeking for ways to drag them up and was famous for his ability to identify budding talents.He kept on telling me that I was an embryonic professor and always wanted to replicate himself in the young ones.His sense of dressing was superlative,his energy despite being over 60 years of age amazing.His brain-power was beyond my imagination as Prof CK could hold his own on any issue any-day and anytime.I lack words to say,I am bereaved,flabbergasted,downcast and practically devastated.I had to summon courage to pen this down for a man I cannot fathom his replacement in my heart.
The late prof CK as he is fondly referred to was a quintessential scholar,an intellectual icon,a sagacious leader,empathetic but highly focused.He led Covenant university as Vice-Chancellor to several first among which is her regular feat of attaining first place in Nigeria and best 10 in Africa.
He moved to Trinity University as its pioneer vice-chancellor and replicated his dexterous acumen and magic wand.
In four years, he had led the new university to achieve what others have not done in decades before he passed on yesterday.
He was not the regular arm-chair administrator, he did more work than his subordinates hence,it would not be out of place to refer to him as a leader who walked the talk.
As a person, I am pained because I have been expecting his full recuperation and we had a myriad of projects we were working on together.
He was fun to be with and had a way of carrying people along. Prof CK would always make statements like,’I come in peace’,’when men were boys’ among others to his students.He did not spare the rod as he was famous for his “no holds barred approach” to deviant attitude.He equally minced no words in reprimanding those who erred but didn’t take up to a second to draw them closer with banters and jokes.
If it was put to vote if this intellectual iroko should die now,’the eyes would have had it’ as our senators would say.However,since death is the way of all mortals and we are creatures of the all knowing God who we cannot question,all we can say is you have done well,posterity will sure remember your good works,you have left indelible footprints on the sands of time,you fought a good fight and you won battle’s gallantly. Rest in Peace our indefatigable,astute and pragmatic professor.You came,you saw and you conquered.
*Edidiong S.Akpabio, Author, Researcher and Public Affairs Analyst, can be reached on [email protected]
