Prof. Wahab Egbewole, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin), has described the death of Prof. Jamiu Oyawoye, Africa’s first Professor of Geology, as a great loss to Nigeria and the global environment.
This is contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the university, Mr Kunle Akogun, and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Tuesday.
He said the university community had received the news of the death of the renowned scholar and community leader with rude shock, but with the total submission to the will of God.
He explained that Oyawoye died at a time when his wise counsels and services were still loved and cherished.
The vice chancellor noted that the deceased as a one time Chairman of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).
He described Oyawoye as an outstanding statesman, a deeply religious personality, exciting businessman and a priceless asset to the people of his community.
“He was not only a leading intellectual but one of the pioneer sets of eggheads that took over leading academic positions at the premier University of Ibadan shortly after the nation’s independence,” he said.
Egbewole said that the deceased was a great friend and patron of Unilorin, recalling that he was one of the eminent citizens of Kwara who responded to the call of the university for support.
He specifically recalled the late elder statesman’s sponsorship of the Mosobalaje Oyawoye
Annual Lecture at the institution’s Faculty of Physical Sciences for the the past 15 years.
According to him, the annual lecture has been of tremendous impact on the staff and students of the faculty as well as members of the public over the years.
He condoled with the family, government and people of Kwara on the death of a truly distinguished citizen.
He also sympathised with the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Esuwoye II, and the good people of Offa on the demise of an outstanding community leader.
He however urged the bereaved Oyawoye family to take solace in the fact that their patriarch led a fulfilled life full of pioneering achievements in the service of Almighty Allah and humanity.
Egbewole prayed Allah to forgive the shortcomings of late Oyawoye and grant him peaceful repose in Aljannah Firdaus.
Oyawoye, who also holds the prestigious traditional title of Aremo of Offa, died on May 22 at the age of 95 years.
He was born in Offa, Kwara, on Aug. 12, 1927, and served as a lecturer at the University of Ibadan between 1960 and 1977.
Oyawoye was appointed a professor in 1966 at the age of 39 and became the first Professor of Geology in Africa.
