Unilorin mourns late 4th VC of the University

…holds special Senate meeting in his honour

By Steve Oni, Ilorin

The Senate of the University of Ilorin on Wednesday held a special Senate meeting in honour of the fourth Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Emeritus Adeoye Adeniyi, describing him as a thorough bred pediatrician and intellectual colossus that served the institution with unparalleled commitment.

Members of the academic from the citadel of learning, especially from the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences of the University paid glowing tributes to the late Professor Emeritus who died on September 4th, 2019 at the age of 95.

While speaking at the special senate meeting, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Sulyman Age AbdulKareem, described the death of the Kogi born Professor Emeritus as a colossal loss to the University’s community, humanity and the country at large.

Professor AbdulKareem said the deceased would be remembered as a teacher of professors that made remarkable strides in education and health sectors, when he was alive, noting that the late Vice Chancellor of the University contributed immensely to the growth of the citadel of learning by building on the achievements of his predecessors.

A former Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem, who is the Talba of Ilorin, described late Professor Emeritus Adeniyi as a quintessential administrator, saying that the University would miss the compassionate gentleman.

Also speaking, a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Professor Musbau Akanji, described him as a trail blazer in the medicine profession, narrating how he enabled him to secure job at the University.

Others that paid tributes to eulogize the late academic ICON such as, Professors Alfred Adegoke, Wahab Johnson, Katibi, A.D Yusuf, E.A Afolayan, said Professor Emeritus Adeniyi inspired and aroused those in the field of medicine, and imparted on humanity, while his mastery of his specialization as a pediatrician was world class in delivery and stimulating for students of medicine.

They said Professor’s Adeniyi’s ethos of public service was the guiding thread of his life and an example for all members of academic to embrace.

“Baba Agbalagba” as the deceased was fondly called, he was a renowned Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health who hailed from Ogah, Yagba West Locat Government Area of Kogi State and was the pioneer Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital between 1980 and 1984, and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin between 1985 and 1992.