…as University community pays tribute to departed Professor of Computer Aided Engineering
From Kehinde Adewole
Vice-Chancellor, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, on Wednesday revealed that recently deceased FUOYE Prof. Samuel Babatope Adejuyigbe, had predicted his becoming the VC shortly before his inauguration on February 11.
Late Prof. Adejuyigbe, a renown Professor of Computer Aided Engineering, (CAD CAM CIMCAPP Al Robotics). Manufacturing Management, was a member of the Senate in FUOYE, a cleric, and founder of the institution’s Mechatronics Department. He had died a few days ago after a brief illness. The University community converged on the Faculty of Science auditorium on Wednesday and held a Commendation service in his honour.
Several academic and non-academic staff members gave glowing tributes in honour of the late University don and they included the VC, Prof. Fasina, Chairman of the FUOYE chapter of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Engr. Abioye James, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Olugbenga Amu, Head of Department of Mechatronics, Dr. Matthew Arowolo, Deputy Dean, FUOYE School of Post Graduate Studies, Dr. Adefemi Adekunle, and representative of the Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, Dr. O.G Shodipe among others.
While describing the deceased as a great mentor, academic and cleric whose exemplary lifetime touched many other lives positively, Prof. Fasina recalled that the late Prof. Adejuyigbe had prayed for him and predicted that he would become FUOYE’s VC.
He said: “late Prof. Adejuyigbe is somebody I will call a mentor and a spiritual father. I didn’t believe the news of his death was true because l had spoken with him a few days earlier. I want to tell us that he has gone to be with the Lord. Our hope is not in this world but in the Lord. He has touched so many lives positively.
“Let us live a good life. Let us leave a good legacy behind. Life is not about being greedy, it is not about money. It is about the lives that we touch. We will all die one day, be good to everyone so that when you die, people will say good things about you.
“As members of this University , l urge us to do good. Be good to everyone and have good conscience so that when you die, you will be sure that people will say good things about you.
“It was Solomon the son of king David, that said in the Bible that there are many things that are done under the sun, and there is a time for them all, a time to be born and a time to die. We do not prepare for death and we do not know when it would come and when it comes, it comes as a shock. So was the news of Prof. Adejuyigbe’s death to me.
” When the going was tough, during the process of appointing the V.C of FUOYE, l took my time to see the late Professor on his sick bed. He prayed for me and he prophesized the l would be VC. Today, l am the VC. That convinced me that he was a true man of God. I am comforted at the many lives he has touched which is confirmed by the many tributes that have poured in for him today, ” he said.
Chairman of NAAT, Engr. Abioye, who also described late Adejuyigbe as a rare gem and academic giant who has left enduring legacies for the academic world and humanity in general, said:”Although Prof. Adejuyigbe has left us, his legacies of teaching, principles and concepts will continue to revolutionalize our immediate University community, the nation and the world at large.
“In his quest to develop the engineering profession, he worked assiduously to create the Department of Mechatronics in FUOYE. He pushed for the procurement of equipment and machines and facilitated the training of technologists for the equipment.
“We have lost are gem among many, a giant academic whose mission statement is ‘work assidiuosly with transparent honesty and Spartan dissidence’ in moving the University to an Olympian academic height.
A visionary leader and loving personality who was greatly instrumental to the indigenous breakthrough in the area of engineering in a way that catered for local needs of our nation.”
Also while giving her own glowing tributes on behalf of ASUU, Dr. Shodipe described Adejuyigbe as: “… a great man who has left an indelible mark in the academic world.” Continuing, she said: “Prof. Adejuyigbe began his a career as a draftsman at the Government College, Oshogbo and rose through the ranks in other tertiary institutions to become a Professor. He was a team player and an amiable personality. He would be missed by the entire academic world for his contribution to education both in Nigeria and abroad.”
The Head of Department of Mechatronics, Dr. Arowolo gave his own tribute on late Adejuyigbe as as a father, a mentor and a man of God who was always ready to give advice, give direction and pray for his own people.
Arowolo said: “As a mentor, Prof. Adejuyigbe remained truthful and gave honest advices. He was a man of God to the core. He predicted that l will be given an appointment and urged me to be of good behaviour. And now l have been appointed Acting Director of FUOYE Advancement Centre. He was a true man of God who hears directly from God.”
Prof. Amu also gave tribute in honour of the deceased on behalf of all the students of the Faculty of Engineering, FUOYE. He said: “To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven; a time to be born, a time to die. God has made everything beautiful in His own time.
“We cannot question God. Our only prayer is that the Lord shall teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom, that is, the wisdom to know and serve the Lord Almighty. Prof Adejuyigbe was an erudite scholar who has contributed greatly to the growth of the University particularly in Mechatronics department which he assisted greatly in creating. We love him so much and we shall miss his words of wisdom and encouragement.
“He was a very great and humble man. We appreciate God for His faithfulness in his life and the lives he has impacted. We are grateful that he has gone to be with the Lord in heaven, a place that is far far better than where we are now.”
Also, in his own tribute on behalf of the Post Graduate students, Dr. Adekunle urged everyone not to weep because the legacies the deceased left behind make him to live on in many peoples’ hearts.
His words: “He is not dead, he lives on in us because his good works live after him. What an exemplary life he lived, an erudite academic and a mentor.
“Prof. Adejuyigbe paid school fees of many students he didn’t know. He was a man of Intergrity, trustworthiness and he has produced many PhDs and Masters Degree holders. He was known for saying the truth, standing on the truth and defending the truth. He was the father of Mechatronics in FUOYE and Nigeria as a whole. Everyone who passed through him got refined, re-modified and re- energized academically.”
While giving his sermon, entitled: “We must not live like people who have no hope”, Venerable Olubunmi Shittu joined the VC to urge all present to emulate the exemplary and impactful life lived by late Adejuyigbe. He said: “Do not live your life like people who have no hope. Today, we are celebrating the life and times of a man whose memory will ever be on our minds. As a gentleman, a scholar and in the Christian circle, a truthful cleric. We are celebrating his life as a child of God, there is natural element of sorrow but beyond that, there is a supernatural joy. When we will meet him in heaven the question to ask is, will you be there?
“In his own time, The Lord has called Prof. Adejuyigbe home. For him, an earthly residence has rested. He was a man on whose shoulder many academic giants were standing. What memory will you leave behind?. For those very good in acquiring wealth in an ungodly way, none of it will you take to heaven. You should think about how your siblings and family would feel when you die.
“Also think of what heaven will say about you. Our life is short and so we must live it in a memorable way. The question is when we die, shall we have a home in the Lord? Whatever we get in this world will have no hold in heaven, it will be of no use. Your wealth, or high status is not a ticket to heaven. This is why you need Jesus because he alone has the comfort. To the widow, it is only God that can console you. Many will give empty promises but God will be with you.
“It is appointed unto a man to die once and there is no repentance in the grave. No sorrow, mourning, no separation will happen in the heavenly home. Eternity It has no end, it is eternity. It is having Christ that will take you to heaven, ” he admonished.
A member of the deceased’s family, Pastor Kayode Adejuyigbe, while speaking on behalf of the family, appreciated the University community and the Management for standing with them and providing the neccesary support. He said: “It is a great day and like the preacher has said, we are celebrating the life of our father, nothing to give to God than to thank Him.”
Registrar of the institution, Mr. Olatunbosun Odusanya, while giving a Vote of Thanks, described the VC as a very accessible, passionate, hardworking and caring leader, adding that Prof. Fasina has graciously granted all that is needed to be done for the deceased by the University.
