UNILAG VC, others salute Abass

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Abdurahman Bello, has hailed the contributions of Professor of Computer Science, Olayide Abass, to the development of the institution.

Bello led other members of the academic community to celebrate Abass, when the university leadership presented a festschrift in his honour last Tuesday.

The book titled ‘Olayide Abass: On the Dynamics of an Evolving Knowledge’ is the fourth in the series of festschrifts in honour of retired UNILAG researchers and administrators who have significantly contributed to the university development.

The German academic culture devised to celebrate a renowned professor at 70 plus captures Abass’ contributions to the academia in computer science, from 1973 to the present.

In the book, various scholars, including a former Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Ayo Ibidapo-Obe, wrote on Abass’ background and professional life, his contributions to Sample Statistics and its link to Management Information Systems.

Apart from being a former Deputy VC, Abass was the vice-chairman of the ‘Waterloo Caucus’, an influential group that caters for the interest of its members in the institution.

Some of the members, including Professor of Chemical Engineering Ayodele Ogunye, attended the ceremony.

Obe, now the VC of the Federal University of Nduku-Alike Ikwo, Ebonyi State, described Abass as an efficient administrator and wonderful persona.

Bello recalled that he met Abass in 1978, when the latter came to the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada on a research fellowship, in company with Ogunye and Ibidapo-Obe.

He said, “He is a realist, simple but sophisticated in all facets of life, a strategist with wide experience and exposure and a compendium of knowledge on contemporary issues, including history and Yoruba mythology.”

He added that under Abass’ leadership as the national president, UNILAG Alumni Association, he mobilised against changing of the

Ogunye described Abass as a fearless academic and a dependable ally.

He recalled how Abass defied the authorities during the Kwaku Adadevoh-led administration crisis to give evidence against the school in support of him in the court.

He said, “The news went out like wild fire that Layide (Abass) had gone to give evidence against the university in my favour and that his career in the university was in jeopardy. They forgot that Layide got his PhD in Computing Science from University of Waterloo adjudged the best in computing science in North America. Shortly afterwards Layide was appointed associate professor and later professor. He later became the Dean of his faculty and a deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university,” Ogunye recalled.

Other dignitaries that attended the event were Prof Ralph Akinfeleye of the Department of Mass Communication and the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Lawal.

The University of Lagos Festschrift Group had presented a Festschrift in November 2002 to mark the 70th birthday of the late Professor Emeritus, Ifedayo Oladapo.

This was followed by the publication of “Ogunye: Giant Strides in Engineering Education Research and Innovation – a Festschrift in Honour of Prof. Ayodele Ogunye’ in 2012.

In July 2013, Prof. Vincent Olunloyo was also honoured with one.

Tweet