Encomiums as UNILAG honours former VC, Ade-Ajayi

The University of Lagos on Monday held a Special Senate session to honour its third Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jacob Ade-Ajayi, who died on August 9, 2014. He was aged 85. Ade-Ajayi, a renowned historian, was Vice-Chancellor of the university from 1972 to 1978.

The UNILAG VC, Prof. Rahamon Bello, who presided over the special session, noted that the demise of Ade-Ajayi had robbed the intellectual community of one of its best in African history.

He described the late historian as “the architect of modern UNILAG”, adding that his loss would be felt by all in the university.

He said, “The University of Lagos joins the Ade-Ajayi family in mourning the departure of our third Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Ade-Ajayi was obviously a great scholar. African history owes him an enormous debt of gratitude for pioneering, with a few others, a nationalist historiography.

“Many attest to the fact that he had the gift of innovative thinking, visionary spirit and the tenacious patience required to successfully lead meaningful reform. Such rare skills were brought to bear during his tenure as the VC of the university.”

Bello stated that Ade-Ajayi introduced the Faculty System, stating that his love for the university led him to write to President Goodluck Jonathan during the name change saga in 2012, seeking a reversal of the government directive.

Renowned playwright, Prof. John Pepper Clark, while delivering his tribute, noted that it was Ade-Ajayi “who made the university to gain international recognition”.

Saluting the late VC’s contributions to the study of history, Clark lambasted the Federal Government for excluding history from among the subjects taught in secondary schools.

Also, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Ayodele Ogunye, while recounting his relationship with Ade-Ajayi, described the deceased as a “mentor”.

“Prof. Ade-Ajayi was confident, academic, serene and shy-looking. He left an enduring stamp on the course of academic developments in the University of Lagos,” he said.

Another academic, Prof. Olufunke Adeboye, said Ade-Ajayi stood with Professors Kenneth Dike and Saburi Biobaku, in decolonising African history, adding that “perhaps his most remarkable work is in the area of academic reproduction”.

A former VC of the university, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe, noted that Ade-Ajayi would be remembered for the restructuring of the academic programme of the university.

Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Omotayo Fakinlede, stated that when he was a student in the university, “the ivory tower was a nation state with Vice-Chancellor Ade-Ajayi as Head of State”.

“He was no fanatic on theory and practice of higher education in Nigeria but he was patriotic to the core,” he said.

Professor of Law, Akin Oyebode, stated that Ade-Ajayi turned the university into a construction site in the 1970s as he delivered various physical structures on campus.

He noted that Ade-Ajayi stood in solidarity with students during the “Alli Must Go” crisis and that his decision to lead the procession to honour the student leader, Akintunde Ojo, reportedly killed by the police, led to his removal in 1978. “Great scholars never die,” he said, “Prof. (Ade-Ajayi) may have written his final chapter but history continues.

Tweet