The fascinating lines might have been conceived and scripted centuries ago, but it is as if the great playwright had in mind the late Professor of Educational Psychology, Shehu Ahmed Jimoh, who died a year ago. His death was one in a million, which pierces heart.

His statesmanship was predictable from the childhood owing to the good character he possessed. Full of ambition of being a great man, the revered educational psychologist was never blinded by worldly luxuries to appropriate to himself what does not belong to him.

With boundless opportunity to live in opulence and corner all corner-able, the personality of Jimoh was never a man that compromised at the sight of godless opportunity. Living with his avowed commitment to prioritize integrity, cleanliness and elevated character, the late professor became a phenomenon to different mortals.

Since some people were oblivious of his character, they perceived him as a man who was not ready to offer help when sought while another saw in him a great man whose character can be likened to the revered retired President of Court of Appeal, Justice Mustapha Adebayo Akanbi.

Despite his enormous power to appoint and terminate when he held sway as Chairman, Governing Council of Kwara State Polytechnic, he was never swayed to abuse the power. Even his beloved daughter (a graduate) instead of deploying the enormity of his office to arbitrarily offer her lifetime job, as a common phenomenon, he tarried and opened a business centre for her at direct opposite Al-Hikmah University.

To say the late Chairman of Council of Muslim Organizations in Kwara State was a rare gem, has obviously manifested because of his distinguished personality. Within academic confraternity, he is a reference especially in his area of specialization as educational psychologist.

His touted word till he breathed his last is quality education. Being a distinguished professor in his own calling, his passionate for quality education was invaluable. At different fora, he raised alarm over the poor state of education in the country, predicting unbearable backlash if nothing concrete was done to tackle the ugly situation.

Our society is such that is invariably structured with people of different backgrounds in terms of ethnic of inclinations, tribal leanings, religious affiliations, political belief and philosophical doctrines.

Against this background, people tend to pursue their different goals and objectives in accordance with the dictate of their beliefs and convictions. In a society like this, it is incontrovertible that religious belief shapes the way and direction of people.

But most importantly, education plays key and significant roles in the life of the people. A society that derides education is at the verge of becoming oblivion. Such gathering of people is susceptible to ignorance and darkness. This is because anywhere in the world, education represents light while ignorance depicts darkness. In the world that is now technology-driven, acquiring sound and quality education for relevance is indisputable.

Ironically, our society, particularly the present generation, is such that offers much attention to frivolities at the detriment of education. No education is unimportant as long as there is sincerity of purpose in it. Because it is the key to any other thing.

Therefore, home is the cradle of knowledge. It is the place where children start their learning processes. Knowledge acquisition from this background begins with speaking in mother tongue with little kids. It is an inalienable platform for children to be acquainted with basic knowledge of their root and what they stand to represent in the global community. Treating one's native language scornfully, is like consigning self to a death row.

That is why a Professor of Theatre, Sunday Enessi Ododo, posits in his book "It's only Bent, not Broken", that a situation where parents now make the English language or any other language other than their native tongue the first language of communication at home amounts to cultural misdirection.

Ideally, our mother tongue should serve as the first language before any other in a family setting. That way, the children get to learn and communicate effectively with the language. Evidence abounds to demonstrate that the thought process of a child is shaped better when conducted in mother tongue than any foreign language.

The late Professor Shehu Jimoh was a delight to listen to when he speaks his native language of Ilorin effortlessly and ornamenting the delivery with elevated and soul searching proverbs and idioms. When he made presentations particularly on education where he cut his teeth, he was clearly the envy of the English man, the owner of the language.

He was a man who speaks impeccable English language with well chosen diction and correctly placed emphasise. His spoken of Ilorin is delectable and very pleasant to listen to; everyone relishes his eloquence. The late educationist is a model worth emulating.

The late academician's tenure as Dean, Students' Affairs of the University of Ilorin witnessed an uncommon transformation such that discipline and academic excellence was order of the day. There was never a time students drew a battle line with the school authority, though the attributes still subsist in the university.

In fact, on the day of his inaugural lecture, titled "If Gold Rusts, What will Iron Do" in 2009 which also coincided with the day of his retirement from the Better By Far varsity, the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ish'aq, attested to his erudition as a scholar with distinction and administrative acumen.

A year ago when the news of his death was announced, lovers, admirers, disciples and students of the former Provost of College of Education, Oro wept uncontrollably to mourn his demise, for his death was shocking.

Despite his unexpected death, it is believed among Ilorin, Kwarans, Nigerians and members of global community that Jimoh's existence on earth was remarkable because of the fact that he etched his name in the pantheon of scholarship and community development.