Date: 2015-10-16

Like the saying that the evil men do live after them, ditto the good they do is interned with their bones and outlives the doer. Perceptibly, the proverb of yesterday is reflective today, and certainly, it would tell in the nearest future. It is no longer tomorrow's happening that is indicative in a proverb but the immediate event. That is why the evil and the good of yesterday glaringly manifest in spite of desperate move on the part of the doers to conceal them.

In African discourse, it would be incomplete to weave words without an accompanied proverb because of its effectiveness and manifestation in the life of a man. In corroborating the above, late literary icon, Professor Chinua Achebe, posits that proverb is the palm oil with which words are eaten.

But by and large, the argument that the evil and the good men do live after them may not hold water again because as reflective of today's reality, the two features not only subsist but also stare men in the face in their present life.

The task of doing an assigned job comes with a lot of responsibility. A man who is not purposeless in his mental state must always be conscious of goals and accomplishment driven. It would be foolhardy to see the aims and objectives defeated.

And those who believe in task accomplishment would never budge in the face of encumbrances and difficulties but see the light at the end of the tunnel, no matter whose ox is gored.

It is not the stretch of the turbulent journey that matters on the theatrical space, how the performance goes and the impact it engraves in heart remains evergreen.

There is really no need to introduce Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, a Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence here. He is an icon because, for a man of talents, a rich bundle of administrative acumen, a man of such vibrant and versatile genius, life surely begins at sixty one (61).

His five-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Better By Far (BBF) University of Ilorin between 2007 and 2012 would never fade away in a hurry. The tenure was that of real transformation with the varsity ranked both locally and internationally.

For the Egba-born scholar, his memorable achievements in office were preconceived and predetermined and intermittently, the scholar keeps proving his mettle as a man with distinct vision.

As a man with blood of compassion flowing through his veins, he is a different being to different people. But certainly, five years sojourn in Unilorin cannot be scornfully despised, for the University became a good reference not only within the Africa region but the world over.

During his tenure in the prestigious varsity, many institutions who shared the philosophy of the University were courted while at the same time, drawing lifelong benefit to the institution, and thus made it outshine its contemporaries.

It is not out of place to say that the university with the legacy, has continued to break new grounds in accordance with the vision of its founding fathers.

Between October 2007 and October 2012 that he held sway, hearing Oloyede's name on campus was the beginning of wisdom for both the staff and students. Lecturers and non-lecturers comported themselves while students also followed suit.

A workaholic, some referred to him, beamed his eagle eye on the nooks and crannies of the University so that the dream of the founders did not perish on the way.

The tenure of Egba-born scholar also birthed developmental projects that continued to have desirable impact on the foremost varsity. Little wonder that the University got special grant of over N5billion from the Federal Government to advance the cause of unprecedented achievements recorded on campus. Anytime a question is put forward on the grant, Oloyede, in his usual characteristic manner would say "That money is too much o".

Shortly after his tenure and consequent upon the sudden demise of Secretary-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr Abdullateef Adegbite, the apex muslim organisation, Oloyede who hails from Abeokuta, the same hometown with the late muslim leader, was appointed to take over immediately.

Despite the numerous responsibilities conferred on him both home and abroad, the professor of Islamic Jurisprudence has not abdicated scholarship, which is the appurtenance of his sojourn in life.

Oloyede, the indefatigable scholar of repute was also named visiting professor to National Open University of Nigeria.

One interesting thing about his life is that the former Unilorin VC has never been evasive when it comes to National issues as they affect the generality of Nigerians. His indifference to some policies of government considered not to be in tandem with people's want, is incontrovertible.

For instance, during the 2014 political confab convoked by administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the NSCIA scribe was cynical of the conference despite being appointed as a delegate.

His argument at that time was premised on the fact the forum was skewed to achieve certain agenda, which would not be in common good of Nigeria. Though the confab held and concluded, the erstwhile varsity vice-chancellor was unequivocal about his position on the veracity of the conference.

Oloyede, a Fellow of Nigeria Academic of Letters, a versatile varsity administrator, is an academic, a scholar, a literary theorist, who clocked 61 on Saturday 10th of October, and has done much to develop the aesthetic principle of Islam into an enviable form.

Ahmed 'Lateef, an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, writes from Ilorin