TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR MUHAMMED MUSTAPHA AKANBI SAN

Date: 2022-11-24

I am late in writing this tribute (about 76hrs late) because I have been living in denial. I had been hoping that the news of MM's death is a hoax and that it would be refuted. I am away somewhere in East Africa when the occurence occurred. Having interrogated the concept of death severally in the past, I never contemplated that the Angel of Death will visit MM so soon at 51.

Am I crying? No, I am not. I have witnessed and read so much about death and the after effect it leaves in the family and society. It is just that my face is wet with hot tears, because I can now understand the passion and anguish on MM's face the last time I was with him in his office in August and the excitement in his weak voice when I spoke with him on phone in October, informing him about the positive resolution of previously intractable MLS problem as well as the approval of commencement of Medical degree programme by the NUC!
Looking back, I can now testify that Professor Akanbi seemed to have a premonition that he may not complete his 5- yr term as Vice- Chancellor which would have been due in April, 2025. He was so much in a hurry to impact a definitive culture on Kwara State University. Few examples of actions taken within his short reign at KWASU include: reform of the lyrics of the music for the university anthem, thereby making listening to it, heart- moving; introduction of a definitive way of conducting Inaugural lectures; delivering a First Class Convocation ceremony, in line with Keffi Declaration of the Association of Vice- Chancellors of Nigerian Universities; engineering production of a new Strategic Plan (2022 - 2027) and commencement of its gradual implementation; revolutionizing administrative set- up at Council, Management, Faculty and sub- set levels; introduction of Green Campus initiative; engendering a new lease of inter- personal and inter- group relationship; broadening of academic activities with introduction of new programmes; according due respect to all persons as humans irrespective of their positions in life; working hard to correct past errors and administrative shenanigans; engagement of Alumni and pro- active resolution of potential student problems; real time sanctioning of erring staff and students; bending over backward if he is made to realize that he took what appears as 'harsh' decision on any matter, especially concerning matters of discipline; and so on and so on and so on (too numerous to attempt listing here). He was fond of saying that a number of his initiatives will mature long after he must have left KWASU, but we did not know that he was predicting his premature(?) leaving not only KWASU, but the world itself.

In fact, in retrospect, I now have reasons to believe that the last birthday ceremony he organized was his way of saying ADIEU to us. He said some things on that day that are now indicative of somebody who suspects that his end is near.

His immediate family, his friends and KWASU community should take solace in the fact that his 51 years on earth and 32 months as KWASU Vice- Chancellor is so IMPACTFUL, so much so that his Legacy is already stamped on the sand of time.

Bye Bye, our brother, our friend, our Vice- Chancellor.

From: Professor Musbau A. Akanji, FAS

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Umar Ahmed Gunu     Oniwasi Agbaye     Oladipo Akanmu Tolani     Ilorin Durbar     Vasolar Consultoria     Oke-Oyi     Abdulazeez Uthman     Elese Of Igbaja     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Olokoba Sulyman     KWAFFA     Undergraduate Bursary     Okanlawon Taiwo     International Aviation College     Idiagbon     Maimunat Oloriegbe     Abegunde Goke     Ayedun     Amusement Park     Saidu Kawu     Olumide Daniel Ibitoye     Kwara State Television     Lotus Bank     Okin Biscuits     Jamiu Oyawoye     Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria     Haleeman Salman     Mubarak Oladosu     Ebola     Issa Oloruntogun     Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi     Alloy Chukwuemeka     Abubakar Baba     Durosinlohun Kawu     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Aliyu Muhammad Saifudeen     Umar Adelodun     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Bolaji Nagode     Islamiya Abdulraheem     Balogin Alanamu     N-Power     March 28     Kwara State Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     Segun Abifarin     Aliyu Umar     Aso-ofi     Yahaya A Paniyaro     Kumbi Titilope     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Kassim Babamale     Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi     Henry Makinwa     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Moshood Kashimawo Abiola     Tosin Saraki     Onikijipa     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Vasolar     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Ishaq Oloyede     COVID-19 Palliatives     Yashikira     Isaac Gbenle     CKNG     Kayode Ibrahim     Mope Dasuki Belgore     Face Masks     BECE     Bolaji Aladie     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Mahmud Ayinla Giwa     Folajimi Aleshinloye    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Ilorin Durbar     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Ilorin Water Reticulation     Osi     Makama Of Kaiama     Muyideen Ajani Bello     Babatunde Ajeigbe     Simeon Sule Ajibola     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Toyin Sanusi     Tafida Of Ilorin     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     SWAN     AbdulHamid Adi     Christian Association Of Nigeria     Jaigbade Alao     Orire     Usman Alkali Baba     Tosho Yaqub     Lanre Olosunde     Taofeek Sanusi     Ibrahim Issa Jetti     Gbemi Saraki     Olatunde Olukoya     Eleja Taiwo Banu     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     SAPZ Project     Mufti Of Ilorin     Sun Qing Rong     Habeeb Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Ibrahim Mashood     Nigerian Army     Facebook     National Broadcasting Commission     Alagbado     Kumbi Titiloye     Bilikisu Gambari     Saheed Alakoso     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Idi-Ape     Bamidele Adegoke     Ramat Oganija     Henry Olaosebikan     Gurei     Odogun Olushola Gabriel     GANZY     Sango-UITH Road     Young Progressives Party     Ifelodun     Zulu Gambari     Iqra Books     Justina Oha     Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa     Sunday Otokiti     Nigerian Correctional Service     KWACOBPA     Olajumoke Monsura Gafar     Isiaka AbdulRazaq     Funmilayo Zubair     NIPOGA     Umar Yakubu Jaja     Harmony Holdings     Local Government Pension Board     Salihu Yahaya     Jaiz Bank     Clement Yomi Adeboye     Congress For National Consensus     Kayode Ibrahim     Aliyu Muyideen     Hassan Taiye Salam     Oloje     Kwara 2019     Mufutau Olatinwo     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Gbemisola Saraki     Grillo