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.

Ilorin International Airport     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Code Of Conduct     Hijab     Bashiru Makama     Code Of Conduct Tribunal     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations     Gbemisola Oguntimehin     Hussein Olokooba     Rueben Parejo     Ibrahim Gambari     Minimum Wage     GRA     Garba Dogo     Metro Park     Oye Tinuoye     Abdulwaheed Musa     Elese Of Igbaja     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Moses Rahman Popoola     Hijaab     Ibrahim Akaje     Durbar Festival     Biliaminu Aliu     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     UNILORIN Alumni     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     TESCOM 2025     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Kaosarah Adeyi     Oro Grammar School     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     Ahman Pategi University     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     Yusuf Lawal     Saadu Yusuf     Egbejila     Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode     Omotosho     Lithium Deposit     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Muftau Akanbi Oke     Jeunkunu-Malete-Bani     Valsolar Consultoria     Quareeb     Alabi Lawal     Idofin     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Quareeb Islamic Association     Abdulrosheed Okiki     Sarakite     ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited     Col. Adedipe     Tinubu     Bilikisu Oniyangi     TETFUND     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Ariyo     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Edu     MMWG     Jaigbade Alao     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Laboratory-to-Product     Amada Jidda     Alabe     Lanre Jimoh     Dan Iya Of Ilorin     Kisira     Akeem Olatunji     Ajibola Saliu Ajia     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Saba Mamman Daniel    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Okin Biscuit     Saka Keji     Principal Private Secretary     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Abdulwahab Ololele     Rebecca Bake     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Bayo Ojo     Ojuekun Sarumi     Nigerian Army     Danhawa     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Ajeigbe     KSIRS     Dairo Kunle Paul     Owu Fall     Ajike People Support Centre     Bukola Saraki     Dogara     Saliu Oluwole     Ubandawaki     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Abubakar Usman Jos     Magaji Erubu     Kwara     Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital     AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi     CKNG     Kwara State Geographic Information Service     Harafat E. Mukadam     Al-Hikmah Radio     Kwara Restoration Project     Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria     Aminu Ado Bayero     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     HYPPADEC     Kwara State Pension Board     Onilorin Of Ilorin     April 11     Okasanmi Ajayi     Senate Presidency     Moshood Bakare     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Mumini Ishola Hanafi     Dorcas Afeniforo     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Mufti Of Ilorin     Kwara NIPR     Demola Banu     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     Gobir     Usman Alkali Baba     Kudirat Arinola Lawal     Ronke Adeyemi     Laolu Saraki     Saadu Gbogbo Iwe     Moses Adekanye     Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman     Ganmo     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq     Quareeb     Alfa Yahaya Road     Gbemisola Saraki     University Road     Yusuf Mubarak     Bukola Ajikobi     Dapo Teni Nig Enterprise     Ojuekun     Post-utme     Tanke Road     Idris Garba     Wahab Agbaje     Royal FM     Aliyu Muyideen     Olayinka Are     Aisha Gobir     International Aviation College