Date: 2014-05-21

One covenant, not by blood, man might have consciously or unconsciously entered into while descending this mortal enclave is to sojourn. The longevity of such journey lies in the “memorandum of understanding” sworn to by the sojourner and the sailor. If the sailor wishes to end the journey abruptly, no one dares challenge such audacious stance.

It is the wish of every mortal cum passengers in the ferry being sailed to continue the journey for a long time like every adventurer especially when it’s becoming more interesting. It is only a misplaced adventure that one may have to jump out of the ferry, because there is likelihood of it coming to nought.

When the journey proves to be heading for a glorious harbour, what comes to mind is for the journey to continue uninterrupted. These and more a mortal would have to contend with while still on this planet. It is certain that no one could live this cruel world in perpetuity. It has to climax, come to an end and even go into oblivion.

There is a common saying among the Yoruba, “The death of a colleague is proverbial”. Every man, no matter how highly placed, honoured and above all revered, would cease to be called his name, but the common sobriquet “the dead”.  Suffice to call it a “phenomenon”.

One thing about it is that it will come at appointed time. It is inevitable, ineluctable, inalienable and inescapable. It is a scripted “cross” every mortal must come to term with, thus making everyone “cross bearers”.

In the ancient city of Ilorin therefore, the star sobbed; the star has been eclipsed and ceased to be seen on this planet. The star has gone to the unknown planet, which authenticates the ephemerality of life.

Devoid of any prejudice, presumption, supposition and outpouring of emotions, Professor Shehu Ahmed Jimoh was a man of honour, a gallant officer in the army of Educators, a fine administrator, a professorial quintessence. What other appellations can one employ to eulogize the special one?

He started his carrier as an educator like every other seasoned scholar in the educational profession, and would later become a revered Professor of Educational Psychology.

In education where Jimoh cut his teeth, he was an academic per excellence. His sojourn in the profession left a footprint that would be uneasy to scrape. Various ideas he initiated in revamping the dwindling fortune of education, not only in Kwara State but also in the country in general attested to his masterpiece and creative ingenuity.

To delve into his posture as a seasoned scholar who believed the society should be redesigned to return to the glory of the past, Jimoh was an advocate of sound and quality education. Every time, his heart trembled owing to the way and manner the educational policy is being run in Nigeria. He believed the current curriculum in the nation’s education sector was a misplaced priority. And one thing is clear about him, at any fora, he used the opportunity to spew his venom on policy inconsistencies in education, which has been largely responsible for the dismal future of the sector.

Part of his journey as an administrator was when he was made Provost, College of Education, Oro. The reforms, he introduced during his tenure, were unparalleled, and they continued to speak volumes for him even when he eventually joined the services of the University of Ilorin.

His sojourn in the University made him to be appointed into various administrative positions; famous among them were Dean, Faculty of Education as well as Dean, Student Affairs.

Jimoh, a product of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, would later deliver his inaugural lecture in 2009 at the University of Ilorin to launch his professorial chair in the academic fraternity. At the Science Lecture Theatre of the institution where the historic event took place, congregation of members of the academic community, captains of industries, pen pushers and top government functionaries, filled the theatre to the brim.

Jimoh titled his lecture “If Gold Rusts.. What Will Iron Do? Fortunately for him, that day coincided with his bowing out of the University after putting in meritorious service in the anal of the varsity.

His contribution to the propagation of Islam is boundless. To say he was a renowned cleric in his closet was stating the obvious.

His journey on earth ended on Monday night when he breathed his last. May the Almighty Allah grant his soul Al-Janat Firdaus and the bereaved the fortitude to stomach the great loss.