Staff of the University of Ilorin, Kwara state, comprising academic and non-academic staff under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Universities (SSANU) from both the university and state-owned Kwara state University (KWASU), have staged a procession to honour their colleague, late Professor Olajide Patrick Balogun.

Professor Balogun of the department of English was reported to have slumped and died in his room in the early hours of Sunday this week in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital. He was aged 58.

The deceased until his death was the secretary-general of the UNILORIN branch of ASUU.

The procession, which started at the UNILORIN ASUU secretariat complex through old faculty of Arts en-route faculty of Agriculture, was led by the union's chairman, Dr Abdulrasheed Adeoye.

From the faculty of Agriculture, the procession veered to the new faculty of arts building where the procession maintained one minute silence in honour of the late professor of English Language.

Moving from there, the procession passed through the university's Senate building back to ASUU secretariat.

The ASUU chair described the death of his colleague as shocking and a monumental loss. Almost betraying his emotion, Dr. Adeoye said his comrade in the ASUU struggle was an embodiment of courage and steadfastness.

"I call on all to rally round his wife and family members in this trying time. I pray to God to help us stop this kind of disaster at the University of Ilorin," he added.

Also speaking, former deputy vice chancellor, management services, Prof Albert Olayemi, said he was short of words due to the sudden death. "It is with a heavy heart that I will struggle to say something for anybody to comprehend. The last three days have been very difficult, his contributions were so immense because this union has faced a lot of challenges in the last couple of years.

"His death is a challenge for members to be committed to the union as it is the union that binds us together." In his remark, erstwhile president of Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Professor Olu Obafemi, said the death of late professor Balogun was a phenomenal grief.

Waxing poetical, Prof Obafemi said death's sting is transient and ephemeral, adding that his death "to all of us is like a dream, mirage and doubtable.

"His total commitment to service, his indomitable courage to take bull by the horn even when the bull is more vicious; his courage to serve when the union was battled and embattled. His death should be a supreme redemption and supreme reconciliation for all of us," he said.