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.

Bello Taoheed Abubakar     Ayegbeni     Mansur Alfanla     Women For Change And Development Initiative     KWASEIC     Sebastine Obasi     Yahaya Dumoye     KSIRS     Hassan Oyeleke     Aso-ofi     Oluronke Adeyemi     Gabriel Fashanu     Frootify     Rasheed Jimoh     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Olomu     Niguel Gallando Marcias     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Nagode     Mohammed Abduraheem     LAK Jimoh     Bola Ahmed Tinubu     Aminu Ado Bayero     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     Salman Suleiman     Abdulraheem Olesin     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Kwara State Television     Aliyu U. Tilde     Kanu Agabi     Yusuf Aiyedun     Garba Dogo     Bureau Of Lands     Oyelere Oyinloye     Zaratu Umar     Afetu Of Alabe     Tsaragi/Share     Shehu Jimoh     Baba Idris     Ilorin Durbar     CCB     Rebecca Bake     Ifelodun     Olokoba     AbdulFatai Adeniyi Dan-Kazeem     Tunji Ajanaku     Nigeria Governors\' Forum     Adeola Abraham     Tunji Oyawoye     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     Oniwa     Busari Alabi Alausa     Law School Scholarship     Javed Khan     Valsolar     Maryam Nurudeen     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Isiaka Abdulrazak     Labour Party     International Public Sector Accounting Standards     Kola Shittu     Lucky Omoluwa     Moses Afolayan     Senate Presidency     Ibrahim Oniye     Jelili Yusuf     Alikinla     Guber Aspirant     Oyedun Juliana Funke     Mustapha Akanbi     Senate President     Abatemi-Usman     Elerin Of Adanla Irese     Gbemi Saraki     Voices Of Tomorrow     Segun Ogunsola     Taofik Abiodun Ahmed    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Sodiya     Summit University     Musa Alhassan Buge     Toyin Saraki     Sabi     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Sheriff Shagaya     Tsaragi-Share     Muazam Nayaya     Ayinde Oki     Odolaye Aremu     ANCOPPS     Isiaka Alikinla     Hassanat Bello     Musa Abdullahi     Asa     Abdulrazaq Magaji     Gbenga Olawepo     Bello Oyedepo     Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa     Mumeen Lah     Bolaji Aladie     Umar Sanda Yusuf     Kehinde Baale     Al-Ilory     Alikinla     Saliu Tunde Bello     Universal Basic Education Commission     Quran     Kumbi Titiloye     Alagbado     Gwanara     Aliyu Alhassan     Sai Kayi     Garment Factory     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Kwara NIPR     School Of Nursing     Ella Supreme Tissue Paper     Akanbi-Oke     Ilota     Saka Asiat Ayinke     Funmilayo Isiaka Oniwa     T And K FOODS     Orire     PharmAccess Foundation     Buhari     Wasiu Onidugbe     Otuka     Abubakar Atiku     Yahaya Abdulkareem     Kwara State Polytechnic     Balogun Ajikobi     KWASIEC     Muhammad Yahya     SAPZ Project     Yoruba     Tope Daramola     Christopher Ayeni     Bamidele Aluko     Adedeji Onimago     Rafiu Ajakaye     Jebba     Bola Iyabo Ibiyeye Adisa     Aminat Omodara     Afolasade Opeyemi Kemi     Azeez Salawu     Bamikole Omishore     Afetu Of Alabe     07039448763     Yusuf Aiyedun     Abdulahi Abubakar Bata     Emir Of Yashikira     Abiodun Musa Aibinu     IPSAS     Millennium Development Goals     NAWOJ