Pius Adesanmi’s Alma Mater Mourns

On Tuesday the 19th of March, the University of Ilorin held a solemn event to mark the tragic death of one of its more illustrious former students, Professor Pius Adesanmi.

The procession for the late alumnus took place outside the university’s Senate Building at 2 pm on the day.

Many described the 1992 French graduate as an erudite scholar, a genius and lover of his nation and continent at large. Adesanmi was described as humble, pious and an honourable man with integrity as they noted that his death was a loss to the university community, Nigeria and Africa as a whole.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Technology Innovations, Prof. Mikhail Olayinka Buhari, described the late Pius Adesanmi as a man of honour who lived his 47 years well.

“For Pius, it is not how long but how well,” he said.

Some of the attendees included the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Oyeronke Olademo, Director, Corporate Affairs Commission, Mr Kunle Akogun, UNILORIN FM Manager, Mr Idris Ibrahim, Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Tajudeen Ajibade, 1991/92 Students’ Union President, Dr. Uthman Akanbi, Representatives of 1992 set, Unilorin Alumni Association President, Dr. (Mrs) Oduwale, Professors, Staff and Students.

Professor Pius Adesanmi died on Sunday the 10th of March in an Ethiopian Airline crash at the age of 47. Until his death, he was a professor of literature and African studies at Carleton University, Ottawa in Canada and the Director of the university’s Institute of African Studies.