The late former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Professor Emeritus Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, JP, was, yesterday, interred in Benin City.
Prof. Oshodin, who died after a brief illness on Sunday, May 29, at the age of 71 years, was buried at his private residence in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Before his internment, a funeral service held at the Rev. Emokpae Memorial Baptist Church, in Benin City, where a prayer was offered for the departed former VC.
Oshodin’s burial attracted academic and non-teaching staff of UNIBEN including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, who led the UNIBEN management team to the funeral.
CAMPUS GIST reports that, Prof. Oshodin, a Professor of Education, was the 8th substantive vice chancellor of UNIBEN and he served between 2009 and 2014.
In his tribute to Oshodin, the officiating minister said the deceased lived a purposeful life, urging Nigerians to emulate the former university administrator.
Saturday’s burial was the culmination of funeral activities for the late UNIBEN first indigenous VC of Benin extraction, who was nicknamed the “Uniben unifier” while he held sway as vice chancellor.
Earlier on Friday, 19th August, 2022, a commendation service was organised by the University of Benin in honour of her departed former Vice Chancellor who gave the university a facelift.
The service, monitored by CAMPUS GIST, was attended by the wife of the deceased who is also the immediate past Registrar of UNIBEN, Mrs Otasowie Oshodin; children, and family members of Oshodin.
Members of the University management team led by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami; former Vice Chancellors of the institution, and several Professor Emerita graced the ceremony.
The event also attracted visiting Vice Chancellors including VCs of Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, University of Delta, Agbor, Prof. (Mrs) Stella Chiemeke; and Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, amongst others.
CAMPUS GIST reports that some striking union members and staff of the University defied the ongoing strike by university unions to pay their last respect to the man who had been termed “Uniben unifier”.
In his sermon, the officiating minister eulogised the deceased for being a good and upright man, touching the lives of many, putting food on their table by taking their bread winners off the Labour market.
He asked the gathering to pray to God and ask for the grace to “die well”. His kind words about Oshodin, this Online Medium observed, was met with a loud minute-long ovation for the deceased by the gathering.
At the ceremony, a compendium of tributes which was published by the University in honour of her late former Vice Chancellor, was formally distributed to the family and attendees
Until his demise, Prof. Oshodin was married to Mrs Otasowie, immediate past Registrar of UNIBEN. He was at last year’s Convocation of the University unveiled as Professor Emeritus.
The funeral activities came to a close with a Thanksgiving Service at the Rev. Emokpae Memorial Baptist Church on Sunday (today), followed by entertainment of guests at Horatio Marquee, Edo Hotel, GRA, Benin City.
Photos from the funeral below…
1 Comment
RIP