UI professor, Olu-Owolabi slumps and dies

Tragedy struck at the nation’s premier university, the University of Ibadan (UI), as the Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Kolawole Aderemi Olu-Owolabi, slumped and died at Mokola area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday.

Daily Sun gathered that the late Prof. Olu-Owolabi slumped and died in his car while on his way to the market to purchase school items for one of his sons who was to resume school next Monday.

Director of Public Communications, UI, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo, and the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU-UI branch, Dr. Segun Owolabi Ajigboye, both confirmed the sad incident to Daily Sun.

The source said after he slumped, the car coming behind hooted for him to move on.

It was discovered that the don, who was on the steering, was dead.

On arrival at the scene, a police officer used Prof. Olu-Owolabi’s phone to contact the last person he spoke to, who in turn got across to the UI.

In a text message sent to Daily Sun correspondent, Oladejo, said UI and the academic community in Nigeria lost a distinguished member, even as he described the deceased as a strong supporter of the local ASSU branch.

The image maker said that the late professor was in the Department of Philosophy of the institution.

He held LL.B and LL.M degrees.

According to him, he was aged 51 and hailed from Igbogila, Yewa North Local Government Area, Ogun State and was survived by a wife and two children.

The ASUU-UI chairman said the police officer used Prof Olu-Owolabi’s phone to call Dr. Deji Madubi of the Department of African and Asian Studies, University of Lagos (UNILAG), the last person he spoke to, to inform him about the death at Mokola area.

Ajigboye, on his part, described the late prof as a committed unionist, noting: “He was always there for the union. He was with us in January during the fuel subsidy protest, attended the last congress of ASUU on August 13 and that he believed and died supporting ASUU.”

He explained that ASUU would miss his support, encouragement and service to members as well as the university community, noting that the union would participate in his burial.

The late dean submitted his final year essay entitled: “Revolution, Solution to Political Problems in Max’s Philosophy” to the Department of Philosophy, UNILAG, in June 1983 and his Ph.D Thesis defended at UNILAG, May 1989 was entitled: “Trancedental Subjectivity as the Foundation of Knowledge: A critique of Edmund Husserl’s Epistemological Foundationalism.”

He had written and co-authored over 40 books, two forthcoming ones, produced nine Ph.D students, several first degrees and Master graduates and joined UI in 2002.

SOURCE:Daily Sun