The University of Ibadan (UI) community is in mourning following the tragic death of Professor Isaac Opeyemi Ajewole, a renowned academic in the field of Social and Environmental Forestry. The professor was laid to rest amidst tears and a strong demand for justice.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in a statement, expressed their sorrow and frustration over the loss of their colleague, emphasizing their determination to see the culprits arrested, paraded, and prosecuted.
The burial ceremony took place in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, on Tuesday. The late professor was interred at the Cathedral of St. James The Great Cemetery in Ijokodo, Ibadan.
During the funeral service, Pastor Samson Ajetumobi of Men of Issachar Vision, Ibadan, delivered a sermon capturing the untimely and unfortunate end of Professor Ajewole’s life. He boldly declared that those responsible for planning and perpetrating the heinous crime would face a similar fate, as the blood of the deceased cries out for justice.
Ajetumobi stated, “While dying is an inevitable part of human existence, killing is an abomination in the sight of God and man. The scriptures make it clear that no one has the right to take another’s life. God despises those who shed the blood of the innocent. Life is not to be toyed with; those who commit murder will be held accountable.”
Prior to the burial, a lying-in-state ceremony was held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, where members of the academic community, friends, and family paid their respects to the departed. Prominent figures in attendance included the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Adebowale, the Registrar, Mr. J.O. Saliu, Pro-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Professor Deji Omole, the Director General of the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Professor Zachariah Buba Yaduma, and the Provost of the Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, Professor Funmi Aderonmu.
Speaking at the lying-in-state, the Chairman of ASUU, Professor Ayo Akinwole, pledged the union’s unwavering commitment to seeking justice for their fallen comrade. He declared, “These heartless individuals have ended the life of one of our greatest academics. We will remain steadfast in upholding the values he stood for. ASUU will not rest until the perpetrators of this crime are apprehended and brought to book.”
During the event, other individuals such as Bisi Olawuyi, Senior Staff Club President, and a representative of the Forestry Association of Nigeria, Afolabi, eulogized the virtues and accomplishments of Professor Ajewole.
The entire University of Ibadan community continues to mourn the loss of a brilliant and dedicated academic, while demanding justice for his senseless and untimely demise.
