By Amaka Abayomi, Ebele Orakpo & Aishat Tiffin

HUMBLE, humane, team player, generous, unassuming, the list goes on. These were the adjectives used to describe the late Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe, the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos by staff, students and associates when Vanguard Learning went to feel the pulse on campus following the sudden death of the helmsman.

It is good to be good as a man’s character is what he will be remembered for. Little wonder students and staff of the institution have continued to mourn the late VC without pretence.

Professor Sofoluwe, who was appointed Vice- Chancellor of the University of Lagos on January 30, 2010, slumped at a meeting on the campus last Friday and was first rushed to the institution’s medical centre and later to Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, where he died on Saturday.

Describing the late VC as a leader who carried everyone along, the Superintendent Pharmacist, Unilag Community Pharmacy, Mrs. Dorcas Omeire, said Sofoluwe had a way of getting people to do things without using force.

“The late VC was a simple, unassuming man who was very approachable. He communicated with everyone and carried us along without micro-managing and he treated all memos promptly. The impression I have of him is that of a man who depended on divine intervention, and he used to say he didn’t know it all and always tried to surround himself with intelligent people.”

For the Deputy Dean, Students’ Affairs, Kayode Adebayo, Sofoluwe was humane and gave hope to a lot of people.
“His enigma would be missed because he demystified the office of the VC by operating an open door policy. He had the ability to make things look so ordinary and accomplishable and we all felt comfortable in his presence. He was one of the best academics this country had and as a computer scientist, one of the projects dear to him was the computerization of this university which I’m glad he accomplished before his death.”

For Dr. Henry Boyo, a senior lecturer and Head of Hardware Development Laboratory, Dept. of Physics, in the university’s Faculty of Science, the late VC was looking forward to the commissioning of the zero-energy green building. “He really encouraged me and was anxiously waiting to see the completion of the project,” he said.

Dr. Efe Ikponmwosa, a senior lecturer in the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Unilag, said: “We will miss him greatly. He carried everybody along. He got everyone working for the interest of the institution. The ICT facility was greatly improved so that students could easily access their results online.

“His style of administration tended towards welfarism. He speedily handled every memo, job application letter etc, that gets to his table. He contacted a lot of people in the industry and the alumni, to contribute in the infrastructure development of the institution. We are definitely going to miss him.”

For Ime Bassey, an alumnus of Unilag, Sofoluwe was a humble man who didn’t allow his office to determine who to relate with.

Leader par excellence
“I will always remember him as a very humble man because at our last AGM on April 29, he went round and shook hands with each of us. That was very humble of a VC of his status.”

Pointing out that the late VC left a big gap that would be hard to fill, a security officer, Prince Obeten said Sofoluwe was a leader par excellence. “He was very approachable and if you have any issue you want to discuss with him, he would always listen. He was a good and humble man who will be greatly missed.”

Mr. Olawale Olasunmade, Information Officer, VC’s Office is yet to recover from the shock of the his death because he worked closely with him and offered him pieces of advice on some issues.

“He was a very nice man, an accomplished scholar, an amiable, kind and pleasant fellow. Despite the fact that I’m very junior to him, he respected my views and treated me as a son and I’m yet to recover from the devastating effect of his death. We hope the projects he initiated would continue because they are staff and student-friendly and would uplift this school.”

Pointing out that the late VC ensured that salaries were paid on time, the News Editor, Unilag FM, Mr. Tayo Takuro, said staff were paid before the 23rd of every month unlike what obtained in the past.

“I first met him in 2006 when he was a DVC and was still driving a beetle car. He saw me trekking and offered to take me to the gate to pick a bus despite the fact that it was not his route. When he later saw my daughter and I, he said to her: ‘do you think they will steal your Daddy’ because she looks like me.

Late Sofoluwe

“Even when we enter the lift, he would insist that the lift attendant should drop others first before taking him to his 11th floor office. I believe the projects he initiated would continue because they are good and in favour of students and staff.”

Open door policy
In agreement is Lydia Eke Eyidiya, a reporter with Unilag FM who described the late VC as a man who treated everyone as an equal.

“He operated an open door policy and interacted with us individually. He had a great vision for the university and wanted it to be reckoned with globally. He was concerned about the welfare and security of the staff and students and gave a lot of support to the radio unit. He will be missed.”

For the National Director of Sports, NANS, Ninalowo Saheed Shola, the passing of the VC is a loss to the entire Nigerian students as he was a father, mentor and role model to the students.

“To the best of my knowledge, he is the first dead VC that students are actually mourning as the empty streets of the school shows. He listened to students’ complaints and acted on them. May his gentle soul rest in peace and the entire student community will continue to mourn him.”

Odunola Olajoke and Adebola Abisola Adeagbo, both students, described Sofoluwe as a father to the students who students could stop anywhere to complain to.

“He was a very consistent and approachable father figure and since he became the VC, he ensured the school calendar was stabilized and also initiated laudable projects in the school, particularly in the Distance Learning Institute (DLI).”
For Eze Pascal, student, the late VC was a great leader and father that changed the face of the school and was on the path of repositioning the school.

“He did a lot, especially in the DLI and also reduced cultism to the barest minimum. He took control of almost all students’ activities.”

Akiyimi Willson, a graduate of the university, received the news with shock when he came to check his NYSC posting.
“He was a nice man to his colleagues and students. I remember an incidence when a female student misplaced her purse and she reported to the school authority. The purse was later found by a male student who returned it to the owner but the surprising part was that Prof. Sofoluwe gave the boy N300,000 and paid his hostel fees till he graduated. In fact, he was a father to many and gave hope to many people.”

Late VC’s unfulfilled wishes for the University of Lagos

Day was Tuesday, May 8, 2012, venue was the Senate Chamber, Senate House, Main Campus, University of Lagos, Akoka and event was the Pre-Celebration Press Conference for the university’s 50th anniversary scheduled to run from April through October, this year.

The late Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe addressed the Press on activities lined up to mark the institution’s 50th anniversary.

“From my vantage point, the future looks beautiful, full of promises and myriads of opportunities. I see a future of outstanding excellence in the quality of staff and of course, as a consequence, of students. I see a future of trail-blazing collaboration between the academia of this university and the budding industry in Nigeria and the world to improve our national and world economy. I see UNILAG joining the league of 100 best universities globally,” the erudite scholar had said.

The late Professor of Computer Science and 10th vice-chancellor of the university said the institution “was established by an act of the Federal Parliament in 1962 with the mandate to ‘train the requisite professional workforce for a newly-independent Nigeria.’ The first lecture was held at the Idi Araba Campus on October 3, 1962. I am pleased to announce to this august gathering and the world through your media that the University of Lagos has to an appreciable degree, fulfilled this mandate.”

Partnerships and Linkages
According to the late VC, in its 50 years of existence, UNILAG has “enjoyed greater international visibility through partnerships and international linkages. The recent one is between this university and Soochow University in China.

Other institutions with which the university enjoys partnership are: the University of South Africa (UNISA); Hogskolan Dalama University, Sweden; DUN Groupment De Recherche International (GORI), France; Universite Charles-Louis De Montesquieu D’Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire; Virginia State University, USA; Kennesaw State University, USA; Confucius Institute, China and University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom among others.”

National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation
The Federal Government established a National Centre for Energy Efficiency and Conservation (NCEEC) in the University of Lagos, two years ago. The construction of the building for the Centre beside the Central Laboratory being constructed by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has commenced.

Projects Sofoluwe couldn’t complete
“The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos from 1984 to 1985, Chief Arthur Christopher Izuegbunam Mbanefo MFR, CON, FCA has donated a Research and Resource Centre to the University of Lagos.

The Centre, when completed, will be a world class facility which would aid and enhance academic research and productivity in the university and Nigeria as a whole. It will also have a digital/internet-based research library to support advance research and postgraduate studies in Nigeria.

“The Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos received a grant of Kingdom Suite Software. The three-year grant from HIS Global Incorporation, Houston, Texas, United States of America is worth $2, 310, 000.00. The donation is for Geophysics and Geology programmes as it relates to oil and gas exploration.

“An ultramodern medical laboratory was recently completed at the Medical Centre with funds provided by foremost philanthropist and industrialist, Chief Adebukunola Adebutu Kessington, OFR. Troika Group has also donated a three-storey building to the university’s Department of Mass Communication. When completed, the building will provide additional classrooms.”

50th anniversary programme he won’t attend
The late VC had outlined the programme for the 50th anniversary celebrations as follows:
On May 18, there will be Anniversary Light and Sound show, followed by My 50 Golden Words on May 20. Anniversary Park will take place from April – June 16, 2012 while UNILAG Ideas and People’s Festival will take place between April and July 27.

Alumni Week comes up from June 11 – 16.  From July 5 to 6, Mr. and Miss Golden Jubilee comes up, followed by Lecture (Faculty of Environmental Studies) on July 7. Anniversary Lecture (Faculty of Law) comes up on July 12. Nigeria Nite follows on July 20. On July 26, UNILAG 25 Year Strategic Plan/Donor Club will be inaugurated. UNILAG Festival of Arts comes up from August 13 to 19 and Anniversary Games Championships takes place from September 3 to 9.

Other activities are: Anniversary Museum (September 9); Golden Jubilee research Fair (September); LUTH Lecture (College of Medicine), (October 3). The high point of the activities will be the Special Anniversary Convocation & Awards and Anniversary Gala Nite & Launch of Anniversary Documentary & 50 Years History of UNILAG on October 4, 2012.

The event had in attendance the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor R. A. Bello; Registrar, Oluwarotimi O.A. Shodimu (Esq); Bursar, Mr. L. A. Odekunle; Acting Librarian, Dr. Okanlawon Adediji; Senate members; Deans; Directors; Heads of Departments/Units; Staff and students of the university.

Background
Born on April 15, 1950, Sofoluwe attended CMS Grammar School for his secondary education after which he proceeded to the University of Lagos to study Computer Science and graduated with a Second Class upper Division (Honours) in 1973. During his days as a student, he was awarded a German scholarship for being brilliant academically, he also won the Dean’s prize back to back in the 1971/72 session.

After graduation from the University of Lagos and the completion of his one year compulsory service to the nation, he proceeded to Edinburgh University in Scotland where he earned his Master’s and Doctorate in 1975 and 1981 respectively after he won a Commonwealth Scholarship.

Back  home, he kick-started his teaching career at the University of Lagos as a graduate assistant in 1976, rose through the ranks till he became a full professor in 1996.

Achievements
•Professor Sofoluwe served twice in the Computer Science department as the head of department (1989-1991 and 1994-1996).
•Served as a Dean of the Faculty of Science between 1998 and 2002.
•He was elected as a member of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (2000-2004).
•While he was appointed as a Deputy Vice-Chancellor, he returned to the Governing Council in August 30, 2006 by virtue of the appointment.
•On January 30, 2010, Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe was appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos.
Meanwhile,Professor Rahman Bello, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Management Services), has been appointed the Acting Vice-Chancellor.