The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of a former Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. C. A. Bodunde, and a former Dean of Education, Prof. E. A. Ogunsakin, both of who died recently.
Prof. Egbewole spoke at the residences of the two esteemed academics when he led the Principal Officers, Deans, and some staff on condolence visits to their families.
Prof. Ogunsakin, who was the 9th Dean of the Faculty of Education and who had retired from the University, passed away penultimate Saturday (March 8, 2025), while Prof. Bodunde, the 15th Dean of Arts, died on Tuesday (March 4, 2025).
During a condolence visit to the family of the late Prof. Ogunsakin, the Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, acknowledged the late Professor’s outstanding contributions to the University.
While stating that the University Management held the late don in very high regard, the Vice Chancellor expressed appreciation for the significant role he played in the academic and administrative progress of the Faculty of Education and the University as a whole.
He said that the visit served as an expression of solidarity with the grieving family, and to commiserate with them over the loss of their beloved husband, father, and grandfather.
At the residence of the late Prof. Bodunde, the Vice Chancellor acknowledged him as an exemplary academic who demonstrated unwavering dedication and commitment to his work.
He said that Prof. Bodunde’s contributions to the Faculty of Arts were invaluable and that his absence would be deeply felt by colleagues, students, and the institution as a whole.
Speaking on behalf of the family of Prof. Bodunde, one of the deceased’s daughters, Mrs. Victoria Olayemi, appreciated the Principal Officers of the University, the staff of the Faculty of Arts, and the University community for standing by them when her father was ill. She also appreciated the moral support the family has been receiving from the University since the announcement of his death.
While the late Prof. E. A. Ogunsakin was the 9th Dean of the Faculty of Education, serving from August 2002 to July 2006, the late Prof. Bodunde served as the Head of Department of English from 2002 to 2006. He later served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2011 to 2013.
Also on the Vice Chancellor ‘s entourage were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Alfanla; and the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa.
Others were the Dean of Education, Prof. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya; the Dean of Arts, Prof. Olalere Adeyemi; the Head of the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health, Prof. Shuaib Olarenwaju Oniyangi; and Prof. Olukunmi Lanre Olaitan also of the Department of Health Promotion and Environmental Health.
