Egbewole pays tribute to late Prof. Lawani
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has described the late Prof. Samuel Adetunji Lawani as an outstanding academic, impactful researcher and a man of exemplary character whose contributions to the development of the University would remain indelible.
Prof. Egbewole stated this last Wednesday (August 26, 2026) in a tribute delivered at the wake/service in honour of the late Professor, held at the Mount Olives Anglican Chapel Hall, NNPC Pipeline Road, Tanke, Ilorin.
Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Lere Adeyemi, the Vice Chancellor, commiserated with the family of the deceased on behalf of the University Governing Council, Management, staff, students and the entire University community, as he described the deceased as a compassionate soul who dedicated his life to the service of God and humanity.
The Vice Chancellor said that Prof. Lawani was one of the pioneering staff members of the University and that his career was deeply intertwined with the growth and success of the institution.
He noted that the deceased joined the University on September 5, 1977, as Lecturer I in the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, now Faculty of Physical Sciences, where he taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
According to him, the late Professor was an impactful researcher who had three patents to his credit, namely Tolcocon or Tyco Concentrates, Watermatic and Hydro-Cleanser. The Vice Chancellor said aside contributing significantly to research in Physical Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Prof. Lawani also served as Acting Head of the Department of Chemistry during the 1988/1989 academic session and worked as a consultant on water quality to the then Faculty of Health Sciences under the Community-Based Experience and Service (COBES) Programme, as well as to industries within and outside Kwara State.
Prof. Egbewole noted that the late scholar’s brilliance, commitment to scholarship and hard work earned him promotion from Lecturer I to the rank of Professor of Environmental Chemistry in 1997. He added that Prof. Lawani retired from the University on March 8, 2004, after more than 26 years of dedicated service to the institution.
While mourning his passing, Prof. Egbewole expressed gratitude to Almighty God for the lasting legacy of scholarship, leadership, mentorship and service to humanity, which the deceased left behind. He prayed to God to comfort and strengthen the children, family and the Church of God, while asking the Almighty to grant the deceased eternal rest.
