Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, led a delegation from the University to the Lagos home of Late Distinguished Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe, on Thursday 21st January, 2021, to commiserate with the bereaved family. In the VC delegation were Alhaji Rafiu Aliu- University Bursar, Prof Smart Otu- Dean Faculty of Social Sciences and Mr. Chris Uwadoka –Ag. Director, Partnership.
Prof Chinedum Nwajiuba expressed his condolences to the family praying that God would give them the grace and fortitude to bear the irreparable lose. The widow of Late Prof. Obidapo Obe, who received AE-FUNAI delegation thanked Prof. Nwajiuba and his team, affirming that AE-FUNAI was an important part of Prof. Ibidapo Obe’s carreer having been the founding Vice-Chancellor of the University. She however decried the falsehood making round that her husband died of COVID-19, contracted at a party.
She communicated the burial programme to the delegation.
The news of the demise of Prof. Obe was received with rude shock at the University and to honour the late Erudite Professor and Pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Condolence Registers were opened at the New Senate Building for Governing Council Members and the entire University Community. VC, Prof Nwajiuba also announced the death of his predecessor at both the extra ordinary Council and Senate meetings held recently, where moments of silence were observed in honour of the late Distinguished Professor.
Oyewusi Ibidapo Obe born on 5th July 1951, was professor of Systems Engineering, Educational Administrator and former Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos and later Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, where he was pioneer Vice-Chancellor.
Prof. Obe served as Visiting Research Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Bufalo, USA (1980-1981) and Visiting Research Professor at Texas Southern University, Houston, USA. He was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos in the year 2000.
Prof. Ibidapo Obe received several awards, including WaterLoo Post Doctorate Distinction Award Fellow in 1976, Fellow of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council, Canada (1977-1979), Fellowship of the Academy of Science and Engineering, Fellow of Africa Academy of Science, Fellow of Academy of Science for Developing World. He died on 3rd January, 2021.
