It's been a year already, Sir. But the pain of separation remains fresh...

... as fresh as the gratitude and love.

RIP, dear Prof.

We have the audacity to personalize the tragedy of this mortal separation from you because you lit up the embers of a persevering love in the horde of us who grieve. While the encounter many of us had with you was meant to be impersonal, you humanized yourself and didn't see us as mere numbers but humans you could nurture and did nurture.

They say to be enthroned is to be enslaved. You dramatized this every day you braved your way into our classes, triumphing over cancer, lecturing on your two feet, sometimes, for up to two hours.
You earned our love.
We became silly, thinking we'd have you here forever.
We forgot that 'nothing gold can stay'.
Adieu Prof, there's a painful scar in our hearts today because you lived well.
I'm proud to hold that scar.

The News of your demise shock me. You were a rare gem full with Poetic and Literary words.
He was a great Linguist, Tutor, Poet, Novelist, Legend, Father, Mentor , Supervisor and above all a Lover of God.
The legacies you have left behind will never be forgotten.
National Association of English and Literary Studies NASELS will forever miss you Professor Nereus Yerima Tadi.
Adieu till we meet again on the resurrection morning.

"Iroko" I'll call him for he stood tall,
"Fair" I'll often murmur for his actions were often justifiable.
It did shock, the news of his eternal sleep,
yet in calmness it made me ponder on Wadsworth's lines:
     In the world's broad field of battle,
     In the bivouac of life,
     Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
     Be a hero in the strife!
You were a hero Professor. One we will forever remember. You showed us the light and the way and we are grateful our paths crossed yours. Adieu hero. Sleep well.

Prof was an amazing human being, an amazing teacher and an amazing mentor who always motivated students and friends alike to give thier best.

The saddest of all is that I have never had the honour to meeting Prof during his life time...

RIP Prof

Words lack potency,
If not for the diverse interpretative intuitions of silence,
It'd have remained the loudest shout in the mourning celebration of a father,
An Icon,
A mentor,
An Oasis,
A well-deserved Professor!

You never taught us nonsense,
For you have non in your harn,
Your wordbook has mulched many!

IFF one can interfere in divinity,
IFF wishes were horses,
IFF blackout is evitable,
'GOODBYE' won't have been our anthem!
For you have much to do,
Yet nothing left undone.

Sir. Prof. N. Y. Tadi,
You have fought a good fight,
You have lit the path of many,
You've implanted your seedlings in many,
And you'll forever live!

To an epitapher,
In simple terms,
"HE IS A GOOD MAN"

Sleep well Daddy.

The seeds that you have planted are germinating, You have successfully passed on the button. You remain immortal as long as humanity exist. Adieu dearest Daddy.

Vesuvius repeats itself in the quiet of our heart
We could hear, but the explosion of pains
BABA
BABA
BABA
PROF.

May the scent of your life carve a scar in the winds.
REST ON PROF....

"The dead of each man diminishes me for I'm part of the continent." You've fought so well that everything needs must hold its peace. As it's the tradition of every good seed, it needs must die to spring up. So you slept eternally leaving us with whispers. Prof, to immortality, to literature and for Christ, rest in Peace. Amen.

Now that you are no longer with us you belongs to the ages your exceptionality, intelligence and uncompromising position on academic issues has placed you far ahead of you contemporaries In Contra-distinction even your
detractors wish the same intestinal fortitude like you do. Slow to anger, quick to apologise, a characteristics of an avatar which crosses the word seldom. It is not how long a man lives, it's how well he used the little time he lived to affect his generation...

Oceans are made not for sailors
Fishes live deeply amid predators

Fisher's thought: 'the ocean is mine'
Sailors float; pout and pine

Rainbows suck, mouthing its pride
Cloud looks from above: the ocean can tide

I peep through leaves;
Alas, the ocean is boundless and sufficient even for eaves

And for those who came and those to come

Tadi you are the Ocean

Some people were sent into our lives as builders, because they have The ability to create what has not been in existence. Prof you have built my life, using the strongest foundation. You will forever be in my heart.

Prof N.Y.Tadi is a real gem.An intellectual masterpiece whose journey to the mother earth will be missed by all.
It's sad you left at this time but our creator must have cherished you more than we do for you to be called now.
Eternal rest grant unto you, I pray thee.

"You can meet some people thirty, forty times down the years, and they remain amiable bystanders, like the shore lights of towns that a sailor passes at stated times but never calls at on the regular run. Conversely... you can meet some other people once or twice and they remain permanent influences on your life."

Alistair Cooke, "Six Men"