A TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR FOLAYAN OJO – A FRIEND, A COLLEAGUE, AND A GENTLEMAN
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7
Prof. Folayan Ojo has passed on, having completed his assignment here on earth, the assignment which he dutifully and faithfully carried out. Prof. Ojo has largely acquitted himself in service, whether it is as relating to the training and mentoring of the younger ones, contributing to knowledge (particularly in the field of Economics), impeccable relationship to others, and service to God through service to man. I can therefore hear him repeat the words of Paul in 2 Tim. 4:7.
It was unexpected. So the news came as a big jolt.I recall having direct conversation with him over 5 months ago, but bot of us are on at least two social media platforms, and I saw him regularly, contributing.
We met shortly after I joined the University of Lagos in 1973. Our office buildings, within the Engineering – Science Complex, were only about ten metres apart. Therefore, we saw regularly, almost daily, until he relocated to the Faculty of Arts building. We also interacted within an organization known as “Ondo State Study Group, Unilag”, when Ekiti State was still part of Ondo State. When on at least on two occasions I needed his assistance as we mad progress, he was more than willing to help. Our respect for each other was mutual and reciprocal. Both of us also bore the same call-name – “Fola”, although many people also referred to him as Folayan. We were in several circles of friends together on Campus.
When Prof. Ojo was to celebrate his 80th birthday on November 17, 2018, he requested me to preside, and I was too glad to do so. It was a great and joyous day for him, his family and those that attended. I learnt he repeated the celebration at Ijero, his home town in Ekiti. That was like him. A year earlier, he had launched the Volume Two of his autobiography. People thought this was unusual, but he had genuine and well-thought-out reasons for it. Just a little less than a year ago, he approached me again, to ask that I should write the “Foreword” to the Volume Three of his autobiography. When he requested, I was on lock down in faraway USA. By July last year I had completed the assignment, and part of the two-page write-up stated as follows:
“If ever we are to have a volume four of the autobiography, and this can actually not be totally ruled out in view of the antecedents, this will be because Prof. Ojo is endowed with robust health for his age, and therefore, he is a naturally super-active man, in the family circle, in community service, academically and professionally. Naturally, there would be the temptation to once more put his later activities on record. In fact, this plays out in this new book which covers the author’s recent activities within his nuclear and extended families, and as it relates to his home town, Ijero-Ekiti. It also covers the updated activities of the Folayan Ojo Educational Foundation (a Foundation set up to assist Ijero youngsters in actualizing their academic dreams through sponsorship) ….”.
On receipt of the Foreword, Prof. Ojo replied with a prayer for me, and said:
“Prof., I have just gone through the foreword. Once again I thank you immensely. I pray quite fervently that the good Lord will continue to shower His blessings on you, give you more years of work in His vineyard in good health……”
Two days after I returned from the USA, sequel to the opening of the airways, my friend Folayan sent me a message asking how I was doing, in assumption that I was still there. I promptly gave him a call, telling him I was back in the country, and thanking him for his interest in my well-being.
As a person, Folayan is simple, ebullient, friendly, approachable and dependable, but principled and firm. He is an excellent family man, very close to his wife and children, wile also accommodating and relating very well with the larger, extended family. Prof has done very well in his life time, positively affecting the lives of many across the globe. Yes, we are saddened by his departure and will surely miss him, but God knows best. Certainly, we shall cherish the good memories we have of him while holding on, as Christians, to the hope of a lasting reunion in Chris in due time. May the good Lord grant him eternal rest, and comfort his wife, children and other loved ones left behind.
Ven. Francis A. Fajemirokun
Emeritus Professor