OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, NIGERIA
FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
TRIBUTE TO THE LATE PROFESSOR BENEDICTA YETUNDE OLADIMEJI
It is with a heavy heart that I have to write on behalf of the entire members of staff and students in the Department to bid a matriarch in the family of Psychology in Nigeria farewell from this corruptible world of darkness into the incorruptible world of unending light.
Prof. B. Y. Oladimeji, the sudden and unexpected news of your death came with a rude shock and my immediate exclamation was that ‘not again’!, having lost to the cold hand of death earlier in the year an Iroko and a big fish (Prof. Akinsolape OLOWU) of the same family of psychology. Honestly, the situation became unbearable and nearly remove carpet off our feet.
Prof. B. Y. Oladimeji who was one of the first generation of Nigerian Clinical Psychologists, who bagged her M.A. in Psychology from Moscow State University (USSR), and Ph.D in Psychological Medicine from the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK. She was a certified Psychologist with more than three decades of clinical supervisory, consulting and teaching experience. She was an active member of many professional organizations including; the umbrella body of Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA); the Nigerian Society for Psychotherapy (NSP); Nigerian School Health Association (NSHA); African AIDS Research Network and the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychology (NACP) whose affairs she successfully piloted to further height as the immediate past President.
Mama Oladimeji was a leading light in the family of Psychology and in particular, a reliable associate to the Department of Psychology, OAUIFE. Her contributions as the University Examiner during the Departmental vivals in her area of specialization have always been stimulating and enlightening. I remember your physical presence and mothering roles at the maiden election and inauguration of Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) Osun State Chapter held in the Department of Psychology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
In her life time, Prof. Benedictal Yetunde Oladimeji was approachable, friendly and a role model, there is no doubt that your death has left a wide vacuum in the general family of Psychology, Clinical Psychologists Association, the immediate and extended families. It is our earnest and passionate prayer that God Almighty will continually be with all your associates and family members left behind. May the good Lord command His peace in your family and continually defend your husband, children, grandchildren and other relatives.
Good night our dear queen and a colossus in the family of Psychology.
SIGNED
A. T. Ayinde PhD.
Head, Department of Psychology