Opinions

Oyesiku: Celebrating moulding, mending academic giant

PROFESSOR Olukayode Oyesiku is a primus inter pares, world class academician, and University administrator of international repute. I am sure many of his former students and colleagues in academia would have much to say about his contributions to academics. His 40-page Curriculum Vitae, which continues to grow every year, summarizes his notable accomplishments. My contribution to his biography focuses on the character and unique attributes of this successful academician. My first interaction with Professor Oyesiku (then Mr. Oyesiku) was in 1989 when I was seeking admission at Ogun State University (OSU). I had applied to study Accounting, but my JAMB score was 2 points below the cut-off mark. Meeting him at the Social and Management Sciences Faculty Office was a blessing. While it was not his official responsibility, he made himself available and guided me towards other options. The guidance he provided led to my admission into the inaugural class of the Banking and Finance Program.

As I became a student in his faculty, he took an interest in me. I would consider him a coach as he helped identify and develop areas of weakness within me and advised on professional development over the course of my career. He also served as a Mentor as he provided formal and informal insight that helped with career navigation, as well as guidance concerning career choices and decisions. Further, Prof. Oyesiku is a Sponsor as he advocated for and created opportunities for me and many others. In 1994, I became his colleague as I joined the University as a teaching staff. In 1997, through the US Diversity Visa Program, I embarked on the sixty-five-hundred-mile journey from Nigeria to Houston to begin a new life and to pursue the American dream. My initial plans were to continue to pursue an academic career as a college professor. For the first few weeks in Houston, I was jobless, and a few months later I became homeless. During my transition years in the United States, things were extremely difficult, Professor Oyesiku was the ONLY person who intentionally, genuinely, and consistently stayed in touch with me. On a few occasions he offered to send me money from Nigeria while many of my friends and family members were expecting me to send them money. It is therefore not surprising that every time I visited Nigeria it was a default for me to spend at least 2 to 3 nights at his house in Ijebu-Ode.

In 2015, I was admitted into the Partnership of Deloitte Tax LLP as the first African immigrant. Professor Oyesiku honored my invitation to give the keynote address at the reception that was conducted in my honor in Houston, Texas. He delivered a brilliant speech that got the attention of my leaders and clients. I was proud to introduce him as the Professor who prepared me for my professional success. His keynote address elevated me among my clients, leaders, and Houston business community. In 2014, after receiving the sad news that my dad, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and had been receiving treatment in Houston for 18 months, had two more weeks to live, I took my dad back to Nigeria and based on his wish, took him to the town where he was born and where he preferred to be buried – Ijebu-Imushin, a neighboring town of Ijebu-Ode. I stayed with him in the village getting ready for the inevitable to happen. Upon receiving the news that I arrived in Ijebu-Imushin, Professor Oyesiku would visit me and my dad every day and did everything to support me and my dad during this extremely difficult period. In Professor Oyesiku, my father found a brother and I found an uncle. My wife found a role model in him and his wife, aunty Sola and our children found Professor Kay Kay Kay, the man who supported their father across borders, through personal, educational, and professional milestones, and the man who will forever be a shining example of not only success, but generosity and humility.