Emotions ran high on Friday in the eyes of colleagues, students, family and friends of the late pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Trinity University, Lagos, Professor Charles Ayo, as the Senate of the university held a special senate session in his honour.
Ayo, a Professor of Computer Science and former Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State passed on, on August 2nd, at the age of 65.
At the event held at the university campus in Yaba, the Chairman of governing council of the university, Pastor Samuel Olatunji and the acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Clement Kolawole, among others, described the late vice- chancellor as a well-sought school administrator and born computer scientist, who made sterling contributions to scientific knowledge in the areas of computer and information technology, research and innovation as well as university education generally.
Speaking separately, they said the late scholar did so much for Trinity University, a private-owned institution, within four years of its establishment.
According to pro-chancellor, who also spoke at the funeral service held later, Prof Ayo joined the university when only four courses were accredited and with students population of 13 but increased the accredited courses to 14 and students population to almost 1,000, among other great achievements all within four years.
He said the university community would not only miss him but would find it difficult to fill the vacuum his demise had created.
He explained that the late VC was indeed lived an impactful life and that the university would have loved to have him around for many more years as he had a great dream for the institution but now has no audacity to question God for calling him home when the ovation was loudest.
At the commendation and funeral service held shortly thereafter now at the national headquarters of Foursquare Gospel Church, Yaba, the preacher, Pastor Kayode Afolayan, who is from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said it was very painful to him personally that he has to give sermon at the late VC’s funeral service because he is also the preacher at his mother’s burial service sometime ago.
The cleric said what he was looking forward to was to preach again maybe at the birthday ceremony of the late VC or wedding ceremony of any of his children and not at his funeral service.
“But who are we to question God, our Creator,” he submitted.
Taking his major Bible Text from Ecclesiastes 7 vs 8, the cleric encouraged the congregation especially the wife, children and other relations of the late don to take solace in God as the great testimonies that people have shared at the two events about the departed had demonstrated he lived a short but fulfilled life.
The cleric explained man’s life in three perspectives, which are those who start well but end badly like King Saul in the Bible and those who start badly but end well like Caleb also in the Bible and lastly those who lived without impact notwithstanding their number of years like Methuselah, also in the Bible.
He therefore said what matter most in life is for everyone to strive very had and ensure they end their journey in life well by making impacts and also rein with the Lord at the end.
Also speaking, the representative of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria, Prof Olajide Adekeye, who is the deputy VC, Covenant University, Ota, described the late VC whom he said he had worked with closely at Covenant University as a man of integrity.
He said Prof Ayo always ready to offer help and support people around him, noting that his contribution to private university education generally in the country is unquantifiable.
In her tribute, the late VC’s wife, Mrs. Mojisola Racheal Ayo, described her husband as a caring and loving partner and companion.
She explained that the beautiful life they spent together and with their lovely children and extended family members would forever remain in her heart.
On his part, the late VC younger brother, Mr. Olayinka Ayo, said his late brother would not have gone beyond primary school but for fate that smiled on him and enabled him to sit for common entrance and got admission to secondary school and further his education to doctoral level.
He described him as a rallying point and strong pillar for the family even as they are already missing him.
Prof Charles Ayo, from Egbe in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State had first, second and doctoral degrees from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife and the University of Ilorin, respectively, between 1984 and 1999.
He was a researcher and external examiner to many universities at home and abroad including University of Cape Town and University of Johannesburg, both in South Africa and the University of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He was a Christian and philanthropist and he belonged to many professional bodies.
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