“To honour his memory a fund is being established which will support students and continue his life’s work.”
Carleton University has called for donations of the endowment of a fund to support students and the work of Professor Pius Adesanmi, Director of its Institute of African Studies who died in a plane crash on Sunday.
Adesanmi was one of two Nigerians who died as an Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed a few minutes after taking off from Addis Ababa.
Hours after the crash, the university expressed shock, saying: "The Carleton community is shocked and devastated to learn of the death of Prof. Pius Adesanmi, who was among the 18 Canadians killed in today’s crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet at the Addis Ababa airport.”
It also tweeted: "The Carleton community is mourning the loss of Pius Adesanmi, director of the Institute of African Studies, who was among the 18 Canadians killed in today’s Ethiopian Airlines disaster. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."
Announcing its plans for the fund, it said: “Carleton University is devastated by the sudden death of Prof. Pius Adesanmi, director of our Institute of African Studies and a remarkable writer, poet and political commentator who was celebrated for his eloquence and fearlessness in speaking truth to power.
“His award-winning book – You’re Not a Country Africa: A Personal History of the African Present – was groundbreaking. One of the most important minds of the African diaspora, he inspired his Carleton colleagues with his brilliance and cemented his close ties to faculty, staff and students with his kindness, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm and unforgettable laugh.
“To honour his memory a fund is being established which will support students and continue his life’s work.”
The school also encouraged the public to share their memories of Adesanmi by submitting a tribute here.