I knew ‘Bola in the most intimate domain of human life—our home; our marriage; our sanctuary…‘Bola’s public persona was matched with an uncommon grace, devotion to family and contagious love in the private sphere.
Friends and colleagues of Professor Pius Adesanmi at the University of Alberta, Canada held an event in his honour on Saturday, 30 March 2019. The event was co-sponsored by the university’s Global Education Program (GEP). The director of the GEP, Nancy Hannemann, a life-long friend of Nigeria, gave opening remarks on the significance of the event.
Compered by Shima Robinson, a poet and student at the University of Alberta, the event featured one of Adesanmi’s most widely viewed lectures on developing a culture of national contempt for mediocrity. Students and faculty eulogized Professor Adesanmi. Co-presidents of the Black Student Association, Rachael Zewde and Hannah Daniel spoke about Adesanmi, the teacher and mentor drawing on testimonials of Carleton students. The Black Graduate Student Association was represented by Benjamin Denga, the association’s president. Denga encouraged the audience to emulate Professor Adesanmi’s service to humanity.
There were tributes from scholars such as W. Andy Knight, professor of political science and former governor of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and Onookome Okome, pioneer and renowned Nollywood scholar and professor of English and film studies at the University of Alberta. Sam Oboh, former president of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) also gave a heart-felt tribute to Professor Adesanmi. Oboh was moved to tears as he recalled the articleAdesanmi wrote about his investiture as RAIC president in 2015. Oboh also provided insight into the collaboration of RAIC with the Institute of African Studies headed by Professor Adesanmi at Carleton University. Nii Koney, a community organizer in Edmonton, read the tribute from Abdulrasheed Na’Allah, vice chancellor of Kwara State University.
My tribute to Professor Adesanmi drew on the words of his wife, Muyiwa Balogun-Adesanmi, who delivered a eulogy at an event on the campus of Carleton University on Tuesday, 26 March 2019. Muyiwa’s words are worth quoting at length: “I knew ‘Bola in the most intimate domain of human life—our home; our marriage; our sanctuary…‘Bola’s public persona was matched with an uncommon grace, devotion to family and contagious love in the private sphere. Away from the spotlight and all it represented: the media—social, print and electronic, ‘Bola was a real gentleman, a fine father, and an amazing husband. I am delighted to declare that I am a living witness to the kindness of his soul and love for others. …Our life together was brief but you left me with awesome memories to last a lifetime. I mourn your untimely departure but I celebrate the life that you lived. I celebrate the impact you made in the lives of many people around the world. ‘Bola titemi, you packed a lot into 47 years.”
I could not help going down memory lane in my tribute to Professor Adesanmi: In this moment, I recall that you stood here; in this same room Telus centre room 150 in October 2010. I am reminded of the transcendence of your life, the incandescence of your personality, the globalist tendrils of your scholarship and the sheer electricity your words had on family, friends and followers. The world has lost a scholar and icon. I have lost a true friend, brother and co-academic traveler. No more vacation in Cuba for Pius and I. I still rue your call that I missed on Thursday, 7thMarch 2019. I called back on March 9thbut you were already on the final journey home. I will never know what you wanted us to discuss. Pius: You gave your life and scholarship for higher education, human rights, human dignity and good governance. Your stature spread trans-continentally; your works defied geographic boundaries; your words travelled at supersonic speed in the compression of time and space engendered by the catalytic effect of social media—an insignia of the times. Your body now spreads across the soil of Ethiopia in the womb of mother Africa. Africa has taken back its own. Africa has taken its finest.
In the highlight of the event, Muyiwa Balogun-Adesanmi and daughter, Tise Adesanmi appeared via Skype to express their appreciation for the outpour of support. The event was a fitting tribute to an impactful life and a reminder of the broad appeal of Professor Adesanmi’s life and scholarship. The event was a moment for the University of Alberta community and the Edmonton area — students, followers, friends and colleagues — to give Professor Pius Adebola Adesanmi a deserved farewell.
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