By Even though its been 21 years since he stepped down from his position as Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, his achievements in the three years he held sway in the institution has remained indelible. This perhaps explains the wave of shock that swept through the University Community when news of the demise of Prof Enitan Abisogun Bababunmi filtered in on May 29, 2017.
But more significant is the prominent role the only Lagos State-owned University played in the burial programme of the late Professor of Biochemistry after the programme was announced by the family.
On Monday, 3rd July, 2017, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun led members of the University Senate to hold a Special Senate Session in his honour, on the University Main Campus, Ojo, Lagos, with the former VC’s family fully represented. There, an endowment fund was instituted in his honour.
On Thursday 6th July, 2017, the Vice Chancellor again led delegates, comprising the members of Management, Deans of Faculties, Directors of Centres, other top officials and Students of the University to the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo State, South-West Nigeria, for the Final Burial Ceremony of the late Scientist.
Immediately the team arrived Ibadan on Thursday, it headed straight to the Pentorise Event Centre, Bodija, venue of the Wake-Keep Service, where the Vice Chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun paid a glowing tribute to the Late Bababunmi, describing him as an “academic colossus”.
Early Friday morning, it was the turn of the University of Ibadan, where Prof Bababunmi served for many years as a Lecturer and Researcher, to hold the Lying-in-State Programme for him and members of the Lagos State University Community, led by the Vice Chancellor, were again conspicuously present to pay their last respect to him and commiserate with his wife-Abox.
The Church Service soon followed at the Anglican Church of the Messiah, New Bodija, Ibadan, after a brief lying-in-state at the deceased’s residence. The service afforded members of the University Community to join his family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers to pray for his soul as he made the final journey to his resting place.
The University delegation thereafter returned to Lagos after the eventful two-day journey to Ibadan to honour one of their own.
The late Prof Enitan Bababunmi was Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, Ojo, between 1993 and 1996 and was credited to have established the Faculty of Engineering, Epe Campus, of the University, amongst other outstanding achievements. Prof Enitan Bababunmi died at the age of 77 years.
