Oluwadamilola Fatimat Agbaje
By Feyisade Charles Adeyemi
Sometime in 2018, I was teaching Citizenship Education, a General Studies Course, to a class of freshmen, in the PFA auditorium, at Elizade University.
I remember I was talking about how something could be morally wrong and yet legally right, while something else could be legally right and yet morally wrong.
That was when she raised her hand to make a contribution to the discussion.
I still remember exactly what she said and how she said it, which I cannot describe here.
What I can tell you, is that it was immediately clear, that she was a radiant star.
That was the beginning, that was how I met Damilola Agbaje.
As that class ended, she and a group of students followed me to my office.
I asked her to join the Elizade University Debating Society, which I was coaching at the time.
I have no words to describe the intensity of what followed.
Let’s just say she’s the most voracious reader I have ever known, and I never run out of books.
She quickly became one of the most active members of EUDS, we often had debate sessions late into the night, weekends, traveling to other campuses for tournaments, sharing resources, and always discussing great ideas.
She became President of the Debate Society, winning medals, and trophies.
She started a podcast called the legal hangout, of which I was basically the editor, reviewing her drafts….
In 2022, I left Elizade University and relocated to Lagos, but the mentorship continued.
Then she graduated as the Best Graduating Student from the faculty of law.
She had two months to go to law school and decided it was enough time to start a whole movement, introducing the British Parliament Debate System to schools in every Local Government Area of Ekiti State. I told her to take it easy, and scale down a little. That was what led to “The Consciousness Movement”, which she founded.
She told me when she wanted to join the Ekiti Youth Parliament, when she was hosting YALI Africa events, when she was going for the LMI fellowship, when she was unable to go for her convocation at Elizade and decided to institute a monetary award category for students at Elizade University which she paid for, from her savings.
She always sent me updates about her progress and asked for my advice or just called to discuss trending issues or philosophical ideas.
I was there, cheering her on, all the time.
The last I heard of her was when she quoted one of my LinkedIn posts, thanking me for the post and remarking that I “painstakingly trained her in the art of debating”. It read almost like she had been looking for an opportunity to put it out there.
I kept having the urge to call her after this; I never called.
I did not know it was the last I’d hear from her.
I did not know it was goodbye.
She shone like a million stars, and she was ever so full of drive, so kind, cheerful, and free-spirited.
There were so many things that I thought we’d yet discuss, so many things I was waiting to see her achieve…
As I write this, students and faculty at Elizade University are preparing to file out for a candlelight procession.
I am devastated.
Dami is gone.
At 22
Dr. Adeyemi, a university teacher, writes from Lagos.
