By Banji Ayoola
Remains of the late erudite scholar, Prof Ifedayo Daramola, will be buried on Saturday, June 2, 2018 in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
A statement from his family said that he will be buried in his Olofinlade Close, Ajipowo Quarters, Akure home after a church service, which holds at 9 am at the Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Oke Iyanu Igbala, Ajipowo Layout, Ondo Road, Akure.
He was until his death about two weeks ago, the Head of Mass Communication Department of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, AAUA.
During the week, the institution held a commendation service for him where the university\’s authorities, led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun, management, staff and students paid glowing tributes to him.
Ajibefun, who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) Prof Olugbenga Ige, said his passage was painful adding that the deceased, who was a great asset to the institution as an accomplished academic, was so passionate about the Mass Communication Department, which he built from scratch.
He said that the institution owed the interim accreditation given its Mass Communication Department to the dedication, passion and industry of the late Daramola.
He counselled the family to take take heart and be consoled in the fact that the deceased died a Christian.
In his own tribute, the Registrar, Mr Sunday Ayerun, described the death a shock to the entire university community, especially considering Daramola\’s passion for his department, which made him take matters concerning the department as his own.
In his own, the Dean, School of Social and Management Sciences , Prof Olorunfemi said Daramola was a prolific writer whose sudden death was shocking.
In his own tribute, the Head of the Department of Mass Communication, Dr Gbenga Abimbola lamented that his predecessor\’s death was the most trying moment for the department and for him personally.
“This is the most trying moment for the department and to me personally. We would continue to tell of his doggedness, we will continue to tell of his good deeds as he meant many things to us”
He said that Daramola was always full of hope, enthusiasm and faith and fought passionately for whatever course he believed in.
Said Abimbola: “We are not the only ones who are going to miss him. Scholars, students and journalists in Nigeria and beyond are also going to miss him dearly.”
Also, the institution\’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, through Dr Fayose, spoke glowingly of the departed.
Giving the vote of thanks, a son of the deceased, Engineer Babatunde Daramola, thanked the university for the honour done his late father. He regretted that his father passed on at a time the family needed him most as its exemplary, responsible and reliable leader.
However, he noted that that the warm and kind support of the institution as exemplified in the commendation service, was a great consolation.
In a touching sermon earlier, Pastor Sunday Okiti said Daramola death was saddening.
The sermon was entitled “Death is a necessary end of man”, where the cleric, going philosophical, described life as a vapour that appears for a while and which one day, will vanish and that men have only a short period of time on earth.
He posited that whatever our aspirations we just have to die one day and therefore we must prepare for death always.
He said that there is life after physical death, describing earthly human beings as mere travellers on this journey.
To him, the most important task for every human being on his earthly path and journey is to accept Christ as Saviour as the only condition to make Heaven.
He was pleased that Daramola died a Christian.
The commendation service was attended by people from the academic world, his colleagues at work, students and members of the university community as well as friends from far and near.
The widow, Bolatito, his son Babatunde, and a younger brother of the deceased , Lanre among others were at the ceremony.
Management and staff of Owena Press Limited, publishers of The Hope Newspapers, where the widow is the Special Projects Manager, were also represented at the occasion.
The Acting Editor of The Hope, Mr Akin Adubuola, led the company’s delegation.
