TRIBUTE TO PROF EDDY OMOLEHINWA

Prof. Wole Adewunmi.

Prof Eddy Omolehinwa and I were together in the faculty of Business Administration for, at least 35 years as co-educators and this period of co-habitation, provided me with the opportunity to know him intimately. During this period I was briefly his HOD and Dean and this provided me with opportunity to gain access to his records. From these records, I can confirm he is a brilliant person as student and academic. Afterall, he attended Kings College Lagos, University of Lagos, Columbia University and Manchester University, which are among the best in these classes of institutions on our planet. He is a leading researcher and author/publisher in his chosen field of study – Public Sector Accounting. Eddy is a sociable and likeable person. On the family front, he relates to his sons and daughters like they are brothers and sisters. On the work front, he, in his early career, was a notable and cultured trade unionist which earned him the appellation of “Eddy for the People”. He is in my estimation the most popular personality on Unilag campus at both the academic South and North as well as beyond on the College of Medicine and Faculty of Education campus. This is due to the fact that he is the most detribalised colleague I ever associated with. I suspect that some eighty – percent of those who know him, do not know him as Omolehinwa but simply as “Eddy” and this is even so amongst his students. As part of the charm to draw all and sundry to himself, his laughter is infections though short like the typical Brits’.

Given his generally relaxed approach to interpersonal relationships, he does not look like a 70 year old person, inside and outside his classrooms. It is unfortunate that the UNILAG/NUC personnel policy is forcing this bright and energetic academic out of a Job he loves and at which he is making notable contributions to the Nigerian academic and economic spaces.   

May God reward you beyond your expectations for the various invaluable contributions you have made to our alma-mater as a student, as a teacher, as an HOD, as Dean, as a senate member, as a Council member and as a permanent/proud ambassador of UNILAG.

Prof. Wole Adewunmi.