12th May, 2012
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Saturday expressed shock and disbelief at the sad news of the death of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.
In two separate condolence letters to the widow, Dr (Mrs) Olufunmilayo Sofoluwe and Registrar of the University, Mr Oluwarotimi Shodimu, the Governor said he cannot but recall the warm reception he was accorded at the university when he was invited to deliver the School of Post Graduate Studies Annual lecture in January this year.
Describing the late Vice-Chancellor as a brilliant scholar and versatile administrator, Governor Fashola who conveyed his sympathies on behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State said the calm and easy going manner Professor Shofoluwe chaired the proceeding that day showed him as an amiable gentleman, whose dedication to the University of Lagos was not in doubt.
‘’In the short time since January 2010 when he was appointed Vice Chancellor, I was privileged to have made his personal acquaintance on a number of occasions. I therefore know him to be a very jocular, affable and unassuming gentleman and I looked forward to our meetings from time to time,” the Governor stated.
He said from all accounts, Professor Shofoluwe’s open door policy, which made the Office of the Vice Chancellor more accessible than before, endeared him to the entire university community, adding that he was indeed renowned for regularly having his lunch at the University Staff Club, where he often engaged in discussions on how to realize his oft-quoted mission to transform UNILAG into one of the top 100 Universities in the world.
While describing the sudden death as a personal loss to him, the Governor prayed that the good Lord will comfort and continue to uphold the widow and the family he has left behind.
“Whilst it is our prayer that God grant the departed’s soul sweet repose, we also pray that his successor will take up the gauntlet and carry on from where Professor Shofoluwe has so eloquently left off, so that his great plans and ambitions for his alma mater will not die with him,” Governor Fashola prayed.