Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, commiserated with the family of late Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe.
Professor Akinkugbe died on Monday in Ibadan at age 86.
Chief Obasanjo extolled the virtues of the late professor of medicine whom he described as a man with passion for service.
The former president advised the family of the deceased to take solace in the fact that the deceased lived a good life.
Former Governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo; the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa; a former Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Temitope Alonge; Justice Tayo Osoba; former Vice-Chancellor, UI, Prof. Kayode Oyediran; and representative of Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, described the deceased as a rare breed who made mark in the field of medicine.
Olunloyo wrote, “So goes the pride of the former days and the heart that beats high continues in praise of excellence shall now feel that pulse no more. Adieu, Number 25 who transformed permanently into a number higher than 2.”
Olapade-Olaopa said, “He was a teacher of teachers. He was, indeed, the Dean of Faculty of Medicine and Head of Medical School from 1970 to 1974.
“During that time, he contributed significantly to the Ibadan Medical School, not only in his academic exploits, but also in his administrative contributions. It was in recognition of these that the Clinical Sciences Building was named after him in 2015.”
The President, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association Worldwide, Prof. Fatai Adeniyi, said, “We will greatly miss him. He meant a lot to so many people. But to us as alumni, he was a very formidable support for all our alumni across the globe.”
Alonge wrote, “Rest in perfect peace the teacher, mentor and counselor,” while the former President, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Bayo Oyero, simply wrote, “An academic giant, a man of immense knowledge, wisdom and patriotism has left us.”
