By Ola ‘Kiya, Reporting
FORMER students of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, who graduated in 2001, have sent out messages to celebrate their lecturer, Professor Remigius Oriaku, who clocked 70 and retired from active service on December 4, 2022.
Prof Oriaku
The unique set of alumni, who drank from the bottomless well of Prof Oriaku’s knowledge from 1996/97 to 2001 and beyond, serenaded their much-loved, taciturn teacher in their WhatsApp group which Stonix News has access to.
The selected remarks delineated the professor, who’s generally believed to be unapproachable, tough and hard to relate with, dripped with a beautiful admixture of emotive and nostalgic reflections and recollections of personal and group encounters.
Stonix News reports that when this set of students first touched down at the Department in 1997, the then Dr Oriaku, who was in charge of some vital literature courses, doubled as the Course Adviser to new entrants.
Reeling out their peculiar encounters with the erudite Professor, the former students, some of whom are academics and technocrats in various fields of endeavour, appear to agree unequivocally that Professor Remigius Oriaku is a good father, humane disciplinarian, exemplary mentor and an embodiment of consistent piety, focus, excellence, diligence, moral rectitude, and a man of few, but well-thought-out words.
For Mrs Bisi Adegoke alias ‘Alhaja,’ the following lines best portray the personality of the don:
Alhaja
“A Disciplined and principled man to the core who NEVER bended the rules for any reason. Yet a passionate nuturer of the innate talents of his students. A particular encounter with him is forever etched in my memory, most importantly as it has helped shape me to the strong woman I am today: Being a nursing mother and a student was not a very easy task for me then. So, I sometimes lagged behind in the submission of assignments and term papers
It thus happened that I failed to meet up with his deadline that faithful day and I went to his office to see and beg him to accept my paper. Upon getting there, I met about four or five other students, younger and single, coming for the same purpose
So, when it got to my turn (I was actually the last to go in) this ensued:
Prof.: Madam, would you explain why I should accept that paper from you now?
Me: I’m so sorry sir, I couldn’t get the materials to time and I….
Prof.: Are you not the married woman with a baby?
Me: Yes, I am Sir.
Prof.: Madam, do you know you have more at stake than those young boys and girls in your class? You, of all people, should know better than this. What precedence are you laying for your child? Hennn?
At this juncture, I was in tears, then he looked at me for a while and said:
Prof.: But I believe I’ m grooming you to face life’s challenges head-on, to be a strong and tough woman who’d push right to the top in life. NOT a weakling who’d only melt down in tears at the slightest challenge. Would you wipe the tears, please, and speak to me as the true student under my tutelage?
I immediately cleaned up my face and tried to explain myself as best as I could, after which he collected my papers and had a long chat with me on taking on life head-on for “life is not and never would be fair. Only the strong would rough the weather to arrive at the shore of success where life becomes sweet; there, yesterday’s pains are forgotten.
He later invited me and my kids then (my twin boys 6yrs old then and their Idowu a baby then) to his home where we met his adorable and awesome wife who gave us a special treat as guests of honour.
On our departure, he gave my kids an envelope which contained a whopping sum of N10k a huge amount then (I999). The memory remains evergreen
I use this medium to congratulate and celebrate you today, our Darling Prof. I’m glad and make bold to say here and anywhere else that you are, indeed, ONE of the MAKERS OF MEN and WOMEN of repute, and NOT a dream killer.
Happy 70th birthday Sir. Enjoy your retirement years in pure bliss and sound health.”
Oriaku, a man meticulous with words
Lawrence Love Asowata is a Chief lecturer at the Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, Ondo State. He narrated his impressions, thus:
Asowata
“What first amused me about him was how an Igbo man came by the name “Remi,” for not until the illumination by Prof. Raji (the second ‘Remi’) in his tribute, did I come to know the ‘Remigius’ full realization of the name.
Prof. Oriaku was very particular about choice of words. He would have fitted in well in Grammar just as he has in Literature. As our Course Adviser in our first year as ‘freshmen,’ you had to rehearse well before approaching his office. Woe betide whoever uses the expression “I want to sign my form.” Men and brethren, you will sign that day o! This could turn you to an Abiku going and coming time and again until you have sense enough from enquiry to say “I want to have my form signed.
So, we quickly concluded: “This man go wicked ehn?” Trust students. However, time soon changed that perception. Prof. Oriaku wasn’t just a teacher but a father. He was painstaking in his teaching and was very supportive of indigent students.
Fast forward, I have been signing forms for students for some years now and I use the same approach to ensure students use the right words. I want to say happy 70 and happy retirement to an untired boss, a father and a great teacher of teachers, Prof. Remigius Oriaku. May you remain relevant, Sir.”
A Hospitable Don
Chukwuma Adekunle Olubunmi was (and is) one of the closest students to Prof Oriaku, perhaps being maternally linked to the Igbo bloodline. The somewhat “adopted” dropped his impression thus:
Olubunmi
“Professor Oriaku was like a father to me. He guided me from my first year till I graduated. Behind his quiet mien is a vast knowledge of almost everything. Tough, disciplined, but equally kind. I really looked forward to seeing him every time I came to the Department. Won’t forget the hospitality of his home ably helped by his amiable wife. Words cannot do justice to what you mean to me and what you’ve done in my life. So, I simply say thank you sir. Chukwu gozie gi riine.
I still live by his counsel
Flora Ohwobete, a seasoned teacher in Lagos, was Prof Oriaku’s student in that 2001 set. For her, “I will forever remember the first day I met Prof Oriaku in UI. I think he was our Course Adviser. We were entering his office one by one. When it got to my turn, I entered his office and stood. So he asked me to take a sit. Then we started our conversation. He asked me some salient questions pertaining to my background; why I chose to study my course and my set goals.
Flora
He counselled me and said something that has remained indelible and fresh in my mind. His words were lifetime lessons that I still live by up to this very moment. This was the synopsis of his words on that particular day:
Young lady, don’t be swayed by the charade of campus. Campus life is a mirage that cannot stand the test of time when faced with reality.
You’re here as a representative of your family, who have sacrificed so much for this day. So, make them proud. Do all you have to do legitimately and excel.
‘Thank you sir for adding value to my life”
Finally, one of Professor Oriaku’s students of set 2001, who’s now a professor at the Ibrahim Badamosi University Lapai (IBBL), Niger State, Prof. Seun Ogungbe, has this to say:
Ogungbe
“We rejoice with Prof. Oriaku. He has been a disciplinarian and great mentor. May the Lord bless him with long life and good health to enjoy his retirement.”
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