•As colleagues, civil societies, students celebrate Dipo Fashina's exit
By Gabriel Dike
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife literarily stood still for four days as the institution celebrated and honoured one of the nation's best Philosophy lecturers, Dr. Oladipo Fashina with an International Conference to mark his exit from the university after 34 years of meritorious service.
Between May 7 and 10, the OAU Conference Hall, OAU Conference Centre and Guest House was a beehive of activities as the Department of Philosophy hosted colleagues, associates, friends, civil groups, national leaders and branch chairmen of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), family members and students of Dr. Fashina gathered to shower encomium on him for his contributions to the development of the institution, his struggle to emancipate the masses and his field of study.
Among, dignitaries that graced the event include the Vice Chancellor of Anambra State University (ANSU), Uli, Prof Fidelis Okafor, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), representative of OAU VC, Prof L.O. Salami, Dean, Faculty of Arts, ASUU national President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, several branch chairmen of the union, representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajero, elder statesmen, Dr. Segun Osoba, Pa Omolaja, former ASUU boss, Dr. Sule Kano, human rights activists Bamidele Aturu and Segun Sango, Joint Action Committee, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), family members of the celebrant and his students.
At the conference, aside the keynote address which was delivered by Mr. Falana, other speakers include, Prof Yunusa Salami, Prof Wariz Alli, Dr. T.A. Akanji, Dr. Usman Ladan, Prof Abubakar Momoh, Prof Festus Iyayi, Prof Toye Olorode, Dr. Sola Olorunyomi, Prof Yomi Akinyeye and Prof A.G.A. Bello while over 66 papers were presented at the four-day conference with the theme: "National and Economic Justice in Nigeria".
Speakers paid glowing tributes to Dr. Fashina who is popularly known as Jingo. His Head of Department, Dr. J.O. Famakinwa, kick-started the showering of encomiums on the lecturer who taught the current lecturers in the department, describing him as freedom fighter who positioned himself to confront economic and political injustice.
His words: "The history of the university system in Nigeria will not be complete without mentioning his name. The relative comfort enjoyed in the university system today is due to his struggle (along with others) in ASUU. Dr. Fashina is a productive scholar.
"In the Department of Philosophy at OAU, Dr. Fashina taught all the lecturers currently on the staff list. It is our collective belief in the department that he deserves this honour. This conference is a token to a man who spent his entire life rendering a selfless service to his fatherland. Dr. Fashina is a man who consistently champions justice, rights, freedom and the well-being of the masses".
Dr. Famakinwa said the book to be published from the papers presented at the conference would be useful to policy and decision-makers in the various sectors of our national life and hoped the thoughts that would be articulated in the conference may change the worldview of the country's political class for better.
The Dean, Faculty of Arts, Prof Dipo Salami, recalled that Dr. Fashina had been involved in the struggle for social and economic justice at local and national levels, noting, "he has consistently shown concern for the question of justice for workers and the masses of the Nigerian people".
Prof Salami, who is a product of the celebrant, said it is fitting that the Department of Philosophy decided to honour him with the International conference in which the theme addresses economic justice.
Chairman of the event, Dr. Osoba, said that "we are here to do honour to the honourable man. There are very few Dipo Fashina in our universities. When Dipo Fashina came to the department in 1979, he was equipped with some of the best academic credentials.
Osoba revealed that the celebrant devoted his time to discharge public service duty in three areas, teaching, research and community service, noting that Fashina has contributed greatly to Philosophy as well as championed the fight for improved funding of universities, university autonomy and academic freedom.
Keynote Speaker, Mr. Falana, who lauded the role of Dr. Fashina in several struggles to improve the welfare of workers, said grand corruption has become a key corner stone of the Transformation Agenda of the Jonathan administration and that plea bargaining is a soft landing for the rich.
The rights activist explained that Nigeria is at a crossroads as young people have been forced to take arms against the government, even as he challenged the leadership of ASUU to lead the struggle to ensure the country does not collapse, adding, "the challenge is to mobilize and organize Nigerians to avert the impending doom."
On Dr. Fashina, Falana said: "We are celebrating your integrity and consistence. Hope you will be around for many more years to continue to fight for the masses".
Prof Okafor said ASUU had done a lot in the struggle to improve the education sector and described Dr. Fashina as exemplary person and that opportunity like this to honour him is worth being present.
Dr. Isa who led several branch chairmen to the event recalled Dr. Fashina's struggle to ensure the masses get a better deal from the government and further disclosed that the unions have for decade been battling government on improved welfare for Nigerians.
Showering encomiums on the celebrant, the ASUU boss said, "we are gathered here to celebrate Dr. Fashina's contributions to Philosophy, struggle for the masses and the university system. If we are to talk about him, we will not know where to start or stop. For those of us who were involved in the struggle for the masses with him, we have learnt a lot".
The Secretary of Joint Action Front (JAC), Comrade Abiodun Aremu, who led over 100 members to the conference said Dr. Fashina has sacrifice his life and time to serve Nigeria and described him as an embodiment of commitment to the struggle to make the country better for all.
Chairman, University of Ibadan, ASUU branch, Dr. Segun Ajiboye, said: "Fashina is a rare genre, he is a gift to our union and the nation. He is concerned about the welfare of the people. He cast his lot with the masses. He has chosen a path of honour and integrity. He has moved the university system to limelight".
Comrade Ajero, slammed authorities of OAU, saying, "it is a shame in a university system where a lecturer produced professors and yet remains a Dr. How do you explain this anomaly".
The National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola Aremu, described Dr. Fashina as the spiritual leader of ASUU. We desire inspiration from him. If you look at his background, Fashina committed class suicide. He deserved the conference to honour him, he is passionate about the masses. He has been on the road many times for the masses. When there is cause to fight for justice, he will be at the forefront".
He descried him as selfless Nigerian and that NLC appreciate his support and would continue to tap from his wealth of experience, adding, "Fashina meant so many things to the labour movement. He has been at the battle field several times. Any labour protest that will take place, Fashina must be involved".
Dr. Fashina, who acknowledged the encomiums showered on him by his colleagues, rights activists and well-wishers, promised to continue to fight on the side of the masses while urging the government to put issues affecting the masses on the front burner.
Fashina who has moved to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to pioneer the Philosophy Department, said government is only paying lip service to tackling corruption while many state governments are trampling on the rights of workers.
Via: Sun News Online