OAU mourns as ex-VC Prof Omole dies

From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has expressed profound sadness over the passing of its former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wale Omole, who died on Tuesday evening.

In a statement issued yesterday by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, OAU described his death as a painful loss to the “Great Ife” community, the Nigerian university system and the broader academic sphere, highlighting his remarkable contributions to scholarship and higher education administration.

Olarewaju noted that Professor Omole’s tenure as Vice-Chancellor from 1991 to 1999 marked a critical chapter in the institution’s history, defined by the pursuit of academic excellence, institutional development and the preservation of its status as a premier centre of learning in Nigeria.

The university stated that his passing offers a moment to reflect on the immense responsibilities borne by academic leaders and the enduring legacies they leave behind, positioning Professor Omole firmly among the distinguished leaders who shaped the traditions and identity of Great Ife.

Expressing deep sympathies on behalf of the university community, the incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and associates of the late academic.

“Although Professor Omole’s earthly journey has come to an end, his contributions to the university and the broader academic community will remain etched in our history,” Professor Bamire said.

He prayed that Almighty God would grant the family the strength to bear the irreparable loss and grant the departed scholar eternal rest.

“Professor Wale Omole may have taken his final bow, but his place in the history of Great Ife remains indelible. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” the statement added.