It was a tearful farewell, last Friday, for Prof Michael Ogbeidi, the late Head of Department of History and Strategic Studies in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Lagos (UNILAG). Staff and students gathered at his funeral to pay their last respects. GERALD NWOKOCHA and ‘BAYO OGUNDIPE (Diplomacy and Strategic Studies) report.
He was described as “peoples’ teacher”. The death of Michael Ogbeidi, a professor of Business History, struck the University of Lagos (UNILAG) like a thunderbolt. Until his death last month, Prof Ogbeidi was the Head of Department of History and Strategic Studies.
The deceased took ill last year, a condition that warranted his absence from the school for several weeks. He resumed this year after he recovered. Weeks after, he took ill again and died.
It was all tears last weekend at the funeral of the late Ogbeidi. At the Service of Songs held at the University Chapel of Light, staff and students of the Faculty of Arts paid glowing tributes to the late lecturer, remembering fond memories of personal encounters with him.
Dr David Aworawo, his colleague at the department, described the late Ogbeidi as a “highly knowledgeable scholar”, adding that the deceased had “unique understanding” of research in public history and socio-economic development.
Another colleague, Dr Irene Osemeka, said: “The late Ogbeidi’s horizon as an academic was beyond the university. He organised many conferences and programmes that brought the town and gown together. He believed strongly that the university should be an integral part of the society, thus making efforts to create nexus between academics and people in Nigeria’s industrial sector. Beyond this, Ogbeidi never allowed his deteriorating health to restrain him from achieving his lofty dream of becoming a professor.”
It was learnt that the late Ogbeidi pioneered the discipline of Business History, which he created out of Economic History. His work on Fundamentals of Business History was described as cutting-edge research and an excellent piece.
Taiwo Olubiyi, a Master’s student of Diplomacy and Strategic Studies, said Prof Ogbeidi’s scholarship endeared him to many students. “His doors were always open to serious students. He was not just the HOD, he was a father to all students,” Taiwo said.
Florence Sulyman, a Diplomacy and Strategic Studies student, could not hold back tears as tributes poured in for the Ogbeidi.
She said: “Prof Ogbeidi was a principled man. He treated everyone like his children. His death is a big blow, not just to his family but also to humanity. It is sad that he had to die this time.”
Tokunbo Philips, who had personal relationship with the deceased, said: “Our paths crossed in 1999 when I had a problem with the Students’ Union officials. He defied the torrential rain that day and came to my rescue. He called me into his office and gave me advice when I wanted to marry. He always wanted his students to be happy, emotionally and academically. This is why I had to leave my workplace to honour him. We would miss him.”
It was learnt that Ogbeidi was greatly influenced by the works of Prof Akinjide Osuntokun and the late Prof Babatunde Agiri. The late Agiri, it was gathered, stimulated Ogbeidi’s interest in Economic History, while Prof Osuntokun taught him International Relations and Public History.
The late Ogbeidi, aged 55, hailed from Fuga in Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State. He studied Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in History at UNILAG. He was employed as Lecturer Grade II at UNILAG in 1997, after which he got his doctoral degree in the same institution. He was appointed a Professor in October 2015. He is survived by his wife, three children and three grandchildren.
