The Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State and University of Ibadan (UI), Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, have lost two eminent scholars last week.
The deceased are Professor Mosunmola Oluwatoyin Imasogie of the College of Law, Bowen University, and Dr. Olugbenga Olayinka Alaka of the Department of Veterinary Pathology, the University of Ibadan (UI).
Dr. Olugbenga Alaka
Imasogie popularly called Auntie Mosun by her close associates and friends was described as an avid football enthusiast and a brilliant legal scholar.
Speaking on her, Ifeka Timothy who sees her as much more than a mentor or teacher but a mother said, “From the moment I met you in 2013 at the Faculty of Law, OOU, I have felt your presence and guidance in my life. You touched me deeply, shaping who I am today. Your kindness, generosity, and warmth were unmatched. You had a way of making everyone feel seen, heard, and valued, and your laughter filled every room with joy. You were always there, welcoming and uplifting us all. They say the good leave too soon, and now I understand that deeply. Farewell, Prof. Imasogie. Until we meet again, to part no more.”
Kayode-Nissil Joshua, another close individual to the deceased said, “How is death so cruel to take such a gift from us? But I will find comfort in the times we shared, the banters we had and the experience of your life that you gifted. Now that Chelsea is going strong, it’s impossible to share the joy with you and banter about Arsenal’s fall, yet still reviewing how we are not pursuing justice in Nigeria, but paying lip service to it.”
Imasogie was born on August 29, 1961, in Lagos, Nigeria. She attended Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, where she studied Secretarial Administration and graduated in 1982 with an HND. She wrote JAMB and went back to read Law at Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye. She graduated at the top of her class in 1994. Her primary interest in human rights law and women’s rights, and by extension, through the legal profession, actually started to take shape after she received the De Beers Scholarship for an LL.M in Human Rights and Constitutional Practice at the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, a predominantly white University, in 1997. She also received the Doctor of Laws (LL.D) in 2002, from the same University.
Also, Alaka, who died on Thursday, November 14, 2024, was a distinguished academic in the Department of Veterinary Pathology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He contributed significantly to veterinary science, particularly in the pathology and molecular detection of diseases affecting animals. His research spanned various areas, including zoonotic diseases, wildlife pathology, and infections in domestic and captive animals.
Some of his notable works include studies on influenza A subtype H9N2 in commercial poultry and case reports on rare diseases in animals like rhabdomyosarcoma in tortoises and respiratory infections in gazelles. His research findings often emphasize the importance of disease surveillance and management in both domestic and wild animal populations to improve animal health and prevent zoonotic disease outbreaks.
Dr. Alaka collaborated on projects addressing antibiotic resistance in animal pathogens, histopathological investigations, and immunohistochemical analyses to better understand and combat infectious diseases in various species.
