It was a sober atmosphere at the four-day events of the celebration of the life of a foremost thespian, scholar and former Head of Department, Babcock University, Dr Solomon Odiase Iguanre, who bid the world goodbye after a brief illness on Thursday, May 12, 2022.
The burial programme started with a commendation service at the Pioneer Church, Babcock University, where associates, students, supervisees, mentees, friends and family showered encomium on the departed author and poet.
Intermittently, Dr Chika Nwaejike and his team lightened the programme with sonorous and touching songs, which brought to light the beauty of heaven.
In his speech, the Head of Department, Language and Literary Studies, Dr Babatunde Adebua revealed that arrangement is being put in place to celebrate the deceased later in the year when the last book written by the deceased would be launched.
According to him, the event would feature skits, drama presentations, and spoken words, adding, “Put it in your mind that you are coming to Babcock again.”
Many of the speakers at the service could not hold back tears as they gave their tributes, describing the deceased as a peaceful and loving man, who was good inward and outward and generously gives his smiles to whosoever come across him.
In her tribute obtained online, a lecturer in the department, Dr Oluyemisi Aina, succinctly describes the smiling attribute of the deceased when she said, “Dr Solomon Iguanre, you lit your world with your infectious smiles, radiated love and warmth with generosity and hospitality in cash and kind.”
Some of the comments were: “Solomon was a good man; a giver, a great, passionate and considerate teacher. He was a peacemaker, compassionate, encourager, empathetic, loving, father, and mentor, who cared for his students. You are a wonderful giver, motivator, counsellor, kind, loving, and rare gem. You will go out of your way to put a smile on people’s faces.”
The event was followed by artists’ night held at the Wole Soyinka Arts Theatre, University of Ibadan, moderated by Iguanre’s best friends, Hafiz Oyetoro, also known as Saka and Gbenga Windapo, who both narrated the humble beginning of the trio.
The artists’ night featured drama, dance and various presentations and the inauguration of Solomon Iguanre Arts Foundation, spearheaded by the deceased set of 1989 in the Department of Theatre Art, University of Ibadan.
A wake keep was also held on Thursday June 9, 2022, at Wonderland Baptist Church, Ojoo-Iwo Road, where friends and family also had the opportunity to describe their encounters with the late scholar.
At the funeral service also held at Wonderland Church, the minister in charge, Reverend P. O. Olaniyi urged the congregants not to be unhappy about the death of Solomon, saying that he has gone to be with his God.
Pointing out that death is inevitable for human beings, Olaniyi stated that it is imperative for all human beings to give their lives to Christ so that they can make heaven.
He noted that a life not in Christ will end in hell.
At the service, the deceased’s colleagues could not hold back their tears as they broke down and wept.
After the service, the deceased’s body was taken to his home town, Ewohimi, in Edo State, where he was buried today Saturday, June 11, 2022.
He is survived by his wife, Abimbola and son, Samuel.
Solomon Iguanre was born on November 26, 1963, at the Oluyoro Catholic Hospital, Ibadan. He hailed from Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State. His parents were Pa Vincent Animigbe Aslem Iguanre and Mrs Alice Aimenhota Iguanre (nee Ogun).
Solomon attended five primary schools all spread across the then western region, owing to the nature of his father’s job, a police officer, who was constantly on transfer as was the norm then. His mother was a petty trader who, despite the rigours of trade, had ample space for child upkeep. He started his educational pursuit at St Gabriel’s Primary School, Mokola, Ibadan and later moved to Methodist Primary School, Igangan. Afterwards, he went to St. Paul’s Primary, Aiyegbaju, Ile-Ife, St Andrew’s Demonstration school, Oyo and finally, C.A.C, Igbonna, Osogbo. He attended Osogbo Grammar School, Osogbo for his secondary education.
He worked with NEPA/NCC for about two years before gaining admission into the nation’s Premier University, University of Ibadan (UI), where he studied Theatre Arts for Bachelor and Master’s Degree. While at school, he co-founded, Laffomania Organisation, a campus-based comedy group that featured prominently on university campuses across the South West, Nigeria in the mid-80s, to 90s. He wrote most of those hilarious skits that gave the group its uniqueness. One of the skits, Money vs Woman was among the twenty selected and performed at the SacActor Drama fiesta in the United States, and the only entry from Africa in 2005.
He worked as the Manager of Educare Trust Exhibition Centre between 1997-2002. He then moved on to Spectrum Books as an assistant editor (humanities). He later joined the British Deputy High Commission in the press and public affairs unit. He was the HOD, Languages and Literary Studies, Babcock University, and the immediate past chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Oyo State Chapter. He has several literary works to his credit, among which are: The Grave Encounter, a drama on HIV/AIDS. How Mosquitoes Began to bite man, a children’s story on Malaria, and Scented Debris, his latest novel, and Abbey and His Catapult, another children’s storybook. Recently, he launched three more books which are: Sculptorico and other skits, The Visits, and Oh Obedeki.
He was an alumnus of the International Class, New York, USA.
