Prof. Festus Iyayi buried in hometown (PHOTO)
Jega, Oshiomhole, others bid Iyayi farewell
Former President of the
Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) Prof. Festus Iyayi was on
Saturday interred at his Ugbegun country in Esan Central Local
Government Area of Edo State.
He was lowered into the grave at about 10:40am after a brief funeral service at his residence.
ASUU leaders from different branches across the country were present.
The service was solemn. Catholic Catechist, Peter Omijie, who led the service urged the family to hope in God to provide for their needs.
Omijie told the gathering not to cry because there is hope of seeing him again.
He said the death of the physical body was not the end of life but
the beginning of a new life and admonished the people to ponder over
their spiritual destiny and where they will spend their eternity.
A former President of ASUU and Chairman of Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega and other ASUU leaders
witnessed the interment.
Prof. Jega described Iyayi
as someone who has tremendous integrity and passion for progress and
development of our country as one united country.He said, “I worked very
closely with Festus Iyayi. He was like a brother to me. He is one of
the few Nigerians that I have known who has tremendous integrity and
passion for progress and development of our country as one united
country.“He made tremendous sacrifices for the development of this
country and reforms that can help ordinary Nigerians. It is a very sad
loss to us especially people who have know him for a long time. It is a
sad loss for this country. This country has lost a gem. One of the best
and patriotic Nigerian,” Jega said.
President of ASUU, Nasir
Isa-Fagge at a lecture organised for late Iyayi said it was time ASUU
members move out to rescue country by ensuring quality education for the
average Nigerian.
Fagge said the National Executive Committee of ASUU would decide how they would immortalise late Iyayi.
He said they would continue the struggle to salvage Nigeria universities to keep the dreams of late Iyayi alive.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were Governor Adams Oshiomhole,
Senator Abubakar Bagudu who represented the Senate, Professor Abhulimen
Anao, former Vice Chancellor, UNIBEN, Chief Medical Director, UBTH,
Prof. Michael Ibadin, ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, Dr. Dipo Fashina,
former ASUU President, Ordia Ofeimu, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, former
Attorney-General of Eo State, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana and members of UNIBEN
academic community.Read more: The Nation Newspapers
