Prof. O.g. Oshodin Jp: An Immediate Past Vice-chancellor With Indelible Marks On The Nigerian People

To whom honour is due, honour must be given; even when they may have translated to the great beyond, we can then say post humous; it means even in death, people's indelible marks and footprints remains on gold plate and a reference point; e.g. Bob 'Nesta' Marley (Jamaica), Obafemi Awolowo (Nigeria), Abraham Lincoln (United States of America), Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Mohatma Gandhi (India), Winston Churchill (England) etc. If these people and others who are long gone can still attract such gargantuan accolades discourse, then those of us who are alive must take a cue and delve into endless opportunities that stares at us to touch lives. How we touch lives and the impact our presence and works on earth have in people goes a long way to shapen our personality and drive to serve. The fact remains that we must work hard and long to herald succour to our immediate and extended communities; as this is commonsensical and one of the hallmarks of fruitful living.

While periscoping the indefatigable efforts of men around us, one name and personality quickly rings the bell in our minds; the indefatigable and incontrovertible Professor of Health Education, a former two-time Dean, Faculty of Education, a former Director of Sports, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, a living and respected recipient of the Benin National Merit Award (BNMA), an honourary arm of the Benin National Congress (BNC), a socio-cultural organization ably led by the indefatigable Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, Prof. Osayukidoledoyinakpahienbiebire Godwin Oshodin; a shining light amongst the academic, political, traditional, social and economic class. As VC, UNIBEN, Oshodin reinvigorated the intelligentsia community, enacting viable policies and programs within a 5-year period that brought about academic and social justice within the university community, dishing administrative models for Vice-Chancellor colleagues and successive Vice-Chancellors to borrow a leaf.

Little wonder his 5-year tenure VCship attracted widespread accolades locally and internationally, and still does, passing on the batton of leadership to another competent and able hand Prof. F.O.O. Orumwense whose credibility and ability to build on the enduring legacies of the erudite Prof. and build his own empire of good works is not in doubt.

The Benin Traditional Council is not one that can be cajoled or intimidated to extend a gesture of honour to any man; Prof. Oshodin enjoyed and enjoys huge followership and blessings of the Palace and Benins not because he is a well-known Benin man, neither is it because he bears the house-hold name Oshodin, but simply because he has systematically decimated the 'egiaru' (it can't be done) syndrome that once pervaded the hearts and workings of our people, as well as reposition and redefined the selfless, strong, resilient, persevering and epistemic values and ideals of the Benin nation, bringing to the front burner the socio-acadenic peculiarities that has given the Benin nation a new face. This, to me, is largely commendable and worthy of honour.

It is more so significant for the current Buhari-led Federal Government which is currently in hot search and pursuit for true, dependable, committed and clean-slate allies to steer the vehicle and power the dynamo of CHANGE that is now hovering around the fabrics of our national life and attitude, as he (PMB) continue to wear the toga of good and inclusive governance, he must look beyond his comfort zone to engage men and women of Oshodin's kind; if to be particular, in the education sector, to guarantee the resuscitation of our comatose and ailing educational system that has remained for ages a consistent source of monumental embarrassment especially outside the shores of our land.

Edo is now in search for men of goodwill to sustain the tempo of good governance; with the launching of Edo Mass Movement (EMM) a month ago by a Former Military Administrator of the defunct Mid-Western State and one of the critical founding fathers of our Great UNIBEN, Gen. S.O. Ogbemudia, and the recent declaration by a Former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion to produce Governor Oshiomhole's successor who will further drive meaningful development and bring soccour to Edo people come 2016, and with the establishment of more groups in time to come, it becomes sacrosanct to state that Edo people are now ready for business unusual. Indeed CHANGE has come.

We must decisively make up for the lost times, our people are suffering, there is biting hardship in the land; focus, drive and priorities are been misplaced, the future of the youth and children appears bleak, while on the the search for noble men to steer the ship of state in 2016, we must beam our searchlight towards entities and individuals with proven credentials to be dependable allies with laudable footprints in the sand of times; this is good omen for our dear Edo State. We have come a long way as a people and ought to be developmental and economic hotbeds, setting the pace for others to follow.

Wa gia ko ko ziho na ya dole Edo yi; let's join heads for the good of our land.

Morgan Eseosa Ewere wrote from the Ancient City of Benin.

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect TheNigerianVoice’s position. TheNigerianVoice will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."

Articles by Morgan Eseosa Ewere