Rev. Fr. (Dr) Kunle James, of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, Isanlu, where the late Adesanmi’s mother worshiped, has appealed to Kogi Government to pay the gratuity and pension of the deceased mother’s, Mrs Lois Olufunke Adesanmi.
The Late Professor Pius Adesanmi with 157 others on board, died in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 on Sunday March 10, 2019.
The priest made the appeal while speaking to newsmen after a Memorial Mass held in honour of the late Prof. Adesanmi, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in his home town in Itedo-Ijowa, Isanlu, Yagba East, LGA, Kogi State.
James said that the greatest tribute and major honour the state government could give tothe late scholar, was to pay his mother’s gratuity and pension.
“The government has said so many great things about the late professor, but we are appealing to the government to pay his mother’s pension and gratuity,” the cleric restated.
He described the late professor, as a very ”fearless, courageous and highly intelligent legend.”
“Apart from the fact that Pius was highly intelligent, he was very courageous, fearless and was ready to take risk not minding its consequence.
“I knew Pius as far back as 1979, when his father became the Principal of my school, so, I saw him growing up being a classmate to my younger brother.
“He was my mentor despite the age difference between us.
“Pius lived a fulfilled life and I think his message to the rest of us is that wherever we found ourselves we should make the best use of the opportunity we have to impact lives,” James said.
Dr (Mrs) Folashade Ayoade, the Secretary to Kogi Government, said the late Adesanmi was a great son of Okunland, the one “we are so please with and proud of.
“He was able to impact a whole lot of people with the church life he lived.
“We are so excited that the whole world is recognising and honouring him even in his death, because he lived a very good life.
Ayoade said that the state government would expedite action on payment of his mother’s gratuity.
”We learnt that his mother retired from Kogi civil service, and her gratuity had not been paid.
“We will make sure as a government we expedite action on the payment of her gratuity, and we shall be in constant touch with his daughter and the wife,” Ayoade pledged.
In her tribute, the Kogi Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, described Adesanmi as a ”born rare star that had some unique ideologies.
“His untimely death at a time when the State Ministry is reaching out to all compatriots both at home and in diaspora, to glean best practices, expertise and technology transfer amongst other things for improved state level sector performance, makes our tears inconsolable.
“We share in your pain and deep sense of loss.
“We are however comforted that our dear brother late Prof. Pius Adesanmi is immortalised in his writings and publications.
“We shall be honoured to devote sections of our libraries to his works and encourage literary clubs in the State to celebrate his life, accomplishments, discuss his ideologies and take up the baton,” she said.
Osikoya who was represented by the Ministry’s Perm. Sec., Mr Eric Aina, prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and all he left behind, and the entire education sector in mourning, the fortitude to bear such great loss.
The students of Literary club of Titcomb College Egbe, ECWA Sec Sch., Mopa, and Saint Kizito’s College, Isanlu, were also present at the occasion to give tribute and last honour to the late scholar and professor.
The delegation from the Kogi State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, led by its Perm. Secretary, Mr Eric Aina, had earlier on Saturday paid a condolence visit to the aged mother of the late scholar.
