I wanted to begin this article by admitting my truth once again, but I know my eagle-eyed editor friends, David Titiloye and Ishowo Tosin, who review my works before I release them, would see me as an unserious person, or perhaps as the only person working in Nigeria.
The truth is that I always want to attend events, especially those of people very dear to my heart, but the nature of my schedule often leads to a last-minute change of plans. I asked God for it, and I will deal with it.
Last Thursday, my father and one of my mentors in the Quantity Surveying profession, Prof. Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi, delivered the 124th Inaugural Lecture at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, titled The Nigerian Construction Industry: The Ailing Elephant – A Menu of Cure.
It is said that, “A child who refuses to acknowledge the person who carried him on his back will soon fall into the pit.” Prof. Oyewobi deserves to be acknowledged for his character, professionalism, and mentorship.
I met the erudite Prof. Luqman Oyewobi almost two years ago during the course of my Master’s degree programme in one of the private universities in Nigeria. He was taking two courses prior to our resumption, and he taught me and my classmate-turned-sister, Madame Rakiyah Haruna, Time Management and Financial Management.
In the days preceding his resignation, we were supposed to have his class one weekend. I called to ask about his schedule because the class held every Saturday morning. To my shock, he informed me that he would no longer be taking us. He broke the news, which I then had to relay to others: he had resigned his appointment during the week.
His classes were extremely enjoyable and relatable. He was not using vague or unfamiliar situations to explain concepts; he used the situations right there in the class. We found him extremely pleasant, approachable, and fatherly.
In many instances, conversations shifted from academics to professional development and the state of the Quantity Surveying profession in Nigeria. He was deeply passionate about the profession. There were occasions we had to round up early, despite how intense and enlightening the discussions were, because he needed to travel back to Minna the same day.
Naturally, the department allocated another lecturer to us, but it was a bit challenging because the materials had been prepared by him, which made it difficult for another person to deliver them in the same way. His footprints, teaching method, patience, and overall impact are difficult to forget.
By the time another lecturer began taking us, our number had increased to six. So I suggested reaching out to him as a class, and we all agreed. Despite his resignation, he received us with open arms. He even suggested that we meet physically, which we did a couple of times. My readers may wish to know that three of us scored an “A” in the course, while the least score among the others was a “B,” to the credit of his lessons. Hence, the golden words of Michael Morpurgo remain true: It’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.
Whenever we offered him a token for staying back to teach us after travelling down from the East, and even taking a detour to Abuja just to meet with us, he flatly refused and said he was doing it simply for the joy of it. We tried many times afterward to present him with a gift, at least as a show of appreciation, but he would always find a way to avoid it.
I had planned to attend his inaugural lecture and be there as his guest, but wishes are not horses. Because the mountain here is blocking the mountain over there, I decided that my words and tributes should journey on my behalf, and join others in testifying that he is one of the finest teachers anyone could ever encounter.
I will be there for him at a later date, because Prof. Luqman has touched me with his kindness, and the story of my classmates would be incomplete without him.
Congratulations to my father and mentor, the erudite Prof. Luqman Oyekunle Oyewobi, as he joins the league of distinguished academics in the field of Quantity Surveying. It is indeed the beginning of many greater accomplishments.
Bagbansoro Uthman
Twitter: @TheBagbansoro
Mail: Bagbansorouthman@gmail.com
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article; they’re strictly the writer’s
