LASU, Epe community mourn professor’s death

The sudden death of Professor Esther Adeyinka Okubena-Dipeolu, the director of the Directorate of Advancement and professor of soil science, Faculty of Agriculture, Lagos State University has come as a rude shock to inhabitants of Epe and members of the university community.

Okubena-Dipeolu passed on Tuesday, April 18, at her residence at the LASU Staff Quarters, Epe campus. She was 58 years old.

LASU Vice Chancellor, Prof Olatunji-Bello in a statement described the late Okubena-Dipeolu as one of the most energetic drivers behind her administration’s success.

She said Okubena-Dipeolu while serving as director of the university’s Directorate of Advancement attracted numerous endowments to the university.

Olatunji-Bello said the late academic was not only an affable and gracious woman but also a very devoted teacher and administrator, whose roles she said, cannot be easily replaced.

She said Okubena-Dipeolu’s demise is a personal loss to her and a great loss to the university community.

In a similar vein, the traditional ruler of Ikate kingdom in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi has also commiserated with the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the management and members of the university community over the death of Professor Esther Adeyinka Okubena-Dipeolu.

In a letter of condolence addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Oba Elegushi described the death of Diepolu as shocking and painful.

“I was shocked upon receiving the news of the passing of Professor Okubena; it was a very sad one. I was still in touch with her on some of the projects we intend to do at the university,” the traditional ruler stated.

He added; “Prof Okubena was passionate about LASU; she was committed to the development of the university and was rallying all stakeholders, through the LASUDA, to ensure that we all contribute to the continous development of the institution.

The Oba noted that the university has been denied the services of one of its outstanding administrators and intellectuals, who demonstrated uncommon passion towards the development of the university.

Oba Elegushi prayed for strength at this moment of grief and the repose of the soul of the departed.