SUNSET AT MID-DAY: PROFESSOR YINKA OLOMOJOBI

By Taiwo Abiodun-Oni

In the twilight of an unassuming morning, the world unexpectedly stood still as the sun dared to set at midday, drawing the curtain on the illustrious journey of Professor Yinka Olomojobi. His departure from this earthly realm is not merely the cessation of a beating heart but the dimming of a brilliant scholarly beacon that had once lit up the corridors of academia with the fire of unrelenting curiosity and unparalleled intellect.

Born into a world brimming with promise, Yinka’s early years were marked by a vivacity and potential that foretold the remarkable life he was to lead. He grew with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, his youthful exuberance channeled into a pursuit of academic excellence that saw him ascend to the zenith of educational achievement. His career was a yarn woven with the threads of dedication and scholarly brilliance, each weave a testament to a life devoted to the expansion of human rights, terrorism and allied topics.

Yet, life, with its inherent unpredictability, ushered in a tempest that shook the very foundations of his being. The trials he faced were manifold, each leaving its indelible mark upon his spirit. But like the oak that bends against the gale yet stands tall once more, Prof Olomojobi gathered the scattered pieces of his existence with a resilience that was as silent as it was strong. He transformed his tribulations into a relentless drive for scholarly output, pouring his soul into the academic world that had become his sanctuary.

Professor Olomojobi’s scholarly contributions were nothing short of monumental. His office, a sanctum of his intellectual rigor, housed over nine of his published books (excluding articles in journals, Chapters in Books, Monographs etc)—a collection that his peers in many parts of the world would envy. These were not mere publications but beacons of knowledge, each page a brushstroke in the masterpiece of his life’s work. His books were his legacy, he called them his ‘babies’ crafted with a pen that proved mightier than any sword, each word a bulwark against the oblivion of ignorance.

Despite his towering presence, marked by an intimidating gait and a gaze that could pierce the veneer of any academic pretense, Prof Olomojobi Jnr possessed a voice that betrayed the giant within—a soft, almost childlike timbre that spoke volumes of the dichotomy of his persona. It was this unique combination of fierce intellect and gentle speech that endeared him to all who had the privilege of his company.

An introvert by nature, Professor Olomojobi jnr was a man of few words outside the realm of his scholarly endeavors. “Taiwo, Let’s write a paper, maybe we can get another Scimago out of it,” he would often say and this statement he made to me on the night when he breathed his last. His mind always weaving new scholarly narratives that could add another layer to the vast collection of human knowledge. He held no grudges, harbored no ill will; in his eyes, the world was a vast expanse of possibilities waiting to be explored through the power of the written word.

Today, as we gather to bid farewell to a man whose life was a brilliant flash of knowledge across the sky, we are reminded of the fragility of existence. The paradox of his departure—taken by the very bullets his pen sought to overshadow—leaves us with a poignant reminder of the transient nature of life. Yet, in this moment of grief, we find comfort in knowing that his words will live on, that the books he wrote and the lives he touched will continue to inspire generations.

As the sun sets on this chapter of our collective journey, let us not despair. For in the beauty of the sunset, there is the promise of another dawn. And in the legacy of Professor Yinka Olomojobi, there is the assurance that though his voice has been forever stilled, his words will forever echo through the halls of the minds of those that encountered him.

Professor Olomojobi, your sunset at midday is a celestial paradox that leaves your twilight both mourned and celebrated.

Rest assured; your legacy will not fade with the coming night. I, TAIWO ABIODUN-ONI and my dear friend, JESSICA OGA (both your supervisees) will make sure of this.

Prof Olomojobi, lets write again, you and I, when we both meet at the gates yonder.

Below is a link to his google scholar page:

scholar.google.com/citations?user=hzgewLkAAAAJ