Lagos — In life and in death, Fatiu (the Victor) lived up to the essence of his name. Fatiu Ademola (the one who combines wealth and the crown) Akesode (the one who summons the hunters) was an indigene of Lagos Island, from Okepopo Isale Eko (Bajulaiye family) of Lagos.

He attended Ansar-Ud-Deen Primary School, Amuto Okepopo from 1946 and to Methodist Boys' High School (MBHS) in 1954. He was admitted to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos UNILAG in 1962 as a pioneer student. This was a phenomenal achievement in the 60s as there were only two medical schools (Akoka and Ibadan) in Nigeria, admitting a total of 100 students at that time.

Akesode showed great promise of excellence, early in life. He was a school prefect at MBHS, a feat he repeated during his High School Certificate (HSC) at Abeokuta Grammar School. As an undergraduate, he was a Federal Government Scholar and a beneficiary of the Ford Foundation Fellowship in the 1968/69 academic session.

As a pediatrician, Akesode was trained by Profs. E.W.L. Thompson, Robert Wright and O. Akinla, all of the UNILAG, with two other alumni of the university, he pursued a Master's programme in Pubic Health at the famous Johns Hopkins University in 1968.

When he returned in 1969, he worked under the supervision of Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Prof. Afolabi Lesi and Prof. Ishaya Audu. The trio laid the foundation of his career in Pediatrics.

Between 1971 and 1973, he was the Chief Resident in Paediatrics when he was awarded American Heart Foundation Fellowship as a Postgraduate student in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. In 1975/76, he won the United States National Institute of Health Research Award in Paediatrics.

In 1976, Akesode received a Certificate in Paediatrics Endocrinology at Johns Hopkins, became a Fellow of the Nigerian Medical College (Public Health) in 1978 and a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians in 1980. He was a Lecturer of Public Health, University of British Columbia, Van Couver B.C-Canada (1978-1980), Senior Lecturer in Pediatrics, UNILAG (1982-1987).

Between 1987 and 1996, he received research grant support from UNILAG in 1987; Ogun State University (OSU), 1988; WHO Research Award on Breast-Feeding, 1988-93; WHO Material Supplementation and Breast Milk Production Grant, 1994; and the British Overseas Development Agency Award for the study of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 1996. Indeed, Akesode was highly experienced in the medical profession; he worked in various teaching hospitals and in the Nigerian Army Medical Corp. He was also an experienced teacher of Medicine, a research fellow and instructor in Paediatrics, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. Akesode was a scholar who continually reproduced himself in his students and this fact is manifested in the number of Postgraduate research work he supervised for the award of the Postgraduate Fellowship of West African College of Physician and National Postgraduate Medical College.

Akesode's most glorious moment in his academic career was when the Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences of the Ogun State University appointed him Professor of Paediatrics on June 1, 1988. As the Head of the budding department both in the college and teaching hospital, it was his responsibility to create enduring structures for the department. It is on record that he introduced the system of specialist units, such as Neonatal, Cardiology, Haematology and Endocrinology units. He also established a Children Emergency Unit and Child Survival Clinic for children up to five old. As a mark of appreciation for his tremendous impact Prof. Olubi Sodipo, the foundation Vice-Chancellor appointed him the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, in March 1990. He was elected as the Provost to succeed Prof. O.K. Alausa in October of that same year.

Ogun State government later appointed him Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital.

Akesode introduced the Pharmacy programme, albeit a shaky administrative platform, which became stable with the support of the College Advisory Council.

He delivered his inaugural lecture, titled, 'The Child is not a Little Man', on July 5, 1994, he spent nine years at the university, during which he built sustainable relationship with his colleagues and people of the state. He remained the Provost/CMD until his appointment as the Vice-Chancellor of LASU. At the time,

The challenges of his new administration were particularly daunting and enormous, but he brought personal dynamism, exceptional academic record and vast administrative experience into the job. Within a short time, he embarked on behavioral modification of students and staff. LASU students, who were known for infertile radicalism transformed to "Olu Omo" (Precious children), while the Vice-Chancellor also assumed the title of Olori-Ebi. LASU thus became a family commonwealth. As the head of the family, he enjoyed the support of staff and students in the fight against cultism and other anti-social behaviour. No wonder the late President of the Students Union, Comrade Tunde Salau, described him as "the best Vice-Chancellor LASU ever had."

With the support of Senate, the Akesode administration pioneered the establishment of professional management courses like Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, Technology Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science. He had the vision that LASU should be able to provide skilled manpower for Lagos State and the nation as a whole.

It is also on record that his administration established the LASU School of Communication and the establishment of LASU College of Medicine (LASUCOM), a project, which had been on the drawing board since the inception of the university in 1984

He also reviewed programmes in the Faculty of Arts, Diplomatic Studies, International Studies and Strategic Studies were incorporated into the Department of History. It was thus renamed Department of History and International Studies. The former Department of African Languages and Communication Arts with new window of opportunities opened up to young artistes in Yoruba communication Arts.

In the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Akesode era witnessed the birth of such programmes as Refugee Studies, Social Work, Planning Studies, Maritime Studies, among others.

With a clear objective of expanding the revenue base of the university and to ensure proper accountability of self-generating programmes, he proposed the establishment of a School of Part-time Studies. In his view, the school should not be affected by strikes and lockouts and that the relationship between the university, the contract staff and students should be purely contractual with each side fulfilling its obligations and responsibilities.

Apart from the buildings inherited from the old MBHS, and the ones donated by the late Chief S.L. Edu, Adeniran Ogunsanya and Otunba Ajayi-Okunuga, most of the new buildings on campus were completed during the Akesode tenure.

Another important feature of his reign was the promotion of staff, officials of the university, who started their career in LASU between 1984 and 1987 reached the peak of their professional and academic attainments.

Akesode was also a prominent figure in the establishment of the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria and was the President of the CMUL/LUTH Muslims Community between 1983 and 1987.

He could be described as a shinning star. He was the first alumnus of UNILAG to emerge as a Vice-Chancellor in any Nigerian university; he was also the first Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of state universities in Nigeria and the first Vice-Chancellor of LASU to successfully complete a four-year tenure and the first to die in office.

The university witnessed glorious years during his tenure, but he died shortly after he was re-appointed for another term of four years. We are consoled by the fact that Akesode departed this world and LASU with his dignity, not just intact, but enhanced. The man who was responsible for phenomenal infrastructural expansion of LASU, left without a property to his name.

He was an example of devotion to scholarship, had an insatiable appetite for learning and an irresistible attachment to the principle of medical education. As a Vice-Chancellor, he was a devoted and competent academic cum administrator of exemplary character. He was a self-effacing silent worker and an internationally recognised scholar, a reformer, a goal-getter and a friend to all.

He was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. He was a kind, gentle and amiable gentleman who found it very difficult to offend people. Akesode left behind him a legacy imbibed with honour, love, sincerity and enduring service to his fatherland.

In life and death, we should hold him up as a worthy example to all who found themselves in public office in Nigeria. He served LASU with diligence and total commitment. It is soothing to note that the quality of service rendered is now being appreciated at least by naming the university library after him. It is hoped that the LASU College of Medicine will eventually be named after him as approved and directed by the Prof. Deji Femi-Pearse-led Governing Council.

-Prof. Oyeweso is the Provost, College of Humanities and Culture, Osun State University, Ikire Campus