It was both a sombre occasion and celebration too as scholars, students,mentee and colleagues in both the media gathered in the bowels of Akarigbo Palace,Sagamu Ogun state.
It was for the last rites of passage for Professor Layiwola Muraino Oso,an erudite communication scholar who died in a ghastly auto crash on Saturday June 24 few minutes after conversation with his wife while on his way from Abraka, Delta state.
Pictures of the Funeral Rites for Prof. Lai Oso
Prof as he is fondly called by his numerous students,,mentee and colleagues never had the opportunity to eat the breakfast prepared by his wife,Mrs Morayo Abimbola Oso who was excited that her darling husband of over four decades is almost home.
Oso will also be missed by his two children who daily dot their father ,though married .
Apart from his biological family, Oso will be missed by his students of over four decades who have continued to refer him even decades after he tutored them among who is this writer.
Hence,when Apostle Lawrence Achudume of the Victory Life Church asked the congregation ..What would you be remembered for? There was a pin drop silence. A silence that typified the deep and yawning gap the sixty eight years of earthly service of Professor Oso symbolised.
Oso,the erudite scholar did not only Impact his world of academy which has taken him through many institutions of journalism in Nigeria and abroad, but has also impacted lives of hitherto hopeless students, drop outs and indeed widows in the Church where he worshipped.
Hence, when the presiding Pastor, Achudume posed the question, he was challenging the congregation who came from far and near to pay their last respect to a Teacher, Scholar, Mentor and humanist who was as humble and humble could be.
Achudume used Oso’s life to charge congregants to serve humanity the way the scholar served whose death he said is avoidable but for bad roads which dot length and breadth of our country.
Quoting from Nehemiah 13:14, Achudume asked those present who cuts across all social strata and those in government to serve well, impact life the way Oso did adding that He lived his life for us all. He had opportunity to make money but he allowed self contentment to be his watchword.
In his word,”a man contented and satisfied in little but doing good to all.
As for him, Oso whose burial attracted hundreds of well wishers around the globe for the four days his rites of passage lasted,”will be long remembered for living for others, giving all he has to make students, friends, widows and all those who come across him better beings.
He spoke of Oso”s humility and typified only of somebody”who knew God as his Helper-Psalm 86 and had respect for others”.
Indeed, for all those who attended the last two hours service of final rites of passage for, it was an occasion for them to embark on soul searching as Pastor Achumude have asked..”what will you be remembered for” after your passage.”
For the immediate family of the late erudite scholar,his sudden and painful passage notwithstanding, his indelible contributions and mark bin the field of communication will for long remain a pace setter difficult to be matched as,”Oso was there for all, day and night.
For me,it is an understatement to say that ,”He lived, breathed and bequeathed an impactful Journalism development life which transcends to other facets of humanity.
Adieu,Great Teacher of Teachers “
