OAU professor dies after falling ill during meeting

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday, announced the death of a Professor in the Department of Philosophy, Olanipekun Famakinwa.

A statement signed and released by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said Famakinwa took ill during a departmental meeting and was immediately rushed to the university Health and Medical Centre.

But upon arriving at the facility, Olanrewaju said the doctors on duty referred the patient to OAU Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, where he was confirmed dead.

Commenting on the incident, Olanrewaju said the OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof Simeon Bamire, led other members of his management team to the widow and children of the deceased on a condolence visit.

He further stated that the VC, during the visit to the family of the deceased, expressed ‘shock and disbelief that such a brilliant scholar could die so suddenly in the line of duty.’

The statement further read partly, “The entire academic community of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of a Professor in the Department of Philosophy.

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“Professor Jimoh Olanipekun FAMAKINWA who was, during a departmental meeting this morning, (Wednesday, 5th day of March, 2025), was noticed breathing “abnormally” by his colleagues and was immediately rushed to the University Health and Medical Centre.

“Upon prompt medical examination by the team of doctors on duty, he was referred to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), also in Ile-Ife, where he was pronounced B.I.D.

“The corpse has been deposited at the Department of Anatomy of the University.”

Speaking further during the condolence visit to the family of the deceased, OAU VC also urged them to take solace in the fact that Famakinwa lived a fulfilled life of positive impact on those who were fortunate to come across him.

He prayed that God would grant the immediate family, the Department of Philosophy, the Faculty of Arts and the entire University Community the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.