The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has expressed profound sadness over the passing of a former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Wale Omole.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, confirmed that the former university administrator died on Monday evening.
Olarewaju described Omole’s passing as a painful loss to the Great Ife community, the Nigerian university system, and the broader academic world, highlighting his lasting impact on scholarship and higher education administration.
“Professor Omole was an accomplished scholar and a distinguished university administrator whose association with Obafemi Awolowo University occupies an important place in the institution’s history,” the statement read. “His service as Vice-Chancellor, from 1991 to 1999, represented a significant chapter in the university’s continuing pursuit of academic excellence, institutional development, and the preservation of its reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost centres of higher learning.”
The statement added that Omole belonged to a distinguished line of leaders who helped shape the identity, traditions, and aspirations of Great Ife, noting that his passing serves as a reminder of the enormous responsibilities borne by university leaders and the enduring footprints they leave behind.
Reacting to the news, the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire—speaking on behalf of the Governing Council, management, Senate, staff, students, and alumni—extended heartfelt condolences to the late academic’s immediate family, friends, and associates.
While noting that Omole’s earthly journey had come to an end, Bamire affirmed that his contributions to the institution and academia at large would remain a permanent part of OAU’s history. He prayed for Almighty God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss and grant the departed scholar eternal rest.
“Professor Wale Omole may have taken his final bow, but his place in the history of Great Ife remains indelible. May his soul rest in perfect peace,” Bamire said.
