Barely two months ago, Prof. Pius Adesanmi had written a befitting tribute to the late Hajia Maimuna Jimada, who was the Head Public Affairs at the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). Jimada reportedly died on 21 January, 2019 at a London Hospital after battling with chest related issue. I came across the beautifully written tribute on a WhatsApp group I belong to. After reading the tribute, I commented that “as much as some of us will want to put our writing ability to test, people like Professor Pius Adesanmi will always make it look like we can’t write anything meaningful due to the level of his mastery and dictate of the borrowed language we refer to as our Lingua Franca.”
No one could have thought or imagined that similar tributes would be written to Prof. Pius Adesanmi less than two months after. We all did not know that Prof. was at that time was at the ‘injury time’ of his life, which shockingly was also the name of his weekly column on Nigerian Tribune newspaper.
Since his shocking and unfortunate demise about 10 days ago, I have read numerous touching tributes from close allies and friends on social media including Dr Mahfouz Adedimeji, Mr Simbo Olorunfemi, Madam Bamidele Ademola Olateju, Petra Onyegbule among others, who extolled the virtues, humanity and greatness of the late academic, satirist and social commentator.
Pius Adesanmi was someone many people like me did not know or meet physically, but we feel like we know him. The departed has left an indelible mark on the minds of many through his humanity, writings, talks, commentaries and advocacy for a better Nigeria and Africa. Though he lived miles away in faraway Canada, his commitment and desire to see an ideal Nigeria was firm and never in doubt.
I would continue to celebrate the greatness of Prof. Pius rather than keep mourning and nursing regret over his painful loss. Many have talked about his wonderful personality including his proficiency in the art of strategic communication, writing, and relationship with all levels of people. I think the most important thing about Pius Adesanmi’s life was his worthy of emulation personality in respect to human relation and advancement of humanity through the above-listed qualities, that which needs to be spelt out for future generations to learn from.
As popular and revered as Pius Adesanmi was, he remained down to earth and never looked down on anybody – both offline and online – irrespective of their status. He had no problem engaging or dealing with all manners of people.
I have followed Prof. Adesanmi on Facebook for over two years and like thousands of his followers, I have learnt a lot from him – his writings and relationship with his people. Against the elitist nature of our political leaders who are regarded as the owners of Nigeria, Professor Pius Adesanmi was humility personified and always ready to take you through the journey of life, the rudiments and the requirements.
His drive to impact the youth, encourage those who are making difference in the society and his courage and consistency to speak truth to power, stood him out among the Nigerian elites.
Despite his affluence, Prof. Pius Adesanmi’s ‘Nigerianess’ was so obvious through his conducts. His love for his motherland can be felt through his commentaries on mediocrity, malfeasance, dereliction and corruption that characterized the Nigeria system. The departed never stopped advocating for a better Nigeria. He wanted and fought for a Nigeria that can work for all.
Prof. Adesanmi had a cordial relationship with his family and was fond of talking about his family – his late dad, mother and his little daughter, Tise. Prof. would reference Baba Adesanmi every now and then. He was surely not doing that to flaunt his father’s wisdom nor to taunt those who don’t have such in privilege as a father but to teach many on how a worthy father should be.
For a long time to come, we will continue to celebrate the personality of Prof. Adesanmi – his intellect, humility and patriotism. These are qualities that are worthy of emulation and what every responsible Nigeria youth must strive to achieve. One good way we can immortalize the late Prof. is to embrace the principles he stood for and to keep advocating and fighting for a better and ideal Nigeria.
In the life and sojourn of Prof. Pius Adesanmi, there are lessons to be learnt by all and sundry. Be humble, no matter the height you have attained in life. No matter how faraway you are from Nigeria, be patriotic and committed to the progress and development of the country, even if you hold another country’s citizenship. Above all, always strive for knowledge and excellence in what you do and be ready to impact in others. No matter how busy you may be, endeavour to create time for your family and loved ones. These are some of the things we can learn from the Isanlu-born professor.
Let us all strive to be like Pius.
Adieu, Omo baba Adesanmi.