Unveiling Abridged Biography Of UNILAG’s First Registrar

AN abridged biography of the first Registrar, Secretary to the Council, University of Lagos, Late Abudu Yesufu Eke, was launched in Lagos recently. The unveiling of the biography was part of activities marking his 20th remembrance and the 5th anniversary of the endowment of Chief A.Y. Eke Print and Production Laboratory donated to the Department of Mass Communication by the Estate of Chief A. Y. Eke.
  
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Rahman Bello represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Management Services, Professor Duro Oni, commended the Eke family and grateful for the family’s continued identification with the university.
  
The wife of late Chief A. Y Eke, Mrs. Clara Eke, said that her husband had passion burning in him to raise the standard of the department to a very enviable height. This is aside the fact that he worked hard and was instrumental to the setting up of the department. This, she said, was why when the family and the Estate of A. Y. Eke wanted to give back to the university, the department of Mass Communication came up strongly.
 
She said that after consulting with the department, it was suggested that the department’s printing machine needed refurbishing, but after inspecting it and it was observed that the machine was archaic, producing poor print outs, it was decided that getting a new printing machine was a better option which was bought abroad. The company that produced the machine was also contracted to train some workers and students on how to operate the machine.
  
Commenting, Professor Ralph Akinfeleye, said that though he was not around when late Eke was the registrar, he read a lot about him and how he contributed to the establishment of the department. He said that when it was suggested that the printing machine should be repaired, the family said that it does not repair but replace, revealing that the machine’s price was 150,000 Euros. He commended the family for not just getting the machine but also training those who will use it.
 
The guest speaker, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams stated that if education is close to the heart of the leaders they would pay attention to the welfare of teachers, provide good learning environment and facilities, and cheating would not be part of the system.
  
She got many of the students and teachers of Mass Communication elated when she said that the teaching of Mass Communication is one of the best things the country has.  She buttressed her point highlighting the importance of communication to an individual and a country. 
 
The former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin eulogised Eke describing him as a man who was very strong physically, with ideas, skill power including achieving what he intended. She also believed that individuals like Eke are not many in Nigeria.
 
Late Chief Eke was a mentor to Professor Osato Osagie and he described him as a man who was not afraid to say the truth noting that he was a man of quality, few words and good character.
  
The Head of Department, Mass Communication, Associate Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, also thanked the family especially for coming every year to build on what was donated five years ago. She stated that the family is a good partner and her department is a good department for anybody to partner with. 
  
At the close of the ceremony, Akinfeleye lead some of the guests, including the representative of the Vice Chancellor to inspect the machine and the printing lab, showcasing some of the printing jobs that had been executed including the printing of the abridged biography of late Eke.