… calls on CONUA to return to the fold for progressive development
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of its pioneer president, Biodun Jeyifo, who died on Wednesday, February 11, at the age of 80.
Christopher Piwuna, the incumbent president of ASUU, in a heartfelt tribute, on behalf of the union, described Jeyifo as a principled intellectual, fearless advocate for academic freedom, and a steadfast defender of university autonomy in Nigeria.
Piwuna, in the letter sighted by BusinessDay, said Jeyifo’s leadership at the formative stage of ASUU laid a solid foundation for the union’s enduring struggle for improved welfare for lecturers and the revitalisation of the nation’s higher education system.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) received with deep shock and sadness the news of the demise of our former President, Comrade (Prof.) Biodun Jeyifo (BJ).
“He passed on at the age of 80. Until his transition, he was an Emeritus Professor of Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory at Harvard University, USA,” the tribute reads.
ASUU in the tribute described comrade BJ was an outstanding scholar, a principled unionist, a Pan-Africanist, and a Marxist revolutionary.
“His courageous and selfless leadership strengthened our Union and inspired generations within and beyond the academy.
Read also: Professor of economics blames failure of most Nigerian businesses on absence of strategic alignment
“Though a man of great simplicity, his contributions to the evolution of ASUU and to the struggle for a better Nigeria will never be forgotten,” the union emphasised.
The union states that the story of comrade BJ’s life and times cannot be written without reference to his enviable contributions to the growth of ASUU at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Jeyifo, who was later awarded a well-deserved D. Lit (Honoris Causa) by the same University in December 2018, in his acceptance speech at the ceremony, declared: “Ife is the birthplace of ASUU; today, ASUU is in a state of profound and crippling crisis at the University.”
ASUU emphasised that Jeyifo’s transition calls for sober reflection on the appalling state of our universities and the challenge of collective action to reverse the ugly trends.
“As BJ rightly counseled in Ife, “contradictions are there not to crush us if we study them carefully” and take steps to resolve them,” the union noted.
Meanwhile, ASUU invites all its erstwhile members who now refer to themselves as members of CONUA to return to the fold for the transformative and progressive development of the Nigerian University System.
This, the union said, was a desire comrade Jeyifo cherished until his last days.
“We should resolve not to stand by his grave divided! This is a solemn plea to honour his memory.
“As we celebrate BJ’s life of integrity, service, and enduring impact, we await further details of the funeral arrangements from the family. May his revolutionary soul rest in power!” the union prayed.
