Covenant, Landmark Varsities Standstill as Obayan Goes Home

By Ayo Ajayi

Activities at both Covenant and Landmark Universities were almost at a standstill as the body of the former Vice-Chancellor of both universities, Professor Aizeanta Olohigbe Imouokhome Obayan was laid to rest on Tuesday at the Covenant Cemetery in Ota, Ogun State.

Family members, friends, former students, colleagues and contemporaries of the late Obayan, both from within and outside the country gathered at the Youth Chapel of Canaan Land, venue of the funeral service to pay their last respect and bade a farewell to the departed soul.

Edutorial reports that the First Vice President of the Living Faith Church Worldwide and a member of the Board of Regents of Covenant University, Bishop David Abioye, who minister at the funeral urged those present to know God, walk with God and work for God.

Speaking in a brief sermon titled, “The Ultimate Gain of Life,” Bishop Abioye stated that the late Obayan was a deep lover of God, a virtue, which he noted, showed not only in her walk with God but also in her work for God.

He expressed confidence that the late Obayan is in heaven by the reason of her service to God and humanity, saying, “Salvation will take you to heaven, serving God will earn you a crown.”

Activities built up to the final funeral right began on Sunday, February 10, 2019, with a Special Tribute Night organised by Covenant University at its Chapel. Individuals and various groups including current and past Vice-Chancellors of both Covenant and Landmark Universities, Alumni group of both universities and colleagues shared their experiences and the impact of the one they called ‘Mother Eagle’ in their lives.

Eulogies and celebration of life and times of Late Professor of Multicultural Counselling continued on Monday, February 11, 2019 at the Youth Chapel in a Service of Songs where dignitaries from all walks of life, including the wife of the Chancellor of both Universities, and Vice President, Education of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Pastor (Mrs.) Faith Oyedepo were in attendance.

Professor Aize Obayan was born in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria on March 4, 1960, to the family of Sir Frank and Lady Marian Imouokhome. She was an indigene of Uanhunmi, Emai Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria.

Obayan obtained her PhD from the University of Ilorin, and prior to joining Covenant University, she was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Roehampton, UK.

Obayan served as Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Canaan Land, Ota, Nigeria from February 2005 until October 2012 (7 years and 9 months). She also was the Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State between July 2015 and August 2017.

She also was the Education Secretary of the Living Faith Church Worldwide from October 2012 to January 2014 and Director of African Leadership Development Centre in Covenant University, her last place of assignment before her death on January 29, 2019, barely two months before her 59^th birthday.