By Is’haq Babatunde
Death is the common factor we all share. No one has ever escaped it, and that is how it will continue. It’s life’s change agent. It practically wipes out the old to make the way for the new. Death can come at any time, so in order to die as a true believer, you must live at all times as a believer. There is no time to check time.
The sudden death of Mr Abdullahi Olaitan Ayuba, the Deputy Bursar of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, on Wednesday (February 7, 2024) attests to the above. Death will surely lay his cold hand on everyone at appointed time (Q: 7 verse 34). There is no time for procrastination.
Mr Abdullahi Ayuba’s death came as a rude shock to the family, to members of the University Community, and to the country at large. His active presence in the office on the day he went to the world beyond still lingers in the minds of his co-workers and those who came his way on that day.
Mr Ayuba was a financial expert, who rose through the ranks to the position of Deputy Bursar in KWASU. He was very hard working, dedicated, and very intelligent man. A straight forward person, vibrant, very honest, and sincere. He was the type who didn’t call a spade by any other name. Very humble but very frank when it comes to officialassignments. He was an easy-going person, very cheerful and loved by all staff members.
As Personal Assistant to the Vice Chancellor, I had the course to be in several University committee meetings with him, his contributions were always very apt and helpful. He would always say the truth without minding whose ox is gored. His activeness and resilience earned him the appointment of numerous committees. Until his sudden death kast Wednesda’s night, he was the Chairman KWASU Cleaning and Janitorial Services Committee. He was member of several other University committees.
Mr Ayuba was known for quick response to staff’s complaints in bursary department. Any time a matter was brought before him, he would rise up to the occasion and made sure the matter is resolved timeously. Some staff will attest to these qualities he possessed.
Born on 2nd of January 1971, the young Abdullahi Ayuba attended Ile-Apa L.S.M.B. between 1976 and 1981 and proceeded to C.G.S Ile-Apa between 1981 and 1987 for his secondary education. He also attended O.S.S. Okeonigbin in 1988.
His thirst for western education propelled him to seek admission into Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, where he bagged Higher National Diploma (HDN) in Business Administration in 1985. He then proceeded to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi in 2005 for his Masters in Business Administration. He did not stop there, in 2017, late Ayuba bagged Bachelor of Science (Accounting) from the kwara State University (KWASU).
Abdullahi Ayuba had earlier served the state in various capacities before he joined the services of KWASU. He was one time Local Government Education Authority Accountant between 2005 and 2009. In 2010, he became the Secretary to the Ilorin South Local Government, the position he held till 2013. He was also the branch accountant for Onward Fisheries Nigeria Limited from 1998 to 2005.
The late Ayuba was a fellow of several professional bodies among them are;
●Fellow Chartered Institute of Taxation (FCIT)
●Fellow Chartered Institute of Public Diplomacy and Management (FCIPDM)
●Fellow Chartered National Accountant (FCNA)
●An Associate of Chartered institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN)
●Certified National Accountant (CNA), and many others.
KWASU, family, friends and his admirers will sorely miss him. May Allah be pleaded with his soul, grant him Aljanat Firdaus and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the loss.
Is’haq Babatunde is the Chief Protocol/Chief Information Officer
Kwara State University and PA to the Ag. Vice Chancellor
08032246844
isiaka.babatunde@kwasu.edu.ng
