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Pa Oyewole, teacher extraordinaire, goes home in tribute blaze

By Charles Coffie Gyamfi
06 April 2016   |   1:27 am
With a hail of tributes from dignitaries across the country, Chief Dotun Oyewole, renowned educationist and seasoned teacher of teachers, who bowed gallantly out of life on February 28, 2016.
The Late Oyewole

The Late Oyewole

Amosun, others bid renowned educationist farewell

With a hail of tributes from dignitaries across the country, Chief Dotun Oyewole, renowned educationist and seasoned teacher of teachers, who bowed gallantly out of life on February 28, 2016, was laid to rest yesterday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Oyewole, who would have clocked 94 years on June 5, together with his identical twin brother who passed on 10 years ago, Chief Dr. Femi Oyewole, were the famous Oyewole twins of Abeokuta that became the toast of the media, particularly in the 1970s and the 1980s.

The tears could not be held back as his remains were committed to mother earth. Among the eminent personalities who paid their last respects were the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Ekiti State governor, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor, Mr. Tunde Lemo, Senator Lanre Tejuoso, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, Justice Kayode Somolu, and Chief Doja Adewolu.

Among those who sent in tributes to the deceased whose students include the Osiele of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso and Bishop Akin Ojejide, who preached the burial sermon, were former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who described the deceased as “an example and symbol of what the young could achieve with commitment to hard work and pursuit of excellence.”

For the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, who sent his tribute, “it is no gainsaying that late Dotun Oyewole and twin brother served the education sector conscientiously, honestly and with astuteness till their deaths.”

Bishop Ojejide during his sermon reminded the country’s politicians that abundant wealth alone did not result to fulfillment in life, but good name, selfless service and good character.
Recalling the political killings that took place during the recent re-run elections in Rivers State, the clergyman noted: “It is so worrisome that politics in Nigeria is becoming extremely dangerous.

“This man lived a very good Christian life and everybody can testify to that. He was a trustworthy, God fearing, intelligent and complete gentleman. He laid down good principles that moved WAEC forward.”

The cleric urged President Buhari not to relent in his efforts at reviving Nigeria, saying “we trusted and we still trust his integrity, moral uprightness and we believe in him to deliver Nigeria from its present challenges.”

He stated that every human being should always remember that he or she is like a flower, which flourishes in the morning and withers away in the evening, “hence, we must be mindful of how we live our lives, as every human being, after his death would give account to his creator.”

Amosun, in his remark, said the joy was that the deceased did not just lived, but he also impacted the lives of so many people. “He served humanity well. Baba served people and humanity well, so his death is a wake-up call for all of us. It is not how much money you have but rather how many lives you touch that matter.”

Oyewole, in 1947, together with his twin brother were awarded a Nigerian government scholarship to pursue further education in the UK. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Durham in 1950, and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education from the University of London.

When he returned to Nigeria in 1951, he went back to teach at the famous Abeokuta Grammar School as Senior Physics and Mathematics Master.

In 1961, Chief Oyewole was appointed Assistant Registrar at the West African Examination Council (WAEC) where he remained until 1976, rising through the ranks to the position of Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of the Nigeria Office.

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