A family member of the late Festus Iyayi, Prof. Robert Ebewele, on Thursday announced that funeral ceremony for the deceased has been fixed for first week of December.
Ebewele made the disclosure, when Pro-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Effiong Dickson Bob and his entourage, paid a condolence visit to the family of the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities , ASUU.
The academic also said the funeral would begin with a commendation service.
While thanking the sympathizers, he assured that the family would keep the university community informed on the burial programme.
Earlier in his remark, Effiong, who was accompanied by the UNIBEN Vice Chancellor, Osayuki Oshodin, said he was deeply hurt by the incident.
According to him, “though death must surely come, how and when it will come is what we don’t know.”
“But it’s unfortunate that Iyayi died in the cause of finding a university system where things are done properly.
“It’s my hope that his death will spur ASUU leadership to honour him by finding a lasting solution to the strike even as I urge all those who are alive to do all they could with steadfastness and courage,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the University of Ibadan (UI) chapter of the ASUU has suspended forthwith all its activities and programmes to honour the late Iyayi.
A terse statement by UI Chairman of ASUU, Olusegun Ajiboye, said the decision became imperative to honour the deceased who devoted his life to fighting injustice and served the union meritoriously.
“We regret to inform you that Prof Festus Iyayi was killed by the Kogi State Governor’s convoy while on Union assignment.
“Therefore, all Union programmes are hereby postponed until further notice to mourn the dead,” he said.
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