Professor Fabian Osuji: A Legacy of Excellence

·       Honour to a Teacher, Scholar and a Gentleman

Simeon Ogoegbulem

It was a roll call of who is who as children, friends and associates of Professor Fabian Osuji recently converged in Abuja to celebrate the former minister of education who recently turned 80 years on earth.  The event, held at the posh Statement Hotel in the Central Business District of Abuja, brought together both students who passed through the Professor Osuji, Colleagues of the celebrant.

The 80th birthday celebration of Osuji was also used to make a public presentation of his biography titled Fabian Osuji: Teacher, Scholar, Gentleman. The book chronicled the life of the celebrant and his journey through the academic world and his giant strides in public service.

A roll call of dignitaries at the event include Chief Emeka Nworgu, former minister of Labour and Productivity, Prof. ABC Nwosu, former minister of health, Eng. Dan Chuke, former minister of defence and Professor Val Ekechukwu who was also the Book Presenter.

Others are Amb. Martin Umoyibi-former permanent secretary, ministry of foreign affairs, Engr Imo who was represented by Chief Sunny Okoli. Barr. Clement Chilaka, Engr. Johnny Chukwu, former permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territoy FCT, Dr. Charles Ohamora, who represented Holy Ghost College Owerri Old Boys Association, Chief Chibuzor Obiajunwa and Andy Eke

Other dignitaries that graced the occasion were Chief PC Igwilo, Prof. Uzoechi, High Chief Adolph Enyi Oha, Osuagwu Obinna, Dr. Jamike Ekennia, Dr. Lami Amodu and Dr. Luke Ozo.

It was a night marked by patting on the back and lots of hugs from friends and associates of Professor Osuji. Leading the pack was Professor ABC Nwosu who described the celebrant as “easily the most brilliant person he has met in his life. Nwosu noted that it was the brilliance of Osuji that has sustained their friendship over the years. 

The former minister stated that Osuji is specially gifted and described him as a blessed man who displayed his gift even from the way he articulates things and always goes for the best.

In his tribute, Professor Boniface Okolie, a brother in-law to the celebrant noted that his 80 years have “been years of uncommon success in all aspects of life, having “rapidly and successfully scaled through the education ladder”

Okolie noted that the celebrant has every cause to relax and have fun as he has been blessed by God with good health, a great family and devoted friends. He therefore enjoined Osuji to remain happy and to be thankful and faithful to God who makes all good things possible”.

For Ambassador Ignatius Olisaemeka, former minister of foreign affairs, Osuji is a “man of great simplicity who combines the sophisticated touch of a cultivated refined man with deeply rooted traditional values”. 

According to Olisaemeka, meeting Osuji “is an opportunity to savour some of the enviable virtues of a rare Nigerian personage of the old breed with a descent combination of the new digital order”

Dr Livy Uzoukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who served with Osuji as commissioners in Imo State Cabinet between 1994 and 1996, the celebrant is “man endowed with dazzling and splendid qualities garnished with brilliance, urbanity, respectability, uncommon humanity and confidence without a trace of arrogance”. 

Uzoukwu noted that Osuji, unlike most Nigerians who occupied high offices, you were not dehumanized by your exalted positions as a public officer. 

In his tribute, Chief Paul Ibeku described the celebrant as “frank, courageous, honest, humble and reliable” Ibeku noted that unlike most professors in Nigeria, Osuji does not discriminate on any ground whatsoever and shows respect to all. 

For the immediate family, the life of Osuji is a true reflection of the saying that the “measure of a man is in the lives he has touched”. To them, the contributions of the celebrant to the world are immeasurable. These contributions can be seen from the countless students he taught and mentored, the couples and the children whom he served as godparents and marriage sponsor and the higher educational institutions at which he was a pioneer and his public service at the highest levels of state and national government.

The immediate family noted that the celebration of Professor Osuji’s 80th birthday was a celebration of legacy of excellence, excellence as a husband, father and grandfather, excellence as a true man of God who has led his household to God, excellence as a son, brother, relative and friend, excellence as a pioneer and excellence as a public servant and statesman.

“We stand with you at the forefront of that legacy, grateful to God for the gift of your life and for the privilege to continue to witness it firsthand, a story which is still being written and continues to unfold ever so gallantly. We are grateful to continue to carry this legacy forward with you in grace and to the glory of God”, the family noted.