By JM
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, summed up his condolence message to the family of late Assoc. Prof. John Galadima, the staff of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the entire University community by saying that ‘indeed, it is well’.
He said this at the valedictory session organized by the truine departments of Theater and Film Arts, Mass Communication and Music at the ASUU secretariat, Naraguta Campus on the 24th of November, 2016.
Prof. Maimako added that the death of Assoc. Prof. Galadima was ‘a huge loss to the university community’ as he described how he visited him at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) where they ‘talked at length’ until he heard of his discharge from hospital and subsequently his death.
The acting Head of Department, Dr. Sarah Lwahas, took time to explain to the congregation of mourners made up of staff and students of UniJos and other well wishers that after the election of Assoc. Prof. John Galadima as the HoD elect, he told her that she will have to hold on the handover preparations as he had an engagement at the University of Maiduguri which was the external examination of a PhD student.
‘On the 25th of August at 4pm, an hour after leaving Jos, he had an accident and was brought back by the JUTH medical bus. He had three surgeries, one of which was corrective and was discharged after one month’.
‘His spirit was very strong and he never showed any signs of depression about the accident. My last discussion with him was a week before he passed on where he told me to hold on for some time until he could take over and he was willing to give some money to help in running the Department. Dr. Galadmia was a very generous person as he donated journals and newspapers to the Department’.
‘He was a friend before I came to the Department and was passionate towards students’ Dr. Lwahas said as she concluded her eulogy.
Other speakers who gave tributes to Assoc. Prof. Galadima were the Dean of Arts and Humanities, Prof. Iorapuu Tor, who narrated his own experience with Assoc. Prof. Galadima from the day of the accident to the notification of his death and he told the VC that ‘we have had enough in the Faculty of Arts’ describing the number of deaths recorded in the Faculty and the staff involved in motor accidents.
The ASUU Chairperson, Dr. Chris Piwuna, who narrated his own experience with Assoc. Prof. Galadima from the day of the accident to the time of his death said Assoc. Prof. Galadima died 6:15 am on the 16th of November and he immediately called Prof. Tor, who in turn contacted Dr. Lwahas. ‘He lives in our hearts and showed us a better way of love, unity and service’.
Prof. Yakubu David, a former ASUU Chairperson where the late Assoc. Prof. John Galadima served as his secretary, said that ‘no one has ever noticed his anger’ describing the humility of Assoc. Prof. Galadima.
Dr. Ruben Embu, the HoD of Theater and Film Arts described the late Assoc. Prof. Galadima as an ‘erudite scholar who has left legacies in his publications’.
Prof. Amaka Azuike of the Department of English Language said Assoc. Prof. Galadima’s ‘humility was legendary’ and addressing the family she said ‘there is no pain heaven cannot heal ’.
Additional tributes came from the Dean of Agriculture and Chairperson of the Committee of Deans, Dr. Lami Lombin, a representative of Prof. Christiana Best, the Rector of the Nigerian Film Institute, Prof. Elizabeth Nyager who represented the senior academic staff of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, the AMCOMS President, Itse Jang and a representative of the College of Masters students, Mass Communication Department.
The representative of the family, Barrister Andrew Daboer (KSM), said that the family is encouraged after listening attentively to the tributes and said he was convinced that the loss is not just for the family but also the university community.
The Vote of Thanks was made by Mr. Raymond Goshit of the Department of Mass Communication.
The valedictory session was also witnessed by the wife, children and close relatives of Assoc. Prof. Galadima, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Teresa Nmadu, ASUU members and was anchored by Mr. Victor Anyagu of the Department of Theater and Film Arts and Mr. Dan Mallum of ICE FM.
