says his accomplishments are too profound to be catalogued.
Encomiums have continued to pour for the late foremost law teacher expert, Emeritus Professor David Ijalaye, SAN who died recently at the age of 91.
President Muhammadu Buhari while sympathizing with the family of the deceased stressed that the legacies of the legal luminary will always be preserved, acknowledged that he left distinguished results as Dean, Faculty of Law, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and Chairman, Board of Postgraduate Studies of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (FNIALS) and Fellow of the Nigerian Society of International Law (FNSIL), prayed God to accept the soul of the deceased.
Similarly, one of the former students of the late sage, Mr. Olurotimi Williams Daudu also eulogized the death of his law teacher, Prof. David Ijalaye, SAN, as posted on his Facebook page, said a Professor of Professors and custodian of jurisprudence is gone.
“What a passage! What a world we live in! This is simply the end of an era. It is hard to come to terms with the fact that our own Professor Ijalaye has gone to be with the saints.
“In his lifetime, he this sort of larger than life image. You could be forgotten to think such weird and colossal elements never die. The presence and aura the Emeritus Professor of Law carried was second to none. Standing before us to teach jurisprudence was something special and one that I looked forward to.
“I mean, the weight of knowledge oozing out from the Emeritus Professor had special appeal and attraction.
“Behold, a Professor of Professors is gone. I would be right to say he was the custodian of jurisprudence. One remarkable thing about the late Sage and enigma was that he showed a measure of respect to his students. And therein lies his greatness even in death.
“I recall with a measure of admiration a story told to us in one of such classes. Baba (as we fondly called him) said that in one of his classes he had asked a question but to his dismay, a particular student he had considered a dullard motioned to answer the question. Baba said he reluctantly recognized the student to respond. According to him the answer the chap provided was so illuminating that the learned Professor cum SAN had to go back and review an article he had prepared for publication.
“The late sage also narrated to us how he has gone to one university as an external examiner and in the course of reviewing the scripts, a particular answer sheet caught his attention. The student had been awarded an “F” by the teacher but after reading through the answers provided by the student he changed the score to “A” to the consternation of the teacher who had marked the paper. Baba said he was vindicated when he was later informed the student made “A” in all other papers. Such was the proficiency, candor, and responsive nature of Professor Ijalaye, SAN.
“As we mourn your exit, we are nonetheless comforted by the fact that you lived a good life, impacted positively on the lives of others. You were a human who lives for humanity. Your life found true essence and meaning in those you have built to become achievers and influencers in the larger society. Your accomplishments are too profound to be catalogued. You have left us at a ripe age and those legacies you bequeathed will remain with us.
“A legal colossus and Icon has departed this sinful world. The Saints in the land beyond are rejoicing at your arrival. To those you have left behind, I say weep not but be of good cheers. May the good Lord give you the other to bear this huge loss.
“The academic world will miss you. The global world will miss you. Nigeria will miss you. We in ONDO State will miss you, Baba.
“Adieu Emeritus Professor David Ijalaye, SAN.
“Sunre o. Ti o ba de orun majekolo ohun ti won ba nje lorun ni Ko ba won je”
