The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has described the death of Professor Festus Iyayi, a former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in a ghastly motor accident on his way to an ASUU congress in Kano State as a tragic loss to the human right community and the nation at large.

Professor Iyayi was said to have died on a failed portion of a Nigerian highway around Lokoja in Kogi state according to information released to the media by ASUU President Dr. Nasir Fagge.

Iyayi was until his death in the Department of Business Administration at the University of Benin. As a member of staff of the University, he has been in the forefront of radical social issues, and was one-time president of the local branch of ASUU. He is a recipient of several international awards including the 1988 Commonwealth Prize for Literature for his book Heroes.

ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo said: “Professor Iyayi’s death is a big loss not only to the management and staff of ERA/FoEN and the human right community but to the Nigerian nation. We will miss his wealth of experience in engaging the issues he championed and commiserate with his family.” Ojo explained that the professor will be greatly remembered as a dogged fighter for the cause of the humanity, his love for education, even as he added that he was one of ERA/FoEN’s most dependable intellectual base in the struggle for eco-justice and protection of local livelihoods.

“As we commiserate with his family, ASUU, and the Nigerian human rights community ,  we pray his soul rest in the bosom of the lord. Festus Iyayi will be greatly missed,” Ojo added.


Philip Jakpor
Head of Media
08037256939

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