By Meletus EZE
The Carleton University community, Ottawa, Canada, has expressed shock over the death of Prof. Pius Adesanmi.
Adesanmi was among 18 Canadians killed in Sunday’s crash of an Ethiopian Airlines at the Addis Ababa Airport.
TBI Africa said the President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University, Benoit-Antoine Bacon, said this in a statement obtained by News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.
‘‘Pius was a towering figure in African and post-colonial scholarship and his sudden loss is a tragedy.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those who knew and loved him, and with everyone who suffered loss in the tragic crash in Ethiopia,’’ the vice- chancellor said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Pauline Rankin said: ‘‘contributions of Pius Adesanmi to Carleton are immeasurable.
“He worked tirelessly to build the Institute of African Studies, to share his boundless passion for African literature and to connect with and support students.
‘‘He was a scholar and teacher of the highest calibre who leaves a deep imprint on Carleton,’’ said Rankin.
Rankin disclosed how Adesanmi taught in the Department of English Language and Literature at the Carleton University.
‘‘He shared his boundless passion for African literature and to connect with and support students,’’ Rankin.
The Nigerian-born Adesanmi was an award-winning author and teacher.
He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in French from the University of Ilorin in Nigeria, his Master of Arts degree in French from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and a Doctorate degree in French Studies from the University of British Columbia.
Adesanmi taught at Penn State University before coming to Carleton.
On Saturday, Adesanmi had posted a picture of himself on Facebook, quoting Psalm 139:9-10: “If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.”
