The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed sadness over the demise of Nigeria’s first professor of criminology, Femi Odekunle.

He made this known today after it was announced that Professor Odekunle has passed away.

“With Prof. Odekunle’s death, Nigeria has lost one of her finest scholars who toiled to give his best to the country’s education sector.

“The renowned professor, who until his death was a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (@pacacng), would be sorely missed by many, noting that he has left a vacuum in his field of study,” the speaker said.

Describing the late Prof. Odenkule as one intellectual Nigerian whose value to the country could not be quantified, the Speaker said the late professor lived a fulfilled life worthy of emulation by upcoming generation.

Gbajabiamila sent his condolences to the Odekunle family and the government and people of Osun State over the loss. He wished Prof. Odekunle’s soul eternal rest.

On Tuesday, at the age of 77, the anti-corruption crusader shut his mind, body and soul to the world. He proceeded to meet his ancestors following an unsuccessful battle with COVID-19 at an isolation centre in Gwagwalada, Abuja. In a statement, Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman, said Odekunle’s charisma and contributions will be missed by his friends and associates.

“His lasting contributions as well as his charisma, wit and sense of humor will be sorely missed by all us, his friends and associates. May the Almighty repose his soul,” he said.

Odekunle obtained degrees in Sociology and Criminology in Nigeria and the United States respectively. After teaching at Lincoln University in the US for about two years, Odekunle returned to Nigeria in 1974 to assume duty as lecturer II at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he started the criminology training programme. In 1975, he was lecturer I, senior lecturer (1977), associate professor (1979), and in 1982, he was recommended for the position of full professor. It was formally conferred on him in 1985. This implies that Odekunle had been a professor for 35 years before his demise.