A delegation from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Thursday paid a condolence visit to the family of late Prof. Adebayo Adedeji who died on April 25 in Lagos.
Leading the delegation of top officials from the board to late Adedeji’s family house in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun, the NYSC Director-General, Brig. Gen. Suleiman Kazaure, eulogised Adedeji for his exceptional patriotism.
The NYSC director general, represented by Mrs Adenike Adeyemi, the NYSC Director of Press and Public Relations, described Adedeji’s death as monumental loss to the nation.
Kazaure, however, urged the family not to be mournful but rather thank God for the contribution of the deceased to the development of the country and the African society.
He appreciated the late professor for his foresight and contributions toward the establishment of the NYSC scheme.
“The NYSC which is 45 years old is still very relevant today. If not for our late father’s contributions, we would not be here today,” he said.
The NYSC also presented some items to the Adedeji family as support toward the burial of the former United Nations Under-Secretary General.
Responding on behalf of the Adedeji family, Dr Olufunsho Adedeji, a son of the deceased, expressed gratitude to the NYSC for the visit.
He said though his father was among those who conceived the vision that berthed the NYSC, the management of the scheme had also done a good job.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the delegation included the NYSC State Coordinators for Lagos, Osun and Ogun; Mohammed Momoh, Emmanuel Atah and John Okpo respectively.
A pioneer Executive Director of the Addis Ababa based United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Adedeji died at 87 during a protracted illness.
He was the ECA boss between 1975 and 1978, after which he was appointed the UN Under-Secretary General.
Adedeji, however, remained in the ECA until 1991.
Until his death, Adedeji was the Director of the African Centre for Development and Strategic Studies, a think-tank based in his hometown of Ijebu Ode.
Adedeji would be laid to rest on Friday at the Cathedral Church of Our Saviour, Ijasi, Ijebu-Ode. (NAN)
