The Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Prof Peace Chinedum Babalola has described the late retired Radio Nigeria ace broadcaster and pioneer Head of Mass Communication department of the university, Mr Gbenga Ariba as a thoroughbred professional whose indelible contributions both in journalism and the university would forever be celebrated.
Prof Peace Babalola described the exit of Mr Gbenga Ariba as really such a rude shock and painful loss saying "we had all thought he would pull through the brief illness and be back with us at the university to continue his good works only for me to be informed during our matriculation held on March 11 that he had passed on".
Speaking during the commendation service held at the auditorium of the university for the deceased broadcaster, on Friday, the Vice Chancellor described Ariba as a great teacher-practitioner saying "I call him a great teacher-practitioner because of his robust practical experience in his chosen field which he had brought to bear on the university".
"Here was a man that had traversed the broadcast industry and this invaluable experience he actually brought to bear in his given roles at the university. It is to his credit and insistence for excellence that we have our top of the notch Radio and Television studios for the Mass Communication department and his joy would have been to see to the full accreditation of this course by the National University Commission (NUC) happening in few days time".
Prof Babalola said " upon my appointment as the VC in 2017, I could also remembered how the highly respected personae in the media industry, the Late Mr Ariba took me to many Radio and Television stations in Ogun and Lagos State where I usually granted interviews either as the VC or Professor of Pharmacy and I want to say that these media visits opened doors for the university".
The VC said though, Mr Ariba who in his characteristic way of pushing for excellence was about to round off his PhD when he suddenly bided the world farewell, had no doubt made his mark as an accomplished broadcaster and teacher of journalism saying that the university took solace in the fact that he lived a dedicated life of service and impacting others for greater tomorrow.
Tributes also poured in from Dr Alphonsus Adebiyi, the immediate past Head of Mass Communication department under whom the late broadcaster directly worked at the university, one of the deceased's good friends and Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies at the university, Dr Babatunde Agbi as well as the students of the institution.
Dr Adebiyi described Late Ariba as an erudite scholar, highly resourceful and always working towards the progress of the university, particularly the Mass Communication department saying that the university would sorely missed him for his readiness to put in the best at all times.
Ministering from the book of Matthew 25 vs 14-15 during the commendation service, Ven Emmanuel Adekunle Ogunlesi urged people to live a life of purpose and serve God and humanity saying that this would be all that mattered when a man died and now face to face with his maker.
Ven Ogunlesi commiserated with the university community and families of the deceased praying the almighty God to give them the grace to bear the irreparable loss.
Born in December 1954, Otunba Gbenga Ariba bagged his first degree and Masters Degree in Theatre Arts from University of Ibadan after which he joined Radio Nigeria and NTA for a flourishing career in broadcasting.
However, in 1990, Otunba Ariba joined Lintas Advertising Nigeria Limited, Lagos as Senior Manager and in 1998 set up his own media outfit, G A Productions which was mainly into Radio and Television productions.
The late broadcaster was said to have joined Crescent University, Abeokuta as lecturer in 2008 and left in 2015 after which he moved to Chrisland University in 2017 where he pioneered the birth of Mass Communication department and remained one of the pillars of the university until his death on March 10 after a brief illness.
His remains would be committed to mother earth at his home town, Ijebu Isonyin, Ijebu North East local government area of Ogun State on Friday, April 9.
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