Former UNIBEN VC, Prof Oshodin, dies at 72

A former Vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Osayuki Godwin Osodin, is dead.

Aged 72, the academic died Sunday morning , according to initial reports.

His death was, however, confirmed by the Public Relation Officer of UNIBEN Alumni, kelvin Omokaro, on his Facebook page.

But the cause and place of death had yet to be confirmed as of the time of this publication.

THE CONCLAVE reports that a formal statement will be made by the family anytime soon.

His biography as published by Wikipedia (with the tenses edit by THE CONCLAVE) reads: Osayuki Godwin Oshodin (born August 9, 1950) was a former vice-chancellor of University of Benin.

He was professor of health education and had published several journals and books concerning health and education.

Oshodin was born in Benin City. He attended the Western Boys High School, Benin City, Federal School of Science, Lagos State, Central State University Ohio, Columbia University of New York city, United States and received a doctor of education degree (Ed.D) from Teachers College, Columbia University of New York city in 1980.

He joined the University of as Research Fellow 1981 rose to the position of Professor in 1991.

Professor Oshodin was an External Examiner to more than 15 Universities. He was also a member of 20 Learned Societies and had 41 Awards and Honours to his credit.

His administrative acumen in the University of was also very robust; he had either been a Chairman or member of more than 35 university Boards and Committees.

He was Director, Sports, Dean, faculty of Education, and had also been Dean, Students Affairs. He had to himself more than 78 academic Publications, 6 Books and 27 other books as Co-author.

He was appointed the vice-chancellor of University of Benin in November 2009 and his tenure ended in November 2014.

● Academic career

Oshodin had taught over 20 different health education and research courses at the postgraduate and undergraduate level both in Nigeria and the United States of America.

He worked as a college/research assistant, at the Hunter College of City University of New York in 1974 to 1979. In 1981, he lectured at Hunter College of City University of New York in the department of academic skill/sieek, where he taught health education, anatomy and physiology, biostatistics, health science and community health.

He later moved to University of Benin and lectured part-time between 1982 and 1983, and was promoted to the position of a senior lecturer in health education in the department of physical and health education in 1987.

In 1991, he rose to the position of a professor at the same university, same year he was honoured by Marquis Macmillan directory division “Who’s Who in The World” 10th Edition.

Since 1990, 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2006, till present (till he died), he had been an external examiner to University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan and University of Port Harcourt respectively. He was conferred a certified teacher by Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria in 2006

In November 2009, Oshodin was appointed as vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, making him the first Edo man of Benin descent to occupy the position since the university was established in 1970.