We Have Lost A Titan – Lagos Assembly Speaker Mourns Prof Tunde Samuel

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has described Professor Tunde Samuel, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), as a titan whose positive roles in Lagos cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

Naija News reports that Prof. Samuel died on Wednesday, 16th February 2022 just about three months after he celebrated his birthday.

The late administrator who was until his death, a member of the Governor Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State is credited for his major role in the developmental blueprint put in place during the administration of Tinubu in the state.

During his lifetime, he also held many positions including serving as a Special Adviser on Education during the administration of Tinubu.

Professor Samuel was the pioneer Provost of the Lagos State College of Primary Education (LASCOPED) which has just been upgraded to the Lagos State University of Education.

Prof. Samuel is reckoned as one of the founding fathers of the Lagos State University (LASU) where he was both a member of the Implementation Committee and two-time member of the Provisional Government Council.

Dr. Obasa, who paid a visit to the home of the deceased on Thursday, said: “Prof. Samuel’s demise is a blow, a pain that would take long for us to bear both as people of Agege, the APC as a family, the GAC and the entire Lagos State.

“His importance to Lagos State can never be under-emphasised. He was a passionate Lagosian whose thoughts, actions and activities were all geared towards strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the creation of an egalitarian state where individuals would live their lives in peace.

“As an academic, he helped Lagos to establish a firm foundation for educational growth and progress with his imprint in our own Lagos State University, the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education (MOCPED), Noforija, Epe, where he was Pioneer Provost and as Special Adviser on Education to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when the latter was Governor of Lagos State.

“It is worthy to note that his activities in government brought Lagos many laurels and further helped to put the State in a favourable position in the country.”

Obasa signing a condolence register during a visit to the family of the late Prof Samuel

A retired Professor of Political Economics of Education, Samuel was a former Chairman of the Governing Council of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Otto-Ijanikin.

“Like a star with brightness that cannot be dimmed, Prof. Samuel’s success extended beyond the boundaries of Lagos as he served as Chairman of the Governing Councils for the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa, respectively. He was also an International Consultant for UNESCO and UNICEF.

“We will continue to miss his wisdom, knowledge and understanding of how Lagos and Nigeria should be run for the utmost good of the people. We will miss his advice and productive efforts to keep a united APC in Lagos.

“I, on behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, pray that God grant him peace and give his immediate family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this huge loss, amen,” Obasa prayed in a statement released by his media office.