John Adisa Ayoade, Prof

I met Dr. Ayoade as a Youth Corper at Makurdi, Benue State in 1990. I was posted to Ankpa which I believe is now in Kogi State. I did not like my posting so I returned to the NYSC office in Makurdi within 12 hours of arriving at Ankpa. Dr. Ayoade drove into the NYSC facility in his Volkswagen Rio and someone mentioned to me that he was from University of Agriculture Makurdi. As he was about to enter the office, I gave hot pursuit. In about 15 seconds, I had introduced myself, mentioned to him that I am a Graduate of University of Ife with a degree in Agriculture and I would do whatever assignment he could find for me. He was taken aback, smiled and kept walking but was listening to me. He then said from your last name, you must be from Abeokuta. I said "Yes". He said he knew a Soetan family in Abeokuta that was the lineage of Chief Adegunle Soetan, the Aro of Egbaland at the time. I responded saying that was my late Grand Father. He kept saying I don't have any assignment at this time, that he was there to sign off his current Youth Corper who had just completed her service. I kept pleading with him that I will wash plates if he could assign me to do that. That was how I became his Graduate Assistant at University of Agriculture Makurdi. He arranged accommodation for me, a flat in North Bank of Makurdi and the rest is history. I left for United States in 1993. This was before the advent of cell phones. As a result, I lost contact with him. He has been on my mind for at least 15 years. I desperately wanted to thank him for helping a very young man at the time but I forgot his last name. I tried to reach anyone that may know him but all to no avail. Finally today, I was able to reach an old friend who was his student. She mentioned his name right off the bat and proceeded to talk about how great he was as a lecturer but more importantly as a person. She had heard something about him in recent past but was not sure. As a result, I Googled his name in an attempt to find his whereabouts. My search landed me on this page. I am so distraught with all types of emotions realizing that he had passed on to glory almost 2 years ago. I hope and pray his family reads this. Your Husband, Dad, Uncle, Brother, Lecturer, Colleague was a great man!! Very simple disposition, grounded, loved to joke around and always made you feel comfortable around him. I wish I had connected with him long before his passing to at least show my appreciation. Dr. John Adisa Ayoade, may your wonderful soul continue to rest in perfect peace. Amen!