ABEOKUTA- Chrisland University, Abeokuta Friday held a commendation service for one of its pioneer staff and lecturer with the department of Mass Communication, Mr Gbenga Emmanuel Ariba.
The commendation service was held at the the University auditorium, at Ajebo Road, with the presence of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola.
In her remarks, the Vice Chancellor paid glowing tribute to the late lecture, saying she was shocked at his demise.
She further said she regretted that Mr. Ariba would not witness the National University Commission (NUC) accreditation of the Mass Communication department of the University of which he laboured to build.
She further stated that it was the late media guru that made her what she is today, adding that, ” it was Mr Ariba that took me to all radio and TV stations in Lagos and Ogun State when I assumed the office as Vice Chancellor.
“He took the students out to most radio and TV stations for more practical teaching. Most of the people you see today carrying cameras in this hall are students of this university. Mr Ariba made them.
“Mr Ariba was a astute media and academics, he was even teaching online on his sick bed. It is a regret that we lost someone like that at this point in time” she said
The sermon, which was based on a titled ‘Be Prepared’ by Emmanuel Adekunle Ogunlesi, with the text taken from Matthew 25: 14.
Chaplain Ogunlesi maintained that all humans need to prepare for eternity at every turn of events in life, adding that life is transient though require constant preparedness.
Students, Staff and well wishers from the media paid tributes for his unflinching passion for the industries he worked for while on earth.
Late Ariba, an ace broadcaster joined Radio Nigeria, Lagos in 1978 where he served as a producer, senior producer and principal producer for series of programmes.
He rose to the position of station manager before he left for advertising. He worked with Lintas advertising firm from 1990 to 1995 as a senior manager.
During his lifetime, he wrote over 20 plays and over 10 satrical and pungent drama series for both television and radio programmes.
He was best known for his prominent role as Jimoh Oko Salamotu in Long Throat Junction, a radio drama series which ran from 1979 to 1980.
He also wrote scripts and produced jingles for different programmes at NTA, Lagos between 1980 to 1985.
The script writer served as lecturer at Lagos State University, FRCN Training School, Lagos and Crescent University beofe joining Chrisland University in 2017.
Late Me Gbenga Emmanuel Ariba died after a brief illness on the 11th of March, 2021, aged 67 years.
