By:
UNILORIN 49+
PROF. DEBO AJAYI
PROF. TAIWO OLORUNTOBA-OJU
PROF. A.B. MAKANJUOLA
PROF. J.A. AKINYANJU
ENGR REMI OLU
DR. R.O. FABAYO
PROF. P.O. OLATUNJI
ADIEU, ROY
TRIBUTE BY THE UNILORIN 49+
Dr. Roy Jacob Enyia Ndom’s place among us, the UNILORIN 49+ group is unique. He belonged to the pantheon of former ASUU Chairmen of the University of Ilorin. His predecessors in this position in the group are: the late Prof. Tunde Oduleye, Prof. Poju Akinyanju and Dr. Ndom’s successor is Prof Taiwo Oloruntoba–Oju. To name Dr Ndom among these intellectual activists is an honour in itself, and it opens a window into the type of solid human being Comrade Roy Ndom was.
Ebenezer Obey sang “k’a to f’eniyan joye laarin ilu, o ni lati j’eni rere”
translates to: Before you are appointed a chief among your town folks, you must be a good person.”
The virtues of valour, courage, dedication, devotion, integrity, and perseverance, as advocated by Paulo Freire (Pedagogy of the Oppressed) are necessary for intellectual activists, and these qualities are abundant in Dr. Roy Ndom and many others in hid league. The attributes are emphasised to the activists at various training programmes, workshops and public lectures until the qualities are internalized. Dr. Ndom was a good student of these teachings
The title our tribute to this gallant man of honour presents as an apparent oxymoron (a combination of two seemingly contradictory words to form an idea). Here, militancy goes with peace. This is to show that Roy Ndom, though tough on principles, is not your type of “Burn, baby burn” activists to effect change. He was a man who stayed non-violently on a principle to achieve progress for the society.
While “militancy” and “peace” may appear contradictory, it is often the case that genuine peace, along with liberty and dignity, is elusive without the safety guarantees that militancy provides in its defence. “ In Roy, we have a genius who blended affableness with an uncompromising defence of the weak and the oppressed. The defence of people’s rights, Dr. Ndom believed, is the pathway to enduring peace in the larger society.
As our brother, friend and Comrade laid down his shield and armour to take his well-deserved rest, we proclaim his outstanding life and highlight the legacies of honour, decency, gentleness, militancy, perseverance and integrity which he has now bequeathed to us.
Dr. Ndom was an Associate Professor of Psychology in the Department of Beahavioural Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin. He was an excellent teacher who was knowledgeable in his discipline and in class or seminar he was a delight to staff and students of his faculty. This brilliance shows through many of his scientific publications in reputable journals.
He was on his way to Professorship when sickness, and eventual death, struck.
Dr. Ndom is an apostle of community service who seemed to have read, and taken to heart, the mandate of Ayn Rand in his book, The Intellectual Activist (Vol.1 No 20), thatan intellectual engages in critical thinking, research and reflection about the nature of reality especially the nature of society and proposed solutions for its myriad of problems.” To be able to do this, as emphasized in critical pedagogy, the intellectual activist must be “intelligent, articulate curious and eager for a better society.”
There is no doubt that Roy Ndom’s conduct was largely governed by the communal imperative. The above ideas, thoughts and teachings are among those that moulded Dr. Roy Ndom into the great man that he was. He certainly put those qualities to use in the leadership position of ASUU.
As the chairman of the branch, he was firm despite his genial nature and he was just. He never compromised with the university Administration to deny people their rights; his tenure was one of the golden eras of the triumph of Unionism at the University of Ilorin.
Dr. Ndom, because of his passion for a better society, was always in very “tough groups” like ASUU, NLC, CDHR, CD and other organizations that champion people’s Rights at great risk to members. His fight for social justice which brought about his sack with 49plus at UNILORIN, was just, and he was vindicated along with others in the group.
To our knowledge, Comrade Roy was also a “man of the Book”. He had a religion and this is his faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He attended church regularly and took part in many activities in the church. He is a known drummer and can be rightly described as the Ginger Baker (English drummer) of gospel band. He used his dexterity at the drums to advance evangelism. He followed the principle of peace and reconciliation, He was always at peace with all and sundry, political and ideological differences notwithstanding.
Roy had a beautiful social life. Always impeccably dressed and when going to deliver lectures, he was always with a tie, he, at all times, rode in fine and beautiful cars. Roy was a man or exquisite taste.
He joined most of us who are members of the staff club to socialize. While in the club, Roy loved fish pepper soup and enjoyed his favorite lager. Dr. Ndom lived an excellent life. He was also a Nationalist and a Patriot.
To end this tribute, we must applaud our brother for the uncommon love he had for his wife and children, which was also evident in every aspect of his life.
And now Comrade Roy Ndom, “Con te partiro” –
“It is time to say goodbye”
Adieu Roy, cherished colleague, a rare breed, a dogged fighter, a bridge builder, an ardent unionist and passionate activist for the defense of human rights and dignities Rest in power!
And the Roy!: Tribute to Dr. R.J.E. Ndom
- Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju
It now seems almost like an eternity when we met, two young lecturers struggling against great institutional odds. He was a Lecturer 1 and so was I. This was in 91 or so. He had returned from Sheffield and I from Reading, both in the UK. The shenanigans of the Babangida years had by now pushed the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) into the trenches, with young vibrant voices booming across campuses with uncompromising idealism. We both gravitated towards the Union and served in both the coordinating committee, sometimes called expanded exco, and later in the branch executive. The Union triumphed nationally with Prof. Attahiru Jega as the President of ASUU, but the issue of the implementation of the 1992 ASUU-FGN Agreement saw local branches locked in battle with recalcitrant University Administrations, especially on the contentious excess workload. 1993 saw Roy Ndom succeeding Prof. Poju Akinyanju as Chairman, ASUU UNILORIN Branch, with me as Vice-Chairman. We interacted closely. This brief background is meant to show that our bond was formed in the vortex of struggle. I knew him well, in a way that many others do not. I thought that I should add a few anecdotes to the general tribute thoughtfully penned by Prof. Debo Ajayi on behalf of the UNILORIN 49 group.
The turbulence of the period tested our resolve almost to the hilt. As it turned out this was only child’s play, just a small prelude to the later period, 1997-2002, when raw pestilence swept over the institution. But it was also testy back then, 1993-95. To make matters worse, the then Unilorin Administration unilaterally changed the conditions of service. We insisted that the workforce, or the representatives of the workers, must be part of the construction of ordinance. During one meeting at which the then Vice Chancellor himself opted to lead the negotiations on the side of the Administration, Roy showed the mettle he was made of. I recall one moment after I had made an elaborate submission on why one of the formulas adopted by the Administration was unfair to the workforce and the VC made to reply, Roy cut in: ‘Mr. VC … Mr. VC, we cannot accept this, that’s all.’ The VC was speechless; he packed his papers and abruptly left, with his retinue in tow. We ultimately won on that point. To talk about the union regimes, coming from when the late Prof. Oduleye, through Prof. Akinyanju, Roy, and, with humility, me, were in charge, was to talk of periods when unionism was firm, non-opportunistic and uncompromising on behalf of the toiling masses. We will remember Roy for being a part of this golden period.
In short, Roy generally embraced an ideology of service to the community and an attitude of commitment to enduring moral and social values, within the compass of humanity, and Christianity. He was detribalized. Despite his Ogoja roots, he often insisted on speaking his halting Yoruba, a legacy from his childhood sojourn in Aje Bandele, a ‘city’ in Osun State. He was also committed to an ideology of egalitarianism. He was a grassroots person who mixed quite easily up and down the social ladder. We got on quite well. I would often hail him as ‘And the Roy!’ He was amiable and unassuming.
Roy had also pursued his career with commitment and an appreciable work ethic. Starting out as a Corper (NYSC) in the Psychiatry Unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, he proceeded to Graduate Assistantship in the Department of Behavioural Sciences in 1982, and was sent abroad for further studies. He climbed steadily through the ranks upon his return, and was Senior Lecturer, Clinical Psychology, by 1996, despite the havoc wreaked by the artificial so-called pyramidal structure that was often manipulated to favour cronies and disfavour others. The crisis of the University of Ilorin slowed his advance. He was Ag. Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology in 2001 when the mass termination of appointments affecting the Unilorin 49 occurred. The unjust and illegal termination placed his mainstream career on pause.
However, bitter as the experience of 2001 seemed, it also served to showcase Roy’s scholarship and competence in his field, to other institutions. His scholarship and competence were always quickly recognized wherever he went. He was to be invited to coordinate the Clinical Psychology Programme at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) for three years, coordinate the Psychology Programme at Covenant University, Ota, for another three years, and head the Department of Human Development, also at Covenant, for two years, during which period he successfully led colleagues to record full accreditation of the Psychology programme by the NUC. At Nasarawa State University, he was deservedly appointed into the professorial cadre and became the Ag. HOD of Psychology. This was from Oct. 2008 to Jan. 2010, after which Roy returned to the University of Ilorin following the historic win of the UNILORIN 49 at the Supreme Court.
A lot has been said about Roy’s love for his family. Unionism is sacrificial, and, often, the family is the primary victim. To the best of my knowledge, Roy tried to strike a healthy balance between his love for the people whose mandate he carried as a unionist and his love for his family. I can volunteer that, in 1995, Roy’s decision not to proceed to a second term had as much to do with the toxicity that had crept into campus politics and union affairs, as it had to do with pressure from the home front. Even before the entire exco decided not to run again due to the toxicity mentioned here, Roy had given notice that he needed to give more time to his family. It is to his credit that, notwithstanding this stance, he continued to associate with the union and with progressive tendencies till the very end.
Death comes ultimately to everyone. Sometimes it is sudden and sometimes it comes after a struggle. In the case of illness or disease, the duration is often a factor of the tripartite balance between the level of virulence of the disease, the nature of intervention or care, and the resilience of the patient or his or her threshold of endurance. Roy showed extraordinary resilience and perseverance in his struggle against his ailment. While he received varying levels of care from physicians, family, friends and acquaintances, his resilience stood out as a hero in his long fight for survival against overwhelming odds. We can say this of Roy, that he was a dogged fighter, and he fought till the very end.
The lessons of death are for the living. Roy has left us now. It is for the living to be guided one way or the other by his legacy of courage, commitment, and love, and by the numerous tributes and anecdotes that sum up his existence.
‘And the Roy,’ bye for now. We will miss you, and continue to eulogise you.
Ending: For Dr Roy Jacob Enya Ndom, 1957 – 2025
- Oluremi Olu
Oh! ‘Tis for thee that the bell tolls, my brother Roy
It has been a great pleasure, blessing and honour knowing you. Thank you for being there for the duration: through the moments of laughter and melancholy. Thank you for your constancy, friendship and unwavering support, after the darkness fell. And, most of all, thank you for the largeness of your heart.
Besides your personal loyalty to friends and family, and your dedicated service in the Lord’s vineyard, yours was a life wholly lived in the public service and for the common good; which, in the words of elder statesman, Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924), represents the highest form of religion and the “greatest creed”. Hence, we shall ever remain grateful for your camaraderie, courageous and exemplary leadership in those critical years of the struggles for a better Nigerian University system and society; and, most of all, at those times when unity mattered the most. Thank you very much for always being a fully paid-up and steadfast member of that generation that forever speak, and live up, to the allure of genuine Gold, to wit, that Pure Gold never rusts.
During our recent interactions, my sense of loss became palpable, when I realised how our challenges stood in the way of our effective communication. There we sat, living the paradox of being in company, but alone; a condition that strains the composure, as we both wondered at how things eventually turned out. Now that you are gone, I know I’ll sorely miss you even the more.
Roy, you doubtlessly left us early, far too early; nevertheless, as we mourn you, we remain grateful to God, and are comforted by, the legacies of public spiritedness, scholarship, family (nuclear and extended), universal acclaim & friendship that you left behind. And, by these, we shall forever remember you, whilst also being grateful for the privilege of knowing such a great and gentle spirit.
In the circumstance that heaven had decided to call you up now, as mere malleable bodies in the hands of the almighty, we are left with no choice than to accept his supreme will, in the soothing belief that he has chosen to withdraw you from us for higher heavenly service. Nevertheless, as I sorrowfully type these concluding lines, bidding you farewell, this can be said of you, that: you exited life, as you lived it, fighting. You allowed death no quarter on the many occasions it previously came calling, you valiantly fought it , tenaciously holding out, and bravely plodding on, after each bruising encounter, until, as it does to all mortals, it eventually overwhelmed you. Having mercifully and honourably granted your discharge, and your course set on that path that all mortals must perforce tread, this I can at least say of you; that, you were indeed a brave warrior; so, march on brave warrior, march on, march on, march on … !
Goodbye, Goodnight, God be with and bless you on your way.
Tribute to Dr Ndom
- Dr & Mrs. Olu Raphael Fabayo
Prior to the beginning of the 49+ struggle, I had known Dr. Ndom. It was at the time my wife was a tutor at the Community Health Officers Training Centre at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Dr Ndom was a very good resource person during her Master’s degree program in Community Health at the University. He was willing to provide and provided every assistance needed.
Our relationship grew when I met him to be one of the steadfast 49+ engaged in struggle against tyranny. I began to see in him that he was a good fighter despite his physical challenge. He would attend our meetings held at labour house near the High Court Ilorin. He would also be in the courts most of the time that our case was to be mentioned.
It was during our struggle that I knew his wife. My wife also admired the way his wife would always support and taking care of him.
May the Lord counsel, guide and comfort the wife, the nuclear and extended family in the Mighty Name of Jesus🙏.
Adieu, Dr Ndom, may your soul rest in perfect peace in the Mighty Name of Jesus🙏.
Note: A full compendium of tributes from all and sundry will be published shortly.