The Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, has been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of its Deputy Registrar, Students’ Affairs, Alhaji Onike Rahaman.
He reportedly became indisposed shortly after delivering a lecture on campus on Thursday, September 11, 2025, and was rushed to a hospital where he was later confirmed dead by medical experts.
In a condolence statement signed by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. R.F.A. Adeniji, the late Rahaman was described as a diligent administrator who served the institution with distinction. Rector of OYSCATECH, Prof. Akinola Akinlabi, also commiserated with his family, colleagues, and students, describing him as a prolific writer, respected activist, and resourceful administrator whose contributions to education and student welfare will never be forgotten.
The deceased, who joined the services of OYSCATECH in 2008 as an Administrative Officer II, rose through the ranks to become Deputy Registrar. He also represented the congregation on the Governing Council of the institution. An alumnus of Saint Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, University of Ibadan, and Olivet High School, Oyo, Rahaman was widely admired for his humility, scholarship, and commitment to community development.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the state, with youths, students, and politicians cutting across party lines mourning his sudden demise. Many described him as a man of the people who combined scholarship with activism, while others recalled his role in the advocacy for the creation of a new Oyo State with Ibadan as its administrative capital.
In his heartfelt tribute, Mogaji Afolabi Ademola Adesina, writing from Oyo Alaafin, described the late administrator as “the very definition of a public conscience.” He recounted how Rahaman’s mentorship, writings, and public engagements shaped countless lives, adding that his passing leaves behind a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. “He was a prolific writer, strategist, and encourager. To lose him is to lose a battalion at a single blow,” he wrote.
Adesina further urged institutions and communities touched by Rahaman’s work to honor his legacy through memorial lectures, scholarships, and mentorship programs that would preserve his ideas and methods. He stressed that beyond grief, Rahaman’s legacy should inspire continuity of service, intellectual pursuit, and compassion for students and society.
According to his family, Rahaman’s remains will be laid to rest in Oyo town on Friday, September 12, 2025, with the body departing Igboora at 7:00 a.m.
The management, staff, and students of OYSCATECH said he would be remembered for his dedication, humility, and service to humanity. They prayed for Almighty Allah to grant him Aljanah Firdaus.
