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A renowned Nigerian scholar and former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof Dipo Fasina, popularly known as Jingo, has been declared missing.
The President of ASUU, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke, confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES, on Sunday.
Fasina, 76, was travelling to Algeria on Saturday, July 1, reportedly on the invitation of the Algerian government when he was said to have missed his connecting flight from Istanbul, Turkey. His whereabouts have since remained unknown.
Fasina, who is a scholar, activist and unionist, taught Philosophy for 34 years at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, which he joined in 1979 after returning from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he bagged his PhD.
He is also a trustee of ASUU and the chairperson of the Joint Action Front (JAF), a coalition of labour movements and civil society organisations championing pro-people struggles in Nigeria.
Fasina was nicknamed Jingo by his students as the favourite name he used to cite examples in his crowded classes.
He is also credited with having founded the Philosophy department at Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), where he was said to have donated his entitlements to establish a library.
Since his retirement from OAU, Fasina has taught Philosophy across some Nigerian universities.
Meanwhile, friends and associates of the missing scholar, including bodies such as ASUU and JAF are working towards his safe return.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Osodeke said the union is working hard to locate the union’s leader’s whereabouts and ensure his safe return.
“Yes, we are aware of the development and we are working on it, so when we are through in the next two or three days we will let you know,” the ASUU president said.
Another associate of Fasina, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the issue as personal, adding that they may be travelling soon for a search.
“This is really a personal matter and not a media case. We are working to bring him back and he will be fine. I may have to travel any moment from now to bring him back,” the associate said.
The chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also confirmed that her organisation is aware.
“Yes, we are aware, and we are on it,” she said.
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