Professor (Dr.) Olanrewaju Smith

MY FRIEND - PROF. OLANREWAJU B. SMITH.

A true gentle giant has fallen.

Lanre had his primary school education at Olowogbowo Methodist School in Lagos; his mother was a
teacher there and so was my mother. I attended a different primary school.

As Lanre and I, from the 1958 National Common Entrance, gained admission into King’s College, Lagos,
our joyful mothers ensured we were both aware we shared a common bond. So, when we entered the
gates of King’s College in January of 1959, we sought each other out and just naturally bonded and had
seven good years (1959-1965) growing together and developing even stronger bonds between us. One
that lasted.

It was easy to bond with Lanre. He was well-built, with large strong bones and easily the biggest in our
set and yet, the most gentle and soft-spoken with a warm friendly smile appearing always to be on his
lips. Ours was a set that actively interacted with each other in almost every sphere of engagement and
so each person’s character was quickly exposed, and each person received an appropriate nickname
accordingly… nicknames that stayed with them. Lanre’s own came early enough… he was called
“EGBON” … meaning ‘An Elder, a Protector, an older brother…’, a most apt name as nothing ruffled
Lanre. With his benign gaze and smile at any aspiring tormentor, order was quickly restored, and
quarrels quenched. Lanre had a peaceful mien, one, I believed stayed with him throughout.

Lanre was a sportsman, excelling in Athletics (Shot Putt), Hockey and Cricket) and received Full Colours
in each of them.

In his final year at King’s, he was appointed House Captain as well as Vice-School Captain.

With a good Cambridge Higher School Certificate (A-Level) result, Lanre received a Scholarship to study
Veterinary Medicine in Brussels, Belgium and earned his Doctorate (Ph.D) from University of Guelph,
Canada.

Lanre was a brother, loved and respected by all, wherever he worked, wherever he trod. Wherever he
was most times, we always kept in touch with each other. We exchanged visits while he was in Brussels
and I, in Portsmouth, England. Following his family‘s move to Canada, there was hardly any time he
came home we did not arrange to meet each other.

Sad to see Lanre go the way of all mortals, but that is the way of life.

Adieu my friend.

May the good Lord grant you eternal rest. Amen.

INTEGRITY PERSONIFIED

A Poem In Memory of
Dr Olanrewaju Smith and
Dr (Mrs). Franscisca Ifeyironwa Smith
By: Lola Fabowale
April 10, 2021

Were your names Integrity and Love
Nothing’d be more apt
To describe how you eschew’d regret
For you spoke little but set
Your ears always rapt
As if wrapped from above as gifts!

Careful in friendship to a fault
You never promised aught
Nor left any in a lurch
But gave a lot in secret
Your right hand often bereft
Of the antics of that on the left

Remember my wish after we met?
I wanted to be like you when I grew
And between you the love brew
Was among the best I ever knew
Peas in the pod that you were
None sought to change the other….

As friends you were solid pillars
In my time of greatest need
You made every ill a liar
By accepting me for whom I was
You gave me room to be
A better passenger on this life’s bus

Because you were true to Him
Whose you were
There’s no doubt, even the least
You’ve joined His feast
You are with the Christ
In Paradise….

So long, farewell: My Mentor goes home

Today I look at my physical self, mentality, philosophical slant, mannerisms and I can tell from whence each of these attributes came.
It was in 1980 as a freshman in the Faculty of Agriculture at the then University of Ife where I first encountered Olanrewaju B Smith as my lecturer. He taught me Animal Physiology. He was an excellent teacher and he inspired me and many others in our quest for excellence. It was his sheer candour in excellence that propelled us to strive in similar orientation. He was to teach a few more courses as I progressed into my final semesters in Ife. He was a great teacher. A good listener and wonderful builder of men. I used to say this of Lanre Smith – even if he would grade your performance as an ‘F’, you would leave his office knowing that you are well worth an ‘A – Grade’ in life. The first practical lessons at rumen canulation and surgical processes of fistulated animals were under his tutelage. How can I ever forget his great heart of a teacher?
In my graduate school days, Ola Smith had become the Head of Department of Animal Science. The thesis I defended in his office following the external examination by Prof Akinsoyinu of the University of Ibadan is another testimony of the great legacy that Ola has left me with. The thesis itself was a fantastic learning curve for me as it was co-supervised by late Prof Dick Zwart of the Wageningen Agricultural University, the Netherlands (Courtesy of the West African Dwarf Goat Project). He chaired the oral examination process fair and square. He cheered me on as I successfully approached the finishing line!
Later in life, post PhD, I was a young scientist at the International Trypanotolerance Centre, Banjul, The Gambia. He had moved on to be the head of the IDRC West Africa Office in Dakar. Apart from several professional encounters, spending time in his home at the Corniche and most rewarding was the co-authorship of the book ‘Crop-Livestock Integration in West African Cities’. Ola Smith gave a professional lifeline when he made me an IDRC grantee for a period of about 6 years where the high point of my research was Crossbred cows, and raising livelihoods of women in urban horticulture in The Gambia and Senegal. That work was to be upscaled into Sierra Leone and the Guineas.
Later in life, by sheer providence, I became the Chairman Board of Governors of the International Trypanotolerance Centre. His expertise came in handy to guide the institutional reform and its transition into the West African Livestock and Innovation Centre (WALIC). He left us a lasting legacy in Banjul.
Ultimately, the day came out there in Ottawa. He breathed his last. I doff my hat one more time as my great teacher bows out to our closing glee. He passed in the week of resurrection – no cause for sorrow, he is alive with God forever! Rest on Professor Olanrewaju Babatunde Smith.

It was a blessing to get to know your family, first being introduced to you all as Lanre and my lat e husband celebrated their 50th birthdays on the same day. Lanre was also very instrumental in helping me get the Nigerian visas I needed for my work during the years we were friends in Senegal. Both of he and Francisca were dear friends as our lives parted and crossed several times through the years. I pray that you will experience a deep sense of peace as you adjust to a new era of life without them.

Ola was a very cool man very peaceful peace to his soul

Ola was always such a youthful and vibrant man that I did not realize until now that he was a few years older than me. I was shocked and saddened by his passing and will always have nothing but fond memories of him, as well as of Fran, Nki and Seyi. We worked together in Senegal in the early 1990s, where our two families became friends and did all sorts of things together. Please accept my sincere condolences about his passing.

Dear Nki and Seyi,

We, Marie-Lise and Michael, are very heart-broken to hear of the passing away of our friend and colleague, your father, Lanre. We are doubly saddened to hear that your mother passed away in 2019. We send you both and your immediate family our condolences, which cannot be fully expressed by words.

Michael worked with Lanre, at the International Development Research Centre and based in Dakar for several years. Both interacted professionally as well as personally till Michael and Marie-Lise left Dakar in 1996. During the years our two families spent in Dakar, as you may remember, we had good times together at each other’s homes. We have good memories of your father and mother who were very devoted parents and keen scientists. (We attach two photos of Lanre, Franca, Marie-Lise and Michael recalling our friendship).

Lanre was a quiet man. He was born in December and both he and Michael have close birth dates, a factor that Marie-Lise guessed why he and Michael got along well. Lanre was a listener and had problems with nobody. Although he was well educated and well informed, he was low-key and respected those in contact with him. He will be missed by us as well as by many others, but will not be forgotten.

Our regret is that during these recent years, which has been quite hectic for us, due to moving back to Canada and the Covid 19 pandemic, we did not maintain close contact with the Smith Family, but you all have been in our thoughts.

We hope to see Nki and Seyi and your families sometime in the near future as we now live in Almonte, Canada.

With love and best wishes,

Michael and Marie-Lise Bassey
micwilbassey@yahoo.com
343-988-1946

Whenever I saw Ola at Church, he always greeted me with such a warm smile. His eyes twinkled in such a special way. He was often quiet, but his smile spoke volumes.
I am grateful for the conversations we shared over the years, in particular his enthusiasm for me spending time in Ghana and our shared excitement over the world cup.

Ola...The gentleman with an elegant presence, humble smile, and a peaceful deep voice.
To remember him is to remember his lovely wife, my good friend Francisca who left us no too long ago. Ola and Francisca were Soulmates. I always thought that since I met them; I became more convinced of that fact when Ola told the beautiful and realistic story. They met at the university and later fell in love and got married. They brought their two great children up with love, values, and respect. Ola and Francisca were so proud of them. The journey of life for Ola and his Franca was probably filled with some sacrifices of trips and temporary separations for work but mostly by a beautiful love and understanding....Ola had to go on this final trip, to meet his Soulmate in Haven. They are together again for eternity.
They will be remembered always with love and admiration. Two great professionals and lovely persons.

I am shocked beyond words with the very sad news of the passing of uncle Ola Smith. Most devastating is that Anty Francisca died in 2019 . I still cannot believe that they are both gone.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes, blessed be the name of the Lord. They were wonderful people, who were a perfect example of a God fearing couple. I thank God for letting my path to cross theirs.

Eternal rest grant unto them, oh Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their beautiful souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.

My sincere condolences to Nky and Seyi. Be comforted knowing that your dad and mum are alive in our hearts and the legacies they left behind. The Lord shall comfort you at these trying times.

ADIEU PROF. OLA SMITH. MAY THE ANGELS RECEIVE YOU INTO YOUR ETERNAL ABO