Nigerian-born Canadian Professor, Professor Pius Adesanmi, a director in the African studies, of Carleton University, Canada on arriving at Addis Ababa airport had shared a picture and posted a message on his Facebook page reading, “ If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me , and your right hand shall hold me – Psalm 139 : 9 – 10 . ”, little did he know that, that will be his last post as he bows to death in the ill fated Ethiopian airline flight 302 which crashed killing him and and 156 passengers on board shortly after take off on Sunday
The plane was said to be heading to Nairobi , Kenya before it went down in the early hours of Sunday .
Among those who met their untimely death on the ill fated Ethiopian airliner includes 18 Canadians, eight Americans, Seven Britons, seven French citizens, five Germans, 32 Kenyans,six Egyptians nine Ethiopians , eight Chinese, eight Italians, four Indians , five Germans, four Slovaks and three Australians
Adesanmi , who was a Director at the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University , Canada, was a professor of English, a literacy artist and a popular political columnist with many media including Premium Times and Sahara Reporters and authored “Naija No Dey Carry Last, a collection of satirical essays.
The Carleton University ,which has confirmed the incident wrote in his condolence message:
“The Carleton community is shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Prof. Pius Adesanmi, who was among the 18 Canadians killed in today’s crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jet at the Addis Ababa airport,” the university said in a statement.
“Global Affairs Canada has confirmed that Adesanmi is among the victims.
“Pius was a towering figure in African and post-colonial scholarship and his sudden loss is a tragedy,” said Benoit-Antoine Bacon, president and vice-chancellor. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all those who knew and loved him, and with everyone who suffered loss in the tragic crash in Ethiopia.
“The contributions of Pius Adesanmi to Carleton are immeasurable,” said Pauline Rankin, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. “He worked tirelessly to build the Institute of African Studies, to share his boundless passion for African literature and to connect with and support students. He was a scholar and teacher of the highest calibre who leaves a deep imprint on Carleton.
The Ethiopian Air bus, which killed 157 including Adesanmi was said to have been purchased four months ago. The world including Nigerians await investigation into the remote cause of the air crash.
Another Nigerian, Ambassador Abiodun Bashua a former UN/ AU deputy joint special representative to Datfur, Sudan also got killed on the ill fated Ethiopian airline flight 737, Max 8 flight.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Gender focal person and child rights advocate, Betty Abah , 352 passengers including 12 crew members has escaped dying on a Turkish Airline boeing 777 flight from Istanbul to JFK Airport in New York City on Saturday, 8th March when it experienced several turbulence shortly before landing.
Betty Abah , shared the picture of the incident on her Facebook page, with this message”Surviving a Near Air Mishap, Praising God. It was like a scene straight out of a HORROR movie. NEVER EVER seen anything like it TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE turbulence that left the lives of 326 passengers and 21 crew members on a Turkish Airline Boeing 777 from Istanbul to NYC sy a risk…