By Patrick Obia and Kelvin Ololo
It was a cloudy Tuesday morning in the Department of Mass Communication, University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), Calabar campus as lecturers and students took a procession round the school to mourn departed colleagues.
The exercise which began at Mass Communication Department, saw lecturers, students and sympathizers dressed on black mourning attire, chanting sorrowful ballads for the varsity’s fallen heroes and heroine – Associate Professor Ndoma Brown, Mr. Ofem Obono Ofem and a 300 level student; Miss. Angela Elom who passed away on 4 May, 2020, 30 January, 2021 and 14 October, 2020 respectively.
Associate Professor Ndoma Brown was said to have slumped and passed out after been rushed to the hospital, a scenario many expressed shock for the former Head of Department, HOD.
The demise of the Ikom born teacher, came less than four years the department lost former a HOD, Dr. Obongawan Edim, who also was reportly slumped and died after returning from church service.
Mr. Ofem Obono, a Yakurr born Entrepreneurship lecturer was said to have passed away after a “brief illness” in January, 2021.
Miss. Angela Elom, was reportedly to have died during the period the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU was on strike, 2020.
Recall that, on 17th September, 2019 the students of Mass Communication took a procession round the school to mourn one of their lecturer, Mr. Vincent Mogu who gave his last breath in the early hours of Tuesday, 10th September 2019, after battling with protracted illness and was lay to rest in his home town, Ukpe in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.
In a latest development, a none teaching staff, Mr. Bassey Otop, a then close friend to late Ndoma Brown, was reported dead on 28 March, 2021 after “he slumped in school, they rushed him to the hospital and they said he had partial stroke,” source said.
This however, has left staff and students to grip in fear and pray for God’s intervention.
The procession was climaxed with intercessory prayers for the department and university, led by former Dean of the faculty, Dr. Veronica Duke and amongst others.
