Memorial held for 'irreplaceable' Carleton University professor

Family and friends held a celebration of life Saturday for an "irreplaceable" Carleton University professor who died in last week's Ethiopian Airlines crash.

Pius Adesanmi, the director of Carleton University's Institute of African Studies and a professor at the school, was among 18 Canadians who died after an Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed Sunday morning, killing all 157 people on board.

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The plane had been bound for Nairobi, where Adesanmi was on his way to attend a conference with the African Union.

Hundreds of people turned out for the ceremony for the Nigerian-born academic Saturday afternoon.

"It was just a really big blow, a big blow to my life. A big blow to a lot of people in my life," said Kika Otiono, who considered Adesanmi like an uncle. Her father and Adesanmi had been close friends for more than two decades.

She said hearing about his death felt surreal.

"He was so joyful. So, I think calling this a celebration of life is really appropriate because he loved life so much," she said.

"He just loved living and I think that's what I'll remember most, was how much he loved connecting with people and talking to people."

'Irreplaceable'

Other friends also talked about Adesanmi's friendliness and compassion, along with his innate abilities as a leader and to connect with people.

"I remember him for all the smiles, all the joy he brings to people. He was a lover of life. He was a lover of music. He was a lover of art," said Michael Eshiemokhai, a former neighbour.

"He is irreplaceable," said Sarah Onyango in a French interview. She worked with Adesanmi on a number of projects involving the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University where he was the director.

She said anyone who continues the work he started has very big shoes to fill.

Adesanmi was like an ambassador for Africa, said Chuks Imahiagbe, president of the Nigerian Canadian Association in Ottawa, adding Adesanmi's death affected people around the world.

"He's a global person… He breaks barriers, basically and that's why you see his passing has touched people from very far away from here," he said.

Imahiagbe described Adesanmi as a teacher and a mentor who provided people of all ages the opportunity to learn.

"He connected to people...emotionally, personally and intellectually."

Earlier in the week, Carleton University announced the establishment of a fund that would be used to support students and continue Adesanmi's work.