Mourners at the funeral of Dr. Ayotunde Alao

The year 2013 was an amazing year for the family of Alao as it heralded the moment Ayotunde Alao (late) was awarded a PHD of Mass Communication at Babcock University at the age of 28, becoming the youngest person to be conferred with the degree in that profession at the time. He had the world ahead of him as he noted in an Instagram post promising to tell his story someday about how he rose from a humble background to reach the top of his career. This he penned down in his auto-biography "Chronicles- True Life Story of Ayotunde Alao." In his words, "Chronicles  tells the story of the first ten years of his life as an adult. It would take another ten years to release the second part of chronicles. According to the late Scholar, the book would be released in 2022. But as fate would have it, he will never get that chance because an accident on Saturday, August 14 took his life. He was 36.

Ayotunde Alao was born in 1985, in Oke Oyi, Kwara state. His father was Professor Ekundayo Alao who was a former vice-chancellor of Adeleke University while his mother served as Chief Nursing Officer of Babcock University.

He attended Ara Children School, Ojodu Berger before moving to Lerato Secondary School, Alagbado, Lagos. In 1999, he got admission to Babcock University where he studied Mass Communication. He graduated in 2003. Next, he earned a Master of Science degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies from the University of Lagos in 2006. He then proceeded to Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun state for his Master of Philosophy degree from 2007 to 2009. He returned to Babcock University a year later, this time for his PhD and was conferred with the degree in 2013.

Throughout his academic sojourn, Ayotunde did not lose sight of his first love: entertaining people. In an interview with Encomium Magazine in 2016, he talked about how he developed an interest in acting and entertaining people from a young age.

‘‘I started when I was a kid in the church whereby they made me Jesus baby because I could talk well even though I was the shy type. When I got to secondary school, I saw myself always talking, participating in debates and comedies. I got into the university and started a comedy group and anchored almost every show on campus.’’

But it wasn’t always easy having to combine his love for academics with entertainment.

“Challenges are part of life but the one I had with one of my lecturers when he said I couldn’t make it in Mass Communication. For me, it was one of the most down periods of my life. During that period, I had two options, I almost gave up on education and I almost gave up on life. It was one of my biggest challenges and also a motivating factor.”

He admitted that seeing his father writing and editing late at night and in the early hours of the morning spurred his interest in mass communication and he decided to follow in his footsteps.

“I liked the fact that when I woke up every morning I saw my dad writing and editing. Even at night, when I am about to sleep, he still edits. At the time when GSM wasn’t out, he had this walkie talkie through which he always received calls.

“So, I thought being a journalist comes with a lot of packages. A lot of funny things actually motivated me through him, like seeing him on TV during a press conference, and his pictures in newspapers.”

Dr. Also went on to become a lecturer, teaching in Adeleke University, Redeemer’s University and Kwara State University where he was before dying in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was one of the first to send his condolences to the family describing the deceased as a great citizen whose demise was a loss to humanity.

“I received the news of the death of Dr Ayotunde Alao, ‘the only MC with PhD’, in an auto crash en route Lagos with shock and disbelief. He was a young man filled with love and rare passion for the development of his country, state, and humanity.

“His death becomes more tragic considering that we had only recently lost his father, an erudite scholar, Prof. Samuel Ekundayo Alao. Dr Ayotunde was no less an erudite scholar of mass communication with huge social currency among students and youths in the state.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to his family, especially his mother, wife and children, the entire KWASU community, and the creative (showbiz) industry where Dr Alao had created a niche for himself with his energetic talents as an inimitable compère. May God repose his soul, comfort the family he left behind, and protect our youths from sudden death.”

His social media pages have been a memorial point with family, friends, colleagues,  and former students recalling how impactful he was to their lives. One of his friends, Olufunke Mary Wison expressed disappointment that his life was cut short due to what she described as an avoidable road accident.

“How long shall we continue to lose our young, vibrant, upward-moving, potential-instilled, driven and brilliant men and women in this country.

“Can you imagine, Ayotunde Alao died on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. An avoidable death. Just like that road has claimed millions and the construction is still ongoing, I can’t even remember since when. I can count a number of people I know that have perished on that same road. For how long? How long shall this continue to happen?

“Look at Ayo, The young man has been hustling since he was a boy, then at AIT. Always full of life and smiles. He went on to become a Reputable MC. He didn’t stop there, he got his PhD at age 28. He started lecturing in reputable higher institutions.

“Look at how he ended.

Students, colleagues mourn as death snatches beloved Nigerian compere and lecturer Ayotunde Alao

One of his friends Bayonle Arashi, said he had known Dr Alao for almost 20 years. "We worked together at African Independent Television AIT and had a lot of dreams together as young boys. He is my brother, my friend and a great influence in my entrepreneurial journey. There’s more to him than just being a lecturer.”

Dr Ayotunde Alao left behind three siblings, a mother, a wife and two children. He was a man who in his own words did not allow his profession or family to suffer because of the other.  As he put it, “Family is family, career is career, I don’t mix it together whatever I do, I let them know I have a family and I won’t sacrifice my family for my career and I will not sacrifice my career for my family either.”

Singer Toby Grey described the late lecturer as a friend with positive energy who always found a way to make things work.

She said: “Doctor Alao lived and loved life to the fullest – his happiness and positive energy always lit up the room and made things work no matter how challenging! We always found a way to work through difficult times and I’ll forever remember those memories with smiles and gratitude for having met such an amazing friend and brother!”

Indeed his last post on Instagram was an open expression of love to his wife.

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He was buried on Monday, August 16.