The silence was palpable. He was the Best Graduating Student in his faculty. Rather than stepped to the podium to receive his prize and certificate, those in the hall were asked to observe a minute silence in honour of Bibilari Elebuibon, the highly cerebral son of revered Ifa Priest and Araba of Oshogbo, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon.

Bibilari, one of the best graduating students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU) Ile-Ife, was announced dead when he was called upon to receive his award during the ongoing 42nd Convocation ceremony of the school on Thursday.

Late Elebuibon bagged the award of Best Student Overall Performance in Yoruba Language in the Faculty of Arts of the University.

We gathered that when he was called to come and receive the award by the Dean of Faculty of Arts, Prof. Gbemisola Adeoti, his colleagues were unusually silent. 

Instead of clapping, as he should expectedly walk out to the stage, the crowd maintained a stoic silence and screamed mournfully.

Some minutes after, the Institution’s Public Relations of Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, announced that a minute silence be observed in honour of the deceased. It was immediately observed both by the students and dignitaries including the representatives of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Adamu Rasheed; the Chancellor of the OAU, who is also the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori.

Bibilari was said to have died in an auto crash at Osogbo, Osun State in July.