View Prof. Rachel's tributes

The announcement of the sudden passing of Late Prof. Asagba came to me as a rude shock, more so, because I interacted with her a few days before her passing. I knew Late Prof. Asagba for over a decade, which dates back to my studentship years in the department of Psychology, University of Ibadan. For me, my memoir of her would not be judiciously executed without touching on the roles she assumed in her daily interactions while I was her student and as her colleague before her passing. In these two categories, she was a special person who played the unique role of tutoring, counseling and caring for me as a mother would her daughter.

My first direct interaction with her was in my penultimate year of my undergraduate programme in the university. Back then, I was really appreciative of her style of teaching and how she introduced her courses…

I shall never forget you Professor Rachel Bolaji Asagba. I still find it hard to believe that you are gone forever till the day of the parousia. Prof. Asagba was born in February 13 while I have my birthday a day earlier. On my 70th birthday on February 12, 2021, she was at our house to felicitate with me. Little did I know that that was her goodbye visit. My family had known her for about 45 years. In the late 70s, she worked with daddy at UCH on her arrival as a Dietitian from Austria. She later travelled abroad again and trained as a psychologist. In the period that we had known Prof. Asagba she was very loving, kind, considerate, amiable and affable. Never was an unkind word ever heard from her lips. She was ever smiling even under difficult circumstances.

She was never afraid to confront difficult situations.…

It feels so sad to hear of Late Professor Rachel Bolaji Asagba’s death and I want to commiserate with her immediate family members and friends as they go through this period of grief. Late Professor Asagba was an important member of the psychology family and we will certainly miss her.

I have known Late Professor Rachel Asagba for about two and half decades in the Department of Psychology where she was a colleague. My first impression in the early part of my interactions with her was that of a very practical cum visionary researcher/teacher and an unassuming personality. She was never hesitant to creatively and empirically explore societal issues, and seemed to enjoy every new research opportunity.

Late Professor Rachel Asagba’s interpersonal interactions in the department conveyed a sense that members of staff in the Department of Psychology were an extension of her own extended family. I can remember vividly…

I fondly remember meeting and first getting to know Dr. Rachel B. Asagba at my very first Logotherapy Congress in Dallas – and how happy I was to learn that she had not only been to Austria AND met Dr. Frankl and Elli, but had also studied with my beloved teacher, Dr. Elisabeth Lukas.

We kept in touch – thanks to Facebook and the strong ties Logotherapy tends to create among kindred spirits.

When my partner and I were traveling Africa on our motorbikes (2011 – 2015), we eventually came to Ibadan (in 2012). And – spur of the moment – decided to “just pop in and say hello” to Dr. Rachel at Ibandan University – and see if we might be able to arrange a “proper meeting” for later. Well, that day, I ended up teaching three impromptu logotherapy classes for some wonderful and dedicated students. Such fond memories!