BY: Sandra Ani
Two Nigerians are confirmed to be among the 157 passengers and crew that died in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET 302 from Addis Ababa to Nairobi that crashed today.
They are Professor Pius Adesanmi, who was carrying a Canadian passport.
The popular columnist and activist teaches at Carlton University in Canada.
The second person is Ambassador Abiodun Bashua of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He was carrying a UN passport.
The late Bashua was former UN and AU Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, Sudan.
About Prof. Adesanmi
Prof. Pius Adesanmi was born in Isanlu, in Yagba East Local Government area of Kogi State, Nigeria. He had a BA from the University of Ilorin in 1992, a Masters in French from the University of Ibadan in 1998, and a PhD in French Studies from the University of British Columbia in 2002.
From 2002 to 2005, he was Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at my Alma mata the Pennsylvania State University, USA.
In 2006, he joined Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada as a Professor of literature and African studies.
He has also been a Fellow of the French Institute for Research in Africa (IFRA) from 1993 to 1997, as well as of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in 1998 and 2000.
In 2017, he was a recipient of Canada Bureau of International Education Leadership Award.
Pius was been a regular columnist for Premium Times and Sahara Reporters.
His writings are often satiric, focusing on the absurd in the Nigerian social and political system.
His targets often include politicians, pastors, and other public figures.
In September 2015, his scathing column on the decision of the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, to take an underage wife generated controversy which got the response of the Emir.