Tim Obiwuru, an extraordinary man. Chief Bob Dike.
2 min read
Lagos based engineer, community leader and high profile Akalite, Chief Bob Dike has described the late legendary mathematical wizard as an extraordinary human being. in a brief chat with Umuaka Times last week, Chief Dike described Dr Obiwuru as a man of so many qualities who does things selflessly. In fact, in his words, “Timothy will do something to anybody without expecting anything back and he would do it gracefully.”
Chief Bob Dike went on to narrate his first encounter with the later Obiwuru. According to him, he was promoted to become a manager by his company and transferred to Lagos from Enugu in the early 90s. Dike said that the week he arrived Lagos was the same week he was to chairman a wedding. Coincidentally, Sir Timmy O, as he was fondly called by his students and close admirers was the MC of the event. As a new “sheriff” in town, Dike called Obiwuru aside and requested some briefings from him because he never knew how such events were conducted in Lagos.
“Bob, I have heard a lot about you and today I will hear your engineering English,” Obiwuru jokingly responded. Few seconds later, Obiwuru came back to Engineer Dike and assured him not to worry as he was the MC of the event they would work together. According to Dike, Obiwuru was able to manage the event with him on that day with huge success.
Chief (Engineer) Dike said that this simple act brought him close to Obiwuru from that day till the day he died.
Another encounter that made a lasting impression about Obiwuru on Dike was when his (Dike’s) daughter was seeking for an admission. In the words of Dike, he told Umuaka Times that he used to think that none of his contemporaries can beat him in mathematics, until he met Dr Tim Obiwuru over his daughter’s admission. After going through the result of his daughter and asking some questions, Obiwiru told him that considering the type of course the girl wanted to do, she would require additional mathematics. The poor girl protested and told them that she never did additional mathematics in her O Level and wondered how she could now start it. Obiwuru smiled and consoled her saying, “don’t worry, I will take care of that.”
When the girl later got admission, the additional mathematics she learnt from Obiwuru really helped her a lot in her chosen course.
In his closing remarks, Dike prayed God to always protect the family left behind by the late man of figures.
