It’s my nice honour and privilege to face earlier than this gathering right now because the twenty first Professional-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo College, Ile-Ife, my alma mater, the college that gave me all that I wanted to navigate life. It’s, certainly, a uncommon privilege, and I’m most grateful to you for the chance given me to steer the affairs of this college.
I additionally want to thank our Customer for appointing males of character, honour, impeccable integrity and thoroughbred professionals as exterior members of the Governing Council of this nice college. In particular phrases, we’re grateful for the appointments of Barrister Joseph Abaagu (Benue State), Abubakar Kachalla (Yobe State), Wahab Owokoniran (Lagos State) and Ambassador Edward Sarki (retd) mni (Gombe State). The inner members of the Governing Council representing the Senate, Congregation, the Alumni and the Federal Ministry of Schooling are high-impact performers and nice patriots.
As we collect for this college’s forty eighth Convocation ceremonies, we maintain this occasion as important in Ivory Towers. It’s end result of years of dedication, arduous work, unwavering pursuit of information and private development for our expensive college students. I’m, subsequently, extraordinarily joyful to congratulate all our graduands on the profitable completion of their tutorial programmes. Right now, you haven’t simply earned the next diploma; you’ve got additionally unlocked a world of alternatives and potentialities.
I stand on the robust pedestal established by the previous Professional-Chancellors, notably the Provisional Council chaired by the doyen of the authorized career, Chief FRA Williams – a council which was formally inaugurated on 26 June 1961. I worth enormously the immense contributions of different nice males of Council, resembling Mr. H. M. B. Somade, Hon. Justice Adeyinka Morgan, Chief T. T. Solaru, Hon. Justice C. O. Madarikan, Dr. Ibrahim D. Ahmed, Chief Bayo Kuku, Chief M. T. Mbu, Prof. J. M. Falaiye, Main Gen. Dr. A. Rimi (retd), Dr. A. I. Attah, Justice A. N. Aniagolu, Alhaji Shetima A. M. Liberty, Prof. S. J. S. Cookey and Chief Abiola Morakinyo – all of blessed reminiscence. I equally respect the outstanding contributions of such dwelling titans as Chief Arthur Christopher Izuegbunan Mbanefo, Senator (Dr.) Oluwole Alabi (20-08-2009 to 09-09-2011), Prof. Roland Ndoma-Egba (03-04-2013 to 06-06-2016) , Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi (23-01-2017 to 06-06-2021) and Owelle Oscar Onyema (07-06-2021 to 16-06-2023).
The Distinguished Customer, Sir, allow me to recognise the arduous work and contributions of the members of the College Administration led by the hard-working Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, our esteemed college members, our dutiful educating and non-teaching employees, the employees unions, college students, the alumni and our valued stakeholders for creating, supporting and sustaining an atmosphere that’s conducive to studying, which has enabled our graduands of right now to full their varied diploma programmes with none hitch.
Could I remind you that in our final convocation ceremony, we didn’t have a Council. The present Governing Council was inaugurated on the 4th of July 2024. That is my maiden convocation speech because the Chairman of the Council of Obafemi Awolowo College. Following our inauguration, we got down to handle the challenges going through the College in a resource-scarce and very aggressive world. We confronted these challenges with dedication and resilience. To the glory of God, we’ve got recorded modest accomplishments inside a short while after our inauguration. In our try and construct on the successes already attained by the earlier Councils of this nice establishment, we inaugurated the Strategic Plan Committee, comprising all stakeholders, to place collectively a plan that may function a highway map, guiding us in the direction of excellence in educating, analysis and group engagements from 2025-2050. We additionally inaugurated the OAU @ 63 Historical past Mission Committee below the Chairmanship of Prof. Abimbola Adesoji, the Head of Division of Historical past to protect the legacies of our college at 63 for posterity. This can be within the type of a broadcast ebook that celebrates our college’s achievements and contributions, notably and its attainment of enviable nationwide and worldwide standing.
The present Council is working in sync with the College Administration which has a 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. This Council, on August 19, 2024 inaugurated the 2025-2050 Strategic Plan Committee, headed by a Council Member, Barrister Joseph Abaagu, and consisting of many key stakeholders throughout the College. The 25-year plan is to map out course, adapt to modifications, optimise useful resource allocation, entice extra funding, guarantee sustainability in constructing on legacies of success and form a brighter future for the college, so as to mitigate present and future challenges. Throughout the maiden Administration-Council Workshop titled ‘Envisioning a Nice Future: OAU Strategic Plan (2025-2050)’, key stakeholders, together with college leaders, lecturers and policymakers, outlined a daring imaginative and prescient for reshaping the establishment’s future. The Keynote Handle titled “Past the Plan: Turning Technique into Success and Bridging the Hole between Planning and Execution” was delivered by the doyen of upper training and high quality assurance in Africa, Professor Emeritus Peter A. Okebukola, OFR. The newly inaugurated Strategic Plan goals to redefine OAU’s engagement with its communities, foster collaborative partnerships, and promote sustainable improvement. Its core mission emphasises enhancing analysis output, bettering societal affect and creating mutually helpful relationships with stakeholders.
It’s also essential to notice that, after the dissolution of the final Governing Council chaired by Owelle Oscar Onyema in June 2023, a brand new Registrar, Mr. Kamardeen Adetunji Bakare, has been appointed. Moreover, a brand new College Librarian, Dr. Olukemi Adebimpe Fadehan, and a brand new Bursar, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Ikeola Abogan, have joined the college’s administration crew, and their appointments have additionally been ratified by the present Council.
The Council and College Administration have labored seamlessly to succeed in out for assist for the College to bridge the infrastructural deficit of the College. I’m joyful to announce {that a} 10-room professorial suite was donated to the School of Arts by Daere Afonya-a Akobo Basis. The power is at the moment below development. We now have additionally initiated a mutually helpful working relationship with authorities strategic companies, together with the Nationwide Land Agricultural Growth (NALDA) and the Nationwide Institute for Coverage and Strategic Research (NIPSS).
According to the directive of the Federal Ministry of Schooling on full implementation of the White Paper on the 2016-2020 Visitation Panel Report, I’m happy to tell Your Excellency and this gathering that the Council and Administration have reached a complicated stage of implementation.
Allow me additionally to recognise a basic contribution of the college Customer, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to academic development and improvement in Nigeria by means of profound reforms in academic assist. The Nigerian Schooling Mortgage Fund has disbursed a complete mortgage of N29,45,337,053 of the scholar mortgage to 90,472 college students. I need to lengthen our honest appreciation to Mr. President for approving a 50% electrical energy subsidy for universities.As well as, the Council has been in a position to interface with varied stakeholders throughout the College, notably the manager of all of the organised labour unions, to make sure industrial peace within the College and encourage the closing of ranks amongst differing unions. The Council has additionally met with essential stakeholders, together with industries, parastatals and chosen Nationwide Meeting members, with our deal with attracting assist for the event to the College. The outcomes of this in depth outreach would quickly start to manifest.The Council and Administration have additionally organised a one-day Capability Constructing Workshop on “Greatest Practices in Procurement Planning and Course of”. The keynote handle was delivered by a senior officer within the Bureau of Public Procurement, Ms Ojeah Eugenia Esso.
I need to additionally stress that this Council is strongly dedicated to the welfare of all classes of employees. Acutely aware of the necessity to increase the morale of employees and promote peace and industrial concord, the Council and Administration have ensured that employees are being promoted as at when due. We would not have backlog of promotion instances. In the identical vein, Council has additionally prioritized pupil welfare. A variety of pupil hostels have been refurbished whereas others are below renovation. The Administration has additionally ensured regular energy provide to all halls of residence, the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library and different School Libraries.
The Council has additionally put in place the mandatory equipment for the rejuvenation of OAU Funding Firm, OAU Visitor Homes and OAU Industrial Farm. Our aim is to make sure that the College, in partnership with credible organizations embark on mechanized farming.
As everyone knows, alumni associations are pivotal to the expansion and improvement of universities. In recognition of this reality, we’ve got engaged with our vibrant alumni physique on methods and means to proceed to make Nice Ife keep its place of satisfaction within the tutorial group.
Our Pricey Customer, Nice Ife continues to provide extremely cerebral, clever and gifted students. We’re happy with the achievements of our merchandise within the world area as evidenced by the likes of Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Growth Financial institution; Prof. Ganiyu A. Aderounmu obtained a prestigious award of Africa Excellent Scholar of the Yr on Expertise bestowed on him by the International Abilities Hub, United Kingdom, in the course of the 2nd Africa Schooling Summit held on the College of Nottingham, UK in April 2024. Just lately, Dr. Celestine Iwendi was appointed as a Professor of Synthetic Intelligence on the College of Bolton, United States. Professor Iwendi has made ground-breaking contributions to analysis within the areas of Synthetic Intelligence, Web of Issues and sustainability, advancing the UN Sustainable Growth Objectives by means of impactful analysis and world collaborations. He’s ranked among the many prime 2% of influential scientists globally. Nice Ife can be acknowledged because the manufacturing facility of Vice-Chancellors, World Class consultants in Expertise, famend authorized practitioners, Federal Courtroom of Attraction and Supreme Courtroom Judges and Discovered Silks.
Mr. President, Sir, women and gents, whereas we’re trying ahead to raised instances in our nation, the Council believes that funding of training shouldn’t be left to the authorities alone, as the issues confronting Nigerian universities, particularly these funded by the federal government, are monumental owing to lack of sufficient funding. This case accounts for poor and outdated infrastructure, lack of recent educating gear, and poorly remunerated employees amongst different challenges. All these, little question, have diminished the capability of universities to understand their targets and missions as envisaged by the founding fathers. Such handicaps make it extraordinarily tough for our universities to be ranked among the many prime universities on the earth. Within the coming months and years, I promise that the Council, below my management, shall proceed to work assiduously to beat a few of these challenges.On this auspicious event, the college has recognized worthy and completed women and men of impeccable character and achievements of their varied areas. These are personalities whose observe information mirror dedication, honesty, dedication to humanity and nationwide improvement, and core values that align with the values of this nice establishment. I, subsequently, very warmly congratulate all those that can be receiving the honorary doctorate of our nice establishment on this well-deserved honour.
These are the recipients: Senator (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, CON; Dr. Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi; Professor Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe; Mr. Olutokun Kark Toriola; Mr. Daere Afonya-a Akobo. You all deserve even greater recognition. I thanks all in your optimistic curiosity within the progress and total improvement of our college. Your entire college group recognises your previous contributions and dedication to doing extra.
I need to specifically thank the mom of the nation, our First Woman, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, an esteemed alumnus of our college, who lately donated an enormous sum of cash to our college particularly meant to resuscitate the floral panorama which can restore the glory of our college as Africa’s Most Lovely Campus. Nice Ife is happy with you.
Your Excellency, because you left this College a little bit over 41 years in the past, right now, is a historic return to your alma mater. We now have watched you intently over time because the Mom of the Nation. You might be our personal Mom Theresa, a girl with milk of human kindness and a girl with an amazing ardour for the underprivileged, the downtrodden, the poor and the hungry. Over time, you’ve got empowered the little children of the nobodies in society to turn out to be nice folks.
The College of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo College), from the place you graduated 41 years in the past, is begging for consideration when it comes to new infrastructure, auditoria, hostels and school rooms. The Nice Ife of your time was thought to be Africa’s Most Lovely Campus. Right now, the College is grateful in your intervention in its greenness, beautification and aesthetics. Could God proceed to bless our First Woman. It’s on this notice that I name on all stakeholders within the academic sector, philanthropist and our alumni to emulate the great deeds of our First Woman.
Allow us to all take a essential have a look at the state of training in our nation. As , universities ought to be on the forefront of information technology and dissemination in the direction of the event of our nation. It’s a identified incontrovertible fact that the mission of the federal government regarding training in Nigeria, as contained within the Ministry of Schooling web site, is ‘To make use of training as a software for fostering the event of all Nigerian residents to their full potentials, within the promotion of a powerful, democratic, egalitarian, affluent, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation below God’. We should, subsequently, cooperate with the authorities to understand this mission.
In 1978, after I enrolled for the B. A. Historical past programme on the then College of Ife, I used to be a younger lad who had simply accomplished his secondary training at certainly one of Nigeria’s most cosmopolitan highschool, Oke-Iragbiji Grammar College, Iragbiji, Osun State. At the moment, Nigerian universities have been actually nationwide and worldwide within the excellent sense. They have been actually nationwide and common in college students’ enrolment and staffing. We had world-class intellectuals from throughout Africa, Europe and the Americas. At Nice Ife, the Institute of African Research had the German scholar and poet Ulli Beier and the Ghanaian scholar Dr. Kofi Busia on its employees listing. The Division of Historical past had Joseph Mulira, a Ugandan and an skilled in Russian Historical past, on our employees listing. Within the Division of Literature-in-English, there was Okot p’Bitek, the well-known creator of Track of Lawino and Track of Ocol. Within the Division of English Language, there was the legendary David Cook dinner and T. Adokpaye (Miss). Within the Division of Positive Arts, there was Ok. Asaki-Gyapon. Within the Division of Linguistics, we had I. S. G. Madugu and Annie Monsy.
Additionally, within the Division of Fashionable European Languages, M. T. Bestman was a Professor, whereas Sibylle Benninghoff-luehl and Suerda Alves Licenciatura, additionally served as lecturers within the division. Within the Division of Music, there was C. D. Horton. Within the Division of Philosophy, J. T. Bedu-Addo was a Visiting Reader, Barry Hallen and Geoffrey Hunt have been Senior Lecturers, whereas B. S. Hawkins Jr. was additionally a Lecturer. We additionally had nice students who might dare the lion in its personal den, males of braveness and character, the likes of radical ideologists resembling Segun Osoba, Biodun Jeyifo, Omotoye Olorode and Samuel Aluko.
Right now, the Nigerian college system has been changed with ‘indigenized’ and ‘villagized’ universities. The hitherto nationwide and worldwide character of the system has been changed with inbreeding. The employees profiles of federal and state universities – tutorial and non-teaching –reveal a stunning apply of father, mom, brothers, sisters and kids working in the identical system. Household dynasty has changed the advantage system. The Council of this College will open its doorways to the perfect skills from the Nigerian college system and different components of the world. The Council will inject new blood, new vistas and new imaginative and prescient. At Ife, we’ll embrace students and directors from different universities for the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
As we stand on the threshold of a brand new decade, our college should adapt to the quickly altering panorama of upper training. The world is more and more interconnected, and the boundaries between nations, disciplines and industries are blurring. To stay related, we should embrace internationalisation, leverage synthetic intelligence, evaluate our curricula and foster pupil entrepreneurship.
Internationalisation: Globalisation has created new alternatives for collaboration, data sharing and cultural trade. Our college should strengthen its worldwide partnerships, entice world skills and supply our college students with a cosmopolitan training. We are going to proceed to forge partnerships with respected establishments worldwide, providing joint diploma programmes, trade alternatives and analysis collaborations. This won’t solely improve our world fame but additionally put together our college students for an interconnected world.
Synthetic Intelligence (AI): Synthetic intelligence is revolutionising each facet of our lives, from healthcare to finance and training. We should harness the facility of AI to enhance educating, studying and analysis. We should now develop programs and programmes that allow college students to grasp and have interaction with digital analysis and analysis cultures. Our college will spend money on AI-powered instruments, develop AI-driven curricula, and set up analysis centres targeted on AI purposes. This may allow our college students to remain forward of the curve and contribute to the event of AI options that handle societal challenges.
Curriculum Overview: Our curricula should be related, responsive and forward-thinking. We are going to evaluate our programmes to make sure they align with business wants, incorporate rising applied sciences, and foster essential pondering, creativity and problem-solving abilities. This may allow our graduates to navigate the complexities of the twenty first century and create worth within the world economic system.
Pupil Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship is the lifeblood of innovation and financial development. We are going to proceed to assist pupil entrepreneurship by means of incubators, accelerators and mentorship programmes. Our aim is to create a tradition of innovation, the place college students can flip their concepts into viable companies, creating jobs and driving financial improvement.
To realize these targets, we’ll:Strengthen our Centre for Internationalisation to additional drive and coordinate world partnerships and collaborations.
Develop an AI Technique to combine AI into our educating, studying, and analysis.Overview our curricula to make sure relevance and responsiveness to business wants.Launch a Pupil Entrepreneurship Program to assist startup improvement.I congratulate our indefatigable Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, the Administration of the College and the present management of the Postgraduate College below the management of Prof. Victor F. Olaleye. Our plan shouldn’t be solely to boost the standard of postgraduate training within the college, but additionally to make sure well timed completion of Ph.D. programmes by holding each the scholars and their supervisors squarely accountable for any gradual progress recorded. Our imaginative and prescient of postgraduate training can be modelled after that of the College of Ibadan, the place pupil enrolment is 60-40 ratio in favour of postgraduate training. Our Postgraduate College may also place a premium on STEM Schooling to make our merchandise extremely aggressive within the worldwide market and comply with the footsteps of Richard Dawkings, Katherine Johnson, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Invoice Gates, Larry Web page, Terence Tao, the late Steve Jobs and others.
Earlier than concluding my remarks, I need to specific particular appreciation of the Council to our Customer, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR; our Chancellor, Alhaji Dr. Abubakar Yahaya CFR; the titular head of this College; the Honourable Minister of Schooling, Dr. Morufu Tunji Alausa; the Government Secretary, Nationwide Universities Fee (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu and the Government Secretary, Tertiary Schooling Belief Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono OON, for his or her assist and visual affect on our College campus. We stay up for a extra beneficial disposition to our College.
For the modest achievements this Council has achieved since its inauguration in July 2024, we should commend our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire for his dedication to obligation, his tenacity and sterling management within the operating of affairs of the College. I additionally lengthen my heat appreciation and gratitude to all my colleagues within the Governing Council for his or her crew spirit and the unity of goal with which we’ve got collectively steered the affairs of Council. The College Administration, the Senate, Educational and Non-academic employees, college students and the organized unions additionally deserve appreciation for working very arduous to maneuver the College on the trail of educational excellence and sustainability and above all, for the prevailing environment of commercial peace and concord.
In conclusion, I as soon as once more congratulate all our graduands in addition to their proud mother and father on this auspicious event. Right now, you’ve got attained the enviable success of incomes your diploma and you’ve got additionally began a brand new journey of life that may include its challenges. This new journey, nonetheless, shouldn’t be an finish however a starting. The data you’ve got acquired, the talents you’ve got honed and the friendships you’ve got cast will function the muse in your future endeavours. As you embark on this new chapter, I urge you to recollect the values which have guided you thru your time right here. Integrity, empathy and a thirst for data are the hallmarks of a real scholar. These values can be your compass as you navigate the uncharted waters of life.
As we embark on this journey, I urge our graduating college students to:be world residents, embracing range and cultural trade;keep curious, adapting to the speedy tempo of technological change;be entrepreneurial, turning concepts into revolutionary options; andbe accountable leaders, utilizing data to create optimistic affect.
The world right now is a quickly altering panorama, full of each alternatives and challenges. It’s a world that calls for essential pondering, adaptability and a willingness to embrace the unknown. You’re the technology that may form the longer term. You’ve the facility to innovate, to encourage and to make a optimistic distinction within the lives of others. Embrace this accountability with braveness, compassion and an unwavering perception in your potential. Bear in mind the teachings discovered throughout the partitions of this College. Bear in mind the mentors who’ve guided you, the chums who’ve supported you and the challenges which have strengthened you. And as you step out into the world, bear in mind that you’re not alone. You at the moment are a part of our world alumni group. Due to this fact, don’t forget your alma mater. Right now, we have a good time your achievements. Tomorrow, we anticipate your contributions to the world and our College.
Pricey graduands, as you forge forward along with your success tales, let me encourage you with the immutable phrases of Sir Winston S. Churchill, the previous Prime Minister of Britain: ‘Success shouldn’t be last, failure shouldn’t be deadly: it’s the braveness to proceed that counts.’
• Being an excerpt from the handle delivered by the Professional-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Obafemi Awolowo College, Ile-Ife, Professor Siyan Oyeweso, FHSN, FNAL on the event of the forty eighth convocation on December, 14, 2024
