The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has honoured Professor Emeritus Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, and 30 other distinguished Nigerians for their contributions to education, humanity, national development and the growth of the institution.
The university also announced the establishment of the Is-haq Oloyede Professorial Chair of Islamics, with a target endowment of N250 million, in recognition of the former Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The announcements were made on Monday at the University of Ilorin Auditorium during the institution’s Homecoming Celebration and Investiture Ceremony for Awards of Excellence, Distinguished Alumni and Unilorin Ambassadors.
The two-in-one event featured the homecoming of Oloyede, and presentation of Awards of Excellence to distinguished Nigerians, recognition of distinguished alumni and the appointment of Unilorin Ambassadors 2.0.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, described Oloyede as a worthy product and ambassador of the university whose academic achievements, administrative leadership and commitment to national development had brought honour to the institution.
Egbewole said the university decided to establish the professorial chair as a befitting way of recognising Oloyede’s contributions to scholarship, leadership and the development of the institution.
He appealed to guests and stakeholders to support the N250 million endowment, describing Oloyede as a “highly disciplined leader, courageous outstanding Unilorite and uncommon Better by Far Ambassador.”
The Vice-Chancellor also challenged the award recipients to reciprocate the honour by supporting development projects at the university.
He urged recipients of the Awards of Excellence to identify projects they would execute in the university, while distinguished alumni were encouraged to jointly identify and fund projects that would bear their names.
He similarly called on the Unilorin Ambassadors to collectively support a project for the institution, expressing the expectation that the projects would be completed before the next edition of the honours programme.
The Chairman of the occasion and Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, described Professor Oloyede as a Nigerian who had demonstrated hard work, integrity, courage, compassion and commitment to public service throughout his career.
Echono said the country needed more people who would demonstrate integrity and dedicate themselves to service, stressing that honouring individuals who had distinguished themselves would encourage others to emulate their achievements.
According to him, Oloyede demonstrated courage in the fight against examination malpractice and showed exceptional commitment to inclusive education during his tenure at JAMB.
He recalled Oloyede’s efforts in tackling examination malpractice, including collaboration with security agencies to dismantle networks involved in the practice.
Echono also commended Oloyede for promoting access to education for persons with disabilities, noting that he went beyond providing facilities for candidates with hearing and visual impairments to supporting organisations that prepared them for tertiary education.
“Today in our universities, indeed I understand, JAMB even instituted an award for institutions who admit students with disabilities. Nigeria will remain grateful to you, sir,” Echono said.
He urged the award recipients and ambassadors of the University to rededicate themselves to service and contribute their talents and resources towards transforming Nigeria.
“Our country is looking for heroes. We need people who will lead the charge, who will ignore the noise, contribute their talents and effort to transform this country,” he said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Chairman of the Distinguished Alumni Award 2.0 Planning Committee, Prof. Waheed Babatunde Yahya, FSSN, said the selection of the awardees was based strictly on their contributions to the university, humanity and the nation.
Yahya stressed that the awards were neither based on lobbying nor financial considerations.
He said the committee was meticulous in selecting the recipients, adding that the honours were intended to appreciate individuals who had distinguished themselves through service and positive contributions to society.
The honourees, Professor Oloyede expressed appreciation to the university and all those who organised the homecoming and honours programme.
He pledged to continue giving back to the society and institution that produced him.
The event also featured a lecture titled “From Beneficiaries to Benefactors,” delivered by Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN, while Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji delivered a presentation on “Prof. I.O. Oloyede: A Visionary Leader.”
Recipients of the University Awards of Excellence are: Alhaji (Chief) (Dr.) Abdulraheem Oladimeji, OFR; Chief Otunba Olusola Adekanmi Adekanola, FCA, JP, mni; Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Adunola Samson and Arc. Sonny Echono
Among the Distinguished Alumni Awards are: HRM (Sir) Jacob Adetayo Haastrup; Shaykh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nollah; Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige and Prof. Patrick Adegovega.
Others are Prof. Samuel Ovuete Aghalino, FHSN; Engr. Rasheed Olushola Ojulari; Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman; Prof. Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji and AIG Miller Dantawaye
The Unilorin Ambassadors Awards went to: Dr. Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha; Shaykh Abdullateef Yusuf Abajaoro; Col. Kolawole Rasheed; Dr. Abdulkadir Olatunji Nagode; Prof. Olatunji Matthew Kolawole; Prof. Musa Toyin Yakubu; Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN; Aare M’sbaudeen Adeyemi Adeshina, SAN and Dr. Femi Oduneye
Others are: Olusegun Adefemi Adekunle, Esq., OON, KJW; Chief Folashade Arike Ayoade, Ph.D.; Dr. Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, MON; Jane Odum; Olusoji Oyawoye; Engr. Abubakar Rahmat Salihu, FNSE; Engr. Babatunde Afolabi Kuye, MNSE; Prof. Henry Olushola Andrews and Mr. Ibigbemi Oloruntobi
The ceremony attracted university principal officers, academics, traditional rulers, professionals, alumni, government representatives, members of the media and other distinguished guests.
