In a bid to celebrate Obafemi Awolowo University at 65, a week-long programme has been scheduled by the University Management. The celebration, set to span from June 1 to June 8, commenced with a Press Conference held at the ICT Main Auditorium on Monday, 1 June at 11:00 a.m.
The programme was opened by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Lanre Olanrewaju, who welcomed and introduced everyone present, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Simeon Bamire; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Professor Adesola Aderounmu; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development), Professor Ibikun Akande Akinyemi; the Bursar; the Librarian; the Dean of Student Affairs; Deans of various Faculties; distinguished members of the alumni association; and other dignitaries.
The Chairman of the 65th Anniversary Celebration Committee, Prof. Adesola Aderounmu, then took over. He welcomed and appreciated everyone present before giving a brief history of the institution. He explained that the University was established in 1961 as the University of Ife and was later renamed Obafemi Awolowo University in honour of the visionary statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
According to him, the institution has remained a living centre of learning, research, character development, and societal transformation in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. He stated that over the decades, the University has produced distinguished alumni who have excelled in diverse fields, including academia, governance, diplomacy, science, technology, medicine, engineering, entrepreneurship, arts, and culture.
He further noted that the University has maintained its reputation for excellence through groundbreaking research, innovation, and community engagement, earning both national and international recognition. He added that the 65th anniversary celebration provides an opportunity not only to reflect on the University’s remarkable journey but also to appreciate the vision and sacrifices of its founding fathers.
Furthermore, the PRO stepped forward to display the image of the proposed N10 billion PBAT Intercultural Dialogue and Youth Empowerment Centre. Thereafter, the Chairman announced the major events scheduled for the week-long celebration. These include the presentation of 65 awards to distinguished alumni who have contributed significantly to the development of the University and the recognition of dedicated members of staff for their commitment and service.
PBAT Intercultural Dialogue and Youth Empowerment Centre
He also announced the commissioning of two projects: the Clinical Legal Education Centre donated by Alhaji Adeniyi Raji to the Faculty of Law, and the Meter Project facilitated by Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Other projects to be commissioned include the Otunba Reuben Famoriyo Family Dispute Resolution Centre and the multi-storey ultra-modern OAU-SPICETOUCH Limited 2,500-seat CBT Centre.
As part of the celebration, he revealed that the proposed N10 billion project will also feature a 100-room, five-star guest house. He further disclosed that one of the award recipients, a graduate of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the year 2000, donated the sum of N189 million towards the University’s developmental projects.
Speaking on the proposed projects, the Chairman described them as strategic investments aimed at strengthening the institution’s infrastructure, enhancing teaching and learning, promoting research and innovation, and improving the overall experience of students, staff, and visitors. He also noted that the projects would contribute significantly to the University’s vision of maintaining its position as a leading institution in Africa and beyond.
Following this, the Vice Chancellor and other Principal Officers were invited to the high table for the Press Conference. The microphone was then handed over to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, who began by requesting permission to speak for five minutes before proceeding to thank God for the privilege of celebrating the University’s 65th anniversary. He also welcomed and appreciated all those present.
The Vice Chancellor continued by giving a brief history of Obafemi Awolowo University and highlighting some of the achievements recorded by the institution over the years.
He also emphasised the importance of the collaboration between OAU and IPH-EHAI (Equitable Health Access Initiative) through the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed under the Upskilling Initiative. According to him, networking remains a key factor in ensuring that knowledge generated within the University is transformed into practical outputs required by industries and eventually commercialised for societal development.
The VC appreciated a lot of people, including the innovation, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) led by Obafemi Awolowo University Institute of Public Health, Ile-Ife and IPH-EHAI (Equitable Health Access Initiative) Student Upskilling Initiative. He highlighted the importance of this collaboration and that people are moving in the direction they were meant to be moving.
Professor Bamire further stated that Networking is the key issue to ensure that our knowledge is transformed into the output required for the industry to be commercialised. This is a true and practical sort of collaboration that would work to sustain itself and help in supporting the university towards what he called ‘sustainability opportunities.’ He ended his speech saying that he hoped this innovation would not be an inactive collaboration but one of those which will be reckoned as a very active one as he went ahead signing the paper.
The programme ended with the singing of the university and national anthem
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