……. Yoruba Group Honours AAUA AG. VC as Outstanding Varsity Administrator.
For carving an enviable niche for himself as a successful administrator and academic, a socio-cultural body, the Yoruba Study Group (YSG) has honoured the Acting Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, with a Golden Leadership Excellence Award as the Most Outstanding University Administrator and the Most Distinguished Personality of the Year.
Speaking at the award ceremony held in Akungba on Thursday, May 20, 2021, President of the group, Com. Olusuyi Ajayi, said the YSG chose the Acting VC because he has broken many grounds in university administration, and as a great patriot who has demonstrated unalloyed support to the progressive government of Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He is also a vissioner who has followed and implemented the development programmes of AAUA both in the infrastructural and academic advancement sectors of the university.
The group also noted that Prof. Ige has paid his dues as an academic and administrator.
It observed that he has been Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, and Deputy Vice Chancellor with many publications in local and international journals.
As he puts it, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, you connote different things to different people: to men and women of your generation, you are a pride; to the youth, you are an inspiration; to your staff, you are a tested mentor and an achiever; to Ondo State, you are an asset, and to us in YSG, you are our Akoni Odua.
Comr. Ajayi noted that the awards from the group are conferred on Yoruba men and women who made indelible marks to economic advancement, youth and educational development, as well as community and humanitarian services.
In his remark, Prof. Ige thanked the group for considering him for the award among many other worthy candidates. He promised not to rest on his oars.
In his words, “I want to thank the Yoruba Study Group for this award; its indeed a great honour and privilege that my modest contributions at my end here in AAUA, are being noticed and recognised by a national body.
“I know I am not the only Yoruba man in this geopolitical zone who has excelled in his/her career, but you have chosen me out of thousands to receive this award. Im indeed honored.”
Prof. Ige added that the award would spur him to continue to do his best despite obvious challenges.
“This is a great motivation for me, and with this, I will continue to promote Yoruba culture and heritage, and as for the University, I will always be committed to working towards the development of the institution,” he said.
AAUA VC PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR VARSITY’S COOP SOCIETIES
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ebenezer Ige, has reaffirmed that the Management would continue to support and strengthen the various Cooperative Societies in the institution.
He stated this on Tuesday (May 18, 2021) at the inauguration of an ultra-modern complex of the General Staff Cooperative Multipurpose Society.
The complex comprises office spaces, warehouses, business centres, and nine lock-up shops, amongst others.
He said, “As Management, we will continue to do everything possible to support all the Cooperative Societies in our University to continue to render assistance to their members.
“It is heart-warming that this Society has put up this beautiful and gigantic structure in spite of financial constraints. I have gone round the building and have seen that it can conveniently compete with any of its kind; the offices are large, well-furnished and equipped.”
Prof. Ige commended the Executive Members of the Society for completing the project that originally started more than 10 years ago, adding that the feat attests to the integrity and hard work of the Executive members.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Society, Mr. Wilson Akinbulumo, had told the gathering that, this project was conceived, started and abandoned by the previous Executives over a decade ago.
However, on January 2019, we constituted a new Committee made up of professionals drawn from different arms of the University and tasked it to complete the job.
He further said that the large open spaces available within the complex are suitable for family and social events just as the lock-up shops would be rented out to generate revenue for the Society which is one of the five registered Coop Societies in the University.
He thanked the Building Committee and members of the society for their cooperation and support and for working tirelessly to ensure that the edifice was completed and put to use.
Chairperson of the Building Committee, Architect Emmanuel Orimoloye, in his remarks, said the well-ventilated four-wing bungalow complex will not only add to the atheistic ambience of the university, but also generate revenue for the society.
The event was attended by the Registrar, Mr. Gbenga Arajulu; Coordinator of the University Library, Mr. Tunde Ademodi; and other senior staff of the University.Also present were officials of the State Ministry of Cooperative Services, including Mr. B. S. Adegboyega, Prince Sola Obanla, and Chief A. S. Ologungbeja.
