In memory of his late wife, a former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alh. Ali Olanusi, has laid the foundation of a 100-bed hostel at Sam Maris University (SMU), Supare-Akoko.

Olanusi, accompanied by his heir apparent, Mr. Olaniran Olanusi, laid the foundation of the hostel on Friday in honor of the former Deputy Governor’s late wife, Chief (Mrs.) Bejide Olanusi.

During the sod-turning ceremony,which was attended by the Chairman of the Ondo State Universal Education Board, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan and other political associates, Ali Olanusi emphasized that the project was conceived to honor his late wife, whom he described as as a strong pillar in his political career during her lifetime and a woman whose heart was filled with the milk of human kindness.

Olanusi, in his concise speech, expressed optimism that the project would be completed in record time, adding that the state-of-the-art hostel would complement other aesthetic structures in the institution.

In the same vein, Olaniran described his late mother as a kind-hearted woman and commended Management of Sam Maris University for allotting the piece of land for the hostel.He stated that the construction of the hostel was borne out of his father’s benevolence to provide conducive accommodation for students.The construction of the hostel stands as a beacon of his unwavering commitment to the upliftment of education.

He said, “I thank Management for using the school to reduce the alarming rate of illiteracy in our society. Whether we like it or not, illiteracy is still over 70% in our society, so the vision of the Proprietor must be honored.”

“Let me reflect on the good old days. My father played vital roles in the emergence of Agbogbo Secondary School in Supare-Akoko. Baba went as far as recruiting Ghanaians to teach in the school.

“He also went ahead to build an estate that served as staff quarters for the teachers. This is just one of his milestones in his drive to support the education sector.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of SMU, Prof. Francis Gbore, extolled the virtues of Alh. Olanusi, describing the laudable gesture as the first of its kind by any Akoko man in any tertiary institution in Ondo North.

The don said, “This is not the first time Baba will be visiting the University, but today’s visit is significant in every respect. By the grace of God, today we shall be laying the foundation of a 100-bed hostel to be constructed in honor of the Matriarch of Alh. Ali Olanusi dynasty.this, to us, is a practical demonstration of your love, cooperation and synergy with the Chief Promoter and Founder of the University, Mr. Sam Ologunorisa, SAN.

“Baba is the first person in Akoko land to donate a facility to any tertiary institution in Ondo North as a whole. We deeply appreciate the former Deputy Governor for deeming it fit to construct the hostel.”

In his vote of thanks, the Registrar of the institution, Mr David Daramola thanked the Olanusi family for their magnanimity and invaluable contribution towards the development of the education sector.He seized the occasion to call on other well meaning individuals and organisations to emulate the uncommon gesture of the former Deputy Governor.