By Ayo Olowu

Eminent Personalities in Nigeria including President Bola Tinubu , the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar and former Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Otunba Solomon Oladunni on Friday converged on the University of Ibadan to grace the institution’s 75th Foundation Day Ceremony and Convocation for the Award of Doctorate and Conferment of Honorary Degrees.

The glamorous event held at the University’s International Conference Centre was part of activities marking the 75th Anniversary Celebrations of the university.

In his keynote address at the event, the Vice – Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Adebowale affirmed that the university will not relent in its resolve to be the flagship of Postgraduate studies in Nigeria as it possesses the capacity to sustain the feat.

Adebowale noted that the students of the university, both at the undergraduate and
postgraduate levels, have continued to excel in their various academic programmes stressing that gone are the days when students were advised to withdraw from the university or faculty, as a result of poor academic performance.

While describing the university as a national intellectual heritage, the Vice-Chancellor implored all stakeholders to remain active in the task of moving the institution to the pinnacle of global leadership.

He equally urged all alumni and ambassadors of the university to join hands with the institution towards promoting the UI Project.

“The University of Ibadan has continued to maintain its leading position in the country as well as in Africa.We will not rest on our oars until we indeed become a world-class institution of academic excellence.We have the human resources to achieve the feat.We shall continue to strive for the provision of equipment, facilities, infrastructure and funds to help us attain a higher pedestal in the world.

“To give credence to the heartbeat of the university administration in ensuring that our staff are on top of their games at all times, the administration has continued to give support for attendance at conferences and workshops, both locally and internationally. We are of the firm belief that training, retraining, reskilling and upskilling are indispensable conditions for the enhancement and improvement of staff capacity for enhanced performance.

“I am delighted to mention that the University has witnessed an increase in the number of collaborations with institutions within and outside the country. A good number of staff have also been given letters of institutional support to various institutions for collaborative research or short-term training programmes”, Adebowale said.

While congratulating the graduands on the attainment of another significant milestone in their pursuit of higher education, the Vice- Chancellor urged them to go forth and prove the worth of the university’s degree in their daily display of industry, learning and character.

The Visitor to the University of Ibadan and Nigeria’s President, His Excellency , President Bola Tinubu in his address described the 75th Anniversary Celebrations of the nation’s premier university as a celebration of a legacy of tremendous impacts and immense contributions to national development through consistent research and exchange of knowledge.

Tinubu who was represented by the Honourable Minister for Education, Professor Tahir Mamman assured that his administration is fully conscious of the importance of education in national development and therefore remain committed to the implementation of the Education 2030 agenda.

The President said his administration is determined to ensure that universities in Nigeria no longer go through industrial disputes through amicable resolution of all issues that have caused such disputes in the past.

Tinubu noted that the University of Ibadan has produced distinguished personalities including the Vice – President, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and the renowned novelist, Professor Chinua Achebe among several others emphasising that the university remains at the forefront of research and innovations in Nigeria in particular and globally.

“As we mark the 75th Anniversary Celebrations of this noble ivory tower, we acknowledge the tremendous contributions of academics to national development. I therefore implore the graduands to continue to contribute significantly to the development of Nigeria in particular and the world in general”, Tinubu said.

The University’s Chancellor and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the University of Ibadan to national development.

He urged the Governing Council and Management of the university to sustain the
feat.

At the event, Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Letters, Doctor of Literature, Doctor of Science and Doctor of Law of the University of Ibadan, Honoris Causa were conferred on four eminent personalities in recognition of their immense contributions to societal development.

The Awardees are the former Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria, Otunba Solomon Oladunni who bagged Doctor of Letters (D. Litt.) Honoris Causa, the Executive Vice Chairman, South Atlantic Petroleum, Senator Ehanire Danjuma who received Doctor of Laws
(LLD) Honoris Causa, Renowned Industrialist , Sir (Dr.) Kensington Adebutu who was awarded Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) Honoris Causa and an Astute Businessman, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu who bagged Doctor of Science ( D.Sc.) Honoris Causa.

Speaking on behalf of the Awardees, Senator Ehanire Danjuma expressed profound gratitude to the Governing Council and Management of the University of Ibadan for the honour bestowed on
them.

Danjuma noted that the university has blazed the trail of tertiary education in Nigeria stressing that the university has produced individuals who have made landmark impacts , not only in Nigeria and Africa, but globally.

While describing the Honorary Doctorate Degrees conferred on them as a recognition of their humble contributions to national development, she assured that the Awardees will continue to give their best to be society.

A total of 722 graduands from various academic disciplines were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy Degrees at the event.