To honour the late Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, members of his community have urged the management of Achievers University based in Owo to compile a comprehensive study of the town’s over 1,000-year-old history, culture and tradition.
The request was made during the visit of the university’s management team led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Tunji Ibiyemi, to the Olowo’s palace to commiserate with the community.
The Ekon-Odo Agbara of Owo, Chief Jamiu Ekungba,who spoke on behalf of the palace chiefs, said Owo cultural heritage was beyond human comprehension, hence the need for the university to research into the town’s rich and vast history to ensure it is studied as a course in the university.
He assured that the community was ready to partner the institution on the realisation of the project.
Ekungba emphasied that the university was established during the reign of Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi years after the town was denied a federal university.
“In the process of your academic development, Owo community requests that there should be history department in your institution for the study of the very rich culture and tradition of Owo.
“At the international level, the might of university is not the size of its infrastructure but the size of its faculties in terms of academic excellence and human capital development.
“Before he (Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi) ascended the throne, it was revealed that during his reign all the lost fortunes of the town would be returned. Part of the reality was the establishment of Achievers University which replaced the university that was denied the town years back by the then prime minister of country.
“The House of Parliament in Ibadan had approved a university for the Western Region then and it was to be located in Owo. But our Prime Minister vetoed it. After all efforts, we couldn’t get it back.
“But during the time of our late monarch, a university was established in Owo and that is Achievers University.
“That was why he was so passionate about the institution, as he advocated consistent growth for the university,” he said.
While assuring the management team of the university of continuous support from the host community, he stated that everyone is proud of the legacy left behind by the monarch.
“Owo community will always be supportive of Achievers University. Even when a new Olowo is installed, he will be committed to the continued development of university just as it has been from onset,” the Chief stated.
Describing the late Oba Olateru-Olagbegi as a highly accomplished monarch, Prof. Ibiyemi emphasized that during his reign, the town witnessed lots of turnarounds and tremendous developments, among which he said was the establishment of the only university in the town 12 years ago.
“During the reign of the King, a lot of turnarounds were witnessed among which is Achievers University. The peace and tranquillity in the town cannot be over- emphasised.
“Even the effort of the patriarch of the Olagbegis, Sir Titus Olateru-Olagbegi is known to all, as he did a lot at placing Owo on the global map,” he said.
Prof. Ibiyemi, who revealed that the founder of the institution, Hon. Bode Ayorinde is a direct descendant of the Oshopru Family, where the mother of Sir Olateru-Olagbegi hailed from, maintained that Owo is a unique community with its descendants making waves across the globe.
“Children of Owo are renowned all over the world. You will find them excelling in their various fields of endeavour across the globe.
“Tradition is so deep and meticulously preserved in Owo. As it is known in Owo tradition that a king does not die, we are not here to mourn but to celebrate the change of baton,” he said.
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