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Tag: Oladapo Afolabi

  • Ex-HoSF tasks varsities on national development

    Ex-HoSF tasks varsities on national development

    A former Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, has urged universities in Nigeria to be innovative and competitive to remain relevant and engender national development.

    Afolabi made the call during the 2025 Faculty Lecture in honour of Prof. Olu Odeyemi organised by the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

    The programme, which had the theme, ‘Legacies in Microbiology – Honouring Professor Olu Odeyemi’s Impeccable Contributions to Science, Technology, and Society’, was held at the African Centre of Excellence Conference Hall of the institution.

    The late Odeyemi, the pioneer Rector of the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State, and a retired scholar from the department of Microbiology of OAU, died on March 6, 2025.

    The former Head of Service, who was the chairman on the occasion, emphasised that universities must be creative and be solution providers to remain relevant.

    He stated that if universities dreamt wisdom and solutions, they would be relevant, stressing that innovation, funding, competition, and good governance are key to that.

    Noting that that was what the late Odeyemi represented, Afolabi said: “There are three critical components for a university to survive, not only for today but for the 22nd century. One is funding. The second is innovation and the third is good governance. Money is the problem anywhere anytime but you can secure your funding by being innovative and creative, ensuring good governance.  Everyone will partake and they will trust the system. Universities are competitive enough because you can see that a lot of the things that the government does, and even the financial community, they hardly go there for solutions. They have to demonstrate that they have capacity to solve problems.

    “If universities dream of wisdom and solutions, they will be relevant. We must continue to create new things. Prof. Odeyemi was a trailblazer. Innovation and good governance is what we are celebrating today. That is what Prof. Odeyemi represented.”

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    The guest lecturer, Prof. Oladele Ogunseitan from the University of California, the USA, said Odeyemi’s commitment to the highest principles of environmental stewardship influenced a lot of people, including him.

    Ogunseitan said: “Prof. Olu Odeyemi’s commitment to the highest principles of environmental stewardship has also influenced me to continue to seek opportunities for working across sectors to ensure that the results of my research help create, implement, and sustain meaningful progress for the health of people and the integrity of the ecosystem that sustain inhabited communities.

    “As a researcher, teacher, mentor, public advocate for science, professorial colleague, and academic administrator, Prof. Odeyemi’s legacy continues to inspire and influence the next generation of scholars.”

     In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, described Odeyemi as an icon, and father who had set a framework for others to follow.

    Also, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Adeyinka Adesina, said Odeyemi was an accomplished microbiologist, whose life was characterised by excellence. He described him as a beacon, mentor, and legend.

    In her goodwill message, the Head of Department of Microbiology, Prof.  Nkem Torimiro, said Prof. Odeyemi had done fantastically well for Nigeria.

    One of the sons of the late professor,   Kunle Odeyemi, said his late father was sent by God on a mission as if he knew that his time was short.

    He noted that his father was a rare breed whose impact was profound.

  • ‘LAUTECH VC, principal officers not sacked’

    The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology ( LAUTECH ), Ogbomoso, on Tuesday dismissed  reports that the  Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin,  and other principal officers of the institution had been sacked.

    A statement signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Lekan Fadeyi, said the reports carried on some social media platforms that the officers were sacked after being indicted were false.

    It said LAUTECH council presided over by the  Chairman and Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, had at its 132nd meeting on Monday considered  an array of issues aimed at ensuring the progress of the institution.

    The statement said that Gbadegesin had at the meeting sought the permission of the council to proceed on two months leave based  on medical grounds.

    It stated that other principal officers, including the Registrar and Librarian, who were equally qualified for vacation, also indicated that they would like to proceed on their individual annual leave and the requests were granted.

    The statement said the officers, being mindful of the repercussions of any gap, volunteered names of qualified officers who should sit-in for them during the vacation.

    It added that the council had approved the redeployment of the immediate past Bursar, Mr  Adeniyi Olagunju, as well as  the two other deputy bursars.

    NAN

  • Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    Oyo, Osun constitute LAUTECH’s Governing Council

    The Oyo and Osun governments have announced the immediate constitution of a seven-man Governing Council for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

    A statement issued on Monday in Ibadan by the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli, said the newly constituted council would be headed by a retired Head of Service of the Federation, Prof. Oladapo Afolabi.

    According to the statement, Prof. Lai Olurode, Prof. Olaide Adedokun, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, Mr Isiaka Olagoke, Mr Tise Adenipekun and Bade Adesina would serve as members of the Governing council.

    “Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his counterpart form Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  acted on the powers conferred on them by the laws establishing the institution as Visitors  met and approved the immediate constitution of the Governing Council of LAUTECH

    “The tenure of the Governing Council  as mandated by the University Law  shall be for four years from the date of its inauguration unless determined by the Visitors.

    “Visitors have also directed the immediate inauguration of the Governing Council  whose mandate shall also be guided by the provisions of the relevant laws establishing the university,”  the statement  said.

    According to the statement,  the Visitors are confident that with this development, the ongoing crisis in the institution will  be resolved soon.

    “They consequently enjoined all stakeholders to cooperate with the newly constituted council in its determination to realise its mandate,” it added.

  • Environment lecture

    The 5th Annual Public Lecture/Environmental Awards of The Environment Outreach Magazine will hold tomorrow at the Gabriel Okara Cultural Centre, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

    The lecture with the theme:  “Climate Change and its effect on the coastal communities in Nigeria”, will be chaired by Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, former Head of Service of the Federation; Surveyor-General of the Federation, Prof. Peter Chidozie Nwilo isthe guest lecturer.

    In a statement in Lagos yesterday, the Publisher/CEO of the magazine, Chief Noble Akenge, said the event would feature the presentation of special environmental awards to deserving individuals and institutions.

    Akenge said Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson would be  the Special Guest of Honour; the  Guest of Honour is the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam.  King Godwin G. Igodo, the Ebenibe of Atissa kingdom and Chairman, Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers is the Royal Father of the Day.

  • Afolabi rues poor skilled manpower

    Former Head of Service of the Federation Prof Oladapo Afolabi has identified poor skilled manpower as a challenge to the nation’s economy growth.

    He spoke while unveiling Ibadan Business School (IBS) in Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Afolabi, who is the Board Chairman of IBS, said it was unfortunate that the capacity needs of public sector organisations which are major drivers of economies in developing nations, especially Nigeria and other Sub Saharan countries, have not enjoyed the deserved priority.

    He added that individuals in public and private sector organisations are not emotionally and psychologically invested in their jobs, thereby resulting in sub-optimal productivity.

    “The result of lack of employee engagement is $11 billion in lost revenues annually in US alone. If the figures are bad in US despite its development, one can only imagine the situation here in Nigeria.