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Tag: Olanipekun

  • Pomp as Olanipekun is installed Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti

    Pomp as Olanipekun is installed Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti

    Last Saturday, Ikere-Ekiti, an agrarian community in Ekiti State, celebrated its annual Ikere Day. The Ogoga of Ikere Oba Adejimi Adu, conferred chieftaincy and honorary titles on eminent persons, including legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and his wife, Princess Lara.
    PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports.

    Eminent lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), has been installed the Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State.

    The ceremony, which held at the weekend, was attended by dignitaries from across the country.

    Ikere-Ekiti is about 20 minutes’ drive from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

    The installation of Chief Olanipekun coincided with last Saturday’s anniversary of Ikere Day, which was attended by dignitaries from different parts of the country.

    Those at the palace of the Ogoga Ikere, Oba Adejimi Adu, to celebrate the chieftaincy title with the legal luminary included the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Ekiti State deputy governor, former deputy governor, Prof Adelabu; wife of former Ekiti State governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; former Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye; frontline lawywers Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Femi Adesina (SAN); Senator Biodun Olujimi and Muyiwa Olumilua.

    Oba Adu, who conferred four hereditary chieftaincy and five honorary titles on his subjects, said the honourees had proved to be people of integrity.

    He said: “It is the usual practice when there’s a milestone, you bestow honour to those you believe are worthy of it. In July, we clocked one year in the saddle as the Ogoga of Ikere Kingdom. We were supposed to have conferred the honours then, but since Ikere Day celebration was close, we decided to wait and do them together.

    “It is a milestone in our journey of life on the throne and in Yoruba land. We dig down into people’s backgrounds, personalities and their standings in the society to check their integrity before conferring chieftaincy titles on them. An honouree should be someone with compassion and philanthropic attributes as well.

    “So, today, we made Chief Wole Olanipekun, who already has so many titles, the Asiwaju of Ikere Kingdom. Indeed, he was the Mayegun of Ikere, but because of the qualities we found in him, we gave him the Asiwaju of Ikere Kingdom. That’s the leader, the one in front, the head.

    “He is highly worthy of that title.

    We had four traditional chieftaincy titles, which are hereditary, and five honorary titles. For the honorary titles, Chief Olanipekun became the Asiwaju; his wife, Princess Lara Olanipekun, was conferred with the Erelu of Ikere Kingdom because of her support for her husband. She has given him a stable and peaceful home, which has enabled him to excel as a lawyer.

    “Take Chief Olanipekun, for instance. This year marks the 28th anniversary of his scholarship scheme. For 28 years, he has been giving scholarships at secondary and university levels to indigenes and non-indigenes of this town.

    “Do you know how many lives that have changed and are still changing? So, when you see someone like that, you use him as an example for others to emulate and aspire to be like.

    “Also, Mrs. Adedipe, wife of Chief Adedeji Adedipe (SAN), was conferred with Yeye Gbobaniyi of Ikere. Her husband was made the Gbobaniyi last October during the coronation ceremony. His wife is a woman of virtue and so we conferred her with the title.

    “Engineer Dimeji Isiaka, whom I have known for over 20 years – we worked together for ExxonMobil in the United States (U.S) – and his wife were also conferred with honorary titles.

    “He is a man of high integrity: he is hardworking, straightforward and believes in God. He is also very compassionate. His wife is a family friend and very close to my wife. She has been very helpful to us.

    When I was still working, most times that my wife was not around, she would come and take care of our children. She did not know that I would become an Oba.

    “So, the family has been very helpful and it was a delight for us to honour them.”

    The monarch said Ikere Day was an annual event which draws sons and daughters of the town home to rejoice every year as well as plan for the good of the kingdom.

    Oba Adu said: “Ikere Day is set aside for our sons and daughters to come home, rejoice and look at the situation of things in the town. Roles are assigned and people deliberate on what needs to be done. We review whatever road map that has been created and we also invite our friends from outside to rejoice with us and support us.

    “You cannot singularly do anything without other people’s support. Just as we support our friends in their places, we solicit their support as well.

    “My greatest desire for my town is peace. There are factors that would lead to it. In a situation where poverty is rife and there is high unemployment of youths, it breeds insecurity and makes it difficult to achieve peace.

    “So, to have peace, we would need to find work for our youths. Therefore, I am praying and working to see that we have people who would set up industries and small scale enterprises to engage our youths because the idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

    “When people are working, they think of their future and take care of their families. So, their minds are taken off crimes or thuggery. By so doing, we generate peace.

    “It is part of me to do things. People recognise the sacrifice and efforts, and that’s turning a lot of minds positively to want to work with us. If there’s still anyone out there who doesn’t see our vision, as the father of the kingdom, I continue to pray for the person.

    “We are here to work for the progress of the town. My advice is for all to see what we are doing and come on board. We are working towards rebuilding the town to drive progress. So, we urge all our sons and daughters to come on board.”

    Olanipekun noted that the title conferred on him was a call to more service and to assume a higher leadership position than before.

    He said: “It’s a call to advise the Oba, counsel the people and be very dispassionate, sober and more mature. It’s a call to take decisions in conjunction with other people in the town. Although it’s an honorary title, ours is a traditional setting and a lot is demanded of me. Aside the Oba, other people see you as a leader, particularly in the present Nigeria. I won’t be surprised if more burden than I can shoulder is placed on me.

    “That notwithstanding, one feels excited when recognised and called to serve. One doesn’t have the time because I am a core professional and I devote my time to the legal practice. But we must also remember the need to live for people.

    “If you live for yourself and die by yourself, you make no impact. But if you live for people, whatever you do outlives you. I just believe that God will provide the requirements for me to function appropriately.

    “There have always been peace and unity in Ikere. So, I want to use my position to bring everybody together, by the grace of God.

    The frontline lawyer hosted dignitaries at his Iyaniwura country home to celebrate the traditional title as the father of the kingdom.

     

  • Olanipekun urges Buhari to use talented Nigerians to rebuild economy

    Olanipekun urges Buhari to use talented Nigerians to rebuild economy

    Erudite lawyer Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to invite talented Nigerian experts to fix the economy.

    Olanipekun spoke in an interview with reporters at the dedication of the multi-million Naira Vice Chancellor’s Lodge which he built for the Ajayi Crowder University (ACU), Oyo.

    He said: “I am not interested in any political office and I am not begging for any position but I insist and I have a right to insist that Nigeria must be governed properly. And I am saying that today, Nigeria is not being governed properly. There is rudderlessness on the part of the government both at the federal, state and local government levels.

    “They are leaving things that they should do undone. The other day I heard Mr. President saying he would support the National Assembly to make the local government independent of the state government; what is the business of the Federal Government (FG) in that? Councils are under and belong to the state government.

    “Why is the Federal Government that is overburdened not concerned about his plights? We are not even running a federal system.

    “What we are running is hydra-headed unitarism. So, why is the Federal Government not saying we have too many items on the exclusive legislative list, like tourism, fishery, agriculture etc? What has the Federal Governmentt got to do with that? So, why is the FG not encouraging the state to be more independent? Why is the FG not going to the real definition of real federalism?

    “That is donation of residual powers by the federating units to the FG, not the other way round. Why is the Federal Government not talking about security and to that extent, I’m talking of state police, strong police, university police? Why is the Federal Government not talking about liberalising INEC and making it more independent?”

     

     

    Why is Federal Government not talking about building institutions more than individuals? What we have in Nigeria today is powerful individuals, not powerful institutions. And the powerful individuals, if care is not taken, are already becoming lions and when lions roar, they will lionise and you know what will happen. They will devour. And I hope those individuals who are richer than Nigeria, because now they are richer than Nigeria, I pray they don’t devour us. A time will come when Nigeria will start borrowing from them to survive.”

    On how to get out of recession, Olanipekun said it was unnecessary to sell national assets.

    “ In a country that wants revival, the leadership of that country will identify those who matter. They will identify people of substance who can give their all, not beggars. I don’t want anything from anybody. I don’t even want to be a minister. I don’t pray to become a governor, I am satisfied with where I am. I have helped a lot of people in my area and various other areas. So, it is not my duty to be going cap-in-hand to be going to any Governor’s Office or to any corridor that I want to advise them. A situation where you have legal issues in the country and people like us who have assisted many people to get to seat of power, a situation whereby my friend-governors who have legal problems do not contact me, I don’t think it is my duty to go and beg them to contact me. Who loses? The country loses in such a situation. In a situation where we are talking about economic recession, who are the people who are managing our economy? What do they know about economy and economies? It is not everything about the past governments that are bad. For example, has anyone of us gone back to the archives to scrutinise those General Babangida appointed as ministers? I believe leadership must not be intimidated by some people in the country. Rather call them, use them and tap their brains, tap their resources.”

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who inaugurated the project, described Olanipekun as a godly man and a legal icon.

    At the programme were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, many top Anglican priests and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, emeritus Prof. Ayo Banjo.

     

  • Olanipekun seeks constitutional role for monarchy

    Olanipekun seeks constitutional role for monarchy

    FORMER Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has canvassed statutory  role for monarchy in a democracy, saying it is vital to its survival.

    Olanipekun, who is the National President of Ikere Development Forum (IDF), spoke in Lagos at the weekend during an IDF-organised Special Interactive Forum of Ikere-Ekiti people with the Ogoga of  Ikere-Ekiti, Oba  Samuel Adejimi Adu.

    He argued for the celebration and preservation of the traditional kingship system, urging the Ogoga, who was installed last year, to brace to the task of leading a kingdom which has four SANs and over 70 professors, among others.

    He said: “The SANs are myself, Dayo Akinlaja, Dapo Olanipekun, my son and Ola Olanipekun, my cousin.

    “Before the colonial masters came, who were the people administering us? There was good governance. I salute the wisdom of our progenitors. The monarchy has a role to play in a Constitutional democracy such as ours. Take a monarch out of a town and you will have no one to chest out as its representative. In Ikere, for instance, the Ogoga is the representative of the people, the conscience of the town; whatever he says is binding.

    “If the Ogoga has no role to play in governance, then, who has? Who does the governor or president meet when he comes to a town? The monarch. When we speak of governance at the grassroots level, let us not deceive ourselves, it is the monarchs that manage the grassroots for the government. That doesn’t mean that they must be involved in partisan politics, no.”

    The event, which celebrated the Ogoga’s first anniversary as monarch, drew over 300 Ikere indigenes from all walks of life resident in Lagos, Ondo and the United States of America (USA).

    “The IDF organised this forum because we want to celebrate this monarch, within a short period he has transformed our town. Ikere palace has been there for over 200 years, but when he got there, he realised it was in a state of total disrepair. On his own, he pulled it down and rebuilt it within eight months,” Olanipekun said.

    He added that by his own conservative estimate, the king would so far have spent “not less than N200million” on rebuilding the palace gates, even though “he knows very well that the palace does not belong to him, but to the town”.

    The monarch hailed the IDF for the first forum in Ikere, promising to dedicate his life to srve the town.

    “I feel so proud, so honoured to be king over four SANs, medical doctors, professors, Generals, among other professionals,” he said.

    He listed projects being planned for Ikere to include a radio station, for which money has been provided, a hotel to be commissioned this year, and urged the people to submit entries for an Ikere anthem as well as symbol.

  • Olanipekun to Buhari: don’t discard ‘Confab’ report

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consider the report of the 2014 National Conference as a first step to fixing Nigeria.

    He stated this during an interview at the United States’ Consul General’s residence in Ikoyi.

    The renowned lawyer, who was among guests invited by the US Mission, Nigeria to celebrate that country’s 240th Independence anniversary, noted the need for restructuring of Nigeria’s federal system.

    Olanipekun stressed the need for a reversal of the current unorthodox federalism being practised.

    “The report is not an end in itself; it’s a means to an end. But let us face it, Nigeria cannot continue to be like this, we are not running a federal system and my worry is this: for anybody who gets there, he wants to appropriate and maximise even the deficiencies to his own advantage.

    “That is what the present government is doing, with all respect. I am one of their lawyers but what they are doing now is to appropriate and expropriate all the deficiencies to their own advantage. How do you get there and you don’t want us to discuss Nigeria?  Is  it possible? I cannot tell my wife or my children that I don’t want us to discuss my family despite the fact that God has made me the head of the family, we have to discuss.

    “And everybody is saying we are in a world where we have to discuss. Look at what happened in Britain, although they might be regretting it but that is democracy in action. People must discuss, we must discuss this country.”

    Olanipekun said the centre “is overbearing and selfish”, adding: “I’m not talking about the people who make up the centre, but the centre as we have it today is greedy. That is why the states are poor and they are becoming poorer and they will continue to be poorer.  You ask yourself, what does the Federal Government contribute to the economy of this nation?

    “What we are running now is dictatorship. We are being ruled by force. Nigeria does not belong to a particular individual but to all of us, the more reason why we have to discuss and it is out of love, out of patriotism that we are saying let us discuss Nigeria. And this country has to be restructured whether we like it not,” he said.

    According to him, Nigeria can learn from America which practices true federalism where power has been donated by the federating units to the centre  and not the other way round.

    “Our democracy is weak, our federation is unorthodox, unusual, our federation is out of it. We are running a unitary government and the earlier we start restructuring, reviewing, the better for us. If we don’t do it, our children will have problem. I’m not cursing and I’m not being pessimistic but then let’s do it as it ought to be done.”

  • Ondo guber: PDP needs to be united – Olanipekun

    Ondo guber: PDP needs to be united – Olanipekun

    Ahead of November 26, governorship election in Ondo State, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant, Alhaji Yekini Olanipekun has said  there is no room for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in government house. Olanipekun, a former commissioner for Sports and Youths development in the state, begged his party members to remain united ahead of the poll.

    The aspirant, who spoke at the Palace of the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo, while soliciting for support said APC can only win the state if PDP is divided. He stressed that with the present economy crisis ravaging the country, the party has great chances of remaining in power in the state.

    He said with the achievements of Governor Olusegun Mimiko, the people of the state will continue to support the ruling PDP. He however sought for the support of the traditional institutions and the people of Ondo town over his ambition. According to him, he is aspiring to become the governor to further better the lot of the people of the state.

    Olanipekun told the gathering that he was ready to be a candidate that would work for the overall interest of the people of the state without fear or favour. Responding, Oba Kiladejo said as a royal father, he belongs to all the aspirants and would offer royal blessing to any of them that seek his blessing.

  • Review banking law, says Olanipekun

    Review banking law, says Olanipekun

    • SAN presents book

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun, has called for the review of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) of 1991.

    He said the law has not undergone a “major amendment” since its enactment.

    Olanipekun spoke with reporters in Lagos at the launch of a book: Banking: Theory, Regulation, Law and Practice, which he edited and contributed three chapters to.

    Bank failures, he said, should be blamed on regulators rather than the banks.

    Olanipekun said: “In banking, when there is failure in the market, it’s usually termed as regulatory failure. If there is a security breach at home, the first thing you need to do is to reevaluate your security arrangement.

    “Unfortunately in Nigeria, whenever there is regulatory failure, we don’t look at the regulator. We always look at the bank. I think this is borne out of lack of proper understanding of the nature of banking.

    “Banks will always take risks. What regulators should do is to attempt to mitigate the effect of the risk that banks take. Unfortunately, we lay more emphasis on the bankers rather than the regulators.

    “The principal statute that regulates banks in Nigeria is the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act of 1991. It has not undergone any significant amendments and it’s now about 15 years old.

    “So, we’re hoping that the issues that have been discussed in this book will trigger a reform process hopefully, if policy makers can use the book.”

    According to him, the book is borne from the dearth of literature on the subject, both from the legal and practical perspectives.

    The lack of literature, he said, resulted in a very low level of understanding of banking, which he described as the most critical aspect of the economy.

    He said he tried to write the book alone, but realised it was “a very optimistic attempt” because banking, according to him, is very wide and could be approached from a regulatory, legal and practical perspectives.

    So, he sold the idea to the contributors. Six months of editing resulted in what he described as “a proper textbook rather than a collection of essays”.

    There are 25 contributors to 22 chapters of the 823-page book, including Lagos State University (LASU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Lanre Fagbohun; former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos Prof Imran Smith (SAN); a judge of the Federal High Court Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who holds a Ph.D, and a UNILAG law lecturer Dr Yemi Oke.

    Others are Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Prof Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN), Dr Adewale Olawoyin (SAN), Mr C. A. Candid-Johnson (SAN), Prof Bakole Shodipo, Dr Simon Akayaar, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, Dr K. Ekwueme, among others.

    The reviewer, Uche Nwokedi (SAN), said: “Given that the anticipated use of the book is not restricted to lawyers, the authors strived to keep the text in plain English, devoid of legalese and outdated words. Interestingly, the book is published in Nigeria by Au Courant. It is published with good quality materials and neatly bound in hard covers.

    “The publication is well laid out, easy to read and easy to reference or cross reference. The topics are thoughtfully chosen and treated. It is rich and covers virtually every aspect of banking law and practice in Nigeria and beyond the shores. It is easily the most comprehensive publication on banking regulation and supervision in Nigeria that I have come across in 32 years of legal practice. It is a comprehensive one-stop shop on banking law and practice. Well done.”

    The guest speaker, Chief Operating Officer of Barclays Bank Nigeria Mr Sadiq Abu said financial crises could occur irrespective of the regulatory architecture.

    He said the United States and Nigeria with multiple banking regulators, and the United Kingdom with a single regulator, all had financial crises.

    According to him, there is no single magic bullet to solving regulatory failures. He suggested that a framework be designed that “takes into cognisance our financial sector peculiarities.”

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) said when his son mentioned the book to him, he thought it was a pamphlet.

    “I never knew such effort was put into the book. When I read it, I was captured by the beautiful prose. It is a beautification of jurisprudence. Oladapo, we’re so, so proud of you,” he said.

    At the event were Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, who wrote the book’s foreword, a professor of law Gabriel Olawoyin, who chaired the event, Mr Gbenga Oyebode, who presented the book, former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor Tunde Lemo, former NBA president Okey Wali (SAN), Justice Chidi Uwa and Justice Chinwe Iyizoba, both of the Court of Appeal, Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, and Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi (rtd).

    Also present were former Intercontinental Bank Managing Director Dr Erastus Akingbola, former Civil Liberties Organisation President Mrs Ayo Obe, Mrs Doyin Rhodes-Vivour, Dele Adesina (SAN), Rickey Tarfa (SAN), Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN), Chuka Agbu (SAN), Sylva Ogwemoh (SAN), Kemi Balogun (SAN), Bioldun Layonu (SAN), Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Dr Olu Daramola (SAN), Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), among others.

  • Olanipekun seeks growth of Ikere community

    Former President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun has called on indigenes of Ikere Ekiti in Ekiti State to assist in developing the community.

    He made the call on Saturday while inaugurating an ultramodern administrative building constructed at the palace of the Ogoga by an oil magnate, who is also an indigene of the town, Otunba Sola Adewumi and his wife, Oluwakemi.

    The legal luminary called on Ikere indigenes to avoid acts capable of breeding disunity and crisis in the state. He also called on them to give an unflinching support to the town’s traditional ruler, the Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado.

    “I want to plead with you all in Ikere, we should desist from any act of disunity. Oba Adejimi Adu is our king in Ikere. Look at positive things that have been happening since his enthronement and this is an indication that Ikere is moving forward,” Olanipekun said.

    Olanipekun said the gesture of Adewumi was worthy of commendation, noting that the donor had earlier built and donated a non-profit event centre in the town and also building a hotel to create job opportunities for the indigenes.

    The senior lawyer revealed that he had just secured a licence to establish a radio station in Ikere to contribute his own quota to the development of his birthplace.

    Adewumi, the chairman/chief executive of Equatorial Energy, revealed that facilities in the building include offices for the monarch, his wife, their secretaries and a hall that can seat about 150 people at a time, among others.

    The Ogoga urged his subjects to always seek the good of Ikere and contribute to its growth

    He praised Olanipekun for his impact in rallying indigenes for the community’s progress.

  • Olanipekun donates hospital facility to community

    Olanipekun donates hospital facility to community

    The multi-million Naira Iyaafin Bosede Olanipekun Special Amenity Ward constructed and equipped by Chief Wole Olanipekun was unveiled on Saturday by the Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports that the facility is second to none in the state.

    Inside the State Specialist Hospital in Ikere-Ekiti, a magnificent structure stood out. The road to it was well tarred, flower beds properly laid out, with a state-of-the-art ambulance parked in front of it.

    Welcome to the Iyaafin Bosede Olanipekun Special Amenity Ward donated to the state government by former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN).

    Guests who thronged to the venue, including Governor Ayodele Fayose for the unveiling of the 26-bed special amenity ward, equipped with a 3D Ultrasound scan with capacity for echo-cardiography, marvelled at the masterpiece erected within four months to boost medical care for the people.

    As Fayose was taken round the beautiful structure, which has a standard kitchen, laundry room as well as every other world-class facility, he could not hide his disbelief that an individual could do so much even at a time states were finding it difficult to pay salaries.

    The governor directed that the facility must be maintained and monthly inventory taken to ensure it stays evergreen.

    To Fayose, Chief Olanipekun is a blessing and pride to Nigeria. Showering encomiums on the learned silk, Governor Fayose pledged to emulate him by embarking on a similar project in memory of his parents.

    Governor Fayose stated that unlike other rich men who will choose to save their wealth for their children’s children, Chief Olanipekun has continuously embarked on programmes and projects that would benefit the less-privileged in the society.

    “This is a very commendable project coming especially in times like this when we do not have funds to pay salaries, let alone building a facility such as this.

    “The Lord will turn around your captivity.  There is no man born of a woman that doesn’t have issues, no matter how small in their lives. The Lord will turn your issues around no matter how small.

    “You have helped our state. You see, a governor can afford medical care; a lot of people in high places can afford medical care. The man who does not have money knows the value.

    “The people who need this hospital will continue to pray for you. Their spirits will pray for you. What kills a man most is trauma between the point of accident and the hospital.

    “This ambulance you have provided says it all; that you can salvage a life from the point of accident to safety.

    “Not many rich people will do this. They want to leave inheritance for their children’s children, for their family’s family. But you have given this to the state out of your free will. You have given to the poor man, poor woman, unborn children of this state. They will remember you for good.

    “I am going to copy you. I will do fund-raising one day and do something such as this to remember my mum and dad. This is leadership by example. The Lord will help you, sir. Thank you for adding value to our health care delivery. You are a pride to Nigeria,” Fayose said.

    In his remark, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole described the project as well conceived, adding that it will have direct bearing on the well-being of Nigerians.

    Adewole, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital (OATH) Prof. V.A. Adetiloye noted the need to woo philanthropists and corporate bodies to invest or partner with the nation’s health sector to achieve the much-needed accelerated development in the sector.

    “One significant mark of a selfless individual is the willingness, without compulsion to impact on others positively even when there are no visible signs of immediate gains for self-aggrandisement.

    “Many wealthy individuals and corporate institutions with resources will need to emulate this gesture of Chief Olanipekun, the donor of this building.

    “In the present circumstance of global economic recession, which has impacted negatively on government’s ability to provide for the basic health needs of the nation, health care financing can no longer be left in the hands of government alone.

    “This economic downturn is further worsened by the sliding cost of oil in the world market, coupled with the burden associated with diseases, accidents, mishaps and more recently, injuries from terrorist attacks in our country. No other time would be better suited for philanthropists to rise to the occasion and intervene to safe Nigeria’s health sector, “he said.

    In a chat with Southwest Report at the sideline of the event, the Chief Medical Director of the state’s specialist hospital, Dr. Sunday Omoya said Chief Olanipekun also made provision for the maintenance of the facility for one year.

    “The concept of maintenance was incorporated into it from the onset. There is an agreement between the donor and us on the maintenance of this place. One of the first steps he took which is quite commendable is making available funds for the maintenance of this place for the next one year.

    “Payment of staff, procuring of diesel, servicing of equipment and everything necessary to make everything equipment function optimally was provided by him. It is expected that, over that period, the services will grow and that will definitely improve the internally-generated revenue (IGR) and, by extension, grow the capacity of the hospital.

    “After that one year period, the hospital takes over the maintenance of the equipment. We are so committed to it because we know the impact these facilities will make in our care.

     

  • Tertiary Institutions need law and morality to grow – Olanipekun

    Tertiary Institutions need law and morality to grow – Olanipekun

    Law and morality have been described as siamese twins that can aid the growth of tertiary institutions and by extension national development. The prescription was made by the legal luminary and former Pro-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) while delivering the seventh Registry annual lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). He spoke on the topic: ‘Law and morality in tertiary institution in Nigeria: Catalysts for national development’.

    Olanipekun said: “The role of law and morality cannot be overemphasised in charting a positive direction for Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. In fact, any tertiary institution that is devoid of the foundational principles of law and the basic tenets of morality, even if it purports to carry out activities or make progress, is nothing but a sounding brass, a twinkling cymbal. Such institutions can be assured of being bereft of any developmental worth to the nation and its people.”

    He said acquired knowledge or invention not guided by sound moral considerations and ethical principles can only make the world a worse place to live.

    Lamenting the state of the university system in Nigeria, Olanipekun said:  “The dearth of discoveries and inventions in our universities can be linked to the dual-core of this discourse, law and morality.

    While many may fault lack of adequate funding and competent hands as causes of this sorry state, I opine that the causal factors go beyond this. I blame the dearth of critical reasoning in our institutions, I blame the absence of diligence that births innovations, I blame the predominance of plagiarism, I blame the demise of originality.”

    He, however said research, critical thinking, novel proposition, discoveries and inventions should find a natural habitat in Nigerian universities as they do in several universities of the world.

    Olanipekun called for a redefinition of tertiary institution from being mere repositories of obsolete and uneventful knowledge to becoming organic and dynamic centres of discoveries and innovations.

    This begins with conscious pollination of students minds with the seed of intellectual adventurism at their matriculation.

    Olanipekun also had a word for governments.

    He said:”A chunk of the responsibility for moral issues bedeviling our higher institutions of learning must be placed at the doorsteps of the government because some of these problems are direct offshoot and consequences of government’s neglect of the educational sector. A scenario where a negligible amount is budgeted to the education sector can only lead to a geometric decline in the standard of education.”

    Earlier in his address, chairman of the occasion and Vice Chancellor, ProfAdebiyi Daramola, praised the Registrar Dr Modupe Ajayi, for her sterling leadership of the registry and for keying into the vision of the university. He also lauded Chief Olanipekun for a brilliant delivery.

    The event also witnessed award presentation to some notable nigerias. They include: the Orangun of Oke Ila Orangun, Osun state, HRM Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin; the Chief of Staff to the Ondo State governor, Dr. Kola Ademujimi; and a former Registrar of federal University of Technology Akure Mr. Babatunde Adebayo. They were all honoured with the ‘Distinguish award of excellence’.

     

  • Olanipekun for FUTA lecture

    Olanipekun for FUTA lecture

    Legal luminary and former Pro- chancellor, University of Ibadan, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), will deliver the seventh annual lecture of the Registry of the Federal University of Technology, Akure.

    The lecture, “Higher Educational Institutions in Nigeria: Law, Morality and Relevance as Pedestal for National Development,” will hold on Thursday at the University Auditorium by 10am.

    The Chairman of the event is the Vice Chancellor, Prof Adebiyi Daramola. The chief host is the Registrar, Dr Modupe Ajayi.

    The Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin , Chief of Staff, Ondo State Government, Kola Ademujimi, and former Registrar Babatunde Adebayo are the special guests.

    The chairman of the local organising committee, Ife Oluwole, said the lecture was designed to contribute to the development of education through the generation of ideas.