When David Brinkley postulates that a successful man lays a firm foundation with the bricks other people have thrown at him, the philosopher has in mind, the like of Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, the Vice-chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), who today turned 59 years old. By every standard, Prof. Adewole can be described as a successful man, having been a leading light right from primary school, post primary school and through tertiary level.
Today, the VC of the Nigeria’s premier university is successfully leading other 300 professors in Ibadan, thus, validating John Maxwell’s position that a leader is the one who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way. But in his own case, Prof. Adewole is not just showing the way, he is in fact, constantly seeking an unbeaten path to tread and unusual course to chart, to the extent that he has thus elevated the university campus to a place of scientific information, reformation, innovation and transformation.
He made a lead into a new dimension of possibility when he initiated payment of workers’ salary between 22 and 25 of every month with or without federal allocation. Save one or two occasions, he has kept this idea running since 2010 and workers have been praying for him. Still passionate about workers’ welfare, Prof. Adewole has established housing scheme for them. Here is a scheme which is private sector- driven. Foundation has been laid, work is on-going and soon interested workers will be moving into their houses as they pay affordable rate monthly till they complete the cost. Upon fulfilling the condition, they simply become house owners courtesy of Adewole’s vision.
Interestingly, as a way of motivating the work force, the VC has instituted awards for the outstanding workers in various categories. In the maiden edition, 10 staff members went home with a monetary reward, certificate and trophy of honour. He says inspiration without motivation will lead to demoralisation. Good idea, you may say!
Here is a man who pays unscheduled visits to various Centres, Departments and Directorates so as to deracinate the workers of lame ducking. As much as he wants maximum comfort for the University workers, he is never at home with people who are bereft of sure footedness in their duties. Following deep-rooted lethargy in the system, the VC has developed all kinds of therapy to prevent inherent atrophy in the university. In his determined effort to get the best from every worker and lift the system higher than he met it,, he has established Centre for Social Orientation (CENSO) with a mandate to preach proper conduct so that everyone will be at their best behaviour. He has also set up Quality Assurance Unit just as he recently inaugurated Anti-Corruption and Transparency Monitoring Unit (ACTMU) with a mandate to investigate anybody (including the VC) and report findings to national anti-corruption bodies.
The recently commissioned sawmill, where trees will be processed for the end users, among other projects are, testimonies of his vision.
Again, from various interactions one has had with him, it is obvious that Prof. Adewole is a man of irresistible influence with a rich possession of people management skill. This attribute must have accounted for his ability to hold his administrative team players in synergy. There is no crack in the wall of their unity and mutual respect for one another. With his robust sense of humour, there is no dull moment around Prof. Adewole’s mien. While the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), easy- going Prof. Idowu Olayinka is always tactically prodding the VC to crack a joke, the DVC administration, Prof. Arinola Sanya, who is the only female among them, is always the target of the VC’s hilarious joke as oga will always have something hysterical to say about either her beautiful hair-do, or attractive dressing to the enjoyment of others. The Registrar, Mr. Jimi Olukoya, the university Bursar, Mr. Ibrahim Aponmode, the Librarian, Dr. Benedit Oladele, among others, deserve kudos for the support they give Adewole’s regime.
Prof. Adewole does not under estimate the power of a smile, a kind word, an honest compliment and the smallest act of caring – all of which have been making his administration a spectacle. In many more ways than one, he has certainly accomplished the deeds that history will gleefully remember.
Just as a good sailor is known in a turbulent weather, Prof. Adewole’s ability to manage crisis was put to test when he insisted that bad attitude of cooking inside the room in the hostel should not be turned to norm by the students. Many misinterpreted his intentions as some uncouth students were taking counterfeit innuendoes to the market place of ideas. Regrettably, some recalcitrant students who often shamelessly boast that they do engage their fathers in fisticuffs at home went to the social media with their pictures and names, challenging their VC to a road side brawl. They used various unprintable words to describe their father on campus! Prof. Adewole took all the impudence in his stride with an uncommon stoical calmness. Well, those students in this category must be told that respect for elders is one of the cardinal imperatives of our traditional customs. It is hope that their adolescence will soon fade into adulthood. They will know better with time as they are still driven by utopia.
However, as Prof. Adewole marks 59 years of impactful and meaningful existence today, there is no doubting the fact that friends and well-wishers will eat beyond satiety. There are more than enough reasons to celebrate this man of regal gait and admirable moral force. His reputation, public and private records are stellar. He has reconstructed many old templates of public service delivery without grandstanding oratory. His achievements so far have absolutely eclipsed a malicious and relentless campaign of calumny and public obloquy that his detractors subjected him to when he was coming to reign.It is now obvious to even the most obtuse that Adewole will go down in history as a hero of recovery from the road of retrogression. If happiness is indeed a state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievements of one’s goal and values, then our boss has reasons to be happy. Today, therefore, he has many reasons to thank God.
But beyond the ululations and champagne popping, there are still challenges ahead! Success is succeeding in succession. It is getting plus every day. One is not successful if one’s yesterday is better than today. Therefore, Prof. Adewole must continue to succeed. He must continue to pursue his desires with sufficient intensity so as to ensure more actualisation of his conceptualisation. Indeed, there is always a skill to improve, innovation to be applied and development to be achieved. He is still obligated to provide much more quality leadership than he has ever done.
Prof. Adewole was born on 5th May, 1954. He attended Ilesa Grammar School from 1966-1972 . And even at that tender age he was a role model to his schoolmates on account of his good conduct, exemplary character and exceptional brilliance. He obtained Grade 1 with Distinction in his West African School Certificate in 1970 and scored AAC grades at the Higher School Certificate Examination in 1972.
He enrolled as a National Award Scholar at the University of Ibadan in 1973. He obtained his MB BS degree in 1978, winning the Glaxo Allenbury Prize for the best overall performance in Pediatrics. He underwent further medical training in Nigeria, becoming a Senior Registrar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, in 1984. He then proceeded to the United Kingdom for a Research Fellowship in the Department of Medical Oncology at Charing Cross Hospital in London. He obtained the Fellowship of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCOG) in May 1986 and the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons (FWACS) in January 1994. He became the UI VC December 1, 2010
As he marks his 59th birthday, one prays for more divine wisdom with which to keep piloting the affairs in UI in order to ensure the sustenance of the system for the benefit of humanity.
