Every year, Nigeria’s premier University, the University of Ibadan, confers the most distinguished Alumni award on recipients for their achievements, public service, advocacy for education, volunteerism, and service to students, colleges, and the university.
The University of Ibadan, which turns 70 in November of 2018. In marking the 70th anniversary, the management of the university, headed by Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, declared a year-long ceremony, beginning from October 2018 to December 2019,in order to fully commemorate a university that has remarkably impacted the world. As part of the ceremony, the University used the occasion to confer the 2019 most distinguished award on one of its most illustrious alumni, Dr. Babajide Ademola Agunbiade, FNSE.
In presenting the award, the President of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association worldwide, UIAA, Professor Elsie O. Adewoye, thanked Dr. Babajide Agunbiade for his immense contribution to the University, which includes mentorship, active volunteering over the last 20 years and advocacy for girl and child education. Professor Oyewolw described Dr, Agunbiade as a veritable source of hope and succor to the needy in his Alma mater, the University of Ibadan,for his donation of £6,000 (six thousand pounds sterling} to the Institution Alumni Trust Fund. She describes Dr. Agunbiade as among the first diaspora alumnus to make such a large donation at the 70th anniversary of the Premier University and has raised over 100m Naira to support secondary education across Nigeria, among others support.
Dr. Babajide Agunbiade graduated from the prestigiousUniversity with a combined honors degree in Industrial and Production Engineering in 1997. An accomplished Engineer, he later attended the GE Edison Advanced Engineering Development Program (EEDP) in Crotonville, N.Y., and gained a master’s degree in Systems Engineering. He is G.E. green and black belt certified. He holds a master’s degree in organizational management and an MBA fromAmerican Intercontinental University (AIU) in Houston, Texas, as well as a Ph.D. in leadership and Business from Higher Place Christian University (HPCU) Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is also a Ph.D. scholar in Environmental policy at Texas Southern University. He has attended several training courses in Nigeria and overseas in Subsea Production Systems, Business Development, Oil & Gas Contract Negotiation, etc.
Established in 1948,the University of Ibadan, popularly referred to as“UI’ and admirably tagged “the First and Best,” could be described as a relatively young university when compared with some prestigious universities across the globe. For instance, a 70-year-old UI can’t be compared with the University of Cambridge in England, which is 813 years old this year, and neither can it, at 70,match the record of Harvard University, which marked its 386 years this year. Again, Oxford University is 926 years in existence this year, while Yale University, which was founded in 1701, is 321 years old as of today.
However, despite its young age, UI has by far established itself as a world-class institution, becoming a prestigious national patrimony with an enviable reputation and record of sound scholarship obtainable and comparable to any part of the world. The achievements of this university in the last 70 years, to use that particularly all-in-the-air American expression, are “awesome.” If indeed you know a tree by its fruits, Ibadan has undoubtedly defined itself by the high quality of its products, parading many brilliant and bold graduates who have since been shaping the world. Indeed, UI’s products are its pride.
Universities all over the world function on the tripod of teaching, research, and service to the community. Ibadan has distinguished itself in all these key areas to the amazement of all. The exponential effect of its contributions to Nigeria, Africa, and the world is quite unimaginable. There is no continent where UI’s products are not making waves. It needs no emphasis that Ibadan produced the first generation of writers, scholars, diplomats, technocrats, and artists, among others. Those who attended UI are the pride of the country. They include but are certainly not limited to Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, J. P. Clark, Christopher Okigbo, Mabel Segun, Ben Obumselu, Michael Echeruo, Biodun Jeyifo, Francis J. Ellah, Oladipo Akinkugbe, Femi Osofisan, NiyiOsundare, Odia Ofeimun, Bode Sowande, FrancescaPerreira, Dan Izevbaye, and Abiola Iyere. Also on the long list are Kenneth Dike, AdieleAfigbo, Kayode Osuntokun, Olumuyiwa Awe, J. F. Ade Ajayi, Bola Ige, OlumbeBassir, GokeOlubunmi, DapoAdelugba, Tekena Tamuno, ObaroIkime, Gamaliel Onosode, Billy Dudley, OjetunjiAboyade, Felix Ohiwerei, Akin Mabogunje, Adamu Ciroma, Jubril Aminu, Ola Oni, Bade Onimode, OmafumeOnoge and so on.
Traveling through the past, one is compelled to pay homage to those who passed through this great University, thus, creating the enduring, rigorous intellectual template with which the institution has been reinventing itself. Records show that scholars of different stripes from different parts of the world have passed through Ibadan, leaving behind remarkable creative, artistic, and scientific legacies. We have them to thank for blazing a worthy trail. The university is what it is today because the management and Alumni continue to strive to uphold the virtue and glory of the greatest Ui.
This award recognizes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose personal lives, professional accomplishments, and community service best exemplify the mission of the University of Ibadan.