6th March, 2016
Addressing a press conference at Ijebu Ode, Oba Adetona explained that the endowment was his contribution to making the society better through good governance.
“Education has a pivotal role to play in the quality of governance. So I decided to lend my little support in this area, being a royal father. So I make this move with high hopes that it will help the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye start a production-line of leaders who will be molded for good governance,” Oba Adetona said.
With the endowment, Oba Adetona said he hopes to lure the best brains from across the world to the university to fertilise the university community with positive and impactful ideas.
“I am confident that the university will make the most of this opportunity and attract the best brains in good governance, corporate and political leadership to fertilise the students, staff and indeed the entire university community with a view to raising and unleashing good governance champions on the Nigerian community,” he said.
The Oba is also optimistic that Nigeria would benefit from the initiative and enjoined other well-meaning people to lend their support to a good cause.
While thanking the Awujale for the kind gesture, the Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya noted that the endowment is in sync with the Institution’s philosophy of seeking to give useful learning to its students who will be encouraged to cultivate a worldview that facilitates not only the continuous pursuit of academic and moral excellence but also developing competence in reducing the society’s disease.
The Vice Chancellor pledged that the university will strive conscientiously to live up to the desires of the founding fathers now reinforced by the Awujale’s support.
“The university shall be rooted in its community and act, at all times, as a beacon and symbol of the spirit of the community. Therefore, we will strive to fulfill the expectations of the Awujale with efforts to cultivate a distinct tradition and character that reflect those values that would give our host and national communities distinctive identity in quality leadership,” said Prof Adesanya
The inaugural lecture for the endowment is billed for Thursday, March 10, 2016, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Prof Akin Mabogunje is expected to deliver a lecture on the Issues and Challenges of Governance in Nigeria , while an elite panel of discussants including former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR, and the Sarkin Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II CON are already confirmed for the occasion.