Double milestone as Olatunji delivers inaugural lecture on retirement eve

By Jethro Ibileke

Preparations have been completed for Professor Isaac Ayodele Olatunjiat of the Federal University Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, to deliver the institution’s 24th inaugural lecture today, Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

The event will also mark a personal milestone for the renowned academic, who will be celebrating his 70th birthday on the same occasion, making it a rare double celebration.

The lecture is titled “Housing Care and Support for Nigerians: The Optimality Dimension to a Critical Real Estate Decision” and is scheduled to hold at the Senator Ndoma Egba Hall of the university by 2.00 pm.

It will be presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole.

Just two days after the lecture, Professor Olatunji will mark his 70th birthday on Thursday, May 28, 2026, which also coincides with his formal retirement from active academic service upon attaining the statutory retirement age for professors in Nigeria.

The distinguished scholar previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management at FUOYE. He also held the position of Head of the Department of Estate Management and Valuation at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, before joining FUOYE.

A university source who requested anonymity described the occasion as highly unusual, noting that it is rare for an inaugural lecture to coincide with a retirement celebration.

“Professor Olatunji will likely be among the few academics to have their inaugural lecture as a farewell event on the eve of retirement. This is uncommon and makes the occasion highly remarkable,” the source said.

A Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers since 2004, Professor Olatunji practised estate surveying and valuation for more than two decades before moving into academia in 2005 as a Lecturer II. He rose steadily through the ranks and became a Professor in 2020.

He is widely regarded for combining professional practice with academic work, a reputation that earned him the nickname “Pracademic” due to his practice driven teaching approach and ability to link theory with real world application.

He was once described as a “total researcher” by Professor J. I. Ighalo, in recognition of his commitment to academic research and development.

During his tenure at FUOYE, he made notable contributions to institutional growth through applied research initiatives. He also led a team of estate professionals in advising the university on key real estate valuation matters.

In addition, he contributed to the establishment of the Students Village Land Allocation and Development Committee (SVLADC), which was designed to support policy development on housing and land administration within the institution.

Professor Olatunji has consistently maintained that Nigeria’s housing challenges require a blend of academic research and professional practice to effectively bridge the gap between theory and real world implementation.