Shyllon honoured at OAU, donates giant bronze statue of Awolowo to varsity

By Nehru Odeh

Prince Yemisi Shyllon, philanthropist, engineer, lawyer, astute businessman and the largest private art collector in Africa has donated a seven-foot statue of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to the varsity named after the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife.

Shyllon made the donation to the university on Friday, December 5, 2025 in a ceremony attended by distinguished guests from far and wide and principal officers of the university.

Shyllon, who has touched many lives and impacted several institutions across the country, where he has made several donations and left imprints, also gave a Distinguished Lecture and was honoured with an Award of Excellence in Creative Arts and Cultural Advancement by the Obafemi Awolowo University.

The event also featured the unveiling of World’s Longest Painting of the Book of Genesis (World Record Attempt) by Dr Peacemaker Alexander Efeoghene

The remarkable features about the statue, worth N120 million, is that for the first time the sage is seen, as a statue dressed in wig and gown, which made it different from the traditional attire his stature had always be known with. The seven –foot statue reaches 15 foot when included with the pedestal.

It was a day for celebration and honour not just for the donor and awardee but also for the late sage who, 38 years after his demise, was honoured with a bronze statue for having left a meaningful and selfless life and impacting the lives of others.

Distinguished individuals present included Senator Babafemi Ojudu: Mr Lasisi, Olagunju, who represented the Awolowo family; Dr Adeola Balogun: Dr Peacemaker Efeoghene; and principal officers of the University including the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Bamire and his wife, Dr Abosede Bamire.

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adebayo Bamire said by accepting the invitation to deliver the Distinguished Lecture and to receive the Award of Excellence, Shyllon did the university a great honour and strengthened the vital bond between the academy and the vibrant world of artistic practice.

“In recognition of his monumental contributions to the creative and cultural ecosystem of Nigeria and beyond, Obafemi Awolowo University is delighted to present him with the Award of Excellence in Creative Arts and Cultural Advancement. This award is a symbol of our deep appreciation of his influence, his generosity and his lifelong dedication to culture and humanity.

“Today is more than an award ceremony. It is a thank you. A thank you, on behalf of every artist who found courage because of your support. A thank you on behalf of every citizen whose life has been enriched by the art you helped bring into the world. And a thank you from the university for showing us, through action, what true cultural advancement entails,” Prof. Bamire said.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that Awolowo’s life should serve as a lesson and guide for all to live for the common good.

“The donor of the statue, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, is a man whose name resonates across continents. He is Africa’s foremost art collector, an accomplished creative mind, a committed philanthropist of extraordinary vision and a relentless advocate for cultural advancement and one of the most remarkable cultural ambassadors of our time.

“For a university like ours, dedicated to the holistic development of mind and spirit, this example is a beacon. It reinforces our own commitment to ensuring that the sciences converge with the humanities, that innovation dances with tradition and that our graduates are as culturally literate as they are professionally skilled.

“This iconic piece will not only beautify our campus but also serve as a permanent cultural marker, reminding future generations of the ideals of leadership, service, excellence and intellectual courage upon which this university was founded,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Shyllon, for his part, while delivering the Distinguished Lecture entitled “Meaningful Living”, stated that the project was aimed at celebrating Awolowo for living a purpose-driven life and was his own way of saying thank you to him for the sterling leadership he gave his people and for showing what meaningful life meant.

“Meaningful Living is about deriving happiness from living a purpose-driven life, providing service to the needs of humanity. And we have an example. A man who died in May 1987, who lived his life for a purpose. And we are all celebrating that purpose. We are all living that purpose. A man who fought for Nigeria’s independence. All the things he foresaw are now happening,” Shyllon maintained.

Shyllon then said Awolowo would be remembered forever for living for what was right and just as he listed some of the enduring legacies of the sage.

“Free education in the old Western Region, and other landmark projects such as the Cocoa House, Western Nigeria Television, Liberty Stadium, industrial estates, farm settlements and the Obafemi Awolowo University, among others” as worthy legacies left behind by Chief Awolowo.

“Indeed, many people solely focus on material wealth, such as having cars, building and buying properties, buying private jets, jewelries and the many other worthless and selfish illusions of life, that are generally not meaningful to the real essence of human life,” he said.

Shyllon noted that the sage was a man who could be best described as an example of a person who lived a “meaningful life,” adding that he lived his life planting seeds for generations while leaving indelible footprints on the sands of time.

Shyllon charged all, particularly the students of OAU, not to pursue wealth but live the kind of life that would make humanity remember them for something positive, “just as Papa Obafemi Awolowo, who died 38 years ago, did.”

Shyllon, known for his wide erudition referenced positive psychology, Confucius, Buddhism, Hinduism as well as the Holy Qur’an and the Bible, to mention a few, to prove that meaningful and purposeful living as well as the act of showing love to the needy constitute the essence of existence, adding that one should not give to the needy for the purpose of getting anything in return.

“Life is full of emptiness. Awolowo lived a meaningful, purpose-driven life and planted seeds through his various selfless services to humanity before his exit. That is why he is celebrated every day since he died 38 years ago,” he said.

In his remarks, Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, and daughter of Chief Awolowo, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, who was represented by the Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, thanked Prince Shyllon for donating the statue.

She also appreciated the university for being receptive to the idea and for keeping the legacy of Chief Awolowo alive, adding that the project was a celebration of selfless service to the people which was what Chief Awolowo lived for.

“History is always there to reward selfless leadership and expose pretenders. We are here today in celebration of an uncommon man who died 38 years ago. This honour, this statue is a demonstration of what immortality means.

“Chief Awolowo gave his very best in the service of the people. We appreciate the donor, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, for the gesture and also appreciate the university for giving the right space for the erection of the statue. Good life is about services; what we are celebrating today is history’s reward for Chief Awolowo’s selflessness.

“Papa was one leader who believed that service to the people is a rent paid for the space we occupy in this world. The Awolowo family appreciates this monument and thanks the donor and the sculptor for doing a great job,” she said.

She urged students of the institution to learn from the life lived by Chief Awolowo and rededicate themselves to noble causes.

Senator Babafemi Ojudu, journalist and author of The Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist, who donated 40 copies of his book to principal officers of the university said he was delighted to be back at the university that prepared him for what he did and became later in life.

“Let me tell you I was a senator for four years. I was Special Adviser to the president for eight years. I have lived in powerful and beautiful places and experienced a lot of things, the experience I gathered from the university prepared me for all I have done in life.

“I’m here today to be part of the honour for our brother (Shyllon). There is no citation read here that can fully capture his essence. If God gives us long life I am going to do a book on him.

“Why I am presenting 40 copies of my book, The Adventures of a Guerrilla Journalist is because he (Shyllon) ignited it,” Ojudu averred.

Ojudu then went on to narrate how Shyllon invited him to his then office at Nigerite, after he and his colleagues had resigned from African Concord, rather than apologize to them military President Ibrahim Babangida over an article published in the magazine as the late business mogul, politician and winner of the June 12 1993 Presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, had wanted them to do.

“I didn’t know what to do after. I had no kobo in my account. I am saying this so that you know this man (Shyllon) has been long in this. And he gave a call to me for something that I had done in the past. He said, ‘I have read what you have done in the papers. I am proud of you. Please find time to see me.’

“And I went to his office in Nigerite And he then asked, ‘What do you want to do now?’ After all of that I said, ‘If I have the money, I will like to publish my own magazine. He now said, ‘How much do you need?’ 2.5million naira at that time And he reached for his drawer, brought out his cheque book and gave me N500,000.

“He said this is not an investment, this is a gift. If they (the military) had known that he gave me that money that time, they would have killed him. But he took that courage. He is also a guerrilla donor as I was a guerrilla journalist,” Ojudu noted and the hall erupted with laughter

During the unveiling of the World’s Longest Painting of the Book of Genesis (World Record Attempt), a work that has over 2000 human and animal illustrations as well 186 paintings in a scroll, , the artist, Dr Peacemaker Efeoghene thanked the Vice-Chancellor and Shyllon, whom he described as his mentor, for making it possible for him to be at the beautiful and glamorous university (OAU), which he was visiting for the first time

” I went to see him (Shyllon) to give him the report of the work. And at that time I was 546 feet length of painting of the Book of Genesis. I went to submit to him that this is the work I have done. And immediately he called the Vice-Chancellor. All of a sudden I saw myself being invited to come. What a great privilege. Thank you,” Efeoghene enthused.

Efeoghene then said he went ahead to achieve 558 feet length painting of the Book of Genesis, which has been submitted to the Guinness World Record. According to the artist the title of the work is “Holy Bible Scroll Painting Project of the Book of Genesis.”

The artist then made a proposal to the Vice-Chancellor, the university and Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon Art Foundation, OYASAF,

“This is the first phase to make the university know what I have done. Than I want to make this university, with the sole permission of OYASAF, to bring this work back here for the certification by the Guinness World Record.

“It means on that day, the Guinness World will award us, not me now – the university, myself, Nigeria, Africa and the black man – this award, ” Efeoghene noted.

“The greatness of this institution wows me so much so that I said to the VC and Shyllon that I want to bring this work here for the certification of the Guinness World Record.

“We are making history here today because OAU is the first university to host the unveiling all over the world . I also want OAU to be the first university to analyse this work,” Efeoghene stated, which also drew applause from the audience.

It was indeed celebration galore as aside from the university, the Department of Fine and Applied Art as well as the students of the department made presentations to Shyllon for his invaluable contributions to not just art and culture in Africa but also to the development of artists, both emerging and famous.

And the exhibition as well as the unveiling of the seven-foot bronze statue of Awolowo and the captivating performance of Moremi Ajasoro by students of the Department of Dramatic Arts later that later followed proved to be the icing on the cake.

Still, the befitting and imposing bronze statue that faces the iconic Road One, as it sits regally on a pedestal, seems to welcome visitors and members of the university community to behold and experience the great university named after the sage, and which since its founding since 1961 has continued to be known for vibrant scholarship and excellence.