By Kemi Kasumu, General Editor
One of Nigeria’s foremost monarch and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is in the news again as his comment on Crescent University Abeokuta, Ogun State, South West, Nigeria, is revisited where he described the now 12-year-old institution of higher learning, founded by retired World Court Jurist and former Attorney-General and Minister of Nigerian Federation, Judge Bola Ajibola (SAN), as creative and innovative centre impacting sound and qualitative education to the youths.
The vibrant traditional ruler, who sits on one of Yoruba’s most powerful thrones, in October 2016 during the 11th convocation ceremony of Crescent University became the first Nigerian traditional ruler to be chancellor of three universities concurrently in the country with his installation as Chancellor of Crescent University Abeokuta (CUAB) at the occasion also attended by former Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the country, General Abdulsalaam Abubakar.
Alaafin, apart from Crescent University, is also Chancellor of University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, North East Nigeria and the Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.
In his acceptance, Oba Adeyemi said and he still continues to say almost a year after the event that he had for the past 10 years been following with keen interest the contributions of Crescent University to the development of education in the country, especially at the tertiary level.
The Iku Baba Yeye said, “I made bold to say that the summary of my observation in the last decade is that Crescent University is not only creative but innovative as a centre of learning that impacts sound and qualitative education to our youths.”
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who is also a recipient of honourary degree of Doctor of Science Public Administration of CUAB, expressed his profound gratitude to the proprietor, Judge Bola Ajibola and the management of the university for the honour bestowed on him.
He added that looking objectively at the background of the university vis-à-vis the character of the proprietor, “one cannot expect anything less than such a creative and imaginative person; an international jurist per excellence who had carved a niche for himself as a pride of the black race by distinguishing himself excellently as the President of the International Court of Justice.”
Alaafin further explained that he met with the proprietor of the Crescent University over 50 years ago when he came to his office and informed him that Akin Olugbade wanted to see him.
While extolling the virtues of Bola Ajibola as brilliant lawyer in his address, Alaafin Adeyemi said the Olori Omo Oba Owu, that the Crescent University’s proprietor is, pronounced him before Akin Olugbade as the next Alaafin of Oyo.
In the meantime, the Oyo chief monarch had assured the Crescent University board, governing council, management, staff and students that he would put his 12 years experience as pioneer Chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto to play in the university, whose 12th convocation comes in October this year and the Alaafin will be on ground to perform his official duty as chancellor.
