VICE-CHANCELLOR’S SPEECHES AT THE 2020 CONVOCATION

CEREMONIES

Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka

B.Sc (Ibadan), MSc (London), Ph.D (Birmingham), DIC
FAS, FNMGS, FNAPE, FNAH, FNAEGE, FCSN, FGS, CGeol, EurGeol, COMEG Reg
Vice-Chancellor
University of Ibadan, Ibadan,
NIGERIA

#1 in Nigeria and West Africa; #7 in Africa

Top 500 in the Times Higher Education World Universities Rankings 2021

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DAY 1: 14 NOVEMBER, 2020

ADDRESS BY THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR ABEL IDOWU

OLAYINKA, AT THE CONGREGATION FOR THE ADMISSION INTOFIRST

DEGREES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN ON SATURDAY, 14 NOVEMBER,

2020

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research Innovation and Strategic Partnerships)

Registrar

The Bursar

University Librarian

Provost, College of Medicine

Provost, Postgraduate College

Deans of Faculties and of Students

Directors of Institutes

Heads of Departments

Members of Senate

Members of Congregation

President and Members of the U.I Alumni Association

Members of the Students’ Representative Council

Esteemed Graduands

Parents and Guardians of Our Graduands

Gentlemen of the Press

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Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

I am truly delighted and excited to welcome you all to the first day of our three-day

graduation ceremonies for this year, 2020. Though this year’s convocation ceremony has

been greatly hampered by the global outbreak of the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic

and the protracted strike by staff unions, we remain nonetheless, grateful for the enduring

mercy of the Almighty God which has ensured that this day and event has come to reality. It

is also an epoch-making moment for me as this year’s convocation ceremonies would be the

last in my capacity as the 12th Vice Chancellor. I, once again, warmly welcome our parents,

guardians, guests and alumni as well as well-wishers to the 72nd Convocation Ceremonies of

the University of Ibadan, Ibadan.

This year, the University will be proudly awarding 111 Diplomas (Nursing Tutors and

Postgraduate), admitting 412 graduands into First Degrees, 220 graduands into

Master’s Degrees. 55 graduands into Doctor of Philosophy Degrees (Ph.D) of the

University of Ibadan, and another 24 Ph.D graduands from the Pan African

University/University of Ibadanthe first and still, the best. However, today is earmarked for

the admission into first degrees, of graduands across 17 Faculties, Distance Learning Centre

and Affiliated Institutions who have been trained, examined and undoubtedly found to be

worthy both in character and in learning. It is with utmost joy that I particularly welcome the

graduands and to celebrate with your families on this momentous achievement in your

academic journey. I belief that you are now well-equipped to make trailblazing contributions

towards solving the immeasurable socio-economic challenges threatening the delicate fabrics

of our society and nation, Nigeria.

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I charge you to go all out to do exploits in any field you may find yourselves and thereby,

project to the world, the endless opportunities and invaluable potentials entrenched in our

great nation. Our diversity, if only appropriately channelled, will lift our society to

unprecedented enviable heights. We all, with every sense of duty, must not only preach but

also practice, ‘unity in diversity’. Together, we are stronger, wiser, richer and better. We must

make our large population count for something admirable and enviable.

The vision of the University is derived solely from the pursuit of the national goals of unity

and development through innovation, knowledge creation, and dissemination, with a view to

stimulating national transformation. It is in recognition of this vision that the University of

Ibadan remains totally committed to excellence in the continuous development of teaching,

learning and research programmes that would provide the required skills and platforms for an

enduring development process while also serving as a catalyst for the political, social and

economic prosperity of our dear nation.

In spite of the many enviable feats of our students over the years, they have chosen not to rest

on their oars, prompting them to work harder to reach even higher heights, not minding the

many debilitating local and global challenges experienced this year. At this occasion, I crave

your indulgence to blow our trumpet a little over a few of the incredible accomplishments

attained by our students in the areas of undergraduate academic activities and human capacity

building since my last address to convocation a year ago.

● Ifenaike Alexander Oluwasona of the Department of Petroleum Engineering came 1st

in the Data Science Nigeria 2020 Boot Camp Competition. This feat he achieved

amongst over 500 participants;

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● Richard Adeleke, a 500 level student of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, has been

selected by the Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine,

Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA to participate as a scholar in the 2020 Cornell

Leadership Programme for Veterinary Students. He is the first African to be so

selected;

● Badiru Toheeb Adeniyi, Abideen Bolaji Olaide and Olubiyi Sulaiman Damilare, all

students of the Department of Electrical & Electronics Engineering came 1st at the

2020 National Huawei ICT Competition. They also came 2nd at the Regional level of

the competition in South Africa;

● The University of Ibadan Law graduates recorded an unprecedented and outstanding

performance at the 2020 Final Bar Examinations winning 28 out of the 38 prizes

available. The University also produced the Overall Best Graduating Student –

Olalere Yusuf Asamu, who won 12 prizes.

● Adelakun Temilade Ruth, 500 level – Department of Mechanical Engineering won the

‘NiMechE 40 under 40 Inspiring African Future Mechanical Engineer’ Award in

the remit of the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK.

● Aiyegbeni Favour, 500 level – Department of Mechanical Engineering won the

‘Professor Ayodele Awojobi Design Competition (PAADC 3:0)’.

● Five students from the Faculty of Agriculture won a grant of N397,000 from the Food

System Commission of Switzerland to train 70 youths and women in the University

and proximate community. These include:

i. Oluwatosin Adebanjo - Department of Soil Resources Management

ii. Israel Akinlabi - Department of Soil Resources Management

iii. Jamiu Adisa - Department of Soil Resources Management

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 iv. Sakirat Raji - Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development

v. Oluwatumininu Olutayo - Department of Soil Resources Management,

Professor Festus O. Egwaikhide of the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan has

been appointed by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin I. Emefiele,

CON, as the Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Centre for Economics and Finance at

the University of Ibadan. The appointment is for the period from 1stOctober 2020 till 30th

September 2023, renewable for an additional period of two years.

The University of Ibadan, this outgoing year has received tremendous goodwill, benevolence

and supports, which are listed separately in the Order of Proceedings. We express our

profound appreciation to our benefactors and pray that the good Lord will continue to elevate

and bless you.

I am very pleased to inform that the Faculty of Dentistry, College of Medicine, University of

Ibadan, took delivery of the long awaited 14 units of Dental Chairs (valued at Fourteen

Million Naira) & some dental journals in the early hours of Sunday, 8/11/2020. The 14

Dental Chairs & journals were donated by *Dr Evelyn Ofilli -Adelehin* of St Louis

Missouri, USA, a 1986 BDS alumni of the Faculty on behalf of Ofili-Adelehin family upon

request by Dr Elizabeth B Dosumu, as a classmate & a dear friend to improve the teaching of

students in our Dental School.

The role of the former Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. O O Dosumu, the former

Provost College Medicine, Prof. Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa and former Deputy Provost

College of Medicine, Prof Obafunke Denloye in the eventual very hectic processes of the

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clearing and transportation from the Port to the Dental School Ibadan deserves to be very

much acknowledged.

It must be noted that the above dental chairs arrived at the Port in Lagos in April 2020 but

due to the COVID-19 lockdown they could not be delivered and hence charges for clearing of

the chairs, accumulated charges for demurrage at the Port, offloading from the container &

loading into the Ibadan bound truck at the port & final offloading at the Dental School Ibadan

& transportation to the Dental School at the very early hours of Sunday 8 November 2020 is

to the tune of #2,846,436 (Naira).

The break down of the payment is as follows:

1) College of Medicine #825,000,

2) Faculty of Dentistry # 475,000

3) Prof O O Dosumu #1,546,436

We congratulate Provost Olayinka Omigbodun and Dean Juliana Taiwo for this benefaction

We appreciate the visit of Ambassador of France to UI on 13 May 2019 to discuss

partnership between UI and the Embassy of France in Nigeria and universities in France.

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There was a meeting on 14 May 2019 between the University of Ibadan School of Business

(UISB) and Five Schools of Business from France.

There was initiation of collaboration between UI and six other universities in Nigeria with the

French Embassy in Nigeria on the Innovation and Adaptation to Climate Change Project in

April 2019 with the visit of Dr Emmanuel Nymphas to the University of Grenoble, France

and a number of other meetings in Abuja, Nigeria. Six other researchers from UI were

subsequently nominated to take part in the research project, which is still ongoing. Total

project cost is €30, 000.

The University of Ibadan was awarded a Fablab to UI. The letter of award was received on 4

September 2020 and the Fablab commissioned on 13 October 2020. Value is about 25, 000

Euros.

There is opportunity for 2-3 PhD students from UI to work on atmospheric pollution/

environmental pollution /environmental health science, etc, during some short scientific stays

in France. This is a component of the ongoing AIRACC project spearheaded by the Embassy

of France in Nigeria.

The French Embassy also offered assistance to develop a French Resource Centre in our

University at our Department of European Studies, faculty of Arts

We look forward to mutually beneficial relationship between the Embassy of France in

Nigeria and the University of Ibadan.

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Submission of externally audited accounts

The University of Ibadan was in the news for the wrong reason sometime ago because of
some issues ta=hat arose when we appeared at the National Assembly before the Public
Accounts of the House of Representatives. The news was that our audited accounts were not
ready because the external auditor went blind. The true account is that as at December 2015
when this administration took office, the University had only submitted the audited accounts
up till 30 June 2012.

It is gratifying to report that the external auditors have since completed the following audited
accounts :
1 July 2012 to 31 Dec 2012
2013 accounts
2014 accounts
2015 accounts
2016 accounts
2017 accounts
2018 accounts
2019 accounts

In essence, we have prepared the accounts for seven and a half years. Consequently, we are
now up to date with our accounts. The outstanding accounts have been endorsed and will be
submitted to the Auditor-General of the Federation Monday 16 November 2020.

Conclusion
Before I conclude my speech, I, once more, want to felicitate with all the graduands for your
intellectual accomplishments at the University of Ibadan. Having obtained a degree, you are
properly positioned and adequately equipped to face the challenge of transforming the society
through acquired knowledge and competencies. I enjoin you all to be good ambassadors of
this University in whatever capacities or positions you may find yourselves. I also charge you
to strive to stimulate the growth of our national economy with your dynamism, enthusiasm
and creativity. Most importantly, as alumni of this great citadel of higher learning, may I
beseech you to always remember your own, the University of Ibadan, in all your endeavours,
and contribute your own quota to her continued progression. The University has invested
enormously in and given you an enviable platform to exhibit your potentials as well as
achieve your life-long dreams and aspirations; you should also be willing to give back when
you are capable or in position to do so.

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May God grant you all journey mercies back to your destinations.

Thank you all for listening.

Professor A. Idowu Olayinka

Vice Chancellor

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