My tribute to Dr. Hakeem ‘Bola Adekola, the out-going Registrar of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) will be a blend of the personal and official, owing to the natures of relationships I have had with him through the years, first as a Comrade, then as egbon and finally as my boss and Registrar.
I have had a relationship with Dr. Adekola spanning almost two decades. I knew him way back when he was Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye. I could not help admiring him because, being an administrator myself, I found his ability to be able to blend his administrative functions and union leadership to be quite fascinating. At the time he was SSANU Chairman, he was also the Head of Administration in the Vice Chancellors Office. How he was able to meander and navigate his way through the two obviously contradicting assignments still remains a mystery to me. It would take a super diplomat and a highly sagacious administrator to be able to navigate the obvious contradictions. He did both very meritoriously, and that is why till date, he holds a pride of place as father of SSANU in that University, while also holding a record as one of the best and most sought after University administrators in Nigeria.
I am sure that Dr. Adekola did not expect his path to go this way. As a Unionist, he aspired to be National Vice President of SSANU. He also aspired to be National PRO of SSANU. He was schemed out of both races, not due to lack of competence but due to union intrigues where he was perceived as too young, too smart and too assertive for the gerontocratic caucus who determined who became what within the Union as at that time. It is interesting to note that I have held position as National PRO of SSANU and today, I am National Vice President due to Dr. Adekolas inspiring guidance and mentorship. Perhaps he saw in me the same qualities in him that made him continue to encourage me to forge on in the same path he trod on.
With his foray in the Union ended, Dr. Adekola retired into the Olabisi Onabanjo University system until he was head haunted as pioneer Registrar of Fountain University, where his pioneering works still stand tall. I sustained a great relationship with him all the years, and after his stint at Fountain, I was one of the people who encouraged him to come to FUNAAB and vie for the Registrarship post. His first attempt recorded excellent performance deserving of the office, but other considerations did not allow him to come in at that time. Perhaps it was all for good because he may have come into FUNAAB at the darkest time in its history. He however got the opportunity when there was a need to lift the University out of its darkness and his roles in doing that, along with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Salako are well recorded, leading to this celebration.
To say further, my journey to bagging a PhD was inspired by Dr. Adekola. His encouragement for self improvement for university administrators is highly infectious.
As Registrar of FUNAAB, his administrative sagacity came into full radar. He introduced many innovations across all the Registry Units. Today, the University Exams and Records Unit can boast of a highly digitised transcript processing and results verification system. Alumni can apply for their transcripts and get their degrees verified online without physical contact with the staff, thereby stemming corruption. Such applications are processed within a 72 hour time frame, all things being equal. What a great feat and initiative by our outgoing Registrar!
Novel is the new process of clearance and accessing Notifications of Results for prospective Youth Corps members. In fact, except for Convocation ceremony and voluntary visits to the University, once a student drops his pen after his final exams he may choose to never come to the University physically all through his life, courtesy Dr. Adekolas initiatives in the Examinations and Records Unit!
As was done in Exams and Records, it is in the various Establishment Units, Council Affairs, and Senate and Admissions.
Adekola is a blend of compassion, humaneness, and administrative strictness. He is firm on rules but also eager to assist you in overcoming administrative challenges.
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta will miss this man. I will personally miss him and as many have observed, he is leaving behind very big shoes difficult to fill.
Dr. Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam
Deputy Registrar, Examinations and Records Unit
National Vice President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU)
