ENCOMIUMS GALORE AS OLAYANJU GRACIOUSLY BOWS OUT AFTER UNBLEMISHED AND UNBROKEN TIME-OUT AS VICE-CHANCELLOR OF TWO UNIVERSITIES.

Nigeria is blessed with many great men who are unrepentantly committed to taking the nation out of its doldrums and transforming it to an enviable height to attract the envy and admiration of other countries. Adeniyi OLAYANJU, a Professor of Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization, the Immediate Past Vice – Chancellor of Landmark University, Kwara State and Pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Philomath University Abuja is one of such rare resources that Nigeria is blessed with.

This academic icon and University Administrator par excellence had his primary and secondary school education at Salvation Army Primary School, Agodi, Ibadan and Ikolaba Grammar School, G.R.A., Agodi, Ibadan respectively before proceeding to the Premier University, University of Ibadan where he had all his degrees to PhD. His background provided him a good blend of both native and academic intelligence which characterize intellectuals of the ancient city of Ibadan.

ADVERTISEMENT

ValidViewNetwork reports that Prof. Olayanju combines both academic capability with administrative prowess having steadily been involved in leadership from his undergraduate days as President of Agricultural  Engineering Students Society at University of Ibadan.

His amiable, decisive and yet instructive relationship with the students and lofty achievements as Deputy Dean and Dean of Students Affairs at the Federal University of Agriculture, FUNAAB Abeokuta remains a reference point among the students. According to one of the student leaders when Olayanju was the Dean “ He was always there at every point in time solving problems before they become bigger and he would be tough on you if he discovers that you are playing pranks”

Prof Olayanju is a testament of God taking a man from miry clay and setting him up on the rock. He has enjoyed a meteoric rise which can be expressed mathematically as if P is f(x,y); then P= x+5y with God as the constant factor.

ValidViewNetwork opines that for a man to move from being Dean Student Affairs to becoming a Vice-Chancellor within twelve calendar months is not a common occurrence.

The highly energetic and resourceful Olayanju has within the last seven years been involved with the management of both human and material resources first as the Deputy Dean and Dean Students Affairs at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta from where he embarked on a mission to one of the best Private Universities in the country, Landmark University, Omu Aran, Kwara State as the third substantive Vice-Chancellor and left great legacies.

The emergence of Prof. Olayanju as third substantive Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University was loud and the completion of his tenure was louder. The game changer building on the existing structures left the University far better than he met it  and this was widely celebrated by the University community.

ValidViewNetwork reports that the University under his watch developed in leaps and bounds with both local and international recognitions and awards among which is the declaration of Landmark University as the 5^th Best ranked University in Nigeria by the Times Higher Education World Impact Ranking, a feat achieved through a seamless SDGs team put together by this great Engineer.  

Seeth thou a man that is diligent in his business, he will sit among kings and not among mean men. The monumental achievements of this academic icon who successfully completed his meritorious transformation of Landmark University spoke for themselves. Just like it was declared “ we shall not sit until he comes “, his next voyage was from Omu Aran to the capital city, Abuja where he had the singular honour to pioneer Philomath University. Undoubtedly, he has given Philomath an identity and left indelible footprints. He was passionate about the vision driving it on all cylinders.  

ValidViewNetwork reports that Professor Olayanju who delivered the 51st Inaugural Lecture of FUNAAB titled: Man, Material and Machine – The Tricycle of Agricultural Mechanization has successfully managed the men within the available resources using himself as the machine. His confirmation as a good manager of man and resources is incontrovertible! Using the same tricycle mechanism, he has also successfully managed himself, his family and his commitment to human capacity development leaving none down the drain.

The likes of Olayanju enjoyed both tangible, intangible and sustainable benefits from the mandatory NYSC. Beyond serving his fatherland in the eastern part of the country in Ogbunka Boys Secondary School , Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State in 1992 to 1993, he also took for himself a beautiful wife Mrs Tina Adaeze OLAYANJU who has been a catalyst to the actualization of his dreams. Little wonder the Bible says that “ He who finds a wife finds a good thing obtains mercy from the Lord” They are blessed with both biological, spiritual and academic children.

He is a detribalized Nigerian and attends one of the foremost Pentecostal Churches in Nigeria, Winners Chapel International. He is a testimony of My case is different as not many people have the opportunity of being the Vice- Chancellor of two different Universities without a break.

He is currently a Global Partner – Africa to the Human Biology (Global Hidden Hunger) Program of University of Toronto, Canada with over 160 published articles in reputable national and international journals, refereed conference proceedings and technical reports.

As a pay back to the system that has fostered him, Prof Olayanju remains committed to building the competencies of youth through knowledge impartation and skill acquisition. He is adopting a very rich mixture of academic and professional entity towards raising hope and providing guidelines to make the 2030 SDGs agenda achievable.

ValidViewNetwork reports that he is one of those who embrace the vision of a glorious Nigeria run by technology towards the improvement of both local and foreign  economy and reduction of dependence on imported materials. He has been involved in the execution of some national and international projects such as DFID/PrOpCom Rice Project, UNDP/SMEDAN Auto-Spare Parts Project, RMRDC/FIIRO Beniseed Project, IITA/FUNAAB Cassava Weed Project and Bill and Melinda Gate CAVA II Project.

ValidViewNetwork reports that his major assets are his scriptural principles, his family and his high sense of humility and humour. Notwithstanding his busy schedules, he finds time to socialise with his own concept, belief and persuasion. One can only hope that our nation will continue to source for and nurture the likes of Olayanju for a true and effective transformation agenda.

ValidViewNetwork joins Nigerians who have been lavishing encomiums on this great achiever on different social media platforms in wishing him well in his future endeavours.