The fever grips you as you edge closer to the town. Regardless of which direction you are coming from, the scent and aura of the historic occasion smack your senses as you trudge deeper into Ago Iwoye, one of Ogun State’s most popular towns – on this morning. Commercial motorcyclists, cab operators and even vulcanisers – everyone appears to have an inkling of the biggest event taking place in town on that day. In colour and sophistication, Thursday, May 25, 2017, was a special kind for Ago, as the rustic town is fondly called by some – and its hundreds of natives and dwellers.
Even though the main event for the day was billed to start by 12:00pm, gaily-dressed men and women beaming with smiles had begun thronging the town hall from as early as 10:30am. By 11:30am – 30 minutes to the start of proceedings proper, it was a packed arena – a sea of guests decked in colourful and brilliantly sparkling traditional attire of every shade and sizes. The beautiful decorations splattered all across the hall also spoke volumes of the mood in the air – Ago Iwoye and its people were sparing nothing as they rolled out the drums for a man, who over the last five years, had brought smiles upon their faces – Prof. Saburi Adejimi Adesanya, outgoing Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, a state-run higher institution situated in the town.
By a few minutes past 12:00noon when the respected don and honouree walked into the hall with his wife, Ajoke – an ageless beauty, in company with others from the university community, the atmosphere became turbo-charged. Their man had arrived.
Brought in from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where he was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) in 2012 by Ogun State Governor, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, Adesanya took over the mantle of leadership at OOU at a time the institution was neck-deep in all sorts of crisis. Apart from coming up against constant unrests by students, issues of unpaid salaries, low productivity and poor academic performance were also big challenges at the time. This is aside a frosty relationship between the university and its host community and the negative perception the school suffered in the eye of large sections of the public. Presiding over an institution with all these problems was a job only few people wanted. But Baba Saburi as Adesanya is fondly called by many, had a clear-cut plan on how to deal with the situation immediately he packed his bags and headed for Ago. Five years down the line, his indelible impact and transformation works in every aspect, resonate beyond the four walls of the institution and its sleepy host community.
“Many people feared that I would never return alive to Abeokuta, my home town, after agreeing to take up the job of the Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University,” Adesanya said, overwhelmed with emotions as he mounted the podium to appreciate the large gathering that had turned out to give him a befitting send off – the very first such honour accorded any vice-chancellor by the town. “The reputation of the school was so terrible at the time that it took a lot of encourage for anyone to come here,” he hinted. “But through the grace of God, a clear-cut strategy and the cooperation of the monarch and people of Ago Iwoye, the staff and students of OOU, we were able to achieve almost everything that we set out to do. The patience to listen to people and also dialogue as much as possible also helped us achieve success.
“Today, this institution is one of the most peaceful and beautiful in the country. Even though I turned down an international offer to take up the role of the VC of this great school, I am filled with joy today for taking this path because I have no regrets. Taking up the role gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of wonderful people and witness the loving kindness of the people of Ago. The memories will live with me,” he said, attracting cheers and resounding applauses from the crowd.
Leading the line in pouring encomiums on the highly decorated professor of pharmacognosy, the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye – the town’s heavily-built but soft-spoken monarch – Oba Abdul-Razaq Adenugba, described Adesanya as an angel sent to them from above.
Describing him as a man with an uncommon passion for great accomplishments, the monarch said that through his dedication to duty, Adesanya stabilised the academic environment, leaving positive trickling effects on the economy of Ago Iwoye and adjoining settlements.
“Prof. Saburi Adesanya has left his footprints on the sands of time, his record of achievement as Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University will forever remain indelible and continue to be a reference point.
“His five-year tenure brought a cordial relationship between the Ago Iwoye community and the university. His unblemished performance has no doubt justified the confidence reposed in him by Governor Ibikunle Amosun over his appointment.
“The peaceful atmosphere that pervaded the town and gown during his tenure served as catalyst for improvement in the socio-economic activities of this community, hence our decision to roll out the drums to celebrate this great achiever. His tenure was a great blessing to the university and the Ago Iwoye community as a whole. If we had the power, we would never let him go because he was such a great man,” Oba Adenugba said.
Even though he promised to continue the good works of Prof. Adesanya, Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde, agreed that fitting into the shoes of his predecessor won’t be easy.
“The role of the VC is huge and so to complete your tenure and be celebrated by your host community is a great thing.
“Prof. Adesanya has left behind a great legacy; we shall continue his good works even though fitting into his shoes won’t be an easy task. I am, however, assuring the entire people of Ago Iwoye that the relationship between the university and the community would continue to grow stronger,” he said.
Apart from prominent sons and daughters of Ago Iwoye and high-ranking officials of OOU, who graced the well-attended event where Prof. Adesanya was presented with the Ago Iwoye Merit Award and also showered with gifts, traditional rulers from adjoining towns graced the occasion as well. There was enough to eat and drink for everyone.
While revealing that it took weeks of tireless planning to put up the befitting send off ceremony, Chairman of the planning committee, Prof. Sola Adebajo, a traditional chief, said that every effort put into making the event a success was worth it because of the impact the outgoing VC left on every one of them.
Describing Adesanya as a gifted problem-solver, Adebajo said that the event, as colourful as it was, will never be enough to show the honouree how much Ago and its people appreciated his efforts during his time at the university.
“It is not every time that we gather for this type of occasion. We just want to say that Prof. Adesanya performed wonderfully that we need a day like this to say thank you to him. He is a man to be celebrated any day, any time.
“During his regime, OOU became the best state university in the country. The university has forgotten its bad days. Results are released as at and when due, cultism and gangsterism seem to have gone under to the extent that not a drop of blood was shed during his tenure on campus. We will never forget all that he did for this community and the university,” he said.
In her remarks, Chairperson of Ago Iwoye Central Development Council,Princess Adenike Tolofari, said that for all the things he did for the town and the institution, their prayers will always be with him.
