By BASHIR ADEFAKA
The first Founder’s Day Celebrations after the demise of founder and proprietor of Crescent University Abeokuta (CUAB), Nigeria, late Judge Bola Ajibola, holds today, Friday 22nd March 2024 in the Ogun State capital.
Leading this maiden posthumous event in honour of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who was also Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, will be his successor as Proprietor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CUAB, the Citadel of Academic and Moral Excellence that he established and had made operational since 2015, Prince Muhammed Ma’ruf Adesegun Ajibola, SAN, FCIArb, M.IoD.
Also incorporated in the event that will hold today in the Bola Ajibola Auditorium of the university is ‘Bola Ajibola Community Services Awards’, which was also established by the late world class jurist in appreciation of contributors of security, peace and development in the communities with then Ogun State Commissioner of Police (later AIG) Ahmed Iliyasu along with some of his officers being the first beneficiaries at the maiden award ceremony held on Thursday 22nd March, 2018.
The DEFENDER recalls that the Bola Ajibola Community Services Awards first held during the 12th edition of the university’s Founder’s Day Ceremony on Thursday 22nd March 2018, attended by Judge Bola Ajibola, himself before his demise six years after, with the then Wazirin Katsina, Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, as guest lecturer, and Emir of Kazaure, Jigawa State, His Royal Highness Alhaji Najib Hussaini Adamu, whose investiture as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the university took place during the event, where then Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, was ably represented.
Expected at today’s 18th edition of the Founder’s Day event will be the sitting Governor of Ogun State/Chief Proprietor/Grand Host, Prince Dapo Abiodun, who will join the Grand Host, Prince Muhammed Ma’ruf Adesegun Ajibola (SAN), and Vice Chancellor/Host, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, in playing host to dignitaries including the Guest of Honour, Dr. Chris Jibreel Maiyaki, the Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC); Former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria/Chancellor CUAB, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari CFR; Emir of Kazaure/Pro-Chancellor CUAB, HRH Alhaji Hussaini Adamu, CON; Royal Fathers including the Alake of Egba Land, HRM Oba (Dr.) Adetokunbo Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV; and the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof) Saka Adelola Matemilola, Oluyalo Otileta VII.
Guest Lecturer will be Dr. (Mrs) Tamramat Mosun Bello Olusoga, the Lead Consultant/Chief Executive Officer, KRC (Knowledge and Resource Control), who will speak on the topic: “Competence and Self Determination for Growing Leaders”.
Traditionally, the Founder’s Day of today is preceded by a Novelty Football Match, which took place at the Wahab Folawiyo Stadium, Crescent University Abeokuta, on Thursday 21st March, 2024.
