The town celebrated the gown at the 13th founder’s day of Crescent University, Abeokuta when the institution witnessed a tripartite celebration recently: the founder’s day lecture, 85th birthday of the Founder/Proprietor, His Excellency, Judge Bola Ajibola and Community Award of Excellence in his honour.
Ajibola, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of Nigeria and also former Judge of the World Court, The Hague, Switzerland used the occasion to give glory to God who had made his vision for academic and moral excellence a reality at 85.
VC,Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila (l) congratulating the guest lecturer,Prof. Mashood Baderin after his lecture titled “Integrity in Leadership: A Moral Compass for Societal Development”.
According to a statement jointly issued by two officials of the university, Mr. Olaniyi Akanji and Mr. Idris Katib, made available to The DEFENDER, “Four distinguished Nigerians emerged winners of this year’s Bola Ajibola Community Award for Excellence.
“They are Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Mamara, Alhaji Rafiu Ebiti, Sheik Caliph SA Adenekan and Prof. John Adewale Abolurin.
“They clinched the award in recognition of their contributions to philanthropy and human development.
“Bola Ajibola Community Award was instituted in 2018 to recognize and reward excellence in personalities who have made their marks from different endeavours.”
Quoting the late sage in his address at the occasion, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Judge Ajibola stressed that “recognition of greatness in others is in itself greatness”, adding that winners of the 2019 award deserved it.
While delivering his lecture, titled “Integrity In Leadership: A Moral Compass For Societal Development”, Prof. Mashood Adebayo Baderin, a Professor of Laws, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, United Kingdom, emphasized that leadership is all trust and how lack of integrity amongst leaders has turned many nations to nothing.
In the lecture, the UK scholar said: “In advancing human development, I propose that the following germane areas must be prioritised to enhance effective societal development in most African countries; including Nigeria.
“There should be promotion and respect for human dignity, pushing human right and enablement, advancing good and functional public education and capacity building for all, promoting and ensuring human security.”
While quoting from the Glorious Qur’an, he said, “Do not destroy the earth after it has been made good, as a direct commandment from the Supreme Being to mankind.”
The erudite Professor of Laws gave a good account of himself and represented the gown excellently, as he also cited quotations from the Holy Bible to support his assertion on leadership and integrity, all of which drew applauses from the attentive listeners.
Present at the occasion were the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, represented by his deputy Mrs. Onanuga, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Alake of Egba Land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo III, the Olowu of Owu, Oba Adegboyega Dosunmu, Prof. Dawud Noibi, Member, Board of Trustees of Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA), Barr. Adesegun Ajibola (SAN), a Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu and wife of the celebrant Alhaja Amatullah Ajibola.
The event that held at the Main Auditorium of the Bola Ajibola College of Law of the Crescent University, on Friday, 22nd March, 2019, had in attendance the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, the Registrar, Barr. Zakariyya AjIbola, Librarian Dr Mulikat Salaam and the Bursar, Alhaji Bankole Jimoh.
Prof. Gbajabiamila during his welcome address expressed his joy at the recent performances of the university in the National Universities Commission’s accreditation.
According to him, “At the start of 2018, we had 12 programmes that were deemed for accreditation with the NUC. Indeed, by the end of last year and the start of this year, we are very proud to announce that all our programmes scored 100%, and we got accreditation for all. This is an important recognition of the quality of our university as one of the best.”
