Today is Crescent University’s day that will be best of all, by Bashir Adefaka
Crescent University Abeokuta (CUAB), no doubt is a Nigerian university that one can describe the Yoruba way of “Akehinde gb’egbon” (the last comer that beats the earlier ones). Before it came into existence on December 5, 2005 following its accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC) earlier in July of same year, Nigeria had got quite over 40 universities put together. Crescent University however came as the first of all faith (Islamic) based universities in the South of Niger called Southern Nigeria.
Crescent University Abeokuta, as first Islamic university in the South and second in entire country next to Al-Hikmah University Ilorin, was much later followed by Fountain University Osogbo, owned by NASFAT, while this particular university that is the centre of pride for any parents in love with better future for themselves and their children is proudly owned and proprietored by no other than an Old Boy of Baptist Boys’ High School, Abeokuta (BBHS), who was pioneer President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) (1984 – 1985), Attorney-General of the Nigerian Federation and Minister of Justice (1985 – 1991), a Judge of the International Court of Justice (World Court) at The Hague (1991 – 1994), one of five Commissioners on the Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission, organised through the Permanent Court of Arbitration while in the World Court, and above all, Olori Omo Oba Owu, Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Prince Alhaji Dr. Abdul-Jabbar Bolasodun Adesumbo Ajibola , CFR, SAN, KBE, LL.B, BL, FCI, NAILS, LL.D.
Born on 22nd March 1934 in Owu, Abeokuta to the Owu Royal Family of Oba Abdul-Salam Ajibola Gbadela II, who was the Olowu of Owu Kingdom between 1949 and 1972, Bola Ajibola (SAN) attended Owu Baptist Day School for his primary and Baptist Boys’ High School for his secondary education, both in Abeokuta, between 1942 and 1955. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Law (LL.B) at the Holborn College of Law, University of London between 1959 and 1962 and was called to the English Bar at the Lincoln’s Inn in 1962. The lead Prince of Owu returned to Nigeria to practice the Law, specialising in Commercial Law and International Arbitration, after which much later in years having traversed the entire universe contributing to peace, unity and progress, became the Chairman of the Panel set up by the Plateau State Government of North Central Nigeria to probe the 2008 Jos riots.
While doing all that, Bola Ajibola, who succeeded Chike Ofodile (1984 – 1985) as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and was succeeded by Clement Akpamgbo (1991 – 1993), had already established Crescent University in 2005 in Nigeria which is an Islamic and co-educational institution.
This Saturday October 14 when his Crescent University which is the peak of the educational contribution that its umbrella body of Islamic Mission for Africa (IMA) has made to the recovery of Nigeria’s lost glory through education plus (academic excellence and moral soundness and alertness), it will be one of the greatest days, like the days of his “Golden Nights”, nights of sleeplessness and serious hardwork for welfare and academic survival in Whiteman’s Land of England, that will continue to gladden both the heart of the great contributor of progress and his admirers from across Nigeria and around the globe.
As for me, the Prince of Osolo of Isolo Akure and noticeably a subject of the Paramount Ruler and Deji of Akure Kingdom, Akure Division, Ondo State, I have decided on this great day to rejoice and be happy with this successful great man of Owu Kingdom so that rejoicing and happiness will always be my portions all the days of my life here in the life of this world and the hereafter.
Congratulations, I say, to Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN)!
Congratulations to the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council!
Congratulations to the amiable Vice Chancellor and entire academic and non academic staff…
…all of the Crescent University Abeokuta (CUAB), Ogun State, Nigeria, Africa.
