Day of Honour: The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun receiving the Plaque of award from His Royal Majesty, The Alake of Egab Land, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo(right), while Profs. Onwuka (DVC, A) and Lagoke (DVC, D) watch with admiration

In a colourful ceremony marked with pageantry, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB), Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, alongside six others were on Friday, March 4, 2011 honoured with the Egba Distinguished Sons and Daughters Award.

The event had in attendance important dignitaries in the Egba Traditional Community led by HRM Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo (Okukenu IV), The Alake of Egbaland; HRM Obi (Prof.) Joseph Chike Edozien, The Asagba of Asaba; distinguished Egba sons and daughters; political and academic bigwigs from all over the country as well as the honourees with members of their families and well wishers.

Presentation of the Lisabi Distinguished Son Award to the UNAAB Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun was the cynosure of all eyes as press men struggled for space and audience with the enigma, who transformed the citadel of learning with academic and infrastructural development.

The shouts of ‘Professor ogbon and imo’ (wisdom and knowledge) rented the air as students of the institution were on hand to lent support to their Vice-Chancellor.

Other awardees include Chief S.O. Akinyemi, Chief Lamidi Ayinla Sofenwa, Prof. Afolabi Soyode, Chief (Mrs.) Moulin Ashake Agbaje-Anozie, Engr. Hakeem Babatunde Adesina and Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede.

In his address, HRM, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, The Alake of Egbaland thanked the Ceremonial Committee for a job well done and encouraged other sons and daughters of Egbaland to be steadfast in their endeavours and be philanthropic in nature especially to fellow Egba citizens.

The highpoint of the night was the presentation of a drama titled, ‘ROGBODIYAN IJEMO’, which chronicled the popular Ijemo war against the British Colonial Masters.