Prof. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Balogun (Left) receiving the honour from Prof. A.S Bala on behalf of her husband, Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja

The Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), last Thursday at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, honoured the University’s immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun.

The honour which was in recognition of the former Vice-Chancellor’s accomplishment and meritorious service as the academic and administrative leader of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, between 2007 and 2012, was accorded alongside 13 others including a post humus.

In her remarks at the occasion, the Minister of Education, Professor (Mrs.) Ruquayyat Ahmed Rufai admonished serving Universities’ Chief Executives to make the best of their tenure while in office, such that they could leave befitting legacies.

The Minister noted the fact that the Vice-Chancellors were usually operating under excessive pressures, but however urged them to ensure that they maintain cordial relationship with their predecessors in office.

Professor Ruquayyat Rufai said the transformational agenda of the Federal Government in the education sector would in due course address issues and challenges faced by the nation’s higher institutions.

Giving his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, expressed delight over the rapid expansion being witnessed in the university education sector, a development he noted was due to government’s renewed interest for increased access.

Earlier, the Chairman of the AVCNU, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, Professor Is-haq Oloyede said the honour for the former members was designed to further entrench the process of knowledge sharing in the nation’s Universities.

The spouse of the former FUNAAB’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Elizabeth Balogun, stood-in to receive the honour on his behalf.

The incumbent Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele, the Director of the Institute for Human Resources Development (INHURD), Professor Babatunde Kehinde and the Deputy Director, Public Relations, ‘Lasun Somoye, witnessed the event.

The occasion later swayed a little on emotions as the former Vice-chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Professor C.O.E Onwuliri, who died in the ill-fated Dana aircraft crash, was given a post humus honour, while a minute silence was also observed in his memory.

The honourees list is as follows:

Prof. Ikenna Onyido – Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike

Prof. S. G. Tyoden – University of Jos

Prof. Akase Paul Sorkaa – Benue State University, Makurdi

Prof. M. O. Faborode – Obafemi Awolowo, University, Ile-Ife

Prof. A. M. Balogun – Federal University of Technology, Akure

Prof. Babatunde Alabi – Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurum

Prof. O. O. Balogun – Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Prof. Ezzeldin M. Abdurahman – Kaduna State University

Prof. Nancy Agbe – University of Makurdi

Prof. P. I. Oriajaka – Anambra State University, Uli

Prof. Oyewale Tomori – Redeemer’s University

Prof. C. O. Oshun – Joseph Ayo Babalola University

Prof. M.T Ige – Crawford University, Igbesa

Late Prof. C. O. E.  Onwuliri – Federal University of Technology, Owerri