The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), led by its Chairman, Professor Samuel Edoumiekumo, on February 15, 2022 visited Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian President at the Penthouse of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
The CVCNU delegates included the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Felix Kolawole Salako and Vice-Chancellors of Chrisland University, Crescent University and First Technical University, who were Professor Chinedum Babalola, Professor Ibrahim Gbajabiamila and Professor Ayobami Salami, respectively.
Others were the representative of the Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Professor Abidemi Odeleye; Secretary-General, CVCNU, Professor Yakubu Ochefu; Deputy Registrar I, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, FUNAAB, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Dawodu and some members of staff of the CVCNU Secretariat.
The Chairman who cited reasons for visiting the former President, stated that the Committee would be celebrating its 60th anniversary on October 28, 2022, adding that the Committee is bid to honour the former President.
Professor Edoumiekumo further stated that several activities have been earmarked for the former President’s participation, noting that the Committee would be honoured to have his input. According to him, CVCNU is preparing a compendium and the Committee wanted the former President’s remarks on some salient activities that occurred during his time as a Visitor to the Federal Universities in Nigeria.
He added that major challenges the former Visitor faced and how he was able to tackle the challenges, significant accomplishments during the periods, the relationship with Vice-Chancellors at that time and regarding leadership, his advice to the current Vice-Chancellors.
Professor Edoumiekumo who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassama, described Chief Obasanjo as a leader who has contributed immensely to humanity, stressing that he was a Visitor to 11 Federal universities when he left government in 1979 and by the time he left 28 years later, he was a Visitor to 35 Federal universities.
Responding, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo graciously accepted to be part of the programme, saying that he considered it, a great honour to be invited.
The high powered delegation of the CVCNU later paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB in his office. The delegation were then taken on a guided familiarisation tour of the University, before departing.
