The Director, IFSERAR, Prof. Segun Osinowo (L), giving his assessment of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun (R).
The quality of leadership as exemplified by the incumbent Chief Executive of the University, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, has rekindled the hope of many of the assurance of a bright future for the country.
The assertion was the unanimous summation of opinions on the character trait and leadership acumen of Professor Balogun, by a cross-section of dignitaries at his 57th Birthday thanksgiving service, held at the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge at the GRA, Ibara, Abeokuta.
The Director of the Institute of Food Security, Environmental Resources and Agricultural Research (IFSERAR), Professor Segun Osinowo, making a comment on behalf of the UNAAB family, described the Vice-Chancellor as a visionary, who is always far ahead in his thinking, on the way forward for the University.
According to Professor Osinowo, “the quality of mind, determines the quality of the land”, reasoning that “since ‘rare breeds’ like Professor Balogun still abound in the country is an indication of a renewed hope for a brighter future for Nigeria”.
The IFSERAR Director said, “When he (Professor Balogun) first came, we didn’t know what to expect, now we consider ourselves fortunate to have him.
“At a critical time, God sent a messiah. It took over 20 years before we found a man like this, pray it does not take this long to have another”.
He said the Community will forever be appreciative of the Vice-Chancellor’s deeds, while his various achievements will be immortalised.
Professor Osinowo stressed further, “Because of your industry, because of your vision, many children in the country have the opportunity of education. We know the carrying capacity of the University before you came and what it is now”.
In his own assertion, the representative of the Governing Council, Dr. Solomon Oladiti, commended the Vice-Chancellor for his humility. He described him as “a humble person who extends due regards and courtesies without compromising firmness of his strong character”.
Dr. Oladiti commended the quality advice and counsel of the Vice-Chancellor to the Governing Council, noting that the quality addition to manpower as demonstrated by Professor Balogun, was exemplary.
The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, Dr. Sotiloye spoke of Professor Balogun as an accomplished teacher and mentor of many great achievers, like himself, that are scattered across the country.
The University’s Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Samuel Oluwalana, could not help vying-off his Closing Prayer, to comment on the Vice-Chancellor as “very compassionate, very merciful”.
Professor Oluwalana stunned not a few, when he disclosed that “the Vice-Chancellor is currently paying the school fees of not less than 50 indigent students of the University”.
