The University’s pioneer Director, Directorate of Physical Planning, Architect Akin Akiode has x-rayed the leadership style of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, concluding that he is a “visionary leader”.
Speaking exclusively to FUNAAB Bulletin at his Abeokuta private residence, Architect Akiode attributed Professor Oyewole’s visionary leadership to his track record as a pioneer staff of the University who was part of the team that evolved the vision and contributed to its reality and sustenance.
According to him, “Professor Oyewole was part of pioneering staff. He saw it all. I believe he must have seen the direction”.
Architect Akiode who worked alongside the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Nurudeen Olorunimbe Adedipe was instrumental to the massive infrastructural development of the University at its inception, ranging from the University Library, Senate Building, College of Natural Sciences (COLNAS) etc.
A veteran Architect of national repute who had been privileged to work with three Nigerian Universities, namely Lagos State University (LASU), FUNAAB and University of Abuja as well as private universities which include Fountain University, the University of Petroleum Resource, Effurun, stated that he had never experienced abandoned projects.
According to him, “I saw the result of my efforts and it was like when you give birth to a new baby, you thank God”.
“I am very proud of the University and I am happy that the University established by the Babangida Administration in 1991 has come of age”, he noted.
The astute Planner said his sole responsibility was to see to the delivery of projects in terms of management, adding that it was the distinction between the Director, Physical Planning and a Project Manager.
Architect Akiode attributed the success of the projects to ability to identify good design, assembling of resources and good funding.
He, however, stated some challenges that confronted the movement to the permanent site as skepticism on the part of some staff who were aversed to change.
His words, “the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nimbe Adedipe called me and said, ‘we are moving’, he also called his DVC and instructed that his table be moved to the permanent site”, adding that it was the beginning of the movement.
