OOU, has come a long way since its establishment in 1982. Of course, the founding fathers had great dreams and good vision for the Ogun State flagship institution, which still remain a work in progress. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of students have graduated from this tertiary institution and a vast majority of them are now spread across strategic sectors of the nation’s economy, making invaluable contributions to national development.

There is no gain saying that the quest for seeking admission into higher institutions of learning are not only to acquire the required skills and knowledge, but also to be part of  members of a unique community resident in well-designed physical structure with exotic environment.

These structures which are uniquely different from the usual setting in most towns and cities, include lecture theatres, halls of residence, staff quarters, laundry arena, refectories, recreational centres, parks and gardens, and of course, well paved  walkways to mention just a few. Apart from beautifying the University environment, they also make teaching and learning more conducive for both staff and students in the University.

Thus, these accounted for why some of the first generation Universities are the toast of  intending school leavers. The experiences of these Universities are now being re-lived in OOU by the on-going landscaping and construction of well paved walkways and pedestrian bridges to enhance free movement of staff and students within the campus without necessarily disrupting the layout and lawns. These initiatives are part of Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde led administration physical infrastructural development agenda for the University. Many of the buildings on the campus are now easily accessible through well-defined entry and exit routes.

OOU has a vision to be a centre of academic excellence where “knowledge, skills and value will be pursued relentlessly, by ensuring the flowering of human abilities, service to the Nigerian nation and the world at large in the wider context of traditional wisdom and culture.” Aligning with this vision, the University is being effectively piloted by the current management to compete favourably in a global knowledge economy.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has brought some disruptions, efforts to make the academic environment conducive have not been halted in any way at the University. Construction of new buildings and provision of relevant facilities are relentlessly going on so that students and staff will savour these amenities on resumption of academic activities.
Of course, lecture halls, laboratories, studios and equipment are essential elements of learning environment in Universities. Several experts opined that having schools in good and serene environment are significant and would not only add to the health benefits of students but also trigger interest in academic activities. While there is no doubt that high quality infrastructure enhances better instruction and improves students’ outcomes, accessing such diverse infrastructure in an expansive serene environment with lush greenery also becomes important consideration for University administrators.

To overcome the challenge of access, good road networks and walkways have become imperative. And due to the zeal and proactiveness of Prof. Ganiyu Olatunde, these are being undertaken in OOU to the admiration of stakeholders in the  community.

An ex-student of the University, Mr. Tola Adeyemi, who graduated about five years ago, could not believe his eyes when he visited the campus recently.

Adeyemi, who had come to process his transcript, expressed satisfaction with the level of transformation that has taken place in the University. The former student stated that if not that he had been here before, he would have said this was not the OOU he graduated from.

In his words: “Honestly, I could not believe my eyes when I drove into the campus. A lot has changed in the school and I am very happy because the changes are positive.”

Traversing the campus, several modest walkways recently constructed and aligned to satisfy pedestrian movement and directional desires are visible all over the University. Apart from seeking to seamlessly connect the campus and helping people to navigate the landscape without walking on the lawns, the walkways have in a most unique way beautify the academic environment. Some enthusiasts have also applauded the construction, which is characteristically safe to walk  in all weather conditions and wide enough to accommodate occasional surge of high volume of pedestrian traffic.

Speaking on why the institution’s environment is wearing a new look, the VC disclosed that Management wanted to create a more conducive and serene atmosphere for staff and students to work and excel. In his words, “If you go on campus, you will see that virtually all our buildings are in good shape because we believe that one of the striking features when you visit a University is the appealing nature of its environment.  Right from the gate, the ambience is captivating. The sight of the well cut lawns and the trees canopies are delightful to behold.  Apart from their aesthetics, if well managed as we are doing, they offer tremendous benefits to people and the environment.”

“We just built a new park for the commercial vehicles coming into the campus. We are doing a five-year maintenance culture for all our buildings. Once a building goes through five years, we have to go back and fix it so that  students will be happy, the workers too would feel at home. We want to create a situation where you feel more convenient staying at work than going back home because the environment is friendly and serene,” the Vice- Chancellor stressed.

On his part, the Director, Physical Planning, Mr. Francis Oyekunle who commended the administration of Prof. Olatunde for living up to expectation in his dream of making the University environment more conducive for teaching and learning by creating an Environmental Management Unit in the Vice-Chancellor’s Office with the aim of having a beautiful environment, landscaped with lush green grass and plants with defined walkways in between manicured lawns. He noted that the synergy between the Environmental Management Unit and the Directorate of Physical Planning has been most rewarding, especially in terms of value addition to the aesthetics of the University.

According to him, “when you talk about beauty, you’d realise that it’s not good to see all these red patches of earth on lawns. The beauty of a lawn is in its lushness, and greenery. When you see meanderings on surfaces that are supposed to be green, in a good environment, you won’t like it. It’s better to define a pedestrian path.”

“The walkways are already adding to the beauty on the campus. Seriously, when the students resume, they will behold the beauty.  Before the commencement of the beautification project, students were crossing the lawns anyhow. But now you won’t see that again.” Mr. Oyekunle noted.

In his candid opinion, the Deputy Registrar, Senate Affairs Division, Mr. Wale Adeoye described the establishment of the Environmental Management Unit handling the beautification project as a step in the right direction. In his words, “we are moving forward with that type of aesthetic development. The introduction of this Environmental Unit has added glamour to the serenity and aesthetic value of the University. You can see that the University is looking clean and fine. Generally the University environment is very appealing. You can’t compare it to what it was some three, five years ago. There is still room for improvement but I think we must give kudos to the management for initiating this bold step to beautify the University.”

He stated that “the surroundings of buildings  should be landscaped. By landscaping the environment, you are giving it aesthetic value. When you enter the campus, you actually know that you are in a University environment.  The layout, the setting, the lawns, the flowers, the parks and gardens define the beauty of a University. All these are the attributes of a modern, developed University, and we are just getting to that stage now”, observed Mr. Adeoye.

Similarly, the Deputy Registrar in the Academic Affairs Division, Mrs Yetunde Ogunsanwo who confirmed that the innovations in the University were part of Prof. Olatunde’s Development Agenda for the University disclosed that  OOU is now wearing a new look starting from the main entrance gate to the administrative building. “I think we are good, the University environment is actually very nice and we hope management will keep this up. It’s a very friendly and a nice development.”

“I remember that the first meeting the Deputy Registrars had with the incumbent Vice Chancellor, he actually mentioned that the landscaping of the University is a task that is very important to his administration and I think he’s doing a wonderful job. When you look at the lawns, it just reminds me of those Ivy Universities.  You won’t be told not to cross the lawns and you won’t even try it.  And that is been replicated here because the lawns are green and beautiful. I think the Vice Chancellor and his management team have done well in this regard.”

In a related development, a NASU member and one of the pioneer staff of the University, Mr. Banjo Adesina could not hide his feelings when he gave the current management a pat on the back for the all-round excellence recorded so far.

“The University is progressing well. The present management is trying its possible best and we enjoy what they are doing. If you look at the new Senate Building, this is a kind of structure that is very rare in some Universities in Nigeria. For Olabisi Onabanjo University to possess such a structure, it means we are progressing. And for being able to pay staff salaries regularly, the man is really trying. We can only pray that  God continue to guide him. I’m pleased with what is happening,” Mr Banjo noted.

Also in his optimistic posture, the Acting Provost, Postgraduate School, Prof. Olusegun Lawal assured members of the University community that very soon the level of development in the University would not only support teaching and learning in the daytime but would also encourage staying back on the campus throughout the night for academic activities.

“We are living up to standard now, it’s a phase that is required and we are getting there. We give thanks and credence to the present management. There is no one that would come in here that would not see the development. It’s a thing that should please everyone. For those of us that are here, we are happy with it.”

“I know that there are more amenities that are coming on board that we are seriously eager to see. By the time the landscaping project is completed, it’s going to be a wonderful environment. I know very soon, some of us will be sleeping on campus and we would be able to go to our offices and laboratories and do research overnight. It’s a wonderful and welcome development” Prof. Lawal submitted.

The Vice-Chancellor lauded the donor for deeming it fit to spare a thought for his alma mater, describing the gesture as instructive and a giant leap, capable of inspiring other alumni to support the development of the University.

The proposed technology hub, whose foundation laying according to the donor would take place in October, this year, is slated for completion in 2022.
While receiving the donor, who was accompanied by his wife and some members of his Foundation, the Vice-Chancellor expressed satisfaction with the efforts of Dr. Oyebolu to bequeath the University with the multi-million ICT facility.

Professor Olatunde noted that most of the advanced Universities all over the world depend on endowment and contributions from former students and alumni associations.

He said, “This donation is a very good development within the Nigerian University system and we will continue to use it as a  reference point of what the alumni can do for the University. Most of the advanced Universities in Europe and US, depend on endowment and donations.”

The Vice-Chancellor also revealed that the ICT Hub, the largest donation by an alumnus of the University, when completed, would be fitted with computers, internet services, among other facilities and would readily accommodate about 200 students.

“We are telling other alumni of this institution that they must of necessity come back to the University, appreciate the fact that they got their education from here and therefore, give back to the system. I can say that some alumni associations have also been helpful by sending donations, equipment and books to us. But there are a number of successful alumni of this University that have not joined the association and are not coming forward.”

Olatunde, who explained that OOU had witnessed tremendous developments over the years, informed his guests that the issue of cultism had been effectively curbed in the institution.

He said, “One of the critical things we did when we came in was to declare zero tolerance for cultism and we fashioned out a strategic security system that arrested all that. I want to tell you that the peace we have on campus is due to the disposition of Almighty God but it is also part of the strategies we came up with for the University.  In fact, our students have been one of the best well dressed in the country. I must tell you, except for this current pandemic, for the last six years, the session has run continuously without break because of the understanding of the unions and the orientation of students which has changed.”

“So, we are having very positive developments and we are not letting down our guards because security is key to learning, teaching and development of any organization.”

Speaking on his gesture to the University, Dr. Segun Oyebolu, who studied Computer Science and graduated about 28 years ago, said there was need for well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to support the growth of tertiary education in the country.

“If we cannot give back, survival of our cherished institutions will be at risk, our humanity will be devalued, we will starve our society of the much-desired growth and deny our future generations the enablement to quickly surpass our own accomplishments,” he submitted.

The donor stated that over the years, Nigerian Universities have had dwindling budgets when compared to students’ enrolment, while budgetary allocations have fallen short of reference standard of 26 percent as stipulated by the UNESCO.

He disclosed that he had earlier budgeted ₦100M for this ICT Hub to be named Segun Oyebolu Technology Incubator Centre but that the reverberating effect of the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to review it upward to ₦164M.

He, however, expressed optimism that the technology hub, when completed, would serve as training ground for tech giants.

Oyebolu said, “As a proud alumnus of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, I have the good fortune of making a gift at a time when the University is embarking on a major expansion and trying so much to take its place among elite institutions in Africa.”

“I am extremely proud of the University Management efforts and will continue to look for opportunities to do more for the benefit of future leaders that will be trained here.
I am well aware of the various challenges our Universities are facing in terms of sustaining physical infrastructures and more than that, ability to update and upgrade learning tools as newer advances in technology rest old tools that came with earlier supplies.”

“In the last few years, I have seen tremendous efforts on the part of the Management to keep our University infrastructure in great shape in the face of very challenging revenue base; the future of education funding in Nigeria do not give great hope to people like myself, that is why I have decided to make the new addition to the University infrastructure, a cost-free and worry-free addition.”
He also commended the current University Management for tackling the scourge of cultism on campus, adding that he would always partner with the school to completely stamp out the problem.

The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona has endowed a Professorial Chair in Governance and domiciled in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State Nigeria.

The aim of the Chair is to enhance the image of the University in the area of Governance. The objectives are to:

1. 1. 1. Initiate and execute researches that have the capacity of proffering solutions to contemporary challenges and issues of governance at the local and global levels.
      2. Promote scholarship, rigorous research activities and opportunities for collaboration with scholars and Institutions committed to issues of governance.
      3. Serve as springboard for attracting quality staff and students to the Department of Political Science through research output.

The Olabisi Onabanjo University now invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for the Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance that will become vacant in November, 2020.

• ELIGIBILITY

1. The applicant shall be a Distinguished Professor in any field related to Governance from any recognized Institution anywhere in the world.
2. The applicant shall be a Professor of not less than ten (10) years and must not be more than 65 years of age as at the date of appointment.
3. The applicant shall demonstrate continuing scholarship and must show evidence of leadership in teaching, research and mentorship.
4. The applicant shall have track record and the ability to attract external resources, including research grants.

• RESPONSIBILITIES

The holder of the Chair shall:

1. • Submit a report of research activities to be undertaken periodically during the appointment.
   • Deliver/organize a lecture/symposium on Governance based on his researches annually.
   • Publish research findings in a reputable Journal on Governance.
   • Submit an annual report.
   • Partake in regular Departmental and Faculty academic activities as well as being a member of the University Senate.
   • Perform other duties and functions that will enhance the overall aim of the Chair.

• TENURE OF APPOINTMENT
  The appointment is for two (2) years duration in the first instance and renewable for another term of two (2) years.
• REMUNERATION

1. • An all-inclusive salary of N12 million per annum.
   • Shall be entitled to facilities such as Official Accommodation, Office Space, Official Car, Driver, Personnel and complementing ICT facilities.
   • Regular monthly office impress
   • Attendance of at least one International Conference in a year.
   • Special allowance for applicants from outside Nigeria.

• METHOD OF APPLICATION
  Interested and qualified candidates should send twenty (20) typewritten copies of applications and Curriculum Vitae giving information in the following order:

1. 1. Name in full (Surname first).
   2. Date and place of birth.
   3. Nationality.
   4. Marital Status.
   5. Number and Ages of Children.
   6. Present appointment with date and salary.
   7. Current contact address with telephone numbers and email address.
   8. Permanent home address.
   9. Educational Institutions attended with dates.
   10. Academic and Professional qualifications with dates.
   11. List of Academic Publications.
   12. Community service.
   13. Programme of research activities to be undertaken for the period of appointment including Budget for the research with measurable timelines.
   14. A covering statement of not more than 1,000 words stating your mission and vision if appointed as the Chair of the Oba (DR.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance.
   15. Names and Addresses of three (3) referees (Applicants should request their referees to send confidential reports on them directly to the Registrar).

Application with Curriculum Vitae and copies of all relevant credentials should be forwarded by post NOT LATER THAN SIX WEEKS from the date of this advert and addressed to the:

• THE REGISTRAR,
  OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY
  P.M.B. 2002, AGO-IWOYE,
  OGUN STATE, NIGERIA.

SIGNED:
FEMI OGUNWOMOJU
REGISTR

1. Students are to resume on Monday, 11th February, 2019 for the continuation of lectures.
2. Students are also given additional ONE week, beginning from Monday, 11th February, 2019 to pay school fees and complete their course registration.
3. A meeting of the University Senate will hold on Tuesday, 12th February, 2019 to consider and approve, the revised Academic Calendar for the rest of the 2018/2019 academic session.

Students and the General Public are advised to please note the decisions of the University Management above and ensure strict compliance.

Thank you.

Signed

Management

The Registrar, who observed that over the years, the issue of obtaining transcripts promptly had been of great concern for the University Management and indeed the various Alumni Associations at home and abroad, stated thatthe new e-transcript system is a step in the right direction of permanently solving this problem and actualizing one of the goals of the present administration to reposition the University to conform to the status of a modern University of the 21st century.

The Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, explained that the E-transcripts process has been worked upon through the digitalization of all existing students’ records by the synergy that existed between the Academic Affairs Office of the Registry unit and the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit. He informed that the procedure for request, payment and delivery has been made very simple and friendly and available for all categoriesof students (Full-time, part-time and post-graduates).

The OOU “E-transcript” as it is branded, can be accessed on the University website https://etranscripts.oou-agoiwoye.com.ng. Users are expected to create a profile with their matriculation numbers as well as e-mail addresses after which they will be required to supply details of the Institution or Organization to which they want the University to send the transcripts. With this new service, any graduate of OOU can get his/her transcript through the transcript portal by applying online, paying the required fees and using any of the payment options, receive status alerts on the request and get a student copy of the transcripts while, hard copies would be couriered simultaneously either locally or internationally without any additional costs.

Speaking at the special briefing, The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde commended the efforts of the Registrar and his team in the Academic Affairs and ICT Units for coming up with this innovative idea at this auspicious time when there were challenges of prompt issuance of transcripts. He therefore advised OOU graduates to take advantage of this technology-based platform that has simplified the earlier complicated manual system of transcripts collection.He enjoined applicants to cooperate with the committed and dedicated crop of professionals in the e-transcripts units who would be online 24 hours to attend to their requests. He thereafter pleaded with applicants to be patient with the operators and note that as it was usual for any new process/system, there may be some teething challenges which would be perfected over time.

Present at the special briefing were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Prof. A.O.J. Agboola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor (Mrs.) Ebun Oduwole, University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole, Bursar, Mr. Semiu Makinde, Deputy Registrar (Academic Affairs), Mrs. Yetunde Ogunsanwo and other Registry and ICT Staff.

The OOU “e-transcript”, as it is branded, can be accessible on the university website https://etranscript.oou-agoiwoye.com.ng Users are expected to create a profile with their matriculation numbers as well as email addresses after which they will be requested to supply details of the Institution or Organization to which they want the University to send the transcripts.

With this new service, any graduate of OOU can get his/her transcripts through the transcript portal by applying online, pay using any of the payment options, receive status alerts on the request, and get a student copy of the  transcripts.Hard copies will be couriered simultaneously,either Locally or Internationally without additional costs.

I am using this medium to enjoin you to please take advantage of this technology-based platform.

As usual with all new products,there may be some teething problems in the take off of this platform.I assure you however that our dedicated team of Professionals are online 24 hours of the day to receive your reports and comments and will attend to all issues raised promptly.

On behalf of the University Management,I thank you all for your kind cooperation.

Warm Regards,
Femi Ogunwomoju.
Registrar.

It was a week of Intensive training for some members of the Governing Council and Management of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye at the Kennesaw State University, Georgia between the 1st and 8th December, 2018.

The Workshop titled “Leadership, Governance, Conflict Management and Resource Mobilization” was attended by members of the University Governing Council including Prince Odubunmi Solarin, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu (SAN), Professor K.B. Olurin, Professor O. Olubomehin and Professor O. O. Adebawo. Also in attendance were some members of Management which included the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Johnson Deji Agboola and the Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju. While the Vice-Chancellor was sponsored, in part, to the workshop by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tet-Fund), other members of Council and Management enjoyed sponsorship by one of the Development partners of the University, Unity Bank Plc. The Workshop, was organized by the School of Conflict Management, Peace-Building and Development of the Kennesaw State University and drew participants from many Universities and Colleges from Nigeria and the Continent of Africa.

Topics covered at the Workshop included, “Governance and Corruption Prevention, Budgeting Process and Financial Accountability”, ”In-between Leadership and Management “,”How Leaders Communicate” ,”Conflict Management “ ,”Leadership and Ethical Decision Making” among others.

Read also: OOU Alumnin Association, North America Chapter Fetes OOU Contigent in Atlanta, Georgia.

Speaking during the courtesy visit, Professor Rufus Ishola Akintoye posited that there were a lot of local and international opportunities that could be explored to support and raise the status of academic programmes in the University especially, in the Accounting programme. According to him, CIMA as well as ICAN were collaborating with other international Accounting bodies like the Management Accounting Research and Curricula, London, United Kingdom to facilitate robust research and enhance manpower development. Professor Akintoye asserted that he encouraged the International Accounting body, represented by Mr. Noel Tagoe, as well as CIMA, to consider Olabisi Onabanjo University for the Professorial Chair, because of his conviction in the intellectual capacity of the lecturers in the Department of Accounting OOU, as well as the lofty height that the Accounting programme in the University has attained, having been producing excellent Accountants for the past 32 years. He added that as a former lecturer in the Department of Accounting, OOU, Ago-Iwoye, he was aware that the Department was running both full-time and part-time programmes, with over 5,000 Accounting graduates produced to date. Professor Akintoye posited that as a result of the long years of existence of Accounting Programme in Olabisi Onabanjo University and the composite curriculum that had helped in producing many Chartered Accountants at the level of CIMA and ICAN, situating the Professorial Chair in OOU, Ago-Iwoye was a fair and just decision.

In his own remarks, Mr. Noel Tagoe submitted that the International Accounting body which he represented, was prepared to facilitate more research efforts and increase its presence across Africa, stressing that his role as a person, was to collaborate with other Accounting bodies such as CIMA, ICAN and others to support the production of sound Accountants worldwide. He noted that over the past five years, the programme had been moved to other continents and that it was time for Africa to enjoy the opportunities inherent in collaborative research for manpower development and professional excellence. He informed the gathering that in 2019, his Institute will be celebrating the centenary, with proposal underway for a centenary endowment in four parts of the world for its commemoration and this included Africa, China, India and United Kingdom. He disclosed that Nigeria had been chosen in Africa for a Professorial Chair in one of the Universities, with Olabisi Onabanjo University having the rare opportunity of being the beneficiary of the Professorial Chair in Accounting of the International Institute. He concluded by appreciating his Professional colleagues, urging them to key into the partnership and collaborative efforts to promote the Accounting Profession in the world.

While responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde thanked all the distinguished Accountants for their visit and for their lofty views and plans for academic development of the University especially in the Accounting programme, urging them to support the proposed Professorial Chair that will be endowed. He extolled the efforts of Mr. Noel Tagoe, the Executive Vice-President of Management Accounting Research and Curricula, as well as that of Professor Rufus Akintoye and other officers of CIMA. He gave a brief history of the University, noting that the University has grown to become one of the best Universities in Nigeria, with over 95% of the programmes having full accreditation status by the assessment of the National Universities Commission (NUC). He informed the visitors that the University has virile postgraduate programmes that are rated very high by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and Accounting programme has been one of the programmes that are well rated in the University. He urged the visitors to bring to the University, a Centre of the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA) for the benefit of the students

At the event with the Vice-Chancellor were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor A.O.J Agboola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor (Mrs.) EbunOduwole, Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, University Librarian, Dr. AdebamboOduwole, Bursar, Mr. SemiuMakinde, Head,  Department of Accounting, Dr. KehindeSoyemi and other University functionaries.