“University of Ibadan Appreciates Acts of Benevolence,” says VC

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, mni, FAS, fspsp has disclosed that the University of Ibadan deeply appreciates acts of benevolence, saying that the University owes its continued existence and excellence partly to the generous donations of its alumni and well wishers. 

He made this disclosure while leading the university management on a visit to the Morohundiya family residence in Lagos.

The visit was to allow the university to express its appreciation to the family for the benefaction and to commiserate with the family over the demise of their matriarch, Chief Christiana Ayodele Morohundiya, jp.

He recalled that the late Chief Samuel Olasupo Morohundiya’s testament featured the University of Ibadan as a beneficiary of an expanse of land, which has two massive buildings along Ibadan-Oyo Express way, Idi Ose.

Professor Adebowale expressed the university’s profound appreciation for the thoughtful gesture, stating that the university has been privileged to receive hands of benevolence since its inception. 

He also recollected that the university is situated on hectares of land bequeathed by the good people of Ibadan land for a period of 999 years. 

He explained that UI was not established by political consideration or fiat but its establishment was an offshoot of the reports of two commissions which confirms its status as a university founded on a vision for excellence when it commenced as a college of the University of London in 1948, before gaining full autonomy in 1962. 

The VC explained that the facility that was donated by the Morohundiya family was maximized by the university’s Distance Learning Centre in its evolvement as a frontline provider of open and distance education in Nigeria. 

While reassuring the family that the Morohundiya Foundation for Legal Education will be revamped and its lecture series resuscitated, Professor Adebowale disclosed that the university has initiated plans to put the Idi-Ose facility in further use for the advancement of legal education in Nigeria and the benefit of the university in the pursuit of its institutional goals. 

He reiterated that the university is committed to immortalizing the late Chief Olasupo Morohundiya given his magnanimity to the University of Ibadan. 

The Head of the Morohundiya Family and first child of the late icon, Chief Yetunde Ashabi Morohundiya,the Asiwaju Iyalode Fiwagboye of Ibadanland, warmly appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and his entourage for the visit, which was the first to be paid to the family by the university management even though there had been interaction at different levels with the university, particularly the Faculty of Law. 

She paid glowing tributes to past Deans of Law, who have interfaced with the family on behalf of the university and expressed joy that the university is renewing its commitment to sustaining their father’s legacy. 

Chief Morohundiya stated that it was a new beginning and expressed hope that the gift would be adequately maximized to guarantee the progress of the foundation.

She requested that the family be carried along in the university's plans to enable the Morohundiya family to make valuable suggestions. 

One of the proteges of Late Chief Moroundiya, Barrister Richard Ahonaruogho, SAN, commended the university’s decision to pay the family a visit, emphasizing the expediency of initiating activities that will keep the foundation alive.

He restated that reviving the lecture series was a step in the right direction.

Other members of the Morohundiya family that were at the meeting were Mrs Bolanle Olatokunbo Ogunjobi; Chief Mrs Tinuola Aboyade; Barrister Omowumi Morohundiya; and Mr Edirin Kragha, a grandson of late Chief Olasupo Morohundiya. Dr. Mrs Morenike Adebusuyi was unavoidably absent.