Owing to her high-flying performance, the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello on Monday was showered with adulation by distinguished individuals.
Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello took the center-stage at the unveiling and presentation of a book titled: Chronicles Of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello held in her homour at the Ijakadi Hall of Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos.
The book, Theliberationnews gathered was a brainchild of Prof Mubashiru Olayiwola Mohammed (MOB), the Director, Centre For General Nigerian Studies (CGNS) Lagos State University.
The auspicious event had in attendance the presence of big wigs from the academia, political and business landscapes.
In his pre-launch remark on the occasion, the book Launcher, Dr Chris Bamidele Onasanya, a LASU alumnus and Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of Revolution Plus Property, spoke glowingly about the vast developmental strides being witnessed in today’s LASU.
Recalling his struggling days as a LASU student years back and how God has mercifully compensated him with vast business expanse, wealth and comfort, Onasanya avowed that now that God has blessed him so much, he would continue to give back to society, including LASU, his Alma Mater.
To this end, the Revolution Plus chief executive pledged to build and deliver to the university, a lecture hall at the Faculty of Education.
Being a graduate of Economics of the now globally top-rated university, a citadel of Lagos pride and Nigerian glory, Onasanya there and then instituted a ten-year-stretch award for the Best Student of Economics and the Best Student of Economics Education every convocation.
This, however, was no prejudice to his on-the-spot launch of the book with a handsome amount of N10m which set the tone for the infectious responses of other dignitaries at the event that targeted a minimum of N100m for the launch day.
In her opening speech earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs) hailed Prof Olatunji-Bello as an accomplished, resilient, outstanding academic administrator with a transformative touch.
“Since she assumed the leadership of LASU as the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello mni, NPOM has recorded a lot of transformative feats, projecting LASU as a global reference in successful university administration.
“This woman of faith and passion, a Zonal Pastor in the Redeemed Church, exudes impressive humility, integrity, dedication and dexterity in service to God and humanity.
“We are confident that under your leadership, we shall continue to witness records of milestone achievements; Princess Orelope-Adefulire beamed.
While commending Prof Mubashiru Mohammed and his team for putting together the book, Sir David Sunmoni, the Chairman, Governing Council of LASU noted that the book title should have added “Part One” because “it is not possible to chronicle in one single book, Prof Olatunji-Bello’s feats as the Vice Chancellor of LASU.
“She has done so wonderfully well to have put LASU on the world map. In fact, she has surpassed the expectations of the Governing Council.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the LASU staff unions at the book launch, Comrade Adejoh, the Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT – LASU branch), hailed what he described as the VC’s “excellent approach to problem-solving”.
The Vice Chancellor, on her assumption of duty three years ago was reported as pledging her whole-hearted commitment to the welfare of all staff and students of the Lagos State University.
She was quoted as declaring her determination to put smiles on the faces of LASU staff, a faith which according to the testimonies, the VC has kept l with the constant payment of salaries to date.
While giving his welcome speech earlier, Prof Mubashiru Olayiwola Mohammed, who was the initiating author of the book and Chairman, Organising Committee of the event, did a creative expose of the initials of the Vice Chancellor’s names as:
I for integrity (depicting her honesty, firmness and uprightness) B for benevolent (which conveys her spirit of altruistic giving without looking back); another I for innovativeness (her intuitive generation of new administrative ideas, which MOB noted has impacted positively on all the staff and students of the institution. Y- standing for the VC’s yearning to be the best in any endeavour she finds herself.
The letter E in the VC’s first name stands for an exemplary leader who has consistently and passionately remain self-driven to break new grounds. M – depicts her magnificence, always having a broad vision and never intimidated by the magnitude of challenges. I – this last letter of Prof Olatunji-Bello’s first name, according to MOM, stands the VC’s “Intellectual sagacity”.
Dr Abayomi Kasali, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Education, who represented Mr Tolani Sule, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education declared “We are celebrating a woman woman who has made her mark in university administration in Nigeria. She has achieved a lot in LASU. In fact, she has given LASU national and digital fame by making LASU the most digitally advanced state university in Nigeria.
Reviewing the book, Prof Bidemi Lafiaji-Okuneye, the maiden and current Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) noted that the book is so written in simple and clear that it allows for easy comprehension not only the highly lettered reader but also for a broader readership benefit of the not-so-lettered.
She described the writing style as intriguing.
“This book ‘Chronicles of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello is a testament of her resilience, dedication and determination; a must-read for students, educators…”
The reviewer, however, observed that the book which was published by the LASU Press, has no publication date.
Responding, the honouree of the day, expressed her deep appreciation to Prof Mohammed and his team for the noble initiative that birthed the book even as she hailed the determined and concerted efforts put into writing the book and working tirelessly to make the final presentation a success.
Humble in honour, the VC, expressed pleasant surprise at the Prof Mohammed’s resilient determination to put the book together and successfully pushed it through to final launching even after she declared to the initiators from the onset that the university had no money to commit into the project.
The honour, according to Prof Olatunji-Bello, is another challenge to do more, which she re-avowed to keep doing till her last day in office as the 9th substantive Vice Chancellor of the top-rated university.
Also commended for the success of putting together and presentation of the book, Chronicles of Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello are Mr Martins, Adekoya, Kunle Gbanja, who did excellent witty job at the event as the solo compaire.
Applause also poured on the entire crew of the Centre for Information and Public Relations (CIPR) led by Mrs Oluyemisi Thomas -Onashile as well as the LASU Press and Publishing.
