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By Bukola Olajide
The University of Ilorin has presented awards of excellence to distinguished alumni, eminent personalities, and institutional partners in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the university, the education sector, and national development.
The presentations were made during the institution’s 4th Excellence and Distinguished Awards ceremony, homecoming celebration, and investiture event held at the University Auditorium in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, stated that the awards reflect the institution’s commitment to celebrating individuals whose leadership, integrity, and public service continue to advance education and societal interests.
Prof. Egbewole specifically lauded the former Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Emeritus Ishaq Oloyede, describing his successful two-term tenure as a clear demonstration that education extends beyond the acquisition of knowledge to the building of character and capacity for meaningful national contributions.
In his remarks, Prof. Oloyede expressed deep gratitude to the university community and institutional leadership for their support, noting that his academic journey was made possible through crucial scholarship interventions.
“If not for scholarship, I would not have had a university education– I would have had it with pain, and not as an asset. I want to thank the university and its management. I didn’t realize the full impact earlier, but I have come to discover that it was truly worthwhile,” Oloyede remarked.
In his opening remarks as Chairman of the event, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Architect Sonny Echono, urged tertiary institutions across Nigeria to emulate Unilorin by regularly celebrating their distinguished alumni.
Echono stressed that formal recognition motivates honourees to give back to their alma maters while inspiring the younger generation to uphold service, integrity, and due diligence at a time when public confidence in public service remains under scrutiny.
Addressing the gathering earlier, the Chairman of the Event Planning Committee, Prof. Wahab Yahya, emphasised that the university conferred the honorary awards strictly on the basis of merit, service to humanity, and national impact, rather than financial influence or lobbying.
Prof. Yahya explained that the recognitions were structured across three main categories, beginning with the Award of Excellence, which was conferred on Architect Sonny Echono, the founder of Al-Hikmah University, Alhaji Abdulraheem Oladimeji, prominent chartered accountant Otunba Olusola Adekanola, and the Managing Director of BOVAS & Company Ltd, Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson.
The remaining categories comprised the Central Award presented to nine outstanding institutional partners, and the Student e-Learning Ambassador Award conferred on 18 distinguished alumni of the university.
