UNILORIN to honour Oloyede, Ojulari, Oladimeji, 29 others next Monday
By Abubakar Imam
The immediate past Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Emeritus Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, would, next Monday (August 17, 2026), along with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Plc, Engr Bayo Ojulari, the proprietor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Chief AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, OFR, and 29 others, be honoured by the University of Ilorin for their various contributions.
While Prof. Oloyede, an outstanding alumnus and a former Vice Chancellor of the University from 2007 to 2012, would be formally celebrated for gloriously completing his tour of duties at JAMB, the NNPC helmsman and three notable entrepreneurs, the Managing Director of BOVAS Petroleum Services Limited, Mrs Victoria Adunola Samson; a distinguished chartered accountant, Chief Olusola Adekanola, and the proprietor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Chief Abdulraheem Oladimeji, OFR, would be celebrated for their various contributions to the development of the University and the nation at large.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the event, Prof. Waheed Babatunde Yahya, in an interview with newsmen in his office last Monday (August 3, 2026).
The Chairman, who said that each of the honourees was carefully selected and found to be worthy of the honours, said that the ceremony would be held at the University Auditorium beginning at 10.00a.m. under the Chairmanship of the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Mr Sonny S. T. Echono. A renowned legal practitioner, Mr Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, SAN, would be the guest speaker.
Prof. Yahya, who is also the Director of the University Advancement Centre, also explained that nine individuals, who are all illustrious graduates of the University, are to be honoured with the Distinguished Alumni Award. They are the Olumobi of Imobi-Ijesha, Osun State, Oba Jacob Adetayo Haastrup; the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Shaykh Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abou-Nollah; an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr Miller Dantawaye; the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency(NGSA), Prof. Olusegun Omoniyi Ige and Prof Patrick Adegoyega.
The list of the honourees also includes the Vice Chancellor of the Dennis Osadabe University, Delta State, Prof. Samuel O. Aghalino; an NNPC topshot, Mr AbdulRasheed Ojulari; the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Prof. Lateef Folorunso Oladimeji and the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin, Prof Medinat Folorunso Salman.
The Chairman also said that 18 other outstanding alumni of the University would be conferred with the prestigious UNILORIN Ambassador Award. They include the Executive Director, Finance and Accounts of the NNPC and Dan Amana Geri of Ilorin Emirate, Dr Abdulkadir Tunji Nagode; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sobi 101.9 FM, Ilorin, Dr Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha; the Chief Mufassir and Mufti of Osogbo, Shaykh AbdulLateeff Yusuf Abajaoro, a senior military officer, Col. Kolawole Rasheed; and the Chief Executive Officer of the famous Item 7 confectionery services, Ilorin, Mr Ibigbemi Oloruntobi.
Others who are scheduled to be conferred with UNILORIN Ambassador Award include a renowned urologist, Prof Olusola Andrews, a multipleAward-winning microbiologist, Prof. Olatunji Matthew Kolawole; a former Dean of Student Affairs, University of Ilorin, Prof. Musa Toyin Yakubu; a renowned Port-Harcourt based legal luminary, Chief Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN; another outstanding legal practitioner, who is based in Lagos,
Aare M’sbaudeen Adeyemi Adeshina, SAN; and the Vice President, Health Services, Shell international,Dr Femi Oduneye
Also to be honoured as UNILORIN Ambassadors are the first alumnus of the University appointed as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Sir Olusegun A. Adekunle, the incumbent Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade; Dr Emmanuel Edem Ikpeme, and Mrs Jane Odum, who is based in the United States.
Prof. Yahya also listed other new UNILORIN Ambassadors as a Director at the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr Abubakar Rahmat Salihu; a former Director at the Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr Babatunde Kuye; and Mr Olusoji Oyawoye.
He explained that the honourees were carefully selected among the list of hundreds of nominees as he said that the University would continue to honour its deserving alumni and friends to encourage hardwork and patriotism.
The Chairman encouraged relations, friends and colleagues as well as staff members, alumni and members of the general public to attend the event punctually.
