Campus News

Abiri family endows scholarship at UNILORIN to immortalise late educationist

The family of the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, the late Prof. John Omoniyi Abiri, has established a foundation and scholarship scheme at the University in his honour towards promoting educational development, community service, and immortalising the late scholar and traditional ruler.

According to Dr Oyelola Abiri, one of the children of the late Emeritus Professor, the foundation and scholarship will focus on students pursuing courses in the Faculty of Education, where his father worked and retired. The foundation will award N100, 000 to the best graduating student in the Faculty of Education each year, covering the next 10 years.

The Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Lasiele Alabi Yahaya, expressed appreciation to the Abiri family for establishing the scholarship and foundation, describing it as a promise kept.

He also commended the Vice Chancellor for creating an enabling environment that fosters academic excellence, adding that the new scholarship and foundation will not only honour the legacy of the late Prof. Abiri and encouraged students to excel in their academic pursuits.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who accepted and approved the scholarship and foundation, has welcomed the development.

Prof. Egbewole emphasised the University’s commitment to public-private partnerships, promoting town and gown relationships, good moral behavior, and academic excellence.

 The Vice Chancellor thanked the Abiri family for preserving the legacy of their late father.

Olori Titilayo Abiri, the widow of late king described her husband as a loving husband, caring father and philanthropist who cared deeply for humanity.

 She expressed gratitude for the establishment of the scholarship and foundation, stating that it will continue to pass on the message of his personality for life.

The late Prof. Abiri was a renowned educationist, who was also a visiting Senior Fellow at the University of London and a recipient of several awards.

After his retirement from the services of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abiri was crowned as the Obapero of Abiri Kingdom in Ile-Ife, Osun State.