Campus News

How to grow from a ‘good leader’ to a ‘great leader’… Oloyede

A former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, CON, has identified honesty, hard work, sacrifice, consistency, and character as the virtues that make the difference between an ordinary leader and a great leader.

Prof. Oloyede made this observation penultimate Thursday (December 26, 2024) while delivering a lecture, entitled “Excellence as a Legacy: Inspiring Leadership in Every Role”, at an event organised in honour of Prof. Nazmat Surajudeen-Bakinde, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, (USET), Brikama, The Gambia, by the 1990 Set of Offa Grammar School Old Students Association..   

Quoting copiously from the Glorious Qur’an, Prof. Oloyede noted that time usage and misuse is what makes the difference between a good leader and a bad one, saying that everyone is a leader.

He said, “The way we invest, spend, use or waste our time makes all the difference in this life. Both the fortunate and the unfortunate, the successful and the failed, the expert and the mediocre are credited the same quantum of time without discrimination. You just have to be intentional or deliberate about what occupies your time because where your time goes is ultimately going to be your legacy”.

The former Vice Chancellor noted that excellence requires a lot of practice as we have in athletes who train relentlessly, leaders who combine working smartly and tirelessly. He further submitted that excellence is a product of exceptional hard work, undisguised determination and unwavering commitment to the cause at hand.

In his goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, congratulated the Class of 1990 of the Offa Grammar School Old Students Association, on producing a personality like Prof Surajudeen-Bakinde and urged them to keep supporting her.

Also in his remarks,  the Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, described the honouree as a former neighbour at the University Staff Quarters, whose meteoric rise is no surprise because he knew her as a prayerful and dutiful person.

The Vice President of the Offa Grammar School Class of 1990 Old Students Association, Mr Steven Akinyemi, noted that the honouree had always demonstrated brilliance and focus and she was celebrated a year ago upon the attainment of the peak of her career.

Mr Akinyemi said that she declined being celebrated again this year on becoming the first female member of their class to become the Vice Chancellor of a University located outside the shores of Nigeria, adding that she was only convinced after the class noted she gave a reason for the Class of 1990 to celebrate itself.

  Other speakers at the event were the Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin Muslim Community, Prof. Nasir Abdusalam; the Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji; the Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof. Noah Yusuf; the Vice Chancellor of Summit University, Offa, Prof. Musa Aibinu; the Ag. Director of UNILORIN Health Services, Dr Rasheed Odunola; the ASUU Unilorin Branch Chairman, Dr Alex Akanmu; and the honouree’s father, Alhaji Olagoke, among several other dignitaries.

In her response, Prof. Surajudeen-Bakinde, who poured encomiums on her husband, Dr Surajudeen-Bakinde, for his unflinching support, also appreciated the organisers of the event and all who were present for honouring her.

She also disclosed that the tough academic system at the University of Ilorin prepared her for all the events that led to her appointment and has continued to help her on the job.