Pioneer Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of National Board of Technical Education, NABTEB, Prof Olu Aina OFR, has been honoured with Professor Emeritus of Technical and Vocational Education by Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State.
The award, which is the peak of academic ladder, was bestowed on Prof Aina on Saturday, November 30th, 2019, during the 17th Convocation Ceremony of the institution.
Also honoured with Honourary Degrees are former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Elegushi of Ikateland, Oba Saheed Ademola Kesenla lll, popular Nollywood Actress, Mrs Omotola Jolade-Ekeinde and Business mogul from the Republic of Togo, Mr Sow Bertin Agba.
In his acceptance speech, Prof Aina, who has served as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the institution between 2002 and 2011, described the honour as “watershed in my Odyssey”, adding that it’s coming thirty years after he became the first Professor of Technical and Vocational education in Nigeria and twenty-eight years after he resigned from academic.
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Aina also stated that attainment of Emeritus Professorship is the highest academic honour, adding that it remains a rare privilege as it is not commonly given. He added that his observation has revealed that he’s the first person to be honoured with Emeritus Professor by Igbinedion University.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to the Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Regents of Igbinedion University, Okada, His Excellency, Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion CFR, the Esama of Benin for recommending me for this prestigious award of the University with all the rights and privileges thereto,” he said.
“I am also immensely grateful to all members of the board of Regents, the senate and the Governing Council of the University for approving the recommendation in the view of the fact that there are also many other professors qualified to be so honoured. It is gratifying to note that this icing on the cake of my academic career coincides with my 80th Birthday celebration.What else do I ask of the Lord after a fulfilling academic career and an active life in the service of the nation, other than to sing and praise His Holy name.
“Although I retired from the Nigerian academic system in 1992, I have continued to put my robust experience in academic leadership, policy making and governance in the service of several Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
“l accept this award wholeheartedly, particularly since it is coming from Nigeria ‘s numerouno private university – a university that I have a very rich history of association with since its inception in May 1999.”
Promising to reciprocate the gesture extended to him by the institution, the Otan-Ayegbaju-bor Professor said, “In accepting this award, may I also assure this great centre of academic excellence, that I will re-double my efforts in serving as its worthy brand ambassador, upholding its image and in worthy brand ambassador, Upholding its image and in line with established academic tradition, continue to support the university by engaging In various activities in a voluntary capacity to uplift the university. These activities would involve policy advice to the university leadership, serving as a mentor to the upcoming academics, playing a support role in Ph.D supervision, fundraising and attracting research giants, among others.
“At strictly personal level, I want to place on record, my indebtedness to his Excellency, Chief (Dr) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion CFR, the Esama of Benin, for his love, affection, faith and confidence in me since our paths first crossed in 1992.”
The Highly Decorated Aina showered praises on the Chancellor and Chairman of the Boatd of Regents of the institution, Chief Osawaru Igbinedion, whom he described as his “compass to Edo State and its people.”
Present on the Entourage of Prof Aina are the former governor of Osun and pioneer Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, Director of the Center for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo, Prof Siyan Oyeweso, among Others.
