The Executive Director, Center for Black Culture and International Understanding, Professor Siyan Oyeweso has congratulated the Board of Trustees Chairman Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola on his 69th birthday.
Professor Oyeweso in a message made available on Monday described the former Governor of Osun as a national treasure.
He writes, “Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was born on Saturday, February 3, 1951 in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State into the royal Oyinlola family. His father, Late Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola was the Olukuku of Okuku between 1934 and 1960. Olagunsoye’s mother, Late Olori Comfort Ololade Oyinlola, hailed from Otan Ayegbaju. Her family migrated from Otan-Ayegbaju to settle in Okuku. Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s mother died in 1959 when he was barely eight years old while his father died a year later. Following the loss of both, at a very tender age, the task of nurturing Olagunsoye fell on the elderly members of his family.
“Prince Oyinlola completed his primary education at St. Michael’s Primary School, Okuku in 1963. He then proceeded to Odo-Otin Grammar School, Okuku, where he obtained the West African School Certificate in 1968. Olagunsoye Oyinlola, out of love for the military profession, enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1969 as a Private Soldier and was posted to the Signals Corps, then headed by Late General Murtala Ramat Mohammed. He later attended the Nigerian Defence Academy as a participant in the Short Service Course 11 and was commissioned as an officer in 1971, into the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army at the prime age of 20.
“Prince Olagunsoye had a fulfilling career in the military. He trained at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna as well as Command and Staff College Jaji, where he served as a Directing Staff, and Military Institutions in India and the United-States. Prince Oyinlola was at the National War College, Abuja where he was awarded the Fellowship of the War College in 1998. He served meritoriously in various capacities as Troop Leader, Squadron Leader, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, Acting General Officer Commanding and Military Administrator.
“He participated in the United Nations Peace-Keeping exercises in Chad and Somalia in 1983 and 1993 respectively. The stream of successes recorded by Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the military and his humility and level-headedness, saw him being appointed the military administrator of Lagos State, a position he held from December, 1993 till August 1996. He bowed out of Military Service as a Brigadier-General in 1999.
“A humane, compassionate and accommodating personality, Prince Oyinlola married his wife, Omolola, (nee Majekodunmi) in 1978. The union is blessed with four children. His hobbies include golfing, hunting and fishing. Olagunsoye Oyinlola emerged the Governor of Osun State of Nigeria on May 29, 2003 and remained in office till November 26, 2010.
“We must also acknowledge that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola remains the authentic founding father of the multi-campus Osun State University, a university which formally commenced academic activities on September 21, 2007. Prince Oyinlola also constantly acknowledges the pivotal role of such stakeholders as Distinguished Prof. Peter Okebukola OFR, Distinguished Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe OFR, Emeritus Prof. Olu Aina OFR, Emeritus Prof. Segun Oke, Prof. Moses Fawole, Prof. (Mrs) Janet Makinde. His administration also appointed a First Class academic and exceptional university administrator Prof. Sola Akinrinade FNAL, as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, under whose watch, the university recorded phenomenal and ground-breaking achievements.
“The Osun State Government, under his leadership has utilized to the greater advantage of the citizenry, the principle of visioning and planning. He was able to open up the state to the local and international community, utilizing Culture and Tourism which grew rapidly during his tenure. He was the prime architect of the First Global Conference of Black Nationalities, a Colloquium on Slavery, Slave Trade and Its Consequences which were held in Osun State from 23-27 August, 2011. He also conceived and commenced preparation for the hosting of the World Summit of Black Mayors in Osun State.
“In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the development of humanity, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola was in April 2004, conferred with an honourary Doctorate Degree in Civil Laws by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and a Doctor of Letters Degree of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State in 2006. Prince Oyinlola also bagged a Doctor of Laws Degree (Honoris Causa) from the prestigious Buckingham University, United Kingdom, in February, 2007. Similarly, Osun State University honoured him in 2010 with a Doctor of Laws degree while Lead City University, Ibadan followed suit in December 2010 with the award of a honourary Doctorate Degree in Civil Laws on Oyinlola. He is also a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management.
“Prince Oyinlola is currently the Chairman, Board of Trustees Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding. He has used his warm and friendly disposition to cultivate friendships, even beyond the shores of Nigeria, to place the cultural Centre at a vantage position for humsn development. He is the immediate past Chairman, Board of Directors of the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC). He is currently the President of Nigeria Golf Federation.
“Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola is also a proud holder of LL.B, B.L. degrees. Thus, he is a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Let us rejoice with a consummate administrator, an excellent family man, an office and a gentleman, a thorough bred ex-military officer, a champion of pristine family values, a man of culture and tradition, a transformer and a very humble personality, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as he clocks 69 today.
May Prince Lagun Oyinlola continue to age gracefully and in excellent health too. May God continue to make him continually relevant in the service of the nation, the international community and humanity at large.”
