…As family donates N100million endowment fund to honour late Oduyemi
TUNDE ADELEKE, Osogbo
A Professor in the Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, University of California, Irvine, Oladele Ogunseitan, has called for critical balance between collaboration and autonomy across public and private sectors in Nigeria to achieve economic growth and development.
Speaking at a lecture at the Faculty of Science in honor of the late Professor Olu Odeyemi, held at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife on Wednesday, Ogunseitan emphasized that autonomy enables both public and private sectors to function within their areas of expertise while also contributing to the overall development of the community.
According to him, “There is cross-sector collaboration, but there is also a need for autonomy. The private sector needs to invest in the public sector, but then hands-off and knowing that the investment will eventually pay off.
“Building an economy that is robust means people can stay in their lanes, the policy people, the government people, and the science people, but we all have the same goal – to benefit the public. When we do that, people can still make money, but the benefits would accrue to the entire community, and the next generation will build on that legacy to do even more.”
While paying tribute to professor Odeyemi, he said “as a researcher, teacher, mentor, public advocate for science, and academic administrator, Professor Odeyemi’s legacy continues to inspire and influence the next generation of scholars. He has successfully passed the touch to ensure that his contributions will endure, and his enlightenment will shed eternal light.”
The Vice-Chancellor of the school, Professor Simeon Bamire, praised the Odeyemi family for their decision to establish an N100 million endowment in honor of the late professor.
He added that the initiative will serve as a lasting tribute to a man who contributed so much to the university, the nation, and the field of science.
His words, “I thank the family of Professor Odeyemi for bankrolling this endowment. It is our way of preserving his legacy, appreciating his service, and expressing our deepest gratitude for all that he accomplished.”
He however described Professor Odeyemi as “a brilliant intellect, a devoted educator, and a researcher of exceptional standing whose legacy will remain indelible in the annals of this university and the nation at large.”
Similarly, the family of the late Professor donated a sum of N100million Professorial Endowment Chair in Microbiology to the University and presented the cheque to the Vice-Chancellor.
Earlier in his remark, the Dean, Faculty of Science, Professor Olufemi Adesina described the late don as a passionate and accomplished microbiologist whose work consistently aimed at solving real-world problems.
“He was a forward thinking visionary whose ideas laid the groundwork for the creation of the Nation Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) – a key institution driving Nigeria’s technological growth.”
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