Some Year III students of the Department of History, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, led by one of their lecturers; Dr. Emmanuel O. Akubor, who teaches them “The ECOWAS”, visited the University of Fortune, at Igbotako, Ondo State on excursion in the course and paid a courtesy visit on the Promoter of the new university; Senator Dr Jimoh F. Ibrahim.
Also in attendance were Dr. Solomon Tai Okajare (who facilitated the excursion visit), Prof. V.O. Edo, a ranking Professor of History from UI (who is a friend and mentor of many of the OAU History scholars), and Mr. B.S. Borisade (Research Assistant to Dr. Okajare).
Setting the tone for the engagement, Dr. Okajare thanked the Senator for his prompt acceptance when a request for the visit was made. He also assured the University Promoter of the readiness of the leadership and other academics of the Department of History, O.A.U. Ile Ife to collaborate with the new University in all fronts towards building an architecture of enduring relationship and synergy.
In his welcome address, Senator Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim expressed his delight in having the delegation from O.A.U., Ile Ife; his alma mater. He admonished the students to take their studies seriously, underscoring the importance of History as a discipline to positive social orientation, robust nation-building, sustainable national development and liberation of the human mind.
Following his warm and kind reception, the distinguished Senator took the students and dignitaries round the Campus and showed them the first-class facilities the University is putting in place for timely commencement of excellent university education and institutionalisation of genuine university culture that promise to reconfigure university education in Africa and beyond.
In his capacity as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs Worldwide, the Senator also had an engaging tutorial session with the students on various aspects of Nigerian external relations and ECOWAS as West Africa’s major international organisation. This culminated in a brainstorming question-and-answer session.
Not only were the students grateful for the very warm and hospitable reception the Senator accorded them, they were also enthralled by the expansive size and green-world character of the Campus as well as the university’s top-notch, world-class facilities. They also freely expressed their gratefulness for the depth of mastery of The ECOWAS and sundry history and international relations matters.
In his remark, Dr. Akubor, who spoke on behalf of the Head of Department; Prof. A. O. Adesoji, expressed the gratitude of the entire staff and students of the Department of History, O.A.U., Ile Ife to the Senator. He further underscored the compelling need to grow mutually beneficial and long-term synergy between the Department and University of Fortune.
The delegation departed for Ile Ife at about 4.30 pm with profound joy and sense of hope for an enduring cooperation going forward.
