From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Legal luminary and philanthropist Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, has commenced the construction of a new Senate Building at the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti (BOUESTI) in Ekiti State, assuring that the building will be equipped with the state-of-the-art learning facilities.
Olanipekun, the Asiwaju of Ikere-Ekiti kingdom, is executing the project in fulfilment of the promise made to the management of the state-owned institution when he(Olanipekun) was appointed as its pioneer Chancellor by the immediate past governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Olanipekun, the former Chairman, Body of Benchers, when he was appointed promised not to take a farthing as allowance or accept any other benefit but to humbly contribute to the institution’s development. He is making the donation in spite of the inflation and austere times in the country and the Senate Building when completed will be a multi-million naira architectural masterpiece and a beautiful edifice to behold.
Commending the building.project in the school, the Senior Advocate noted that he was motivated by his desire to replicate what he did at the University of Ibadan, where he had served as Pro-Chancellor for four years, and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo State, where he was also Pro-Chancellor for eight years, at his country home.
To ensure the completion of the project in record time of eight months, Olanipekun had procured and fully paid for all the essential materials to be used, including iron rods, trailer loads of cement, all aluminum fittings and windows, among others. The suppliers and vendors have also been mobilised to site.
“When completed, the Senate Building will have the following facilities: State- Of-The-Art Conference Room,Vice-Chancellor’s office, Senate Conference Room, Council’s Conference Room, Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s office, Registrar’s office, Bursar’s office as well as administrative offices, among others.”
The senior lawyer would have long ago completed the Senate Building but the funds earmarked for it had to be diverted into building an ultra-modern, eye-catching court complex in the same Ikere-Ekiti, which he donated to the Ekiti Judiciary, to replace the old, decrepit court building that had become an eyesore and no longer inhabitable to humans.
He resolved to still go ahead with the Senate Building project, even though times are hard because he had to honour his words, insisting that “the words of any gentleman should be his bond” and he did not wish to leave any unfulfilled pledge for his children.
Olanipekun reputed for his legendary philanthropy had among his numerous philanthropic gestures, built a 350-capacity magnificent Lecture Theatre for the University of Ibadan and also single-handedly built the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge for Ajayi Crowther University, when he was at different times the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council for both institutions.