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Family donates N100m to OAU in honour of late Prof. Odeyemi
From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Professor Oladele Ogunseitan, a don from the Department of Population Health and Disease Prevention, University of California, Irvine, has called for collaboration between private and public sector investors to drive economic growth and development in Nigeria.
Speaking at a lecture in honour of the late Professor Olu Odeyemi at the Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Ogunseitan emphasised that such collaboration should allow autonomy, enabling each sector to operate independently while showcasing its expertise for the community’s benefit.
He stated, “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, 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.”
Paying tribute to Prof. Odeyemi, Ogunseitan 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 torch to ensure that his contributions will endure, and his enlightenment will shed eternal light.”
OAU’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, commended the Odeyemi family for establishing an endowment in honour of the late professor, describing it as a living tribute to a man who made significant contributions to the university, the nation, and science.
He said, “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.”
Bamire described Prof. 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.”
The Odeyemi family donated N100 million to establish a Professorial Endowment Chair in Microbiology at OAU, presenting the cheque to the Vice-Chancellor.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Olufemi Adesina, described the late don as a passionate and accomplished microbiologist whose work focused on solving real-world problems. He added: “He was a forward-thinking visionary whose ideas laid the groundwork for the creation of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) – a key institution driving Nigeria’s technological growth.”