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| OAU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire presenting an award to Pastor/Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe and his wife |
By 'Gbenga Bankole
It was a day of joy and an unforgettable experience for the Zonal Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church, All Saints' Chapel, Abuja, Pastor/Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe on Tuesday June 27, 2023 as Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State gave him the university’s maiden award of excellence in research practice.
The award, according to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire will henceforth be an anual event to be given to an alumnus of the university, who has demonstrated an outstanding record of knowledge-based accomplishments at national and global levels.
With the award, Prof. Adegbulugbe who is the Chief Executive Officer of Green Energy International Limited, will serve as a mentor for the about 200 best students across all departments of the university. Additionally, he will serve as the face of academic and research excellence for the institution for the next one year.
The professor was a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment reports, which won for the IPCC the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, along with a former Vice President of the United States of America, Al Gore. He was also a Special Adviser on Energy to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In his presentation titled "Reflections On Many Rivers To Cross: My Great Ife Odyssey", Prof. Adegbulugbe congratulated the university leadership for coming up with this initiative of an Annual Award of Excellence in Research Practice to individuals who would then serve as mentor to a group of present outstanding students in the institution, who would also serve as the face of academic and research excellence for Great Ife for the next one year.
He further said that what this innovative initiative would do is to challenge Alumni to do more for their alma mater.
"Without a doubt, with the present low-level funding of our universities, there is a need to mobilize all resources to close the gap of funding requirements in our universities. More importantly, in my view, you have created a platform where this generation of students would stand on the shoulders of those before them so that they can see and forge ahead to create a better society. I align with these lofty objectives, and Mr. Vice Chancellor, as I stated in my acceptance letter, I humbly accept the award and reaffirm my continuous dedication to uplifting the values of our university," he stated.
According to him, when he got the mail informing him of the award three weeks ago he was overwhelmed with emotions because the university means a lot to him.
He advised the university to equip her best and brightest with the entrepreneurial ability to being alert for potential opportunities and learn how robust organization is crucial to their success, adding that; "they must also be nurtured to make decisions through strategic planning even when under pressure and to understand how to handle people on multiple levels through the curation of interpersonal development skills."
The Cleric promised to mobilize fund for an initiative which he called Best Undergraduate Research Opportunity Programme (BUSRP), explaining the initiative will identify cluster of the best students who would collaborate on research programmes under the supervision of the OAU, adding that each year 20 research groups can be funded.
He also promised to mobilize fund for the establishment, building and equipping of a laboratory to aid teaching and research.
The event had in attendance notable personalities such as the Regional Superintendent of Medaiyese Region, Pastor C.O. Chukwuezie, former Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State, Pro. Imevbore, CAC Director of Publicity, Pastor Ade Alawode, Special Assistant to the President, Pastor T.D. Asokeji and many others.
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