OTUN OLALEKAN pays tribute to the past National President, Ogun Poly Alumni Association, and past National Auditor, PDP, the late Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju.
A phone call from a worthy predecessor,
Arch SKP
A shattered news of a peaceful transition
A dirge
Where, O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?
1 Cor 15: 55
The relocation abroad abruptly of the 1st National President, Ogun Poly Alumni Association, Mr Adeniji ushered in Alhaji Adebisi Bada, Chairman and Chief Executive, Surry Bee Petroleum, who served meritoriously between 1996 to 1999 during which the massive gate house of the institution, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, was built. His administration was succeeded by that of the Secretary, Comrade Wole Adeyanju, who served two terms between 1999 to 2003. It was during Adeyanju’s regime that Shagamu and Lagos Chapters came alive.
The millennium reunion took place in Lagos, during which Chief Gbenga Kaka, then Deputy Governor to Chief Osoba, was given the first honorary alumni of arguably the leading polytechnic in Nigeria, in rivalry and comparison with Yaba Tech, the pioneer, technology higher institution in Sub Sahara Africa.
Our path (myself and the leader, Late Wole Adeyanju) crossed for the first time in 1999 during the biennial National Convention when he shared his vision with me. What glued us together apart from the vision was his humility, mobilisation skills, selfless service and imbued courage in the face of challenges and daunting tasks.
He challenged, encouraged and motivated me to serve as the National Publicity Secretary, during which we produced the maiden “Ogun Poly Alumni News”. The reward? I got elected as the Deputy National President under his successor, Arch S.K. Popoola.
Late Alhaj Wole Adeyanju, was no doubt, a large hearted, dynamic leader, and very accommodating of shades of characters and opinions. We enjoyed the camaraderie of fellowship during American auctions with rib cracking jokes, effortlessly raising funds for our alma mater with him presiding.
An important contribution of his to our Alumni Association was that Adeyanju seized the opportunity of the review of the law establishing Ogun State Polytechnic to successfully secure the position of the Association on the Governing Council to be made statutory.
His gait, cool mien, and composure even when provoked during National Executive and chapter meetings shall remain memorable.
He served as further as Ogun State and National Treasurer of PDP with unblemish record. Contemporary youths in need of role models need not search further.
An important contribution of his to our Alumni Association was that Adeyanju seized the opportunity of the review of the law establishing Ogun State Polytechnic to successfully secure the position of the Association on the Governing Council to be made statutory.
The Committee for the Distinguished Alumni (CODA) no doubt has lost a rare member and past president, whose invaluable counselling we shall miss perpetually.
As Alhaj Adeyanju is buried at 4pm this evening at his Asero residence, our deepest condolences goes to his immediate family, wives and children. However we shall draw strength from his words on marble as recorded in the book “Moshood Abiola Polytechnic: Historical Perspectives” authored by trio giants of SAF (2010, pp.191 – 195).
His eternal contributions to our alma mater as documented by the pioneer Rector, Dr Tunji Sonola, Oba Dr A. Adebayo, past Rector and Mrs Folarin, past Registrar are hereby reproduced below. May past pillar of Ogun State ANAN, Alhaj Wole Adeyanju’s soul rest in the bosom of our Maker.
“On November 6, 1981, I registered as a student of Ogun State Polytechnic Abeokuta for the award of National Diploma in Business Administration with the registration number 1181.
“That was the first time I had the opportunity to do anything on my own because I had left my parents in Lagos. I thus began the journey into the so called “Academic Freedom”. I later had the opportunity to the Students Representative Council (SRC) Students’ Parliament, to represent the ND 1 Business Administration Constituency. I joined the Palm Wine Drinkers’ Club of Ilya Olumo a.k.a. “Kegites Club” and “Mobile Information Unit” a Press Club which I had the opportunity to be the Editor at 300 level.
“My performance at SRC at ND 1 convinced my course mate to advise me to contest for the Students’ Union Presidency at the 200 level but I felt I was not mature enough, so I contested and won an election for the post of Secretary of Students’ Union in 1983. I ultimately contested for and won the Students’ Union Presidency in 1985 at 400 level during which I initiated and launched the Alumni Association with pump and pageantry with the active cooperation and support of the Rector Dr. A.A. Adebayo and the Registrar Chief (Mrs.) S.A. Folarin. I had the opportunity to serve the Association as Pioneer National Secretary and later as National President. During that period, I had the privilege to represent the Alumni Association on the Governing Council of the Polytechnic for two years.
He challenged, encouraged and motivated me to serve as the National Publicity Secretary, during which we produced the maiden “Ogun Poly Alumni News”.
“During my National Diploma programme, I was highly commended for my positive contribution at Piccadilly Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos as a 3-month Industrial Attachè. Ogun State Polytechnic students thus later to become the reference point of that hotel’s management staff when dealing with attachès from other institutions. Similarly, during the One-year Industrial Attachment at Agossa Community High School as a Commerce Teacher, the W.A.E.C. Accreditation Team found it difficult to believe that I had only National Diploma in Ojere.
“During my National Service at Berger Paints Nigeria Plc., I was charged with sensitive duties at the training and development department to the extent that my two days absence due to sickness resulted in the postponement of an In-house Training Programme. Similarly, my performance and ability to cope as a Member of the Governing Council of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic between 1996 and 1998, and 1999 and 2003 was a manifestation of the training acquired while I was a student of Ogun State Polytechnic.
“I served in the Public Service for 18 years. During the period however, the training and orientation imbibed at the then Ogun State Polytechnic made me so confident and was always giving me the urge to pull out and set up my own with the firm conviction that I would make it pretty well in life.
“Having acquired a Masters Degree from University of Ado-Ekiti, and a certified Accountancy Certificate from Nigeria College of Accountancy, Jos, I set up the firm Adewole Adeyanju & Company. A firm of certified accountants.
“Presently, I am the Managing Director of Adewole Adeyanju & Co., a statutory auditing firm in Abeokuta, Ogun State and the Principal Partner in Wolentry Global Consulting; the State Treasurer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the Ogun State Secretary of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and therefore proud to say that ‘I passed through Ogun State Polytechnic and the Polytechnic passed through me’!
“I give thanks to the founding fathers and mothers of the Polytechnic. Suffice to say that I am amazed at the doggedness and commitment to duty of the Pioneer Rector Dr. Tunji Sonoma and the Pioneer Registrar Chief (Mrs.) S.A. Folarin and of course Dr. A.A. Adebayo who moved the students from Oke Egunya and Onikolobo to the permanent site, Ojere where he started the “Red Brick Revolution”. I hope he will forgive me to remind myself of the ‘name’ we (students) used to call him “Austerity Rector”.
“I have narrated all of the above to let people know the transformation that took place in the life of a boy in his teens who had the fortune of passing through Ogun State Polytechnic. And mine is not an isolated case; indeed, no matter which way I turn, I find many other products of our great Alma Matter, Ogun State Polytechnic making waves in diverse aspects of national endeavours. What else could the founding fathers who wanted to bequeath a first class technological institution to Ogun State have wished for? I Indeed, it is definitely A DREAM COME TRUE to the glory of God.”
