By SUNDAY SAANU
Every November 17th is the University of Ibadan (UI) Foundation Day Anniversary and grand finale of convocation ceremonies. This year’s 77th anniversary was not without its thrills and frills.
For me, one of the memorable moments I would continue to treasure was the tacit but significant honour accorded me by the University of Ibadan Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale during the final convocation ceremony in which he was to shake hands with 487 PhDs including my humble self.
Hitherto, my story had gone viral as many people had saluted what they called uncommon academic resilience and doggedness, having moved from Higher National Diploma (H.N.D) to Master of Communication Arts (M.C.A), a professional Master degree, back to Bachelor of Arts (B.A) to Master of Arts, (M.A) and now to Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) Cultural and Media Studies.
The tradition at an occasion like this is that, all graduates will file out in a single line to shake hands with the Vice Chancellor, take a bow and pass. This was the ritual we were observing when I stumbled on this special honour. When it was my turn, Prof. Adebowale held my hand, looked at me and smiled. I bowed and wanted to leave, but he would not allow me. He held my hand and drew me closer. “Which Department did you do your doctoral studies?”, he joyfully asked.
“Institute of African Studies, Sir”, I replied with a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment. While this was going on, of course, other Ph.Ds behind me waited anxiously for the V-C to get done with this guy, wondering what the V-C was telling me. The moment the VC said, “Congratulations, I am proud of you”. I turned to go back to my assigned seat where my name and topic of my doctoral study had been pasted, the V-C lovingly pulled back my gown, saying, “stay here, let us take photographs” I felt elated and highly honoured.
Nobody can acquire honour by doing what is wrong. You will never do anything in this world without courage. Courage is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. All I ever did in all these academic voyages was to demonstrate courage. I faced different dimensions of challenge, but I remained stoic. However, I am ever grateful to Prof. Adebowale for this rare honour. Interestingly, this was not the first time Prof. Adebowale would be specially honouring me. In 2023 when I was to go to Ajayi Crowther University for a sabbatical, he honoured me with his kind intervention. When I returned from sabbatical, he hosted me in his office and said he was proud of my performance and the report he got about me while I was in Oyo, saying, “Saanu, you really represented UI well with the report I got about you”
For his words of encouragement and validation at different times, I can’t be less grateful for all he has been able to do for me. He is a marvelous leader who always acts in a fashion of a gentleman. He is very respectful. I saw him on an occasion, bowing to greet an alumnus. I later humbly suggested to him to stop bowing because of his position. He looked at me with a smirk, saying, ” Saanu, position a tan n’jokan. Bowing to greet people does not matter to me. That is how we were raised: to be humble and respectful”
Dear amiable V-C, thanks so much for the recognition and honour you accorded me. I value it and treasure you. May your days be long in peace and prosperity.
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