I join others to celebrate our Oga, Professor Oladele Osibanjo as he turns 80 today, April 10th. He’s a most distinguished member of the UI CLASS of 67 through the activities of which I got to be closer to him. Professor Osibanjo was one of my lecturers in Chemistry in the PrelimInary Science Class of 1980/81 session. Apart from the legendary Father Folley and another lecturer who had just completed his PhD and always dazzled us with his erudition, we truly feared all lecturers in Chemistry because a failure in the subject would earn you repeat sharp sharp. Things were as difficult then for the students as they are now; the class was very large, you had to secure your seat before 7.00 a.m.; Some sat on the bare floor; some students reserved seats for friends and sometimes such arrangements caused disagreement among us. It was also believed that some students in certain Halls of Residence were in the habit of not taking bath before coming to the early morning Chemistry classes in those years!!!
Professor Oladele Osibanjo never caught my attention then. However through my activities as Warden of Sultan Bello Hall in the 1990s I became familiar with him. I then got much closer when I gave accommodation to a son of his Uncle, the then Vice- Chancellor of the University of Lagos, the late Professor Jelili Omotola [SAN]. It was him that took me to Professor Omotola’s office and residence in University of Lagos and his private residence in town. Both of them were very sociable and well connected and I enjoyed their friendship. Both of them attended the dedication of my house in 2005 and they gave me big money. On that day some of our University Principal Officers who were also in attendance met Professor Jelili Omotola for the first time though his name had loomed large as a performing and highly innovative Vice-Chancellor of the time!
Professor Osibanjo has his hands in the business of his Chemistry speciality and he was very comfortable. During the ASUU National Strikes of 1992 and 1994 he assisted a lot of lecturers to survive financially, especially when salary was stopped by the Abacha junta. Every January 1st was always a carnival of sorts in his palatial house. When he was head of Department, he took special interest in the completion of PhD by a number of people within and outside the Department that I got to know even without his knowledge! When he was Chairman of the UI CLASS of 67 he brought his social reach and connections to attract benefactions to the University. He doesn’t get involved in University politics but he influenced decisions silently and quietly.
He is simply a man after my heart. I am extremely delighted that he arrived at the 8th floor elegantly. Congratulations and happy birthday, Sir. Many happy returns of the day, long life and sustained prosperity. Igba odun, odun kan. Gbogbo igi telegbede bafowokan didun ni. Ire o
Dr. Adeniran is retired staff, Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Ibadan
