The Ooye of Iwoye-Ketu, HRM, Ademola Alaye (Left), conferring the Chieftaincy title of Bobagunwa of Iwoye-Ketu on the Vice-Chancellor, Profesor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun.
Valedictory activities for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun began on a glorious note on Monday as he was treated to a red carpet, for a job well done at Isaga Orile and Iwoye-Ketu, Ogun State.
Professor Balogun, who was on a valedictory visit to the University’s Community-Based Farming Scheme (COBFAS) sites at Isaga and Iwoye-Ketu got more than he bargained for as indigenes of the towns and students came out to receive him with pomp and pageantry.
It was harvest of chieftaincy titles for the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, who was honoured with the prestigious titles of Akinfimojoye of Isagaland and Bobagunwa of Iwoye-Ketu land.
The efforts of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Kolawole Salako as pioneer Director of COBFAS also paid-off, as the Ooye of Iwoye-Ketu honoured him with the chieftaincy title of Asoludero of Iwoye-Ketu.
The monarchs of the two towns predicated the honours conferred on Professors Balogun and Salako on FUNAAB’s transformation of their communities through (COBFAS).
The reception at Iwoye-Ketu evoked emotion as scores of indigenes including the Hausa-Fulani and Beninoise who co-inhabited the town turned out massively at the City Hall to receive Professor Balogun and his entourage.
Speaking at the occasion, the Adele Oba of Iwoye-Ketu, Chief Isaac Oyero declared that “development first came to Iwoye-ketu through FUNAAB”.
He commended the University and Professor Balogun for reducing the problem of acute shortage of potable water by 70 percent through the provision of boreholes for COBFAS students in the town.
Chief Oyero said the people of Iwoye-Ketu had been fetching water from the borehole since it was sunk, adding, “FUNAAB’s intervention is a welcome relief because our major problem in Iwoye, is water”.
The Ooye of Iwoye-ketu, HRM Ademola Alaye, almost betrayed emotions while thanking FUNAAB for bettering the lots of the community, scoring its impact in the town, 97 percent.
He disclosed that the presence of COBFAS in the town had boosted commerce, prompting hike in rent from N200.00 per month to an average of N1,000.00, per room.
Besides, he revealed that the coming of COBFAS to the area had made vegetable an all-season-yield unlike previously when its scarcity during dry season, often forced them to cook only melon (egusi) soup.
The monarch also commended the University for generating employment for his subjects through COBFAS just as he requested for the University’s assistance in the areas of provision of more boreholes and large scale planting of cotton.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Balogun described the chieftaincy title conferred on him as least expected, assuring the people of the town that he will always play his part in community development ,as a title holder.
He directed that two additional boreholes with overhead tanks and generating sets be provided for the community, not later than May 15, 2012..
Earlier, at Isaga Orile, where Prof. Balogun was honoured with the Chieftaincy title of Akinfimjoye of Isaga land, the monarch, Oba Oladele Tella, described FUNAAB students as well-behaved adding that their presence had boosted commerce in the area.
He sought the University’s assistance in the areas of provision of admission and employment for his subjects.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor thanked the people of the town for honouring him with a chieftaincy title saying “Isaga-Orile would not have noticed me for this honour but for the contact facilitated by my office as Vice-Chancellor”.