1) Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba (Dr.) Adedotun Gbadebo (Left) showering royal blessings on the VC, Prof. Olusola Bandele Oyewole. 2) Osile of Oke-Ona Egba, Oba (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuoso (Left) praying fervently for the VC, Prof. Olusola Oyewole on his new appointment. 3) Agura of Gbagura, Oba Halidu Laloko giving his royal blessings on the VC, Prof. Olusola Oyewole (Left) and the new Registrar, Mr. Mathew Ayoola (JP), while the Pro-Chancellor (2nd left) bows in admiration. 4) Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade (Left) rejoicing with the VC, Prof. Olusola Oyewole on his appointment as the 5th substantive VC of FUNAAB.
Frontline Egba Monarchs on Thursday endorsed the appointment of Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole as the University’s Vice-Chancellor, as they doused him with royal blessings.
Same gesture was accorded the new Registrar, Mr. Mathew Odunlade Ayoola (JP) at their palaces when the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Chief Lawrence Ayinde Olakunle Osayemi, led the two new Principal Officers on a familiarization visit to the traditional rulers.
The Monarchs are: Paramount Ruler and Alake of Egbaland, HRM (Dr.) Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, the Osile of Oke-Ona, HRM (Dr.) Adedapo Tejuosho, the Agura of Gbagura, HRM (Dr.) Halidu Laloko, the Olubara of Ibara, HRM (Dr.) Jacob Omolade while the Olowu of Owu, HRM (Dr.) Adegboyega Dosumu was unavoidably absent.
Receiving the Vice-Chancellor in his palace, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, expressed joy that Egbaland has produced another Vice-Chancellor in Professor Oyewole, thereby joining the enviable list of Egba sons who had served as Vice-Chancellors of various Universities at different times.
According to him, they are Professors Saburi Biobaku, Adetokunbo Shofoluwe (both of blessed memories), Professor Ishiaq Oloyede and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of FUNAAB, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun.
Oba Gbadebo prayed the Almighty to grant the new Vice-Chancellor and the University greater success, peace, prosperity and fame.
Also receiving the new Vice-Chancellor in his palace, the Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba, Oba Tejuosho said he was extremely elated because Professor Oyewole hails from Ago-Odo, a community that is directly in his domain.
According to him, “I am extremely glad that the new Vice-Chancellor is not only an Egbaman, he is an Oke-Ona man from Ago-Odo. I won’t be surprised if before he leaves he established another campus in Ago-Odo”.
Thereafter, Oba Tejuosho offered his blessing praying, “Our good Lord will bless you in Jesus name. You have met a very high standard. The standard Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun has set would have been very difficult to match by any other Vice-Chancellor; by the good grace of God you will surpass that standard in Jesus name.
By the time you are leaving office, I am sure that the encomium that will be showered on you will be much greater than that of your predecessor”, he added.
At the Agura’s palace, Oba Laloko also expressed delight at the emergence of Professor Oyewole as the new Vice-Chancellor.
He advised him to be a team player, do his best and leave the rest, praying God to grant Professor Oyewole success that will take the University to a new level.
Receiving him in his palace, the Olubara, Oba Omolade, described Professor Oyewole’s appointment as God’s will, charging him not to distance himself from the counsel of royal fathers, as well as fostering the cordial relationship between the gown and the town.
Like the Vice-Chancellor, the new Registrar was roundly blessed by the royal fathers at their palaces, praying God to use him as an instrument to further oil the wheels of progress of the University.