Within government, institutional and corporate circles, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is generally regarded as first amongst equals. There is no pretense about this to the extent that the official slogan of the University is “University of First Choice and Nation’s Pride.” The foundation of this enviable position was laid by great scholars, who piloted the ship of the institution over the years. One of these great scholars was the late Emeritus Professor J. F. Ade-Ajayi, who will be laid to rest on September 19 in Ikole-Ekiti. He was aged 85.
In the words of Emeritus Professors Michael Omolewa and Akinjide Osuntokun, “Ajayi was largely responsible for giving the University of Lagos its academic character, credentials and physical infrastructure”. The deceased was the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG from 1972 to 1978. In a reminiscent piece entitled, “Ade-Ajayi’s Years of Development at the University of Lagos,” Professors A. F. Ogunye and T.G.O. Gbadamosi said his tenure was characterised by growth, development and expansion. “The University made notable strides in the area of constitutional, academic and physical development. These generated public awareness and interest in the university, thus leading to financial and moral support for the institution.”
In the area of physical development, Ogunye and Gbadamosi noted that “about 21 buildings emerged, including hostels for both male and female students and sports centre. The daculty buildings included those for Chemical Engineering, Mass Communication, Science, Arts and Advanced Legal Studies. Service buildings included the Health Centre, Main Auditorium, Conference Centre and Guest Houses”. Till date, these buildings greatly eased the problem of congestion and consequently enhanced teaching and research in the institution. Reflecting on the physical and academic transformation of the University during Prof. Ade-Ajayi’s tenure, a colleague wondered what would become of UNILAG today, if those structures put in place during Ade-Ajayi’s tenure were removed.
In the area of sports development, Professor Ogunye and Gbadamosi recalled how Ade-Ajayi’s tenure removed the derogatory remark of “Eko for show,” which was usually used to tongue-lash and present Lagos athletes as only good in flashy and flamboyant dresses and not good on the field of play. According to the two eminent scholars, ‘Eko for show’ was revised and re-coined ‘Eko for Gold’ when UNILAG made a tremendous impact at the 7th NUGA games hosted by Unilag in 1978. The university won a total of 19 gold medals to place second behind UNIFE now Obafemi Awlowo University’s 20 gold medals.”
Amongst students of the University, who excelled in different sports during Ade-Ajayi’s tenure were Tony Omoregbe, Adokie Amasiemeka, Felix Owolabi and Francis Onwuchi, who were once key members of the national football team, the Green Eagles. A sports commentator, Hameed Adio also featured prominently along with P. Idahosa, Joshua Kio, Felicia Ochonogor and Eseroghene Ibini, who were track and field athletes that represented the country and excelled at several international competitions.
Accommodation was a major problem of students in UNILAG before the Ade-Ajayi era. The Ashby Commission originally conceived the university as a non-residential institution. However, the plan was abandoned when it was discovered that majority of the students came from outside the state. In the words of Ogunye and Gbadamosi, “Ade-Ajayi addressed the problem by building additional halls. Jaja Hall was built in 1973, Block C was added to Amina Hall in 1975, an extension was made to Moremi Hall in 1975 and a New Hall Complex or the 2,000 students’ hostel was built in 1978, all during Professor Ade-Ajayi’s era.”
Revealing the foundation of UNILAG becoming the Nation’s Pride and University of First Choice, Professors Ogunye and Omolewa argued that the foundation was laid by Professor Ajayi through what they called “a superb staff development programme.” Using the Chemical Engineering Department as an example, they said from the onset, any first class graduate of the department was appointed an Assistant Lecturer outside the department quota and sent abroad for a Ph.D programme - while running his salary at home and wholly supported by the university abroad. “Some of the staff who benefitted under the scheme included Prof. Abiola Kehinde, Prof. John Edewor, Prof. Kayode Abdul-Kareem and Prof. Rahamon Bello, the current Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG. The generous staff development programme in Chemical Engineering was equally applied to other departments in the University. Some of the beneficiaries included Prof. Akin Oyebode to University of Toronto, Canada for his Ph.D in Law and Prof. Peter Adeniyi to the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, for his Ph.D in Remote Sensing.”
It is gratifying to note that both Oyebode and Adeniyi became VCs of the University of Ado-Ekiti and Federal University of Technology, Akure, respectively. Olusegun Akinluyi, who closely worked with five substantive vice-chancellors and three acting vice-chancellors of the UNILAG, described Professor Ade-Ajayi as an academic administrator/administrative academic par excellence, a historian and reflective visionary with a clear mission, an informed innovator, a transformer of the occasional potential crises of senate into developmental advantage and a leader who at meetings did not relish the silence of the graveyard but welcomed criticisms and brainstorming.
A frontline politician, Chief Ebenezer Babatope similarly described the late Emeritus Professor, who was his boss as vice-chancellor of UNILAG between 1973 and 1978, as a man of ideas. “He influenced many lives while he was at the head of the administration of the university.
“Ever unruffled by events, Professor Ade-Ajayi was ever at home with all those who believed in the dissemination of the truth in the discussion and analysis of men, matters and events of any situation. I have heroes that have sharpened my life. In this regard, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, Chairman Mao Tse Tung, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Prof. Jacob Ade-Ajayi… I say it however, with the fear of God that two of my heroes who have directly had influence on my life are Papa Obafemi Awolowo and Emeritus Professor J. F. Ade-Ajayi. I will never forget them until I answer the supreme call.”
Professor Anthony Asiwaju, who wrote a piece entitled, “Insertion of Unilag as a World-Class University,” in a collection of essays which elucidated Ade-Ajayi’s life and career, said the deceased worked very hard for the re-positioning of UNILAG as a world-class institution. Asiwaju revealed that he was exposed to eight successive Vice-Chancellors of Unilag that were appointed up to the date of his retirement except the first, Prof. Eni Njoku, (1962 – 1964). He listed the Vice-Chancellors who piloted the University during his days as: Prof. S.O. Biobaku (1965-1972), J.F. Ade-Ajayi (1972-1978), B. K. Adadevoh (1978-1980), Akin Adesola (1981-1988), N. O. Alao (1988-1995), J. A. Omotola (1995-2000) and Oye Ibidapo-Obe (2001-2007)
While describing Ajayi’s Vice-Chancellorship as watershed and full of uncommon accomplishments, Prof. Asiwaju said “Perhaps, the most indelible marks of Ajayi’s feat in repositioning Unilag for the status of a world-class University were the so many qualitative infrastructural expansions that still stand in witness. “First, were the structures that were aimed at enhancing qualitative academic productivity. These included the present Faculty of Arts building including the Arts Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science, the Chemical Engineering building and the University Auditorium. “Next were the structures targeted at advancing the cause of an integrated academic community. These were outfits which drastically reduced off-campus accommodation of staff. They included such new residential houses and block of flats as the three multi-storey lagoon-side towers, the near by College of Medicine residences, the adjacent new professorial houses on the Main Campus and the blocks of flats on the grounds of the defunct College of Education”
Asiwaju further identified the ultra-modern Staff Club building, the Bookshop building and refurbishing of the Main Library, amongst others. The erudite professor of history therefore asserts that “in consequence of the multi-faceted reforms and infrastructural improvements undertaken in the six years of Ajayi’s leadership, UNILAG’s institutional image rose remarkably in perception and ranking both nationally and internationally.” Consequent upon his landmark achievements in office, it would not be out of place if one of the structures put in place during his tenure, preferably, the Main Auditorium is named after him, in appreciation of his exemplary leadership.
Popoola, a former editor of the defunct Diet Weekend newspaper,is a lecturer at the Mass Communication Department, UNILAG.
Similarly, other Vice-Chancellors that followed his footsteps, especially, Professor Akin Adesola (1981-1988) as well as Prof. Jelili Adebisi Omotola (1995-2000) should equally be appreciated, so as to encourage future Vice-Chancellors of the University to work harder for the sustenance of the laudable legacies of their predecessors.
Professor Akin Adesola constructed the New Senate House and the second access road. He also expanded and repackaged the main entrance to the University. Prof. Omotola, however, built the Multi-Purpose Hall, established Unilag Venture, the platform through which the institution till date produces UNILAG water, bread, amongst others, introduced the students’ work-study scheme and made several academic and non-academic members of staff house owners.
While the new Senate House could be named after Prof. Akin Adesola,, the Multi-Purpose Hall could also be named after Prof. Omotola.
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Popoola, a former editor of the defunct Diet Weekend newspaper,is a lecturer at the Mass Communication Department, UNILAG.
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