Tinubu, Barau, Suleiman others bag TOFAC 2017 international award.

Dappa Maharajah

The Federal lawmaker representing Lagos Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator (Mrs.) Oluremi Tinubu, has bagged Craig Adeyemi Award for her contribution towards educational developments in the nation.

The chairman Board of Trustees, Toyin Falola
International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora (TOFAC), Prof. Ademola Dasylva, at the 3-day conference held recently in Adeyemi College of Education (ACE) Ondo, said they have impacted the sector positively.

According to him, the award was conferred to encourage the recipients whom he said have contributed positively to the society in the areas of administration and service.

Dasylva added that in addition to the annual conference, the committee in charge
have decided to establish the awards in order to encourage individuals in the society that are doing their best to promote scholarship.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND,  Senator Jubril Barau; the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman also received awards.

Other eminent recipients were Professor Gloria Chukwu of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA; Dr. Modupe Fagbulu and the Chairman, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union ( COEASU) Federal College of Education, Kano, Dr. Abubakar Sodiq Haruna.

The awards were named after renowned African leaders like the first civilian President of Ghana, Late Dr Kwame Nkuruma, the former South
African President, Thabo Mbeki, Literary icon, Dr. Ali Mazrui and an educationist, Late Moses Craig Adeyemi; and College of Education Academic

Staff Union award.

Prof. Chukwu received the Ali Mazrui award for leadership in Africa and Academic Excellent Research; Senator Barau got the award for Kwame Nkruma for leadership in Africa, while Hon. Suleiman and Dr. Fagbolu were conferred with Thabo Mbeki award for leadership in Africa.

Similarly, the wife of the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Tinubu bagged the Craig Adeyemi award for
her contribution to the development of education in Nigeria; and Dr Haruna got COEASU award.

Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of other awardees, said it was a great privilege and honour to be part of TOFAC 2017 and a recipient of the most prestigious Thabo Mbeki Award.

He lauded the organizers of the programme for considering him for the award, expressing his willingness to collaborate with TOFAC so that the
outcome of the conference is made available and presented to the National Assembly.

The Federal lawmaker also gave the assurance that through his personal efforts, he would ensure that the outcome of the three days conference is utilized by the Assembly for national development.

While the convener, Prof. Toyin Falola, expressed satisfaction for the massive growth and innovations made to bear on the college by the provost, Prof. Olukoya Ogen, whom he said was doing a great work in the institution.

According to him, the receipt of 350 papers from interested participants at the conference, bore testimony to the great work which the team put
together by the Provost undertook in order to ensure the success of the international conference.

Falola disclosed his personal donations and efforts to ensure the “syncretic” development of education in the country according to the theme of the conference, titled: “Education and Africa’s Transformation.”

He donated volumes of books to the College library, building an e-library which would contain 120,000 books for the use of staff and students of the college.

The three-day programme featured presentation of keynote address and papers by distinguished scholars from Nigeria and other parts of world. It
was also attended by eminent personalities from all walks of life including the Osemawe of Ondo kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo.

Others were: Oba Adedokun Abolurin,  from Oke-Ila Orangun, former Vice-chancellor Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko, Prof. Femi Mimiko, traditional chiefs, scholars, from several institution across the globe, staff and students of the college to mention a few.