By Omotayo Peter Olatunde
Ekiti State University EKSU) Ado Ekiti is one of the few leading higher institutions in Nigeria.
Founded over 44 years ago for the purpose of teaching, research and community service,and serving as instruments for the development of Ekiti State in particular, and Nigeria as a whole, it has continued to produce skilled manpower, driving innovation and solving societal challenges.
The University has been doing everything possible to achieve these objectives in line with her strategic plan. The university has produced and still producing hundreds of movers and shakers of the society in every human endeavour.
In a typical University system, there is usually an organogram in place for leadership and policy making, management and day to day administration of the university.
The organogram has established positions for the Visitor, Chancellor, Pro Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, and a few others.
The position of a Visitor, however, stands out as it is usually occupied automatically by the President of a Federal University and State Governor, in case of a State University.
As regards other top positions, personalities who are exemplary and knowledgeable in their chosen fields are always appointed to occupy these positions for the seamless administration of the university.
The major area of focus in this write-up is particularly the office of the Chancellor.
Over time, the position of Chancellor has been explained by relevant authorities as one being the honorary head of a university community who represents the university, either in a ceremonial and ambassadorial capacity.
Anyone occupying this position participates in the governance of the university, but not in full-time active management.
Respected personalities occupying this position in Nigeria Universities are usually drawn from the various fields of endeavour, while eminent traditional rulers are not left out too.
It is on record today that in Ekiti State University (EKSU) Ado Ekiti, for instance, some of the personalities appointed at one time or the other to serve as the Chancellor are HRM Oba Festus Ibidapo Adesanoye, Osemawe of Ondo, Late Oba Olu Adegoke Adeyemi, late Evang. Bamidele Olumilua, HRM Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, and a few others .
These eminent personalities,no doubt, performed their role as Chancellors creditably well to boost development in the University.
Dr Tunji Olowolafe, who is an influential figure and whose impact cuts across healthcare, oil and gas, engineering, agriculture and business, is the current Chancellor of EKSU.
This exceptional and outstanding personality from Are-Ekiti, who trained as a medical doctor, and veered into entrepreneurship, founding Deux Project Limited, which evolved from restructuring hospitals, into a leading firm for civil engineering, construction and consultancy across Nigeria, was appointed by the administration of H.E Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji in 2024; an appointment many described as a round peg in a round hole.
Considering his performance in the business world, Dr. Tunji Olowolafe belongs to senior ranks group, and he can be described as a super mogul and prima intre pares.
He is eminently up to the task and has what it takes to be the Chancellor of EKSU, going by all indices possible.
His transformative vision for the university, which focuses on academic excellence and innovation, is now becoming real and visible for all and sundry to see .
Dr Tunji Olowolafe has significantly impacted on Ekiti State University (EKSU) since his appointment in 2024, focusing on students’ entrepreneurship, faculty development, research, digital transformation, human capital development and provision of basic infrastructures.
Through the Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, he has sponsored dozens of academic staff members to participate in international conferences and training sessions in Europe and North America.
He made the announcement of a donation of N1 billion as Innovation fund during the 28th convocation of Ekiti State University.This
fund serves as seed capital to empower students and recent graduates, establishing agro- tech companies, encouraging entrepreneurship, and addressing national food security
He unveiled an initiative called ‘ Project Digi- Teach EKSU, purposely for the institution to achieve 100% digital proficiency among the university’s lecturers , equipping them with modern competencies, required for a globalised digital economy.
Let us look at his involvement in Departmental Resources. This philanthropist facilitated direct logistical support to various departments, including donating modern computer sets to the Department of Banking and Finance and an 11 seater mini- bus, high-end laptops and workstations to the Geology department.
It is on record today that Dr Tunji Olowolafe established the first ever Forex Trading Room domiciled in the Department of Finance of Ekiti State University, an innovation which is yet to be matched by any other Nigerian university. His Foundation, Tunji Olowolafe Foundation, also created platforms for top- performing students to engage in sustainable work for skill acquisition.
To promote academic excellence, the Chancellor introduced a grant of N500,000 each to First Class graduates during the 2024 and 2025 convocation ceremonies of the university.
As a public spirited personae, he donated two heavy-duty 5KVA transformers with a view to addressing the epileptic power supply to the university environment, an area majorly dominated by students and Iworoko- Ekiti.
Currently, the installation of over 261points solar powered street light on campus and the off campus areas to lighten the entire EKSU community is worthy of note This is expected to promote safety of students on the campus, particularly, during night classes, also through his benevolence.
The peak of all these is also the installation of Starlink internet facility to enable staff and students to enjoy real-time and uninterrupted internet connectivity on the campus free of charge
This singular gesture has ensured internet accessibility to major locations of the university community at no cost.
Dr Tunji Olowolafe has continually made his marks in critical areas of needs of the University environment to boost quality teaching and learning.
There is every assurance that there are a lot of interventions, lofty ideas that are still going on in his mind, basically to make EKSU a world class institution and retaining her position as best state university in Nigeria.
Despite not being involved in the day-to-day running of the university as Chancellor, his impacts and interventions are speaking daily in EKSU.
This amiable, very simple and soft-spoken Are-Ekiti man, has thus technically positioned himself into the category of philanthropists like Aare Afe Babalola ,Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN who distinguished himself as the Pro Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, and currently the Chancellor of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI); and Mr Femi Otedola, the Oil Mogul who turned around positively, Augustine University, Ilara- Epe Lagos as Chancellor and a host of others.
One must appreciate the visionary and phenomenal Governor of Ekiti State and the visitor to the University Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji on the choice of this unique and outstanding personality as Chancellor for Ekiti State University.
One can only anticipate and pray that may EKSU continue to be fortunate to have the kind of Dr Tunji Olowolafe as Chancellor of the university.
Omotayo Peter Olatunde is a
Staff of Information and Corporate Affairs Directorate, Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti