Akwa-Ibom Governor commissions Ibidapo-Obe house

By Heritage Kehinde

The executive governor of Akwa-Ibom state, Mr Udom Emmanuel formally commissioned the opening of the Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe house at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) last Friday.

The building, named after the ninth vice-chancellor of the university, Late Emeritus Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe houses the new UNILAG Alumni building and the UNILAG branch of Zenith Bank. 

Describing the complex as a win-win situation for stakeholders in the university community, the alumni body and the financial institution, Udom praised the alumni body for taking active parts in the strategic growth and development of the University.

Udom also congratulated the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola FAS on her appointment as the 13th Vice-Chancellor and first female Vice-Chancellor of the University, assuring her of the support and goodwill of the Akwa-Ibom government and her people. 

The Vice-Chancellor, of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, FAS while appreciating the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia commended the national leaders of the alumni association for their landmark contributions to the development of the university.  She reaffirmed her commitment to the alumni body by increasing engagement and working on improving the campus experience for students.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, the global president of the UNILAG Alumni association, Dr John Momoh, MON, described the building as an effort to honour the late Emeritus Professor Oyewiusi Ibidapo-Obe. He recalled that Professor Oyewusi was the first alumnus to be appointed into the office of the Vice-Chancellor

The wife of the honouree, Chief Mrs Sola Ibidapo- Obe also commended the effort of the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia, for his faithfulness to the Ibidapo- Obe family. She also thanked the Alumni body for their love for her late husband by honouring him. 

Mrs Ibidapo-Obe asked for help in establishing the Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe Institute of Technology, which would help to realize her late husband’s dream of promoting Technology, Education, and Research.

The Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe House according to the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu is another project intended to strengthen the relationship between the financial institution and the school. 

According to him, the edifice sits on 950 square meters of land and has a total of 1,665 square meters of office space, of which the UNILAG Alumni will own 555 square meters as co-owners of the building.