African American University Chancellor, Ezeohagwu charts new development path for Ipetu-Ijesa

Founder and Chancellor, African American University, Prof Ben Ezeohagwu

By Banji Ayoola

The Chancellor and Founder of African American University, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, Prof Ikechukwu Benjamin Ezeohagwu, has advised the people of Ipetu-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State, to look inwards and seek better ways to harness their rich human and material endowments towards accelerating the socioeconomic development of their motherland.

Admonishing that true further progress for the people, as for any and all other peoples everywhere on earth lies mainly in the further development of their own peculiar culture adapted to their soil and nature, he called on the people to become indigenous in the purest sense of the word, if they wish to develop further from their present level.

Ezeohagwu spoke at Ipetu-Ijesa as the Guest Lecturer and Special Guest of Honour at the Education Forum of the 28^th Aropeju Day Anniversary.

His lecture was titled: “The people of Ipetu-Ijesa and way forward in the present dispensation.”

Noting that the town is blessed with fertile lands, agricultural and forestry resources, he called on the people to deepen themselves into, and research further on their human and material endowment towards socioeconomic development.

In his own words: “ Huge tasks lie there in for every son and daughter of Ipetu-ijesa, either young or old. True further progress for Ipetu-ijesa people lies in the further development of their culture adapted to their soil and nature.

“Ipetu-ijesa people should become indigenous in the purest sense of the word if they wish to develop further at this point in time. They should deepen and research further on their endowment, be either human or non-human material resources.”

He added: “It will be the best interest of the Ipetu-ijesa people not to rest on their oars but to forge ahead in faith and new plans and policies for further developments.”

However, Ezeohagwu said that the people “need to further awaken politically and encourage their brains, particularly their sons to be voted into important political positions at federal, state and local government levels, so they could be part of decision-making in the government of Nigeria, to be able to push their demands into acceptance, which will go a long way to support the further development of Ipetu-Ijesa, their Agriculture and craft promotion, Education and Economic advancment , among others.”

To him, the people “really need to build further common realistic political ideologies that tackle and resolve their challenges, and move the town and her people forward.”

He stressed the need to attain and retain common and loud voice for those vying certain political offices, who would then become of immense helps for the people, which he described as a sure further step of progress out of the present challenges for the people.

Describing the town as a land of peace and progress, he called for “further united force to forge ahead towards further successes, without any form of divided attention or distraction.”

He said the people “should further co-operate and uplift this town so it can be reckoned with more in the state of Osun and Nigeria at large.”

Ezeohagwu said that Osun State University (College of Education) in the town should be encouraged to introduce “Ipetu-Ijesa and its Environment” as one of the new core general courses in its curriculum of study for its undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Besides, he identified the need to establish a museum either within the palace or in a centrally located befitting building facility, where information on and contributions of important dignitaries, who were and are leaders in the community, would be kept.

Besides, in the proposed museum, challenges would  be documented, as a source of information and encouragement for the people to strengthen great deeds and leadership exploits among others.

He advised that crafts practices of the people such as mat weaving exhibition and drumming festival among others should be seriously rehabilitated as reliable sources and means of progress and identity, which can lead to important Aropeju Day Festivals.

He also stressed the need to rehabilitate the Scholarship Board, if it already exists, which should warehouse a common pool of funds to assist indigent pupils and students, and fund enterpreneurial empowerment among others.

Ezeohagwu noted cheerfully, that the people have grown from a rural settlement of ancient times to a predominantly developing agrarian town, noted for production of cocoa, kola-nut, cassava, yam and coco-yam, palm-wine tapping, wood sawing and lumbering, as well as considerable craft practices including black-smithing, mat and aso oke weaving, wood sculpture, drum-making, local entertainment such as drumming and folk music apart from hunting and carpentry.

The people, he noted, are involved in teaching, tailoring, laundry, restaurant business, electrical and automobile/mechanic and other forms of occupations and businesses.

To him, the  town is “the soil of wealth and health”  whose people are blessed with rich soil for Agriculture and other purposes, and are richly endowed with cocoa, kolanut, cassava, yam and wood among others, together with crafts such as blacksmithing, mat and aso-oke weaving, and drum-making.

He advised that drumming can be uplifted as a world-class form of an annual entertainment festival as exists in some other towns and cities in Nigeria, such as the African Drums Festival in Abeokuta to foreigners; and Eyo Festival in Lagos.

Later in an interview, Ezeohagwu told The Radiance that “passing through Ipetu-Ijesa has been a great experience that led me to the next level in terms of learning, studying, achieving uprightness and academic excellence.”

On what motivated him to zero in on the central theme of his lecture, he said: “I was here last year and I realised that the town has a long way to go, because most of the endowments even human and non human, are not being effectively used. No maximal application of their human and material resources.

“So I think that the theme would be a source of reminder and also awaken them to look inwards, look at those things they have left behind and rehabilitate themselves, their activities so that they could move forward.

“They are so blessed with material resources. For example, mat weaving is very important. The soil is so good for plants growing those leaves. Then the land is so rich for agricultural purposes. They are blessed with rain forest, trees, wood for drums, and animals in the forests for the leather. They have so much.”

In his address which he rendered in the local dialect, the Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesa Kingdom, Oba (Dr.) Samson Adeleke Agunbiade Oke, Agunbiade the Third, who chaired the occasion, said: “I thank all of you here who love Ipetu. He who knows the times in which we stand would know we have to be grateful. The Lord will love you. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you. May you all have long life.

“This is the 28^th Aropeju Day. This is our home. Your parents and you were specially created as sons and daughters of Ipetu for a reason. We are doing this for all of us to gather yearly to see ourselves, discuss, greet and ask questions and plan for the development of our fathers’ hometown.

“Today we advise ourselves and discuss on how to develop Ipetu. You and I are Ipetu. I pray for all of you to prosper. I beg all of you to cooperate with us to develop Ipetu left for us by our forefathers, so that the town would not degenerate in our own time. And it would not degenerate. I bid all of you welcome.

“Today’s programme is for all of us to listen to the words of one of our children that Ipetu has trained and heed his words.”

The royal father described Ezeohagwu who had his childhood, primary and secondary schools education in the town as a son of Ipetu-Ijesa.

Also, a professor of Health Sciences at the African American University and a prominent son of Ipetu-Ijesa, Prof Kolawole Sunday Akesinro, appealed to his brothers and sisters who live outside the town and in the Diaspora to visit home regularly to offer their own contributions to the ongoing development and socioeconomic transformation in the town.

At the occasion, eight prominent personalities including Dr Banji Olatona and Dr James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe, who are both deceased, were given honourary doctorate awards by the university for their past or ongoing self-less contributions to the society.

Others are: Dr (Mrs) Susan Abosede Ajayi; Dr (Mrs) Abidemi Oluremi Agboola; Dr Michael Tunde Tokede; Dr Mathew Olufemi Akesinro; Dr Ayodele Sunday Babalola; and Dr Adeleke Afeez Adeyekun.

Adeyekun, Babalola, Akesinro, Tokede and Mrs Ajayi were awarded the University’s PhD (Honoris Causa) in Educational Management; while Mrs Agboola bagged PhD (Honoris Causa) in Physics Education.

Olatona and Ogunjulugbe were given Posthumous Honourary Doctorate Degree Award/PhD (Honoris Causa). While Olatona was honoured with PhD (Honoris Causa) in Educational Management, Ogunjulugbe bagged PhD (Honoris Causa) in History of Ipetu Ijesa.

While inviting the African American University’s Chancellor and Founder on behalf of the Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesa Kingdom, his Chiefs in Council and the entire people of the town, as Guest Speaker and Special Guest of Honour at the Education Forum of the annual celebration, the Aropeju Day Organising Committee, AROC, General Secretary, Mr David Oluwatayo, described Ezeohagwu as “one of the seeds of Blessing to our community.”

Following are the citation and profile of the awardees:

• Adeleke Afeez Adeyekun
  

Adeyekun Adeleke was born on 1st^t January 1963. He attended A.U.D Primary School, Erin-Oke, Oyo State (now Osun State) (1969-1974); Hope Grammar School, Ilesa (1974-1979); Oyo State College of Education, Ilesa (1982-1985) and Delta State University (1989-1993).

He has been making commendable contributions in Education as a teacher, namely: Ipetu-Ijesa Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa (1985-1993); The Apostolic College, Ilesa (1993-2000); Oba Agunlejika High School, Ilesa (2003-2008); The Apostolic High School, Ilesa (2008-2012); Erin Community M/H School, Erin-Ijesa, (2012-2019); Ipetu-Ijesa High School, Ipetu-Ijesa as Principal (2019-2020) and presently at Irepodun High School, Erin-Oke, Osun State, 2020 till date as Principal.

Adeyekun Adeleke’s hobby includes: Reading and meeting people. 

• Ayodele Sunday Babalola

Ayodele Babalola attended St Anthony Catholic Primary School, Molete Ibadan (1969-1974); Akanran Community Grammar School, Akanran (1976-1981); Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan (for A-level) (1981-1983). The Polytechnic Ibadan (Esa Oke Campus, 1983-1986); and Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti, B.Ed, Guidance and Counseling (1991-1995).

Ayodele Babalola has been making commendable contributions in Education as a teacher and subsequently as Vice-Principal, namely:  Aro-Odo High School, Ipetu-Ijesa (1987-1988); Erin Community Grammar School, Ilesa (1999-2013); Obokun High School, Ilesa (1999-2014); Osowusi Mushin High School, Iloko-Ijesa School (2013-2014); St Lawrence’s Middle School 2, Ilesa (2014-2015) and George Burton Memorial College Middle School 2, (2015-2016) and as Principal at Elefosan Middle School, Ipetu-Ijesa 2016 till date. He is presently the Principal, Elefosan Middle School, Ipetu-Ijesa and as well as ANCOPSS Secretary, Ijesa Zone.

He has received awards, namely: Best teacher in Osun State Senior Secondary School, and President’s Teachers and Schools excellence Award. Ayodele Babalola’s extra-curricular activities include: Footballing, reading and travelling. He’s married and blessed with children.

• Mathew Olufemi Akesinro

Mathew Olufemi Akesinro was born on 24th^h May, 1963 in Ipetu-Ijesa. He attended St Paul’s (Anglican) Primary School, Ipetu-Ijesa (1969-1974); Local Authority Secondary School and completed (1975); Ipetu-Ijesa Grammar School (1976-1980); Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and graduated in 1987 and thereafter attended University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria and graduated in (1996).

He has been making commendable academic contributions, namely: as a teacher in Elefosan Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa (1988-2000); Elefosan Grammar School of Science, Ipetu-Ijesa (2001); Apoti Community Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa (2001-2007); A.U.D High School, Ipetu-Ijesa as Vice Principal (2007-2016); Apoti Community Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa (2016) as Vice Principal; Alaka Community Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa (2016-2019) as Principal;  Ipetu-Ijesa Grammar School (as Principal) 2019-2020, and presently the Ikeji Ile High School Principal. He has also been engaged as a visiting teacher to: Tayelolu Memorial College, Ipetu-Ijesa; Famous New Day College, among others.

• Susan Abosede Ajayi
  

Susan Abosede Ajayi was born on Sunday, 4^th August, 1963. She attended Methodist Primary School, Ipetu-Ile in Obokun Local Government Area (1969-1974); Ada Secondary Commercial Grammar School, Ada  in Boripe Local Government Area (1976-1981); The Apostolic Teachers’ College, Oke-Oye, Ilesa (1983-1985); Oyo State College of Education (now Osun State College of Education, Ilesa) 1986-1989; Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (OSUA) now Ekiti State University (EKSU), (1992 – 1997) and Federal University  of Technology, Akure (FUTA), 2012  for a Certificate Course in Data Processing.

She has been making Commendable Contributions in Education as a Class teacher at Community Primary School, Afinbiokin via Ipetu-Ijesa (1990-1991); Class teacher at C.A.C Primary School, Erin-Ijesa (1992-2001); Class teacher at Irepodun High School, Erin-Oke (1992-2001); Class teacher at Ijebu-Ijesa Grammar School, Ijebu-Ijesa (2001-2006); Class teacher and Vice Principal at Ijebu-ijesa Junior School, Ijebu-Ijesa (2006-2013); Vice Principal at Erinmo Community Grammar School, Erinmo-Ijesa (2013); Vice Principal at Erin Community Middle/High School, Erin-Ijesa (2013-2016) and Principal at Aro-Odo Government Middle School, Ipetu-Ijesa (2016 till date).

• Abidemi Oluremi Agboola

Abidemi Oluremi Agboola was born on 4th December, 1972 in Ilesa, Oyo State (now Osun State). She attended Imuo Methodist Primary School, Otan-Ile, for her First School Leaving Certificate (1979-1985);  Ipetu-Ijesa Grammar School, Ipetu-Ijesa, for her Secondary School Certificate (1985-1989); St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo, for her NCE in Integrated Science and Physics (1993 – 1996); and University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State (1997-2001), with B.Sc (Ed) in Physics. She has contributed greatly in the teaching of Sciences, particularly Physics, Mathematics and Integrated Science, from 1999 till date in several Schools, namely: Muslim Grammar School, Odinjo, Ibadan, Oyo State, among others.

• Banji Olatona

Banji Olatona was born on 10th^h March 1936. His father was Solomon Fatomiwa Komolafe Olatonade and his mother was Abigail Duduyemi Olatona, a Princess of Alapata Ruling house of Ipetu-Ijesa.

Banji Olatona attended the famous St. Paul’s Primary School, Ipetu-Ijesa and completed his primary school education in 1952 in Ipetu-Ijesa. He thereafter attended St Paul’s College, Abeokuta (1955-1956) and St Andrew’s College, Oyo (1959-1960) respectively. He did London G.C.E O/L (Jan 1961), London G.C.E A/L (1963) and subsequently attended and graduated from the prestigious University of Ife (now, O.A.U. Ile-Ife) (1963-1966) with a B.A. (Hons) English;  Coombe Lodge, Blagden Bristol  (U.K), Administrative Conference (certificate) in 1979.

He worked in several capacities, namely: Headmaster, St. Peter’s School, Akonko, Abeokuta (1957-1958); Assistant Headmaster, St. Andrew’s College, Demonstration School Oyo (1961-1963); Graduate Tutor, St. Andrew’s College, Oyo (1966-1970); Lecturer, Adeyemi College of Education (S.A.C. Oyo Campus) 1968; Acting H.O.D, Federal Ministry of Education; UNESCO/UNDP Project, Yaba  (General Studies) now Federal College of Education (Technical)  Akoka, Yaba (1970). He later on worked as A.R (Security) W.A.E.C Yaba (1971-1974); Pioneer State Controller WAEC Benin (1974-1977); Founder and Pioneer Registrar, The Federal Polytechnic, Kano and Bida (1977-1984); Register, O.S.C.A.S, Ile-Ife (Sabbatical) 1983-1984.

In the Political terrain, he served as member, Old Oyo State Scholarship Board (1979-1983); Member, Ladoke Akintola University Founding Committee (1988); Executive Chairman, Oriade Local Government (1991-1993); National Chairman, National Conference of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (1991-1993); Member Osun State Local Government Service Commission (2001-2003); Member, Osun/Ondo States disputed Boundary Areas Committee (2008 till death).

He was the founder, Banjolat Triumph Academy, Ipetu-Ijesa (Continuing Education Centre) (1987-1998); Banjolat International Nursery and Primary School, Ipetu-Ijesa (1994 till Date); Banjolat Friendship Academy (Secondary School) (1996 till Date) and Banjolat Credibility Publishing Co. (1988- till Date).

He belonged to and served in several Voluntary Organizations, namely: Nigerian Voluntary Service Association (UNIFE), (International Work Campers (1963-1966). Nigerian MusicoCultural Society (Lagos) (1970-1974); Founder and Pioneer General Secretary, Ipetu-Ijesa Club (1974); Charter Member, Rotary Club, Ile-Ife (1981); Patron, Christian Advancement League, St Paul’s Church, Ipetu-Ijesa 1999 till Death; State Patron, Osun State Boy’s Brigade (1999 till death); Member, Ijesa Improvement League (1986 till Death); Member, Police Public Relations Committee, State Divisional and Zonal levels (1987 till Death).

Banji Olatora lived a life of service and contributions to God and humanity as can be observed from his profile

• Micheal Tunde Tokede

Micheal Tunde Tokede, a retired School Principal of many years, with vast educational administrative experience that he acquired over a period of about four decades in the teaching service, was born on 21^st December, 1946. He is a teacher by Profession, a native of Otan Ayegbaju.

He had his Primary education at St. Nicholas Catholic Primary School, Oke-Omi Quarters, Otan Ayegbaju (1953-1959); Secondary Education at St Thomas Catholic Modern School, Otan Ayegbaju (1960-1964); St James catholic Modern School, Owo Ope, Osogbo (1961-1962); St Peters Teachers’ College, Akure, Ondo State (1967-1969). He bagged Teachers’ Grade II certificate (with good result) and later on bagged a Bachelor of Education degree in Geography in (1973-1976).

Mr. Michael Tunde Tokede, after leaving the University, did his NYSC for his primary assignment in Benue State as a teacher at St. Peters College, Idah (September 1976 – June 1977).  He started his full teaching career as a Graduate Teacher at George Burton Memorial College, Ilesa (1977 – 1980) ; he got posted to Ipetu-Ijesa Grammar School for duty post as a Vice Principal in 1980; transferred to Asi-Asaba Grammar School, Asaba as full time School Principal in 1989, etc.  Mr Michael Tunde Tokede retired in the year 2000 and has been useful in Education till now.

• James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe
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James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe was a notable figure indigene of Ipetu-Ijesa, and a teacher of note (in Ipetu-Ijesa); Legendary Community Leader and Patriot of Commendable Calibre.

He was born on 1st^t January, 1915 to the family of Pa David Ogunjulugbe from Elebedo Family and Madam Felicia Awodirepo Ogunjulugbe from Apoti Family in Ipetu-Ijesa. He attended Mission School, Ipetu-Ijesa and later on St. Andrews’ College Oyo, Southwestern Nigeria.

James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe’s Parents were ardent Christians, who brought him up in Morally high Strict manners.

James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe grew up and played remarkable roles as a teacher in Ipetu-Ijesa, Chairman at St. Paul’s Church (now Cathedral) Ipetu-Ijesa in his early days.

James Olatonade Ogunjulugbe’s main hobbies were Farming and Reading books, he Passed on … on 1st January, 2001 after a brief illness. May he live on in joyful activities in Paradise.

Also, this is a brief profile of the Founder and Chancellor of African American University, the Guest Speaker and Organiser of the awards:

• Ben Ezeohagwu

Ben Ezeohagwu is Professor of Graphonomy, Chancellor and Founder, African American University, Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin.

He is Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe graphonomical research Scholar (2019), and a tripartite awardee of Culture and Creative Art Forum , Nigeria (CCAF), Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA, (Lagos State Chapter) and School of Art, Design and Printing (SADP,Yaba College of Technology,Yaba, Lagos.

He was listed in BLERF’S WHO’S WHO IN NIGERIA ONLINE (2018) for his immense contributions to Nigeria in the fields of Education, Graphoanalysis and Arts, among others.

Ben Ezeohagwu is the first Nigerian Professor of Graphoanalysis (Graphology or Graphonomy) and also the first black African Professor of Graphoanalysis — University of Business Technology, Wilmington, Delaware, USA., Edexcel University, Ifangni, Plateau, Republic of Benin, 2015).

He’s the first Black African Writer Winner of Onigraffiks Prize in Literature (2017).