By Banji Ayoola
The new Vice-Chancellor of Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, OAUSTECH, Prof Temi Emmanuel Ologunorisa, has unveiled his plans to develop the blue economy for Ondo State.
This was contained in a statement by the university’s spokesman, Mr Abdulmajeed Adebayo, which said that the new helmsman made this revelation in his first meeting with the Deans, Directors and other top officials of the institution, who are to drive his vision, on Wednesday, March 2.
Ologunorisa explained that there is move from green economy to blue economy in the world.
According to the statement, the Vice Chancellor added that as a university located in the coastal region, “he would tap into the comparative advantage of the University by offering courses in maritime transport and logistics to give the University an edge over others.”
He also assured that offering such courses would help develop the blue economy of the region, which would invariably benefit the University and the host communities.
Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Akinruntan assures support
OAUSTECH new Vice Chancellor, Prof Temi Emmanuel Ologunorisa, middle, with the institution’s Chancellor and Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, right, during the visit to the first class monarch
Meanwhile, the paramount traditional ruler of Ugbo Land and Chancellor of the university, Oba Dr. Fredrick Akinruntan, has assured the Vice-Chancellor of his support to actualise his vision of developing a blue economy for the coastal region where the institution is strategically located.
He gave this assurance on Thursday, 3 March 3, when the new Vice-Chancellor paid him a courtesy call in his domain as part of his familiarisation tour of the institution’s critical stakeholders and host communities. It was Ologunorisa’s first official visit since he assumed of duty on February 23.
The first class monarch commended the erudite Professor of Climate Science for the visit and for presenting his agenda to move the University forward, saying he would do every necessary thing to ensure he succeeds in his dream for the University.
He assured that he would consider his proposal for establishing a Campus to house the proposed School of Maritime Transport and Logistic in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state in order to develop the area.
Prof Ologunorisa and his entourage in a group photograph with Oba Akinruntan during the visit
Besides, the royal father, according to the statement, “promised to set machinery in motion for the Vice-Chancellor’s proposal of mounting a Centre to run an annual lecture series in the name of his imperial majesty in the university to provide cultural enlightenment.”
“Oba Akinruntan commended Prof. Ologunorisa for the sacrifice he made to come to contribute his quota to the development of the coastal region and the passionate manner he presented his agenda for harnessing the resources of the environment to develop the blue economy of the region.”
According to the statement: “The Chancellor said he was very pleased by the visit and the event had made the evening a happy and memorable one for him. The elated monarch said he would adopt Professor Ologunorisa as his second adopted son.
“Earlier, Professor Ologunorisa had passionately and brilliantly presented his vision for taking the University to greater heights by mounting courses that are capable of transforming the economy of the coastal region where the institution is located.
“He assured the Chancellor that he had come to contribute his quota as an indigene of Ondo State to the University of Science and Technology as an international professor of Climate Science, bringing to bear his international experience and contacts to catapult the university from being a local player to an international player in developing a global economy for the region.
“He asserted that he had made contacts with the Vice President of Kingston University in Jamaica to pursue an earlier MOU which OAUSTECH had signed with the institution, but abandoned, to facilitate an exchange programme between the two institutions in running maritime courses.
“I have made contacts with the Vice President of Maritime University, Kingston in Jamaica to revive the MOU the University had signed to develop human resources in nautical science, maritime transport and logistics,” he stated.
“He added: “Our students will start their maritime studies in OAUSTECH in Nigeria and complete them at the Maritime University in Jamaica to give them competitive advantage in the global labour market.”
Professor Olukoya Ogen, the adopted first son of the monarch, facilitated the courtesy visit of the new Vice-Chancellor, to the palace of the Olugbo.
The erudite professor of History had described, to the revered monarch, the new OAUSTECH VC as a brilliant international professor, whom he proudly identifies with and believed would transform the institution.
At the event were: Prof. F. A. Gbore, OAUSTECH Director of Linkages and Internationalization, who was a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko; Prof. Olukoya Ogen, former Provost at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo; Mr. Paul Adeagbo, OAUSTECH’s new Deputy Director of Information, Protocol and Public Relations; and Chief Abagun Kole Omololu.
Others included High Chiefs of Ugbo Land who had joined the paramount traditional ruler in welcoming the Vice-Chancellor to the Palace for the visit.
