OAU: GREAT IFE INAUGURATES HER 11TH VICE CHANCELLOR; AS ELUJOBA LEAVES OFFICE

THE entire community of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife Osun State, was in gleeful mood and were feeling the happiness in the air in the great and antique Oduduwa hall that was filled to the very brim on 7th of June 2017,  as the great and prestigious institution inaugurates her 11th substantive Vice Chancellor, Prof. Eyitayo Ogunmodede in her 55th year of existence.

Ooni of Ife at the inauguration ceremony

Prior to the inception of the  historic event anchored by the  humorous Public Relations Officer of the prestigious citadel,  Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju, who started the occasion with both stanzas of the National Anthem and the Great Ife Anthem which  started about some minutes to 12 noon, the department of music ,OAU was entertaining the multitude who came to grace the event.

The event started as the Ooni of Ife, HRM Oba Enitan Adeyeye Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II  and his entourage came in, followed by the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Yemi Ogunbiyi, followed by the out gone Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof  Anthony Elujoba and the new Vice Chancellor,  Prof Eyitayo Ogunmodede. Some August visitors from the administrative and academics works  of live came to grace the event, including the representative from the Ministry Of Education,  Prof. Arua, President of the Alumni Association,  James Oke and Udoka Madueke.

The multitude in their gleeful mood

The out gone and historic Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof Anthony Elujoba during the course of delivering his welcoming and valedictory speech was cheered in tumultuous  atmosphere, chanting "Elu, Elujoba" praising for his great works has done during a short term in Office especially for the Great Ife students experiencing a smooth calendar with any alteration.He appreciated the Ooni of Ife for coming to the occasion

Speaking to the large community, he said " I give this valedictory speech to the Glory of God. The circumstances that brought me to this office is primary and divine. Today is the day of thanksgiving. We are thanking God for turning our sorrows to joy, and changing our darkness into light. The overwhelming election that brought me into office will be appreciated."

The registrar of the institution, Dotun Awoyemi told us how the transparent election. 22 candidate were vying for the post of the Vice Chancellor Office.

The inaugurated Vice Chancellor appreciated and recognize the presence of the August visitors especially the presence of the Great Ife Student's Union President, Oyekan Ibukun.

Speaking to the people of the institution, he said " it is great privilege to be appointed as the 11th Vice Chancellor. Indeed, it is a new dawn and beginning"

"We must reposition the institution, before we can, we must annex all the resources of the citadel. Over the years we have lost out as an institution."

Outside the hall

He tremendously appreciated the out gone Acting Vice Chancellor for his honest and hard work for not allowing the institution to collapse. He said history will always remember him for the great works he has done.