pannigeriannews 
By Sunday Saanu
When in July, 2024, Babcock University, a private university located in Ilisan Remo, Ogun state decided to confer an honourary degree of Doctor of Law and Administration on one-time President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the management of the institution probably did not know that the decision would eternally enrich the institution as it has done. Shorty after the ceremony, Chief Olanipekun who has become an amazing phenomenon in Nigeria’s firmament, by assisting various universities and institutions with infrastructure, had according to him, “dropped a token”, which he instructed should be used to buy books for the law library of the university.
However, what this great man of means described as a token was marvelous in the eyes of the university management, therefore pleaded with this legendary philanthropist to let them use the donation to build the auditorium for the use of the students. Chief Olanipekun disclosed that he had wondered how the university would be able to achieve this lofty dream, given the size of his token gift. But the university, in a deft resource husbandry, under the leadership of Prof. Ademola Tayo, creatively deployed available funds and built a 250 seater lecture theatre called Wole Olanipekun Law Auditorium (WOLA), befitting the taste and standard of the legal icon.
Impressed by the ingenious mindset of the university, Chief Olanipekun graciously agreed to refund the total cost of the architectural masterpiece to the university, praising the management for its prudent and judicious fund utilization as well as its resourcefulness. The WOLA was thereafter commissioned at a colourful ceremony attended by dignitaries, including Akarigbo of Remoland, His Majesty, Oba Babatunde Adewale Ajayi; the Orogun of Okenla, Oba Dokun Abolarin; the Olofin of Ilisan, Oba Michael Sonuga; Oba Sikiru Adeyega; Archbishop Olusina Fape, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN; and Prof Roland Otaru, SAN among others.
A university system rests on three pillars to succeed: the faculty, the facility and the finance. There’s no gainsaying that the major problems confronting the university system, particularly in Nigeria are the issues of facilities and finance which have caused incalculable damage to the system with attendant countless industrial face off between the workers and the government particularly in federal and state owned-universities. Chief Olanipekun, whose physical frame disguises the giant strides he has recorded in his public life seems to have decided to take the two pillars of facility and finance upon himself as he keeps donating infrastructure to various universities.
Recall that when he was the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council at the University of Ibadan (UI), he donated a lecture theatre at Ajibode, UI second phase in a strategic way to open up the fast-developing vast land. Shortly after serving out his tenure in UI, the Anglican Church, the owner of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo pleaded with him to serve as Chairman of Council, the role he played with amazing grace and candour. He ended up building the Vice Chancellor’s lodge for the university where Godly intellectuals are being raised. Recently too, at Bamidele Olumiluwa University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti (BOUESTI) where he is the Chancellor, this highly respected and revered legal luminary built and donated a Senate Building, even as he promised to do more for the university.
Chief Olanipekun ; in Nigeria today, is one of the very few of whom it can be truly said that their lives bring blessings to their generation. It hardly needs to be said that he is a Godsend to this generation with the way he goes about, like Jesus Christ, doing good. I am of the opinion that God in His grace, does endow a country with such a rare leader at intervals. This great man who carries greatness lightly with his infectious smiles, is indeed an angel in human flesh, a problem solver, and a burden carrier. This much was attested to by those who spoke at the Babcock University unveiling ceremony.
University is the resource base of the nation. Whether it is federal, state or private, it is a place where sufficient resources must be channeled. Chief Olanipekun knows that almost all the universities in the country are hamstrung by infrastructure deficit, hence, his determination to keep assisting in his little way. Perhaps this was the reason he called on the wealthy to come down to the aid of these ailing institutions. Hear him, “I am not from Ilisan Remo in Ogun State before donating this for the university, but I am mindful of what the history will say about me. “So generally, as Nigerians, all these attitudes of grabbing and stealing what we don’t even need or can’t even spend in our lifetime does not make sense, we must do away with all of these terrible attitudes. People should learn that they will not be remembered for the depth of their wealth, but for the impact left behind long after they had exited this world and should therefore prioritise supporting humanity above other world inanities”
Nothing could be more profound than this assertion. University system should be restored to the age long tradition as a place for the untrammeled generation and contestation of ideas, free flow of thoughts, cradle and crucible for the vigorous commerce of the human mind and its restless traffic of imagination and intelligence. This is from where developmental ideas are generated. But it is collapsing! Chief Olanipekun has made a sacrifice. It is a sacrifice that speaks volumes about his selflessness. Can we have more people like him? We need more Olanipekuns to change the narrative. Other well-to-do individuals should emulate him. Here is a humble man who stands out among the outstanding with his uncommon kindness.
His humility and philanthropic humanism are almost unparalleled in this part of this world where obscene display of wealth and class haughtiness is the crass second nature of moneybags. Here is a man whose strength of character is a beacon of hope and inspiration to everyone around him. Chief Olanipekun is enormously gifted in empathy and sympathy. He deserves public appreciation for his altruism.
Back to Babcock, the VC disclosed that the School of Law and Security Studies which started from a humble beginning of 25 students in 2003 now has about 500 students across all levels, while the products of the school have continued to excel both at home and abroad. Good report. More of that. However, other dignitaries on the occasion were Chief Olanipekun’s wife, Princess Erelu Omolara Olanipekun, the Dean of the School of Law and Security Studies, Prof Dorcas Odunaike, as well as academic and administrative leaders (past and present) such as Prof Isaac Oluwole Agbede; Prof Pius Deji Olanrewaju; Prof Bankole Sodipo, SAN; Prof Zac Olomojobi; Prof Philemon Amanze; Prof Olugbenga Idowu; Prof Ilesanmi; Prof Efe Ehioga; Dr Sunday Audu and the School’s Bursar, Dr Folorunsho Akande, among others.
…Saanu (08034073427) is with the University of Ibadan
Email: [email protected]
