The University of Ibadan has named its Postgraduate College Administrative Building in honour of a foremost scientist, seasoned educationist, and one of Nigeria’s most distinguished scholars, Late Professor Sanya Dojo Onabamiro.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, said the premier university immortalised Prof. Onabamiro’s name on the edifice to etch his legacy into the very fabric of the institution and reaffirm its commitment to honouring those who helped to lay the foundation for its academic excellence.
He said that Professor Onabamiro was not just an academic colossus but a titan, a trailblazer in parasitology, a visionary educator and a dedicated public servant whose contribution to the University of Ibadan and the broader academic community remained indelible.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that Professor Onabamiro’s pioneering research brought pride to Nigeria and advanced global scientific knowledge, while his dedication to education, mentorship, and nation building remains a shining example for the academia and beyond.
Professor Adebowale appreciated the presence of His Excellency, General Olusegun Obasanjo, whom he referred to as a revered statesman and a former head of state, whose leadership left an indelible mark on Nigeria.
He also thanked the former governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and other distinguished guests who graced the occasion to celebrate the man who, according to him, left an intellectual legacy which continues to inspire generations.
He extended his profound gratitude to the Onabamiro family for sharing their patriarch with the world.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the legacy of Professor Onabamiro is not just in the books or discoveries he made, but in the lives he touched and the institutions he strengthened.
He affirmed that generations of postgraduate students and scholars who will visit the administrative block will be reminded of Onabamiro’s dedication to learning, passion for discovery, commitment to excellence, and service to humanity.
Former President Obasanjo, who was the chairman of the building naming ceremony, described Professor Onabamiro as a great educationist and research scientist who was diligent, righteous and erudite.
According to him, Professor Onabamiro left a remarkable legacy that should not be forgotten, adding that naming the edifice after him was a thoughtful and well-deserved honour for the late don.
Chief Obasanjo recognised the University of Ibadan as the first and the best university in Nigeria, in addition to appreciating the university management for conceiving the idea of naming the postgraduate administrative building after the Professor Onabamiro.
Chief Obasanjo commended the family of the distinguished scholar for not forgetting their patriarch but remembering his life and times through the 40-year memorial lecture scheduled to hold after the naming ceremony.
In a goodwill message, Senator Amosun said that he was delighted to be at the auspicious occasion held in honour of a giant and illustrious son of Ogun State.
He noted that the occasion was not to merely celebrate the naming of an edifice after the late icon or attend a memorial lecture to be thrilled by knowledge, but to honour the life of a man of excellence and his profound services to Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
According to Senator Amosun, Professor Onabamiro’s trajectory speaks to the highest summit of dedication, service, patriotism, and visionary leadership while his contribution to Nigeria was indicative of his impact on the field of science, education, politics, and journalism, stating that not many of his ilk achieved all that he did.
The former governor said Professor Onabamiro recorded several pioneering achievements in the academia, and will be remembered particularly for breaking barriers and blazing the trail at a time when opportunities for Africans to pursue advanced studies were rare.
He said that Prof. Onabamiro was the first African to receive a Ph.D. from any British Colonial University in Africa.
Senator Amosun stated that Professor Onabamiro’s dedication and commitment to applying knowledge for the public good set him apart as a research scientist in parasitology whose research outcome was named after him as DRANCUNCULUS ONABAMIROID in international scientific journals.
He commended the University of Ibadan for honouring Professor Onabamiro by naming the postgraduate administrative block after him, saying that this will serve as a beacon of hope and a reminder to present and future scholars that education is key to empowerment.
The immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, reiterated that the University of Ibadan Postgraduate College is the flagship of postgraduate education in Nigeria.
He also commended the University for honouring the legacy of Professor Onabamiro.
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebowale, with the support of special guests at the event and other principal officers of the University, later unveiled the signage.
