Unilag honors Adebutu, others

Philanthropist and Chairman of the popular
Premier Lotto Baba Ijebu Sir Kensington
Adebutu, was the only individual bestowed
with the ‘honoree alumnus’ award at the
University of Lagos alumni Association
distinguished award at the weekend.
Though Chief Adebutu, who celebrated his 80th
birthday few weeks ago, was not an alumnus
of the 52 year old institution; yet he was
deserving of the award owing to his
philanthropic gestures in health and
education through this Kensington Adebukola
Adebutu Foundation, said Bisi Olatilo of the
Bisi Olatilo show, who anchored the show.
Bankole Cardoso, the only son of Dr Ameyo
Stella Adadavoh also received the alumni post
humous award on behalf of her mother.
Adedavoh, it will be recalled, forestalled a
national calamity when she detained a
Liberian national Patrick Sawyer who was
already infected with ebola virus disease,
from leaving First Consultant Medical Centre
Obalanded where she then worked as the lead
consultant physician and endocrinologist. She
later contracted the disease from sawyer and
died in Tuesday August 19 last year.
Spotting an ash suit with ash flowery tie and
milk coloured shirt to match, the octogenarian
stood tall as Olatilo read his profile.
Kessington was later joined on the podium by
friends and family members as his award was
presented to him by UNILAG Vice-Chancellor
Prof Rahamon Bello and Chief Funsho, wife of
the Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun,
Expressing his acknowledgement, Adebutu said
he would have proceeded on his vacation
immediately after his birthday bash, but had
to put that on hold because of his love for
UNILAG.
“I am so overwhelmed (with the award)” said
the octogenarian.
“Sincerely, I love UNILAG so much that I had
to reschedule my holiday which I’d planned to
embark upon after my 80th birthday.
‘I had been associated with over 100
universities since 1984. I was even appointed
the chairmen Board of Trustees of a
university; yet I’ve not seen one so dear to
my heart like UNILAG.
“In Kessington Adebutu Foundation which I
set up, our main job focuses on health and
education because we believe a healthy and
educated soul can never go hungry. My
foundation has always partnered with UNILAG
and we shall continue to partner with UNILAG
in her laudable programmes.”
Chief Adebutu promised to meet with Prof Bello
after the event to see further areas of
collaboration between his foundation and the
university.
Speaking with reporters Mrs Amosun, also a
UNILAG alumnus, and one of the special guests
of honour, said the honourees are deserving
of the honours owing to their contributions to
their country and their alma mater.
On the message of the event to other old
students generally, she said:
“I’ll like to tell the media to help us spread
the word that it is important for every single
person to take responsibility for the
environment that we live in. We need to
sustain it otherwise it will become extinct and
we shall have nowhere to live. We need to use
our resources wisely to the benefit of our
amla mater.”
UNILAG Vice-Chancellor Prof Rahamon also
said of the event.
“When people of that caliber were honoured,
they you know that Nigeria is moving in the
right direction. UNILAG believes in honouring
our own and this is just one of the occasions.
“We appreciate our alumni and what they are
contributing to the economy. This is our own
little way of acknowledging them to do more
for the nation.
On what current students need to learn, Bello
added: “We use this event to make them
(students) realise that when they are
steadfast and consistent, they can always
reach any height they attempt to. We use this
occasion to tell them that it’s not every
alumni that you see here are from a rich
background. They all came from diverse
backgrounds but attained heights by dint of
hardwork. We are therefore using this to
challenge them that they can even surpass
these people in their own times.”
Earlier, the National President of the alumni
association Olor’ogun Dr Sunny Kuku, who
congratulated the awardees, drew their
attention to the some projects with which the
association is in partnership with UNILAG.
According to him, there is a proposed 500-
capacioty bed hostel project put at N2 billion;
remodeling of the old alumni building, as well
as the planned Moremi cab shuttle park
Project which would gulp N20 million and N15
million respectively.
Other projects, according to Kuku include,
construction of alumni park/BRT terminal
(N15million); seed capital for a functional
secretariat (N20 million); include: mini bus
(N11 million); and30KVA generator for the
new alumni building (2 million).
Others honorees include veteran journalist
Prince Tony Momohin, Nimi Dimpa Briggs, Mr
Bola Temowo, Adenuga David Adewale of the
Wale Adenuga Productions, and former vice
chancellor Tai Solarin University of Education
Ijagun Ogun State Prof Victor Olusegun
Awonusi, and executive Governor Gombe State
Hassan Dankwambo, among others.