Daud Olatunji
The atmosphere was charged with emotions, applause, and admiration on Wednesday as the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State, rolled out the drums to celebrate the end of tenure of its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwole Sikiru Banjo, who bowed out after five years of transformative leadership.
The event, organised by the College of Agriculture and Hospitality Management, held at the TETFUND 2012 Hall, was graced by a galaxy of dignitaries including academics, administrators, and students from within and outside the university community — all united in paying glowing tributes to a man widely described as “a visionary leader, a scholar of excellence, and a builder of people and institutions.”
I Leave TASUED Stronger And Healthier — Banjo
In his farewell address titled “A Heart of Gratitude,” Prof. Banjo reflected on his journey as TASUED’s fourth substantive Vice-Chancellor with deep emotion and humility.
“It is with a heart full of gratitude and deep reflection that I stand before you today as I mark the conclusion of my tenure as the Vice-Chancellor of this great institution,” he said.
“Serving as Vice-Chancellor of TASUED has been one of the most defining responsibilities of my academic and professional journey. It has been a period marked by challenges, but triumphed in growth and transitions.”
The outgoing VC noted that under his leadership, TASUED experienced steady progress in infrastructural development, academic expansion, and institutional reforms.
“Over the past five years, we have made important strides in improving infrastructure, expanding academic programmes, deepening research capacity, fostering collaborations, and nurturing our students to become educators and responsible global citizens,” Banjo stated.
With a tone of satisfaction, he declared: “I inherited a strong and healthy university, and I am happy I am leaving it stronger and healthier. To God alone be the glory.”
Prof. Banjo also expressed gratitude to members of staff for their cooperation and resilience, stressing that every success recorded was “a collective achievement born of teamwork and dedication.”
He praised the College of Agriculture and Hospitality Management for its innovation, describing it as “a model for other colleges in promoting excellence and entrepreneurial education.”
“I urge every member of the university community to continue to pursue excellence, support the new leadership with unity, and remain committed to the noble mission of this institution,” he charged.
LASU VC, Olatunji-Bello: “Banjo’s legacy Is Written In People, Not Just In Buildings”
Delivering the keynote address titled “Legacy of Excellence: Celebrating the Life, Leadership and Lasting Impact of Professor Oluwole Sikiru Banjo,” the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, hailed Banjo’s leadership style, describing him as a reformer whose impact would endure.
“The celebration of this quinquennium is a loud testament to the impact you have made in the life of this university over the last five years,” she said. “His leadership was not flamboyant but firm, not noisy but deeply effective.”
Olatunji-Bello noted that Prof. Banjo’s tenure was marked by innovation and discipline that touched every area of the university — from classrooms to laboratories, staff welfare to student services.
“His administration delivered an Independent Power Project that ensured more reliable electricity, upgraded laboratories and lecture halls, built a 1,000-seater multipurpose hall, and improved ICT and health facilities. But these were not just projects — they were statements that TASUED was not to be left behind,” she said.
She added that Banjo’s true legacy lies in the people he inspired rather than the physical structures he built.
“Prof. Banjo reminded us that true leadership is about leaving institutions better than you found them. His legacy is written not only in the buildings that now grace the campus but in the lives that have been shaped and the people he has lifted,” she said.
Summarising the lessons from his leadership, the LASU VC noted:“from him we learn that excellence is a habit, not an act; that credentials mean little without character; and that public office is not a prize but a platform to serve.”
FUNAAB VC Hails Banjo’s Transformative Leadership
The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Professor Olusola Kehinde, also joined in the celebration, describing Banjo as “a leader who has left an indelible mark on TASUED.”
Represented by Professor Adeniyi Olayanju, a former Vice-Chancellor of Landmark University, Kehinde said Banjo’s tenure demonstrated vision, innovation, and dedication to academic excellence.
“Under his stewardship, TASUED witnessed significant growth, innovation, and progress. His commitment to the university’s tripodal mandate of teaching, research, and community development has been truly inspiring,” he said.
He commended Banjo’s mentorship and support for faculty and students alike, describing him as “a builder of people and systems.”
“As Professor Banjo departs, we wish him continued success, good health, and happiness. His legacy will continue to shape the university’s future,” Kehinde added.
… A Legacy Of Scholarship, Service
Born in Oru-Ijebu, Ogun State, Prof. Banjo’s journey through academia spans over three decades. An alumnus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (B.Sc. in Animal Production, 1987) and the University of Ibadan (M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Wildlife and Ecotourism Management), he also holds postgraduate qualifications in Education and Personnel Psychology.
He joined the then Tai Solarin College of Education in 1990 and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2012.
With over 60 scholarly publications and the supervision of more than 100 undergraduate and postgraduate projects, Banjo is recognised for his outstanding research contributions in wildlife conservation, apiculture, and agricultural education.
He is a Fellow of several professional bodies, including the Wildlife Society of Nigeria and the Agricultural Society of Nigeria, and a recipient of numerous academic and professional awards.
Throughout the event, tributes poured in from colleagues and friends who described Prof. Banjo as “a servant-leader who led with heart, vision, and humility.”
His calm but firm leadership style, they noted, restored confidence, fostered harmony, and repositioned TASUED as a hub of innovation and excellence in Nigeria’s tertiary education landscape.
In his closing remarks, Prof. Banjo reaffirmed his optimism about TASUED’s future:
“I leave this office not with a sense of ending, but with renewed hope that TASUED will continue to thrive as a beacon of quality education in Nigeria and beyond.”
As he concluded his speech, the hall erupted in a standing ovation.
“God bless the College of Agriculture and Hospitality Management.God bless TASUED.God bless Ogun State and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he prayed, drawing the curtain on a memorable era marked by service, integrity, and impact
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