Professor Adeniyi Sulaiman Gbadegesin is a scion and a Prince of the Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom. Born on 6th April 1955, he turns 70 today and it is worthwhile to celebrate him for a life of immeasurable and quality service to humankind. After primary and secondary school education at his native Oyo town, his odyssey at the University of Ibadan started in 1975 when he enrolled as a Preliminary Science undergraduate and he has been around ever since. He earned a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours) degree from the Faculty of Science, Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Geography from the University in 1979, 1981 and 1984, respectively.
He joined the Faculty as Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Geography which has dual membership of both the Faculty of Science and Faculty of The Social Sciences, on 11th January 1983. Through a dint of hard work and perseverance he rose steadily through the ranks and he attained the ultimate accolade of Professor effective 1st October 1999. He has thus put in 42 years two months, three weeks and five days as a member of the Faculty at Ibadan, the last 26 years as a Professor. A prolific, prodigious and dizzingly peripatetic scholar with many seminal contributions in peer reviewed outlets, his areas of research interests include Biogeography, Environmental Resource Management and Soil Geography.
We had fruitful collaboration during my stint a Dean of the Postgraduate School from 2002 to 2006. You were one of the co-authors of Guidelines to Writing a Doctoral Thesis, Published by the Postgraduate School University of Ibadan in 2004 (77 pages). This publication has 8 citations on Google Scholar. He co-authored a Chapter on ‘Design and Development of Conceptual Framework in Research’ in the book titled ‘Methodology of Basic and Applied Research’ Published by the Postgraduate School University of Ibadan in 2006 (385 pages). This book has 33 citations on Google Scholar. The Foreword to both publications was written by the 9th Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ayodele O. Falase, NNOM, MD, FAS. Adeniyi Gbadegesin equally participated as a resource person in many of the capacity building workshops mounted then by the Postgraduate School.
The main highlights of the community service component of his working career at the University of Ibadan comprised serving as scholar-administrator in numerous capacities where he made a very big difference as Head of the Department of Geography and Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences.
You won a keenly contested election to represent the Senate, along with the celebrated and notable Economist, Professor Ademola Ariyo, on the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board for the Appointment of the 11th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan in August/September 2010.
Professor Gbadegesin was appointed Acting and later the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso. Although the University faced a lot of challenges arising principally from the joint ownership of the University by Oyo and Osun States during the period, he navigated the chaotic situation successfully as a honest, strategic, frugal and astute administrator. Your sterling records of achievements as a transformational leader while in the saddle at LAUTECH from 2011 till 2019 will always speak for you.
A popular Yoruba proverb states that ‘Ogun Omode ko sere fun Ogun Odun’ (translation: 20 children will not remain united for 20 years). Yet I have known Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin for some 37 years now, and still counting, as a colleague, confidant, brother and friend and we have maintained a cordial relationship spiced with mutual respect ever since. You continue to say very nice things about me to third parties which sooner than later filter to me. You recently told a common friend that the lot fell on me to travel from Ibadan to Ogbomoso to physically hand-carry and submit your application documents at LAUTECH for your desire to be the Vice-Chancellor. You were the Acting Vice-Chancellor at the time. What else are friends for? The rest is history and to God alone be the glory, honour and adoration. I equally hold you in the highest esteem. I appreciate your comradeship. You are obviously not a back bitter nor a fair-weather friend, nor are you a transactional leader. According to the late Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, GCFR, ‘if you smiled at a mirror the mirror would smile back at you’.
As the Yoruba would say, ‘Oju orun to eye fo lai fara kan ra’. (Translation: The sky is wide open enough for 1,001 birds to fly without let or hindrance). What disrupts cohesion in a group is unbridled ambition, envy, jealousy, rivalry and unhealthy competition. You have certainly stayed above such pedantic and primordial considerations. My very long and enduring association with Professor Gbadegesin has shown that he is a very special breed who values friendship.
We wish you many more years ahead in good health, joy, peace and sustained prosperity as you hit the platinum age. We congratulate your wife, Mrs Olanrewaju Gbadegesin, your very successful children and their spouses, grandchildren and the entire family on the occasion of this landmark which also marks your formal retirement from the services of the University of Ibadan.
Esteemed personal regards always, a very dear older brother, friend and confidant. The rest of your life shall be the best of your life. Amen.
Prof Abel Idowu Olayinka is the 12th Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan
