Gbenro Adesina
The Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka has revealed the reason why the immediate past Governor of Oyo State, late Senator Abiola Ajimobi failed to obtain a doctoral degree of the Premier University.
It would be recalled that while alive, late Ajimobi felt he would be unfulfilled, if he was not among the Alumni of UI, as he thought that the institution should expressly give him admission to study Political Science, which he was not academically qualified for.
He stated in UI, during a public function that though, he did not have a certificate in Political Science, or Public Administration, the experience garnered in Public administration is higher than degree certificate in Political Science or Public Administration.
He said, it was logical for UI to consider him for PhD in Political Science base on his wealth of experience.
He obtained a doctoral form in 2015 to study Political Science and did everything possible for the admission to succeed, but the admission failed because he did not have requisite qualifications.
Prior to his seeking admission to the prestigious University, Abiola, held Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance from the State University of New York, in Buffalo, New York and Masters of Science (MBA) degree from the Governors state university, Illinois.
Ajimobi, on August 5, 2015 painted the picture of how important the nation’s premier university is to him, saying, “After my secondary school education, I attempted to study medicine in UI but I did not meet up with the requirements. So I traveled out of the country to study medicine. On getting abroad, I attempted to study medicine but it did not work. I discussed my plan with a diplomat over there that I wanted to study medicine and the man asked me to join him in a ride to a county hospital. When we got there, whenever we meet a doctor, he would introduce the doctor to me. The doctors he introduced to me were about 60 years of age. All the doctors including the professors of medicine have their stethoscope either holding it or putting it around their necks. Each of them has small small offices. At the end, we got to a well furnished and decorated office with television and met somebody of about 45 years of age that has lot of staff serving him. I asked the man that took me there and he said that the man is an administrator and I dropped my ambition to studying medicine to studying administration. So, I did not regret studying administration.
His determination to bag a degree in the nation’s Premier University made him to re-apply and he was offered M.Phil/PhD admission in Sustainable Development Practice.
Shedding light on the admission, Olayinka said, “Towards the end of his two-term tenure as Governor, Senator Ajimobi expressed interest in pursuing a doctoral programme at the University of Ibadan. This is a standard practice in many world-class universities in other jurisdictions as it provides an avenue for people who have seen it all in public service and the private sector to interact with the scholars in academia”.
“Senator Ajimobi subsequently applied for and was offered admission for M.Phil/PhD Sustainable Development Practice by the Postgraduate College, University of Ibadan, tenable at the Centre for Sustainable Development, which is now part of our Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies. He had already paid the requisite acceptance fee”, Olayinka added.
According to the outgoing Vice Chancellor, “Executive Performance, Governance and Quality of Democracy at the State level: Perception of the Electorate” and “Public Opinion and Accountability in Political Governance of State governments in Nigeria”, have been identified for the deceased’s thesis.
He said, “His transition has now prevented the Distinguished Senator Ajimobi the opportunity of embarking on his doctoral research at the University of Ibadan”.
Olayinka also gave a reason why late Senator Ajimobi abandoned the urban renewal programme his administration initiated.
According to him, “I once asked Governor Ajimobi why he abandoned some aspects of his urban renewal programme through which he cleared all the roadside ‘markets’ on the not so wide roads that had the tendency to slow down vehicular traffic in the metropolis. He replied that it was because there was a lot of resistance to that policy by majority of the residents”.
Olayinka concluded, “We pray for the repose of his soul. May the good God forgive his sins and comfort his widow, children, grandchildren, friends and associates. Good night, your Excellency”.
