In a move to deepen town-gown collaboration and foster sustainable development, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ODU’A Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa, led a delegation to the University of Ibadan (UI) on a courtesy visit, marking the first anniversary of his assumption of office.
During the visit, Yinusa commended the UI management for upholding academic excellence and offering vital social services to society.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between academia and industry, noting that institutions like UI are critical stakeholders in national development.
“The purpose of this visit is to seek strategic partnerships and collaborations with UI because we believe that the town and gown must work hand-in-hand to foster progress,” Yinusa stated.
Professor Aderonke M. Baiyeroju, receiving a gift from the GMD, ODU’A Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa
He highlighted ODU’A Investment Company Limited as a major indigenous conglomerate with substantial interests in diverse sectors including real estate, hospitality, agriculture and agribusiness, construction, manufacturing, digital technology, financial services, oil and gas, and equipment leasing.
He said that the company, owned by the six South-Western states of Nigeria, is also venturing into emerging sectors such as healthcare, logistics, energy, and mining adding, “Our mission goes beyond profit-making. We are also committed to creating lasting social impact.”
UI presents a gift to the GMD, ODU’A Investment Company Limited, Abdulrahman Yinusa
Echoing this commitment, Abiola Ajayi, Company Secretary and Head of Legal, elaborated on the focus of the ODU’A Investment Foundation, which concentrates on three key pillars: education, health, and youth empowerment.
Ajayi revealed that the foundation is actively promoting digital literacy in rural communities through the establishment of ICT centers.
She stressed the need for partnership with UI’s Department of Computer Science to train 3,000 secondary school teachers who would, in turn, train others within their local government areas.
“We also seek collaborations with the Faculty of Agriculture, especially in the areas of food processing and the storage of farm produce, to enhance food security,” she added.
Other members of the visiting team included Engr. Olusoji Sangobiyi, Technical Assistant to the GMD on Special Projects; Victor Ayetoro, Head of Branding and Communication; and Kazeem Oguntoyinbo, Branding and Communication Manager.
Receiving the team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Aderonke M. Baiyeroju, expressed delight at the prospect of a robust partnership.
She described the initiative as “sweet music to the ears” of the university management, reaffirming UI’s readiness to enter into meaningful collaborations with industry leaders like ODU’A.
“UI, as Nigeria’s premier university, is proud of its legacy of excellence and global recognition in research. We are always open to partnerships that drive national development,” she said.
Professor Baiyeroju pointed out that the university can no longer rely solely on government funding and has had to depend on grants, corporate support, and philanthropy to bridge the funding gap.
She emphasised that engaging with industry players is essential for translating research into real-world applications.
She concluded by proposing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UI and ODU’A Investment Company Limited, which would formalise collaborative efforts across various faculties and align mutual goals in the spirit of town-gown synergy.
The visit signals a renewed commitment to bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application, with both parties hopeful that the collaboration will yield transformative outcomes for the region and beyond.
