Gbenro Adesina
Department of Psychology, Faculty of the Social Sciences, University of Ibadan (UI), on Thursday January 6, 2021, held a Valedictory Service in honour of one of them, Professor Grace Anuoluwapo Adejuwon, a Developmental Psychologist, as she marks both her 70th birthday and retirement from the nation’s Premier University. The event, held physically and virtually, between 12noon and 2:40pm, had in attendance, about 100 participants, made up of the celebrant’s colleagues, students, family and friends.
Likewise, the children of the celebrant, in collaboration with her students, held a virtual birthday celebration, attended by family, friends, and students from both Queen’s School, Apata, Ibadan and UI and some colleagues, including Dr Olubukola Adesina, Professor Aderemi Ismail Alarape and Professor Olawale Ogunkola, a member of UI Governing Council, where they showered encomium on the celebrant. The peak of the emotion laden event was the cutting of the 70th birthday cake.
At the two separate events, attendees took turn to eulogise the celebrants, thanking God for sparing her life this far, in a country where life expectancy is low. Professor Helen Osinowo, in her tribute, went down memory lane to establish the doggedness of the celebrant. She said, “Adejuwon is my “aburo” (my younger sister), by 11 months. She is a septuagenarian today. She arrived in the department in 1997. One day, she came to my office as an MSc student of Developmental Psychology and asked, “Do you think I can become a lecturer here?” This question means that she has a vision and she came to this place to actualise her vision. How can someone come at over 40 and change career? She is a success and a genius. She attended the best schools”. Osinowo further narrated how Adejuwon has been instrumental to the successes of many students, working all night to ensure that the students’ results were ready as at when due as well as trying her best to sustain the department. She added that she was there for both students and her colleagues, stressing that Adejuwon is a good person and kind hearted, who has passion for Developmental Psychology.
While Dr Olaifa described her as a virtuous woman and a special person, Professor Peter Olamakinde Olapegba sees her as a stabiliser, who thinks of good for the department. He said, “We are here to celebrate Professor Grace Adejuwon, a very passionate, diligent and Godly woman. When she came then, some of us were asking: what is this grey hair woman looking for among younger ones? She is always punctual. As colleagues in the department, we shared office. Later, we got close. She got interested in me. She became my prayer warrior. She prayed for me when I wanted to defend my PhD”.
Professor David. E. Okurame, in his goodwill message said, “Turning 70 is a huge milestone in the life of any individual, especially, in our country where socio-political issues and economic hardship have become distressing, with negative consequence for life expectancy and quality of life. Therefore, I rejoice and celebrate with Prof Grace Adejuwon as she marks her 70th birthday and meritorious retirement from active service at the Department of Psychology”.
In the same direction, while Dr A. C. Obosi, described her as a great influence and blessing to all, Dr Mojisola S. Ajayi, admired her cheerful and meek personality, as well as her keen interest in the younger generation. “It was a delight being your student and a great pleasure working with Prof”, Ajayi added. Also, Dr Funmilola Olutola appreciated the celebrant for her unconditional mentorship, stressing that she has been an outstanding inspiration to her. “You inspired me to work hard and dream big. I learnt so much from your values, ideas, dedication, wisdom and sound judgement”.
Among the students, who showered encomium on Adejuwon was Mrs Owolabi, who stated that she taught her from 200 level through Masters Class, with keen interest in all of her students. She said, “You showered interest in our academics and personal lives. Thank you for your exemplary life. I remember the 8am lectures in Masters Class, mama was always there on time”. “She is a lecturer any student will always look forward to attend her classes. Her teaching is beyond lecturing but more of practical approach to live and challenges”, Oluremi Olalekan added.
Mrs Joy Ilori, who would not forget the advice Adejuwon gave her when she was newly married, learnt from her that one is never too old to start to learn. Olusola Ayandele will for ever remember the concepts and theories of Developmental Psychology she taught her at LLT some 13 years ago. “Prof Grace Adejuwon, you are one of the amiable mothers we have in Psychology. You are so nice, with a good and kind heart. You always have a smile and an encouraging word for your students whenever the situation arises”, Pamela Udoka said.
Responding to the participants’ remarks on her, Adejuwon gave all glory to God, who allowed her to touch lives. “I want to thank God who allowed me to just do somethings I may know or may not know. Like my student said, I used to teach her during break and that means a lot to her. We are meant for each other. You have also touched my life in special ways. For instance, Dr Olaifa’s family, whom we shared apartment with, sometimes, I will just call them in the night, if it is 1am, he would just get up immediately. They are always ready. That family is wonderful. It has been like that since we met. I know God brought us together to meet the needs of one another. Olapegba will ask about my husband all the time. You have done a lot to make me survive academic life as a sister, mother and wife. Everyone has touched my life in special ways. You gave me conducive atmosphere to do this work. Thank you for allowing me to be part of you”.
She intimated the department that she has donated the sum of N500,000 to the University, to be used for annual award for the best graduating student of psychology.
Delivering the valedictory lecture, titled, “Defining Moments: Psychologists as Influencers of Global Behavioural Change in the Twenty-First Century”, Adejuwon, defined a defining moment as a point in life when it is crucial to make a decision, or when a life event changes one’s mental orientation, increase self-awareness or creates a vacuum that needs to be filled. “A defining moment represents times when certain things happen that change the trajectory of our lives positively or negatively”, she added.
According to her, a defining moment, of which she was among the beneficiaries, is traceable to 1976, when the Professor Dennis Ugwuegbu-led team established the Department of Psychology in UI. “…The department has continued to be a fountain of generational life changer to the benefit of individuals, communities, societies, nation and the world at large… I give glory to God for the opportunity made available to me in this department to pursue a career in Psychology”, she explicated.
Speaking on defining moment in her career, Adejuwon pointed out that the lecture marked her retirement as a professor from the department, saying, “It prompts reflections on my career as a university lecturer, researcher, as well as on the community services. I was privileged to render to the university community”. She revealed that the earlier part of her working life was spent with the Oyo State Ministry of Education.
Her journey into the field of Psychology, according to her, dated 1971, when she started reading the monthly series of a magazine titled, “Psychology Today”. “My admission to study Psychology at Masters level in 1997, 15 years after completing my first degree, was a fulfilment of a vision and the foundation of becoming a university lecturer. Professor Sunday Samson Babalola provided the required initial information that I needed to enable me decide on an area of specialisation. I am grateful for the support received from Professor M. A. Sunmola, who supervised my MSc project”, Adejuwon stated.
Another defining moment of the celebrant was her appointment in 2000, as an Assistant Lecturer, two years into her PhD programme, during the first tenure of Professor Shyngle. Kolawole. Balogun, as the Head of Department. Same year, she had her first publication, which she drew from her MSc thesis. “I published my PhD in 2004, which become another defining moment for me, with a new focus and determination to succeed as a lecturer and researcher”, she noted.
The Don asserted that she had a satisfying teaching career spanning 19 years, between 2000-2018/19. She said, “I have extremely enjoyed my teaching career for 19 years (2000-2018/19). I taught PSY 102-Introduction to Personality, Social and Lifespan, PSY 205-Developmental Psychology and PSY 402- Adolescent Psychology. Each of the levels represent defining moment in the developmental period of the students…Teaching career has given me the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many students”.
Another defining moment was when she discovered that Developmental Psychology from lifespan perspective, was not just the study of children behaviour, limited to school, as being erroneously portrayed, but as a broad division of Psychology, which covers the study of changes in human behaviour from conception to death. Within this field, her research has focused on psychological health and wellbeing from infancy to old age. Adejuwon explained, “The findings from my research for the past decades consistently identified the challenges of behavioural changes associated with psychological health and well being among different populations from infancy to old age”.
She advocated for the 21st century approach to behavoural change, research, intervention strategies and policy formulation, pointing out that there was a need for novel solutions to global health issues in order to promote psychological health wellbeing and prevent diseases.
Adejuwon shared a defining moment with students, when she succeeded Professor Ayodele Samuel Jegede, as the coordinator, Student help Desk at the Faculty of the Social Sciences. She said, “Inaugurated on Wednesday November 12, 2003, it tackles the the defining moments in the lives of some of our students such as: health related issues (e.g HIV infection, surgeries issue), sexual abuse, chronic financial difficulties, drug abuse, pregnancy conditions and emotional problems. These issues, which could have had adverse lifelong consequences were aptly attended to with outstanding outcomes. The student help desk provided a rich platform for the provision of various interventions to students, thus, alleviating problems that could have aborted their academic career or limit their performance. Deans award programme was handled by the centre as well as seminars on different academic and social issues. Our current Dean, Professor Catherine Chovwen, has always been both a volunteer and a donor to the centre. Professor Benjamin. Olley and others contributed as volunteer and donors. Students from other faculties benefitted. It is my hope that the centre will continue with laudable programme, especially, in times like this in our nation”.
The year 2014, when Adejuwon established the Pro-Family Care Foundation, to provide psychosocial services, skill acquisition and educational support to the unreached communities, was another defining moment. Through this foundation, for the past seven years, she has touched the lives of some “Alabaru” (load carriers), in Bodija Market, Ibadan. According to her, a homeless mother of two children born in the market is currently being rehabilitated, courtesy of the Foundation.
The erudite Developmental Psychologist highlighted some defining moments in Nigeria to include: cultural changes, technological advancement, environmental factors, political instability, terrorism, banditry, economic concerns, and new scientific discoveries. Arguing that the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases and other health related conditions in the 21st century have sharpened the focus and is driven on behavoural change, she strongly holds that psychologists and behavoural scientists, have what it takes to lead the drive towards behavoral change in the 21st century.
In her conclusion, she made some recommendations for the academic circle to include the review of both undergraduate and postgraduate curricular to reflect the 21st century trends in behavioural development,engaging in collaborative research novel behaviour tools: psychologists, medical practitioners, sociologists, neuroscientists, environmental experts, economists, political leaders, historians and other related disciplines and policy maker. “Researchers are to incorporate recent developments in behavoural research science and lay emphasis on evidence-based intervention strategies. There is need for novel intervention methods capable of addressing complex interaction of dynamic changes and the nature of behavoural change in the 21st century and the use of 21st century digital technologies such as internet, smart phones, and next-generation networkers to collect data, while maintaining their privacy. This would allow the selection of interventions specifically tailored to particular situation”, she concluded.
