Oloola of Ilara Visits Crescent Varsity, Awards Scholarships

By Idris Katib & Yusuf Olatunji

The newly crowned Oloola of Ilara-Yewa, His Royal Majesty, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Oyede-Lawal, has instituted a scholarship scheme to give back to Crescent University, Abeokuta where he served for almost two decades before being selected as traditional ruler of his kingdom.

Oba Oyede-Lawal, who was in company with Alhaji Abdulhakeem Olatunji, the Mogani Adeen of Ilara Yewa, unveiled this during his courtesy visit/special Juma'at prayer at the university.

He said although he had been awarding scholarships to Ilara natives since 2010 in the name of Lamaco Scholarship/Cash Awards, he would soon register the scholarship in the name of his royal title when his foundation was fully organized.

Expressing his appreciation that he acquired over ninety five percent of his industry experience from Crescent University, Oba Oyede-Lawal said " I instituted cash awards for any first-class undergraduate indigene of Ilara from any university in Nigeria."

He added that so far, one student from Olabisi Onabanjo University, two students from Crescent University and one student from Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro have benefited from his awards.

Currently, some beneficiaries of his awards are Fashina Abigail (Full scholarship, University of Ibadan), Elewide Basirat (Cash Award, Olabisi Onabanjo University,Ago Iwoye), Peter Olonade (Cash Award, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta) and Fashina Nuriyat Agbeke (Crescent University, Abeokuta).

He also reiterated his commitment to sponsoring the best performing student from Ilara-Yewa in the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE), a promise he fulfilled during his coronation.

Welcoming the monarch, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila eulogized Oba Oyede-Lawal for his huge contributions to the growth of the institution, stressing that the Crescent University had now produced its third traditional ruler, either as a former staff or student.

Prof. Gbajabiamila proudly referred to Crescent University as "Royal University" as the institution founded by a Prince of Owu Kingdom, Bola Ajibola, keeps producing first class kings.

In his remarks, the Registrar,Barr. Zakariyya Ajibola, also a Prince, expressed his excitement over the homecoming of Oba Oyede-Lawal, noting that the monarch's two decades of service to the institution had meritoriously yielded many fruits.

Other members of the university management present are the Deputy Registrar (Establishment), Alhaji Hakeem Dowodu; Acting Bursar, Alhaji Tirimisiyu Gbadebo Ogunmefun; Dean of Students' Affairs, Prof. Rasaki Kareem and Senior Assistant Registrar (Public Relations), Mr Idris Katib.