Emulate Agagu’s Legacy as impactful Leader – OAUSTECH’s Pro-Chancellor charges
Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria, Prof. Akinbo Adesomoju has enjoined students of the university to emulate the good legacies of the ex-governor of Ondo State, late Dr. Olusegun Kokumo Agagu, as a very decisive and impactful leader.
The erudite scholar gave the charge while making remarks at the unveiling of Agagu’s statue/ Agagu Day Lecture organised by Students’ Union of the university on Saturday, 9th September, 2023 at the main campus of the institution in Okitipupa.
According to him, the late Governor Agagu was able to make meaningful impacts and touched lives of the people across the length and breadth of the state because he had a clear and an untainted vision of what he wanted to do.
“His vision was to transform Ondo State from poor agrarian cum civil servants state to an industrialised, self-dependent and highly developed economic hub in Nigeria and the West African sub-region,” the don revealed.
He stated further that Agagu’s brilliance and background as a well-groomed academic aided him to match his vision with his solid plan and development of a well-articulated blueprint/working document tagged ” *Roadmap* *to* *Progress* ” for steady transformation of the state.
He added that his great determination to succeed, backed with extraordinary diligence and hardwork translated into his impactful governance and rapid transformation of Ondo State.
The OAUSTECH’s first Vice-Chancellor
stated that Agagu’s achievements were manifest in many of the massive developmental projects and programmes accomplished by his administration between May 2003 and February 2009.
_Highlights_ _of_ _Agagu’s_ _achievements_
The renowned chemist highlighted Agagu’s achievements/projects to include being instrumental to the enlistment of Ondo State as part of the oil producing states by the Federal Government of Nigeria through his unrelenting efforts and being a well grounded geologist, which made the state rich, tarring and construction of over 1,200 kilometers of roads across the State, a number which he asserted was more than doubled the 596 kilometers tarred roads in the 27 years from 1976 when the State was created, construction of bridges and quick access roads to link hitherto distant rural and coastal communities like Okitipupa-Irele, Igbokoda-Araromi Seaside in Ilaje Local Government Area, etc, increase of access to potable water from 4.5% to 52% across the state.
Others were the establishment of over 200 basic health centres and 18 standard comprehensive health centres, one for each political ward and one for each local government, with one general hospital per each local government area of the state, conception and commencement of Olokola Free Trade Zone and deep seaport project, massive investment in agriculture, civil service and education from primary to tertiary, with revamping of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, establishment of Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, which was re-named after him in 2020 by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, _SAN_ , _CON_ , administration and regular payments of bursary to students of the state to mention just few.
Prof. Adesomoju, who emphasised on hardwork, warned the students against shortcut to success, stressing that shortcut only leads to temporary success and lasting pains.
He told them that the greatest asset that helped Agagu greatly was his integrity.
“If you want to lead and want people to respect you, you must have integrity”
“Agagu managed the resources of the government prudently and always accompany every contract awarded by his government with instant financial backing, such that none of the contracts he awarded was reviewed downward by his successor”, Adesomoju disclosed.
Rounding off his talk, the Pro-Chancellor thanked the students for turning up enmass for the programme and for their thoughtfulness to honour Agagu with such wonderful programme, while he charged them to contribute their quota towards the development of their alma mater by linking the University with influential, philanthropical and rich people in the society, stressing they will definitely be properly appreciated for this.
_Agagu_ _deserves_ iconic… _celebration_
Speaking in the same vein, the OAUSTECH’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa congratulated the Student Union President, Comr. Matthew Ogunsoto, with his Executive cabinet and the entire students on the success of the programme.
He said the late governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, as an academic cum political icon, a first-class product of the premier University of Ibadan, a well trained global scholar by the best Geology School in the world, University of Texas, Austin, USA, deserved such an iconic celebration.
The Vice-Chancellor seized the opportunity to appreciate Agagu Family
and the Agagu Foundation for their unrelenting support for the University, especially their contributions towards the timely completion of the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge and Principal Officers quarters and the recent donation of 25 million naira for the digitisation of the University Library, also known as Akinbo Adesomoju Library.
_Leaders_ _should_ _give_ _their_ _best_ _to_ _the_ _people_ …
Earlier in his welcome address, the Student Union President, Comr. Matthew Ogunsoto, stated Agagu’s impact in Ondo State and the entire Nigeria cannot be over emphasised.
He reiterated that leaders when given opportunity to lead or serve should give their best to the people.
“We’re celebrating late Gov. Agagu not because of who he was, but because of the indelible imprint he left that generations yet unborn will come to appreciate”.
“The massive presence of our students here today is an indication that Agagu lives on in our hearts”, Ogunsoto remarked.
The Students Union President said the students of OAUSTECH will continue to remember him for founding the University.
Concluding his address, Ogunsoto, who prayed for quick recuperation of the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, thanked Mr. Governor for renaming the University after the late sage and statesman, Dr. Olusegun Agagu.
The programme as well as thanksgiving service held for the late Governor thereafter in St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Iju-odo, Osooro, his hometown were well attended by government functionaries, politicians, royal fathers, clerics, well wishers, principal officers, staff and students of OAUSTECH.
