Olanipekun,’ to many Yoruba speakers,would be translated as ‘the fortune that has no bound’. This, in candidness, is a fair interpretation. But a serious delve into the syntax of the name ‘Olanipekun’ would reveal the meaning as ‘that  fortune may not cease’.

I am not singing an eulogy of a man whose praise the world has already made an anthem of. I am rather interested in contributing my miniature to the already loud clamour for the return  of Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to the University of Ibadan as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council.

His slogan shortly after the late President Musa Yar’Adua appointed him as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the University of Ibadan was ‘I plan big for UI’.  He went further by saying ‘My ambition, hope, wish, determination and prayer is to add much more value to the University and leave it at a far better and loftier place than I met it’. He emphasised that making the University of Ibadan a dedicated showcase for other institutions in the country was his focal target.

To say Chief Olanipekun did any less than he had promised would be an unfair assessment. To say that he has fulfilled all of his promises as well is not to ask for more. Therefore, it is best to emphasise the fact that Chief Olanipekun was on the verge of engraving his ‘big plan for UI’ thus, making it a ‘dedicated showcase’.

Most importantly, may President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan hearken to our pleadings and re-appoint Chief Olanipekun (SAN) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of our dear University  in the next constitution so ‘that our fortune may not cease’ (Ola o ni pekun).

Bamise Jegede,
 Abuja.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment