By Ismail Azeez
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has commended the family of the late Engr. Michael Ayantunde Ponnle and Engr. (Mrs.) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle for immortalising their legacy through the inauguration of a N150 million MicCom Memorial Endowment for Obafemi Awolowo University.
The Governor made the commendation at the launch of the MicCom Memorial Endowment at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) for engineering students and Engineering Development, held at Oduduwa Hall in Ile-Ife, Osun State, described the gesture as a symbol of Nigerian innovation and industrial resilience.
Adeleke said that the initiative goes beyond remembrance, serving as a sustainable platform for advancing engineering education, research, and innovation in the country.
He described the couple as visionary pioneers who demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity for innovation and industrial growth, particularly through the establishment of MicCom Cables and Wires at a time when indigenous manufacturing was still developing.
Speaking on their complementary roles, Adeleke noted that while Engr. Ponnle provided leadership in enterprise development, his wife brought technical discipline, operational excellence, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
“Together, they built not just a successful business but a purposeful partnership that contributed meaningfully to national development,” he added.
Adeleke urged beneficiaries to see the support as a call to responsibility, “You are not just receiving support; you are inheriting a legacy. Carry it with a sense of purpose and responsibility,” he advised.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening education, promoting innovation, and encouraging collaboration between government, institutions, and the private sector.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of MicCom Cables & Wires Ltd, Bukola Adubi,
said the endowment was conceived to preserve the legacy of the late engineers and create lasting opportunities for future generations.
Adubi added that the Ponnles were pioneers in Nigeria’s industrial sector, having founded one of the country’s first indigenous cable manufacturing companies at a time when local production capacity was still evolving.
She said, “the endowment being inaugurated today is more than a ceremonial gesture; it is a purposeful commitment to the future of engineering, innovation, and technological advancement in Nigeria. Established in honour of Late Engr. Michael Ayantunde Ponnle, FNSE, OON, OFR, and Late Engr. (Mrs.) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle, FNSE, the fund seeks to immortalize their remarkable legacy while creating a lasting platform for the development of future engineers.
“This endowment is designed to encourage academic excellence and innovation among engineering students. By providing resources to support outstanding students, the endowment will nurture talented individuals with the potential to contribute meaningfully to technological advancement in Nigeria.
“The endowment aims to promote research and intellectual inquiry within the engineering disciplines. Technological progress depends on continuous learning, experimentation, and discovery. By supporting research initiatives, academic programs, and scholarly activities, the endowment will help strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for engineering innovation.
However, the Vice Chancellor Professor Adebayo Bamire appluded the family of late Ponnel for the gesture, urging other alimumus of the university and Philatropist to support in the development of the institution.
Prof. Bamire said, “This fund will empower us to foster academic excellence through cutting-edge research, provide vital scholarships to deserving students, upgrade facilities, and nurrure the next generation of engineers equipped to tackle Nigerias and Africa’s most pressing challenges in technology, infrastructure, and
across Nigeria and Africa.
“This current endowment powerfully reinforces the MicCom family’s longstanding commitment to excellence in our Faculty of Technology,” he added.