By Dr. Jimoh Olorede
A few days ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Bola Hamed Tinubu released the names of new appointees into the nation’s Federal Institutions Education Boards. Appearing prominently on the list was the eminent traditional ruler, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV, as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Adeyemi Federal University of Education (AFUED), Ondo, his Alma mater.
The greatest dramatist and England’s national poet, playwright and actor, William Shakespeare (23 April 1564 — 23 April 1616) said in one of his foremost books ‘Twelfth Nights’: “Some are born great, some achieved greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.” These are three distinct categories; some have to struggle to achieve greatness because they’re not born great, and they don’t have it thrust upon them while some are destined to be great irrespective of their birth or circumstances around it.
I have seen a soul, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi Odundun IV, whose attribute shows he shares the altitudes of the three categories of greatness, and for whose unique attitude I write this tribute.
That Prince Ayotunde was born great is incontrovertible, as he came to this world with royalty into the famous Ajibode Ruling House, Iragbiji, on 29 October, 1962. Nevertheless, the young Prince Abdur-Rasheed would not be tied to his royal apron springs, perhaps in adherence to a Yoruba admonitory adage that says “He who rests on the oax of his parents’ affluence would end in penury” (Omo tio gb’oju l’ogun, o fi ara e f’osita). So, he worked very hard to achieve His Royal Majesty’s greatness as the 15th Aragbiji of Iragbiji, not minding his great birth, and the thrust of greatness on him.
The precious heirloom left behind for him by his ancestors is royalty. However, when his father, Alhaji Hammed-Tijani Oladokun Olabomi and his mother, Hajia Wulemot Aibinuola Olabomi, gave birth to him on 29 October, 1962, little did the couple know that they had given birth to a forefather, who came back as a representative heir to the throne of their progenitors!
Similarly, when Adeyemi College, Ondo, admitted Prince Abdur-Rasheed Ayotunde Olabomi into the Department of History (Education) in 1983, the management of the prestigious institution, which has now metamorphosed from College of Education to a University of Education, was oblivious that it had admitted a ‘Distinguished Alumnus’ who would become not just a Fellow of the great Institution, but also the Pro-Chancellor and Board Chairman of the Governing Council.
Coincidentally, both the Alumni Association and management of AFUED had decided to honour His Royal Majesty with dual merit awards as “The Distinguished Alumnus” and “Fellow of AFUED” just as the Institution celebrates her 60th anniversary this week, before his recent appointment by the Federal Government as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the Institution. Certainly, it’s not only the Alumni Association and the management of the University that had discovered the sterling qualities in The Aragbiji, but also the Federal Government of Nigeria.
His appointment is meritorious given the Monarch’s rich profile as a seasoned personnel manager. Before his installation as a traditional ruler in 2008, Oba Olabomi had, in 1989, joined the Local Government Service Commission of Oyo State as an Administrative Officer and rose to the post of Director of Personnel Management.
As an efficient human resources expert, the AFUED Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) and Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). The Aragbiji is also an accommodating human relations expert, as this expertise has also got him into the membership of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
The above profile forms the personality of the newly appointed pioneer Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of AFUED. Since his ascension to the throne of his forefathers in 2008, his community, Iragbiji, has been leapfrogging developmentally. And there’s a strong belief that “The Distinguished Alumnus” and “Fellow of AFUED” would use his unique and expert-based attribute, which necessitates this tribute, coupled with his good human relations attitude, to contribute immensely to the institutional growth and educational development of the University.
Dr. Olorede, an illustrious son of Iragbiji, is the Ag. Head, Department of Strategic Communication and Media Studies, The Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State. He writes via oloredejimoh@gmail.com.