Dr Bode Ayorinde, the Pro-Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, has been invested as the Grand Patron of Owo Progressive Union, Jos branch.
The Union was established in 1967, with members cutting across the length and breadth of the country.
At the investiture ceremony held on Thursday at the conference hall, College of Law, Achievers University, Owo, the President of the Union, QS (Dr) Olasanmoye Rotimi, described Dr Ayorinde as a true son of Owo land.
Olasanmoye said the new Grand Patron has built a legacy in Owo which will continue to stand the test of time.
“We’ve decided to honour him for his contribution to Owo land. We’re honoured that you accepted to be our Grand Patron. We’re encouraged by your foresight and we prayed that God will continue to bless and honour you.
“There was a time Sawmill industries dotted the whole of Owo, but now, the story has changed. We now have a University in Owo,” Olasanmoye noted.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof. Samuel Aje, who is a member of the Jos Branch, said the Union has made a right choice by honouring Dr Ayorinde, as her Grand Patron.
Prof. Aje said Achievers University is the greatest achievement in Owo, and that honouring the founder, is no mean feat.
“Ayorinde loves Owo and I’m happy that he’s being recognized by the Union. Here is someone who had lived all his life in Ibadan and would have decided to locate the institution there. He chose Owo, not because of money, but because of his love for the ancient town”, Aje noted.
In his acceptance speech, Dr Bode Ayorinde, appreciated the Union for the honour.
Ayorinde encouraged members of the Union to continue to live in unity, as this is very important for the development of Owo land.
He attributed his investiture as the Grand Patron of the Union, to the successes of the University in the last 15 years.
“We’ve just established a furniture making industry and it is second to none in the state. By the time it fully becomes operational, Achievers University will become a commercial hub for entrepreneurs to get their doors and other furniture products.
“Whenever I’m alone, I often thank God for our achievements at the institution. I was watching NTA one day and I saw workers of the federal medical centre (FMC), Owo, protesting about rural allowance. What interest me most was when the Minister of Health, was responding to their plight, mentioned that, a University exists in Owo, and that the town can no longer be categorized as rural. That was how the FMC staff lost the rural allowance. But that rural allowance had been substituted with what they are benefitting from Achievers University today.”
Ayorinde said courses that used to take people out of Owo are already being offered at the institution and it gave him a lot of joy.
He said Achievers now offers Law, Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, and more, adding that efforts are in top gear to start Colleges of Medicine, Aviation, and Education soon.
The legal practitioner said, the new feat bestowed on him by the Owo Progressive Union, Jos Branch, is accepted with full responsibility.
The investiture ceremony had in attendance the Registrar of the University, Revd Cannon Bayode Oladimeji and Acting Bursar, Mr Olagoke Akanwo.
Others are GM, Achievers Venture, Mr Dokun Farinre; Deans of the various Colleges in the University; Heads of Departments and Units, members of Achievers University Community and the Owo Progressive Union members from Jos, Plateau State.
A group of Owo cultural dancers added color to the event.
(Story written and edited by Olusegun Hakeem Adebumiti)
Study @ Achievers University
