The Alake of Egbaland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, has described the Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University, Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola, as a rare gift to the institution.
In an interview with CEOAFRICA’s crew yesterday, Tuesday, October 18, 2022, the revered monarch, who spoke on many things, described the first professor of Pharmacy to become vice chancellor in Nigeria, as a great achiever, whose advocacy and diplomacy skills, together with humble personality, easily disarm everyone.
“As a chancellor of a federal university, I have seen many vice chancellors and their progress. I have great respect for Prof. Peace Babalola. She is a great achiever, a professor of Pharmacy, an administrator, a researcher, and with all these, she is never arrogant. Her personality disarms people so easily. She is a thoroughbred. When she told me that she will be rounding off her five years soon I was alarmed. I thought it could have been two or three, at most. This university will miss her. But we pray for her and wish her success. Let her continue with what she has been doing,” he said.
Speaking on his relationship with the university and High Chief Dr (Mrs) Winifred A. Awosika, the founder and chancellor of the school, he said, “I see Mama Awosika as my elder sister. My only elder sister attended Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, in Enugu, with her in the 1950s. In addition, having seen her as a good educator, who has run nursery and primary school perfectly, and does so with secondary school, as well as university, I have to be endeared to her and the institution.”
The traditional ruler also reiterated his commitment to doing all, within his powers, to ensure that he assists in easing the works of Prof. Babalola, as well as ensuring that quality education is attainable for all, irrespective of their economic and social status.    
Meanwhile, earlier, the paramount ruler had been officially notified of the double honours intended for him in the oncoming convocation of Chrisland University; the major road on the campus will be named after him and he will be conferred with an honorary degree.
He expressed his delight over such privilege, stating that the kind gesture will spur him into further action, as it behooves him to do more in making contributions to the education sector.