*Renames Tertiary Institution After Revered Monarch
*Awujale’s Timeless Belief in Ogun Governor
Honestly, three major events in the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, have left a permanent smile on the lips of the Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona; his investiture as the chairman of the Ogun State Traditional Council, the construction of the Ijebu-Epe road after many years of abandonment and now Governor Abiodun has formally renamed the Tai-Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ajose as the Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology (SACOETEC) .
Yes, like an intermittent burst of sunshine on a grey day, whoops of delight are bellowing out of the hallowed palace of one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Nigeria, the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona. If the octogenarian royal father broke into a hip, youthful dance, he should be cheered on. Another of his subjects is making him proud.
Perhaps after Dr Mike Adenuga, the billionaire chairman of Globacom, a proud Ijebu son who has touched his life in so many ways, no other indigene in recent time has made the Awujale as blithely excited as Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Interestingly, however, his has been a storied and sensational life. Enthroned at 26 when Nigeria was not yet an independent nation, he has spent the last 62 years of his life in the service of his beloved Ijebuland. Nimble on his feet and blessed with a robust and radiant visage that belies his over eight decades on terra firma.
The Awujale’s journey to the throne of his forbears was fortuitous. Born May 10, 1934 into the Anikinaiya 1 Ogbagba Royal Family of Ijebu Ode, his mother, Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (nee Onashile) hailed from two famous and illustrious families in Ijebu-Igbo, the Onashile and Aagebelesona families, a factor that would significantly help the Awujale decades later to bridge the gap between Ijebu-Ode and Ijebu-Igbo. Like every other kid his age, the young Prince Adetona was enrolled for his elementary education at Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu-Ode but he didn’t finish there. He proceeded to Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo and later, Baptist School, Ijebu-Ode.
All this was between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he attended Olu-Iwa College (Now Adeola Odutola College), Ijebu-Ode from 1951 to 1956. After his secondary education, he was employed in the Audit Department of the Western Region of Nigeria between 1957 and 1958 but resigned in 1958 to pursue further studies in Accountancy in the United Kingdom. He stayed back in the UK where he thought that he would build a home and a career. But fate had other things in stock for him. The then Awujale, Oba Daniel Robertson Adesanya Gbelwguwa ll died in January 1959.
Tradition does not allow for prolonged interregnum as it were and the process of getting another Awujale began. Though his father, Omoba Rufai Adetona was very much alive and eligible for the throne, he was deemed an illiterate and therefore passed the honour to his son who was away in the UK. Prince Adetona was brought back home and installed as the new Awujale in January 1960. The Kingship also came with membership of the Western Region executive council among other appurtenances. He has spent over 60 years on the throne, making him arguably, the longest serving First Class monarch in Nigeria.
However, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has formally renamed the Tai-Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu-Ajose as the Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology (SACOETEC) with a pledge that the institution would remain a College of Education with the mandate to groom middle level teachers for the educational System of the country.
Abiodun who made this known during the formal unveiling of Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, said that his administration would not relent in its quest to make the institution an envy of others in the country.
While noting that despite the change in the name, the governor pointed out that the institution will continue to run its degree programmes, as well as accommodate science and technology courses.
He declared that his administration would be supporting the College in the area of infrastructure, disclosing that the ongoing reconstruction of road from Ala passing through Omu-Ijebu would soon be commissioned.
“We are gathered today to celebrate a milestone to a glorious future for this institution. Today Tai Solarin College of Education will cease to exist and in its place, we now have Sikiru Adetona College of Education Science and Technology, Omu-Ajose.
“The College will remain a College of Education with a mandate to groom middle level teachers for our educational System. The College will continue to run its degree programmes in affiliation with universities.
“We will also be supporting the College in the area of infrastructure; in fact, very soon, we will commission the internal roads of the College and the road from Ala passing through Omu,” he said.
Abiodun who said that Ijebuland has prospered under the Awujale, also commended the monarch for single handedly establishing a world-class International Institute of Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.
He further acknowledged the monarch for not only creating room for development in the land, an praised him for also facilitating developmental programmes through his friends and associates into the state.
The state helmsman who also called on the sons and daughters of Ijebuland to see the unveiling of new college as a challenge to make their presence felt in the institution, said: “Just as Ijebuland is blessed with long and progressive reign of Kabiyesi, the time has come for us to join hands in creating a legacy for Kabiyesi by investing heavily in this institution”.
The Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, who noted that there was no dissenting voice when the bill to change the name of the institution was brought to the House, added that the contribution of the monarch to the growth of education in the state is highly commendable.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, Adeyemi Adefulu, said that the emergence of the college as Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology was part of the massive and fundamental re-organisation of the college.
Adefulu while noting that the Governing-Council has been instrumental in achieving stability in the college, said that the council has zero tolerance for indiscipline and lawlessness.
He, however, commended Governor Abiodun for his immeasurable support for the institution, submitting that, “the saving of TASCE now Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology(SACOETEC) from perdition is sufficient proof of the governor’s commitment to educational development and adroit management”.
The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebuland,Oba Sikiru Adetona while commending the Governor for his leadership style, said that his various performances speak volume of a man who is well accepted by the people.
Oba Adetona who opined that the forthcoming coming election is a done deal for the governor, said that the governor is fully in control of things in the state.
