By Abiodun Moshood Olowokogbajo
The hallowed precincts of the Vice-Chancellery at Lagos State University (LASU) became a theater of profound intellectual and emotional resonance as the ivory tower paused to celebrate a paragon of academic excellence. In an event characterized by high-octane erudition and administrative warmth, Miss Rashidat Olamidayo Ajakaye, the record-breaking Graduate Assistant and trailblazing First-Class scholar of English Education, presented a monumental poetic tribute to the Distinguished Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, mni, NPOM, on the auspicious occasion of her birthday.
This grand gesture of institutional appreciation was not merely a solo endeavor but a collaborative masterpiece of academic solidarity. The project was magnanimously championed by the Dean of Faculty of Education, Professor Akindoju, who, in a quintessential display of inter-faculty synergy, escorted Miss Ajakaye to the Vice-Chancellor’s inner sanctum. This strategic alliance underscored the unified respect the university community harbors for a leader whose tenure has been nothing short of transformative.
Accompanying the presentation was a profound expression of gratitude from Miss Ajakaye, who utilized the moment to recognize the collective support of the university’s academic leadership. In her address to the university community, she remarked:
“It is a truly memorable moment as a staff member of Lagos State University, as I had the honour of presenting a literary piece to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, in celebration of her birthday. I sincerely appreciate the support and encouragement of the Dean, Faculty of Education, Professor Akindoju; my Head of Department, Professor Awodele; Professor Fasan, Professor Egbowon, and Professor Akinpelu. Grateful for the warm reception and inspired by the leadership and excellence within our university community. Alhamdullilah!”
This strategic alliance and heartfelt appreciation underscored the unified respect the university community harbors for a leader whose tenure has been nothing short of transformative.
Ajakaye, a literary virtuoso and founder of the global STRIDA Club, unveiled an evocative poem titled “Madame Code of Education.” The verses, far from being mere rhetorical flourishes, served as an anthropological and historical documentation of the Vice-Chancellor’s illustrious odyssey. With scholarly precision, Ajakaye’s lines navigated through Professor Olatunji-Bello’s epochal milestones—from her pioneering role as the first Professor of Physiology at LASUCOM in 2007 to her tenure-defining achievements that have catapulted LASU into the elite echelon of the top 600 universities globally.
The poem skillfully juxtaposed the Vice-Chancellor’s “professional lioness” persona—marking her contributions to Environmental Toxicology and her prestigious fellowship at the Texas Health Science Centre—with her “meek” and “imitable” maternal grace. Ajakaye’s creative ingenuity even extended to the sensory successes of the administration, poetically inquiring, “Have you chewed the tastiness of LASU bread?”
The celebration carried a significant weight of meritocracy. Miss Ajakaye, an indigene of the Ajakaye Royal Family of Awori, is herself a phenomenon in the annals of LASU history, having shattered a forty-year drought to emerge as a First-Class graduate in English Education. Her decision to honor the Vice-Chancellor represents a symbolic bridge between the established academic guard and the rising intellectual stars of the nation.
The atmosphere in the office was one of “striking confidence,” reflecting the ethos of Ajakaye’s STRIDA initiative. As the Dean of Education and the young lecturer stood in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor, the air was thick with the “triumph of Jadesola Ibirado’s gift to the world.” The tribute lauded Professor Olatunji-Bello’s purposeful leadership, which has fostered an environment where academic “swords are sharpened” through annual scholarships and innovative research frontiers.
As the 23rd of April 2026 unfolded, the university erupted in celebration of a leader who embodies integrity, resilience, and global relevance. Ajakaye’s tribute concluded with a profound scholarly benediction, wishing that the Vice-Chancellor’s life continues to be a “timeless music” and her “scored goals shall be ceaseless.”
This event serves as a testament to the fact that under the stewardship of Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Lagos State University is not just a center of learning, but a nurturing ground where creativity, culture, and high-level scholarship intersect to celebrate the very best of humanity.
Happy Birthday to the Distinguished Vice-Chancellor!
Courtesy: Rashidat Olamidayo Ajakaye & The Office of the Dean, Faculty of Education.
© Abiodun Moshood Olowokogbajo
