By Nsan Neji
IBADAN (CONVERSEER) – Renowned academics, university administrators, and national education figures converged on the University of Ibadan (UI) to honour Professor Bola Ayeni, a distinguished Professor of Geography at UI and pioneer Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, in celebration of his 80th birthday.
The event, organised as a public lecture, became a wide-ranging tribute to Prof. Ayeni’s enduring influence on scholarship, academic leadership, and human capacity development spanning more than five decades.
Among the dignitaries who paid tribute were former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Peter Olapegba; and former UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who chaired the ceremony.
Others in attendance included former Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin; Emeritus Prof. Kayode Oyesiku; Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Prof. Ben Ehigie; Head of the Department of Geography, Prof. Olutoyin Fashae; Prof. D. D. Ajayi; and Engineer Shola Ayeni, the celebrant’s sibling, among several academics and well-wishers.
In his remarks, Prof. Adeniran described Ayeni as a scholar whose legacy transcends academic output, noting that his greatest impact lies in the countless lives he has shaped and the enduring intellectual values he has instilled within Nigeria’s academic community. He urged scholars in the social sciences to ensure their research and teaching translate into tangible societal benefits, stressing that Prof. Ayeni’s career exemplifies scholarship driven by impact.
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Prof. Olayinka, in his address, hailed the celebrant as a distinguished academic whose influence would continue to resonate across generations. He reflected on Ayeni’s extensive mentorship record, noting the rare fulfilment of seeing former students evolve into respected colleagues, an experience Ayeni has enjoyed repeatedly due to the longevity and depth of his career.
Speaking on behalf of the UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olapegba described Prof. Ayeni as a “living legend” within the Nigerian university system. He commended his unwavering commitment to academic excellence, compassion for students, and sustained relevance within the university community, adding that Ayeni’s contributions to scholarship and institutional growth have firmly positioned him as a pillar of UI’s academic heritage.
The commemorative lecture, titled “Professor Bola Ayeni: Quantity in Geography, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” was delivered by Emeritus Prof. Kayode Oyesiku. In the lecture, Oyesiku traced the evolution of quantitative geography and projected a future shaped by artificial intelligence, machine learning, immersive visualisation tools, and integrated modelling systems.
He emphasised that future geographers must combine scientific rigour with ethical responsibility and social relevance, principles he linked directly to Prof. Ayeni’s academic philosophy and lifelong approach to teaching and research.
In a personal reflection, Oyesiku praised Ayeni’s humility, patience, and uncommon dedication to student development. He recalled how Ayeni consistently took time to repeat complex concepts until every student fully understood, describing him as a mentor whose discipline, generosity, integrity, and intellectual depth have shaped numerous academic careers.
Oyesiku also highlighted Ayeni’s pioneering role as the founding Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, noting that his leadership laid the institutional and structural foundations that later propelled the university’s growth and national recognition.
Responding to the tributes, Prof. Ayeni expressed gratitude to God for the gift of life and good health that enabled him to witness the celebration. He thanked the organisers and participants for the honour and paid tribute to his late mentors, Professors Akin Mabogunje and Ojetunji Aboyade, as well as Professors Michael McNulty and Gerard Rushton of the University of Iowa, United States, whose guidance, he said, profoundly shaped his academic journey.
Reflecting on his career with humility, Ayeni noted that he spent over 45 years teaching and shaping lives at the University of Ibadan. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity, adding that he remained thankful for the grace to have served without abusing the trust placed in him.
