Wale Jagun
The town and gown gathered at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) to celebrate a scholar of note, community leader, religious man and builder of men, Dr Timothy Abiodun Okeowo, JP, Senior Lecturer, Agriculture Economics and Farm Manager, as he retired.
Dr Okeowo retired after attaining 60 years of age and 30 years of meritorious service to the Lagos State Polytechnic (now LASUSTECH).
At the ceremony held at the College of Agriculture 500 – Seater Auditorium in the institution’s campus in Ikorodu, were senior management team of LASUSTECH, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. (Chief) Adebimpe Akinsola, former Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Lagos State, Mr Adedeji Iginla, former Rector, Lagos State Polytechnic, Mr Lanre Kuye, Director, Public Affairs and Information, LASUSTECH and Dr Oludare Adenubi, Dean College of Agriculture among others.
The African Church Bethel Cathedral, Aga, Ikorodu where the retiree is a Trustee was also well represented at the event.
Dr. Oludare Adenubi, Dean of College of Agriculture, while welcoming guests to the ceremony, said that it is not all the time that people are celebrated like the institution is doing for the retiree.
“I want to welcome the leader himself, Mr Ayodeji Iginla; the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Opomulero of Ikorodu, Hon. Agunbiade. I welcome everybody to this great occasion. It is not all the time that people are celebrated like this, however, we are here to celebrate Mr Timothy Abiodun Okeowo and we shall all be celebrated”, he said.
“I welcome you all to the university of excellence and in particular, the College of Agriculture and for your information, this hall belongs to the College of Agriculture”.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Ayodeji Iginla, former Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, described the retiree as a likable person who is good at everything.
“I am here to talk about the person we are gathered here for and that is Elder Timothy Okeowo. When I met Timothy, I don’t know which year it was, but l liked him at first sight because he is a very likable person and when I list the people I like, his name is always the first”, Mr Iginla said.
“If you are to be a product for sale, I don’t think anybody here will be able to afford you. To cut the long story short, Timothy is good in making friends; good in working with; he is good as a husband and mummy can attest to it that he is good as a father too.
“The only thing left for me to say now is to wish you well in your retirement, and I know that you are a very active person and ambitious. I pray you enjoy the rest of your life in comfort, thank you very much”, the Chairman of the occasion said.
Olarewaju Kuye, LASUSTECH Director of Public Affairs and Information, said that the retiree has impacted on many lives.
“Mr Okeowo, I pray that God won’t spoil the kind of person you are. This man is like Iginla.
“Okeowo has impacted lives positively. Anytime you need information and go to him, he will give it to you. When there is a problem, he will call me and say, Lanre, are you aware of this and we will find solutions to it. He is a positive person.
“You are a wonderful person. There is nobody that does not have a negative side, but yours are few and that is why you need to continue being good”, Mr Kuye said.
The Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. SOB Agunbiade, who was the guest lecturer at the retirement ceremony, recalled that the last time he was at the institution, it was a Polytechnic and assured the lecturers and students then that the school will be transformed into a University which has been achieved.
“The last time I came to this institution, the institution was a polytechnic and while in the 700 – capacity hall over there, students who filled the hall then challenged me as their representative, including the Dean of Students Affairs, that the best thing that they want for the school is to be converted into a University. I made a promise that by the grace of God Almighty, this institution will be converted from Polytechnic into a University and today, the institution is now a University”, Hon. Agunbiade recalled.
“The people that gathered here today: the students; lecturer and staff of the polytechnic are now in a the University”.
Congratulating the retiree, the ranking lawmaker said:
“The retiree is a senior lecturer in School of Agriculture and today he is retiring, congratulations sir.
“I have known Elder Okeowo for some time and I have learnt some things from him and that is why we must encourage our women to marry men of talent and integrity when they want to marry. Mrs Okeowo is a wonderful woman, mother, community leader and very courageous. I now know the secret behind her courage, it is Elder Okeowo”.
In his lecture delivered at the ceremony, Hon. Agunbiade said that lecturers perform a great role in human development and that they deserve to be acknowledged and honoured.
“As a lecturer, what do you do to the advantage of human beings? What is your role in society and towards humanity? ? As a lecturer, what are we lecturing? We are lecturing knowledge and skills to students and your first role is educating the society and this is one of the responsibilities and roles of a lecturer. Apart from that, lecturers are a fantastic set of people because they undergo research particularly those in Agricultural Sciences. They usually embark on processes to get hybrids in animal and crop production, and without them, the society will have died of hunger”, Hon. Agunbiade said.
“Lecturers are a very disciplined set of people. They educate and undergo research. So, when you see a lecturer, you must continue to hail them. In politics, they will say when you see a leader, you should respect them, it is not only the leaders that you respect, you should also respect the lecturers too. They are repository of knowledge and skills.
“A lecturer is an advisor to students because they advise them in addition. Lecturers are role models, that is why you see some students who want to be like their lecturer.
“The responsibility of a lecturer is so enormous and numerous, unfortunately, the society is not recognizing them enough. They are not being placed on the right salary and they will continue to protest and students will continue to suffer. If anybody should be taken care of in our society, it should be the lecturers and we will get there because the president that appreciates the lecturer is coming in 2023. Soon, he will be there”, he said.
Speaking further, Agunbiade, who is also the Chairman, Nigerian Majority Leaders Forum, also described lecturers as innovators and community builders.
“Lecturers are innovators. They do their research work and come up with opportunities, especially in agriculture where they have been of great assistance to the society.
“Lecturers are community builders; they get students to have interest in their community. They will make students understand that they are the ones that can build the society. They form them into association and through this, give room to innovative idea.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot quantify enough the responsibility of lecturers and the service they render to humanity and to the people. It is on that note that I am going to ask you all to stand up as we appreciate the lecturers”, he said while concluding his speech.
Dr Okeowo, in his remarks, thanked his family members, guests and staff of the college for the honour done to him.
“I appreciate everyone for coming out today to celebrate with me from the staff of College of Agriculture down to the whole university”, he said.
“I appreciate my beautiful wife for her support, and every member of the family, thank you. I heard all the speeches, they have really made me very happy, and I pray that the Lord will be with all of us”.
