The Chairman of the Ogun State Association of Nigerian Authors, Engineer Paul Oni has described the former Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Professor Afolabi Soyode as a Philanthropist who can give his last kobo to save the lives of strangers.
Oni in a statement to mark the 80th birthday celebration of Prof. Soyode noted that the academician is the only man in Abeokuta that has sponsored thousands of people through tertiary education.
The ANA Chairman who disclosed that the Professor is his mentor stressed that, the academician is a father to many fatherless that have oppourtunity of meeting him.
Oni added, "Professor Afolabi Soyode is the only man in Abeokuta that has sponsored thousands of people through tertiary education within and without his family either sponsoring them whole or partially.
"For me, Professor Afolabi Soyode mentored me through the modernization of my Herbal Medicine Production and he is the Chairman of our company, the Peculiar Projects Nigeria Limited manufacturers of HERBIOTICS and OXIBIOTICS.
"He introduced me to the electronic health tests that we use to check the health parameters of clients and this has saved my life personally since I would've died in ignorance without knowing when my blood sugar and blood pressure are high."
Speaking on how he has benefitted from the professor's kind gesture, Oni who is the Managing Director of the Peculiar Projects Nigeria Limited further said, "Professor Afolabi Soyode also assisted us to get NAFDAC certifications for our Products and introduced us to major laboratory tests that standardized our Products for human benefits.
"Professor Afolabi Soyode is a Philanthropist per excellence who is always media shy and doesn't want to be given any award for anything.
"He is a father to the fatherless that comes in contact with him. He is a giver to a fault that gives until he gives everything yet, surprisingly, he will always shy away from being given anything even from his children.
"He says, he shouldn't be putting any pressure on anyone but to relief people of pressure.
"Professor Afolabi is 80 years old on the 26th of June, 2021 but he says he cannot celebrate because he lost Dr. Lekan Soyode a sibling to the cold hands of death early this year."
The ANA Chairman however prayed, "my prayer for my Great Mentor, Professor Afolabi Soyode is that GOD ALMIGHTY will grant us the Grace to celebrate his Centenary Birthday with him in health, wealth, strength and happiness."
Prof Afolabi Soyode who is the Jagunmolu of Igbein, Abeokuta; the Baajipe of Igbore, Abeokuta; the Aare Oluomo of Egbaland, and the Bobagunwa of Ekusa, Osun State is married to Chief Mrs Modupe Soyode.
His Children include, Otunba Wale Soyode FCA, Mrs Abiola Bankole Hameed B.sc, MBA, FCA, CPA and Laolu Soyode with many grandchildren.
Professor Afolabi Soyode was the President of the prestigious Abeokuta Club.
*Brief Exploits of Professor Afolabi Soyode*
Professor of Economics,
University of Ibadan
Nov 1973 - Jun 2006, 32 years 8 months
Ibadan, Nigeria
Lectured Economics, Accounting and Finance courses from Bachelors to the PhD.
Supervised and mentored scores of MSC and MBA students.
Supervised and mentored seven PhD students to success.
Undertook research and published widely in Economics, Banking and Security Markets.
Consultant to private and public sector organizations, national and international.
Served as member of boards of many companies.
Vice Chancellor
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria
Apr 2001 - Apr 2006, 5 years 1 month.
Chief Academic Officer and
Chief Executive,
University of the North, Qwaqwa Campus, Free State, South Africa.
Executive Dean, Faculty of Management and Human Sciences
University of the North, Qwaqwa Campus, Free State, South Africa
Jul 1998 - Jun 2001, 3 years
Managed and coordinated 9 schools in the faculty as
Chief Academic and Chief Executive Officer of the faculty and
Member of the top Management of the campus and of the University at Phuthaditjhaba Area, South Africa.
Professor Afolabi Soyode had his PhD, Doctor of Business and Apllied Economics from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School, USA 1969 - 1973 and his Bachelor's Degree, 1965 - 1968 and his Masters from the University of Ibadan.
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