The Oníkoyi of Ikoyi-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Moses Akinwande Ogundana, has described Professor Olugbenga Aribisala’s appointment as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin-Ekiti (FUTESI), as a testament to his hard work and commitment to excellence.
Oba Ogundana gave the commendation in a congratulatory message signed by his Principal Secretary, Prince Oluwole Fagbewesa, to felicitate Professor Aribisala and also to thank President Bola Tinubu for appointing one of his subjects to the highest status of his career.
The monarch said: “Among your contemporaries, God has singled you out and crowned your adventures with brilliant success. I pray that God will guide you right and keep on increasing your wisdom and knowledge.”
The traditional ruler also congratulated all the indigenes of Ikoyi-Ekiti at home and in diaspora, as well as the entire people of Egbe Oba Kingdom, for God counting them worthy to have been recognised by the Federal Government.
In a related development, a delegation of Ikoyi indigenes residing in Ado-Ekiti has paid a courtesy visit to Professor Aribisala to extend their congratulations on his appointment.
The delegation used the visit to reaffirm their support and admiration for Professor Aribisala’s accomplishments and to celebrate his contributions to the academic and intellectual landscape.
The event was marked by goodwill messages, prayers and words of encouragement, as the delegation wished him continued success in his new endeavour.
Professor Aribisala attended Ifaki Grammar School, Ifaki-Ekiti, between 1974 and 1979 and obtained Division 1.
He attended the University of Ilorin, Kwara State for his first and second degrees in Civil Engineering; he then proceeded for his PhD in the same discipline at the University of Benin, Edo State. He carried out some of the research work for his Ph.D at Aalborg University, Denmark as a Research Fellow.
He was registered by the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria in 1995. He was registered as a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers in 1994 and became a Fellow of the Society in 2004.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Water Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Institute of Public Administration in Nigeria.
He started his career as an Engineer at Ondo State Ministry of Works, Akure in 1987, where he was responsible for the design and supervision of roads and building projects.
Due to his love for academics, he left the ministry to start a career as a university lecturer at Ondo State University, Ado-Ekiti (now Ekiti State University) in 1987 as a Graduate Assistant. He rose through the ranks to become a Professor of Civil Engineering in 2007.
He has served as a Consultant on many Engineering Projects, including Department for International Development (DFID), United Kingdom sponsored projects, World Bank projects, African Development Bank Sponsored Projects, Federal Government of Nigeria Projects and some universities, both federal and state.
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