It was another opportunity for sons and daughters of Ijebuland, who have distinguished themselves in their chosen career paths to be recognized on Thursday, 22nd of June, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
The occasion was 2018 annual merit award event, organized by the Ijebu Professional Excellence Foundation (IPEF) and held at the Bato Event Centre, Ijebu Ode, in Ogun State.
Conceived, initiated and founded in 2009, by Chief (Dr) Sir Oladipupo Bailey, an illustrious son of Ijebu land, the idea behind the foundation, according to the 2018 Chairman of Ijebu Professional Excellence Foundation, Chief Olusegun Mafe, was to promote professionalism in all ramifications in Ijebuland.
“At its inception, one of the key objectives of the foundation was to identify and recognize distinguished Ijebu indigenes, who have excelled in their chosen professions. The rationale behind this forward-looking objective was to ensure that indigenes who have made their marks in their various professions are not relegated to the background, but instead, accorded well -deserved recognition.
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“The Ijebu Professional merit award has become very iconic in Ijebuland because of the pedigree that the award is given solely on merit and without any primary financial consideration, but on two basic conditions being an Ijebu indigene and being adjudged to have achieved professional excellence,” he stated.
He disclosed that apart from organizing the annual award, another goal of the foundation is to bring professionally qualified sons and daughters of Ijebuland together to contribute to the development of Ijebuland in particular and Nigeria in general.
Mafe added that the objective of the body was also to create a body of distinguished Ijebu professionals whose collective expertise can make available for the socioeconomic advancement of Ijebuland.
According to him, the foundation intends to promote such professionalism by ensuring a mutual networking among prominent professionals in the land.
Interestingly, the roll call of indigenes that had been bestowed with such recognitions and honours, bears eloquent testimony to the seriousness the Foundation is taking this task. For instance, list of awardees has continued to grow, since 2009, when 22 of such prominent professionals of the land were honoured at the maiden edition of the award.
Not surprising then that names such as the Ebumawe of Ago -Iwoye, Oba Abdul – Rasaq Adenugba, Dr. Kolade Oshinowo, a creative artist; Professor Folasade Ogunsola, a professor of medicine and many others who had carved a niche for themselves, were honoured at this year’s edition of merit award.
According to the foundation, the latest set of awardees were arrived at, having satisfied the rigorous screenings of the /foundation and found to be worthy ambassadors of Ijebu land in the area of professionalism.
The Chairperson of the occasion, Mrs. Hairat Balogun in her address, commended the organisers of the award and urged them to sustain what she described as glorious event.She urged the foundation to sustain the vision, saying it is a source of inspiration for the young and incoming generation.
“The vision should be kept very alive so as to serve as a source of inspiration for young and incoming generation who wants to join the foundation,” she stated.
Balogun, who was represented by Major – General Abiodun Role was also honoured.
Speaking after the award, another award recipient, Oba Adenugba, expressed his excitements about the award, while describing it as part of the blessings and accomplishments he had been praying for from God.
While congratulating the foundation for its efforts in instill the culture of professionalism in the people of Ijebuland, the Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye, therefore called on corporate organisations and all indigenes of Ijebu land to emulate the Foundation by promoting excellence in the land and putting smiles on the faces of the indigents in the state.
Another recipient, former Deputy Vice- Chancellor of FUNAAB expressed his appreciation to the Foundation for deeming him worthy of the award.
According to him, the standard of the awards and the calibre of people behind it, were some of the factors that swayed him to accept the honours.
Arowolo, however, called on government, bodies and individuals to support the foundation by contributing to the scholarship scheme of the body.
Some of the awardees include former Deputy Vice – Chancellor of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, (FUNAAB), Prof. Toyin Ayodele Arowolo, Chief Imam Alhaji, Muyibat Alatishe Balogun, Mr. Olayemi Dada, High Chief Charles Olufemi Keshinro, Asiwaju Joseph Oluwole Kujore, Dr. Morenike Kukoyi, Mr. Idowu Adebiyi Odugbesan, Surv. Adekunle among others.
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