OAU honours Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu Separato

The Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile -Ife, Osun State on Wednesday, honoured the Executive Director of Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu for her contribution towards the realization of Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 4 in Nigeria.

Dr Dosunmu received the award during the opening ceremony of Faculty International Conference 2023, held at African Centre of Excellence, ICT-Driven Knowledge Park, OAU Campus.

Speaking on the theme of the conference,‘Accelerating All-Inclusive Development: The Nigeria Journey Towards the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals’, Dosunmu who was represented by the Managing Director and Editor in Chief of Nigerian Tribune Newspapers, Mr Edward Dickson and was in company of The Sunday Tribune Editor, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju and Editorial Page Editor, Dr Biodun Awolaja, said it is sad that none of the 17 goals of the SDGs has been attained in Nigeria.

According to her, the Nigerian story is not that of a “road not taken” but of a “road once taken”, adding that reinventing the glories of the “road once taken” was at the core of the engagements of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.

“As the institutional custodian of the intellectual of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation considers it its responsibility to encourage contemporary leaders, and the citizenry, to make the example and considerable body of ideas that Awo left to posterity a constant reference point in Nigeria’s quest for development.

“In order to perform this mission effectively, it is imperative that the democratic and development-oriented ideals of Chief Awolowo remain the Foundation’s definitive guide,” she said.

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The awardee appreciated the Institution and Faculty for considering her worthy of the award.

Also, other awardee for the day was Princess Olushola AMUSHITAN – President, National Wheat Farmers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria.

In his own submission, the Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Adebayo Banire said, “I specially congratulate the Awardees who have contributed their own quota in various ways to the development of our Nation.

“The awards to be given to you today is a testimony of your faithfulness, loyalty and commitment to the progress of the country in your own little way. Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-DOSUMU has contributed in the area of education and National development.”

“The Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, which she is a co-founder is dedicated to generating ideas for National Development. Her achievement is not so surprising giving the legacy of the late Sage and father of Yoruba politics, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo who is her biological father. We are happy that the legacy continues even in close to four decades after his demise. Princess Olushola AMUSHITA has also contributed immensely in the area of Agriculture especially in setting up farmers towards building up green revolution in Wheat self-sufficiency for Nigeria. Her work span several difficult terrain of the Northern region with security challenges”.

“We appreciate you for honouring our invitation. We hope that your recognition today will encourage you to do more and to also support our institution too.

To the conference participants, you are all welcome to great Ife for this special occasion. As Nigerians, we are both agents and beneficiaries of development. It then becomes imperative to ask: What account for the exclusion of some in the process of development? What factors drive all-inclusiveness? How best can the nation harness the potential of all to further accelerate the process of sustainable development in the country?”

“I have strong conviction that the various contributors and participants have undertaken quality research that will yield objective findings and answers to these important questions. We are eager to learn from your scholarly works in our joint efforts to move our nation forward. We sincerely hope that our deliberations will produce valuable output that can move our country towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals”.

In her keynote address, the Senior Special Assistant to the Federal Government of Nigeria on Sustainable Development Goals, Adesope Orelope, urged both the state and non-state actors to come together and work in achieving the objectives of the initiative.

According to her, Nigeria has seven years to achieve the goals of the initiative, noting that addressing issues affecting Nigerians requires a holistic approach.

“At the National level, our office is working closely with the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to integrate them with our several policies and plans.

“We have 7 years left in achieving the goal, therefore, there is an urgent need to work together to get to the promise land.

“State actors must come on baord, none state actors must come on baord. Come together, none state actors must work with the state actors to ensure that both of us are working together for involved Nigeria.

“Addressing the issues affecting Nigerians requires a holistic approach that involve the government, private sector, civil society and the none state actors accordingly.

“For the government to play a critical role in ensuring an all-inclusive development, it must create a policy or programme that will address the root cause of inequality especially at exclusion. We must ensure that policies and programmes that will accelerate development are adequately funded and monitored with implementation effectively”.

According to her, Nigeria has seven years to achieve the goals of the initiative, noting that addressing issues affecting Nigerians requires a holistic approach.

“At the National level, our office is working closely with the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to integrate them with our several policies and plans.

“We have 7 years left in achieving the goal, therefore, there is an urgent need to work together to get to the promise land.

“Addressing the issues affecting Nigerians requires a holistic approach that involve the government, private sector, civil society and the none state actors accordingly.

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