Biyi Afonja (1950) Clocks 82, launches a book titled "I SMELL A RAT: A Pro-Chancellor's Adventure in University Governance"

Osoba, Olugbo, Babalakin, Others Hail Prof. Afonja over Book on Varsity Governance

Former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, the Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Chief Wale Babalakin, and the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Frederick Akinruntan, among others eminent Nigerians on Tuesday commended Prof. Biyi Afonja, for writing a book on governance in universities.

They gave this commendation during the public presentation of the book entitled: �I Smell A Rat, A Pro-Chancellor�s Adventures in University Governance� at the OGD Hall, Olabisi Onabanjo, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

Also, the former military governor of Western State of Nigeria, Brig. Gen.Oluwole Rotimi (retd) and Emeritus Professor Ladipupo Akinkugbe, and a former pro-chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Jide Osuntokun, equally extolled the retired professor of statistics for documenting his experience as a seasoned varsity administrator in the book.

Afonja, a retired professor of Statistics, was pro-chancellor and chairman of council at the Ogun State University now Olabisi Onabanjo University among other appointments.

Osoba who described Afonja as an erudite scholar said he was proud of the author for his doggedness and administrative acumen.

Osoba who was represented by his former deputy, Adegbenga Kaka, said, �We are proud of you. We know that once you are determined to do something, you make sure you achieve it. We salute your doggedness as an astute varsity administrator.�

In his own remarks, Babalakin, who bought copies of the book for some federal and state varsities, commended Afonja for his contribution to the educational sector, adding that the book was timely given the level of decay in the sector.

He noted that �things have continued to deteriorate in our universities without any effort to reverse the trend.�

Prof.Osuntokun, who was the reviewer of the book, said the author knew all that needed to be known about educational management from primary to tertiary level, given his experience as a commissioner for education in the Western State, and as a pro-chancellor among others.

He said the book �magistraterially discusses every aspects of university administration not only in Ogun, but all over the country.�

Rotimi who was chairman of the event, also has kind words for the author. He said the author wrote on a familiar terrain in which he had been an active participant.

Oba Akinruntan who was one of the royal fathers at the event noted that people like Prof. Afonja deserved commendation for documenting for posterity their experiences in areas where they were active participants.

He challenged others to write books on the history of the Yoruba and royalty.

Afonja, while giving sneak preview of the book, said there were many things wrong in the administration of the universities in the country either owned by the federal or state governments.

These he said include political meddling in the affairs of the institutions and lack of adequate funding.

He said the book was the account of his experience as a varsity administrator, in different capacities.