It was a deeply emotional and heartwarming moment in Abuja as prominent sons and daughters of Ogidi-Ijumu community in Kogi State paid a solidarity and congratulatory visit to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, in celebration of what many described as “God’s favour upon one of their own.”
The delegation, led by Mr Tunde Ipinmisho, the Director-General of the Ogidi Day Festival, said they were sent by the revered Ologidi of Ogidi, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule, and the entire Ogidi Ijumu community to personally convey their joy, prayers, and goodwill to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor.
In an emotion laden remark during the visit, Mr Ipinmisho thanked God for what he described as a historic milestone for the community, noting that Professor Adeniyi had become the first Vice Chancellor to emerge from the Ogidi community.
He said the achievement had brought uncommon joy and pride to the people, adding that the community considered the appointment not merely a personal success for Professor Adeniyi, but a collective elevation for Ogidi Ijumu and the wider Okun nation.
The visit, filled with warmth, nostalgia, laughter, and moments of reflection, brought together respected members of the community who described Professor Adeniyi’s emergence as Vice Chancellor as a source of immense pride not only to Ogidi-Ijumu but to the entire Okun nation and Kogi State at large.
Members of the delegation included the Secretary-General, African Public Relations Association (APRA), Dr pOmoniyiyi Ibietan, Mr Monday Bada, President of Ogidi Development Union (ODU) FCT branch, Hajiya Maimunat Olayinka Sulaiman of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Deacon Olusuyi Otitoju, a top player in the Abuja fashion industry and the spirit behind the Okun Development Initiative (ODI) and Engr. Dipo Akande, an entrepreneur in the communications industry.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Dr Omoniyi Ibietan delivered an emotional and thoughtful message about the importance of maintaining strong ties to one’s roots, regardless of social attainment or professional advancement.
He noted that greatness becomes even more meaningful when it uplifts the community from which it emerged.
According to him, the people of Ogidi-Ijumu were not merely visiting to congratulate the new Vice Chancellor, but to reaffirm the enduring bond between Professor Adeniyi and his ancestral home.
He passionately appealed to the Vice Chancellor not to forget the community amid his new assignment, urging him to consider initiating a meaningful development project in the village as a symbolic and practical contribution to community advancement.
Dr Ibietan emphasised that such gestures create lasting legacies and inspire younger generations to remain connected to their heritage and communal responsibilities.
The atmosphere became even more touching when Professor Adeniyi responded. Visibly excited and emotionally moved by the presence of people from his hometown, the Vice Chancellor thanked the delegation profusely for what he described as a sincere and unforgettable show of love, solidarity, and cultural pride. Professor Adeniyi said the request raised by Dr Ibietan had, in fact, been “top on his mind” long before the visit, adding that the idea of giving back meaningfully to the community was something he had been quietly reflecting upon.
The Vice Chancellor assured the visitors that they should “consider it done.” He, however, urged the community to further evaluate and articulate areas of collective need, particularly along the line of a modest but impactful community-centred project.
According to him, one of the possibilities already forming in his mind is the establishment of a community centre that could serve social, developmental, intellectual, and cultural purposes for the people.
He disclosed that the idea, if eventually pursued, would likely be dedicated to the memory of his late parents, Mr and Mrs Lawrence Adeniyi Okoh, whose values, sacrifices, and commitment to community life profoundly shaped his upbringing and worldview.
Professor Adeniyi, however, emphasised that he would prefer to proceed gradually and thoughtfully, while leaning on the wisdom and guidance of community leaders and stakeholders. He therefore appealed to members of the delegation to advise him on the most meaningful and sustainable way to actualise the vision in a manner that would genuinely benefit the people.
He described the proposed initiative as a modest contribution born out of gratitude to God, respect for heritage, and appreciation for the values instilled in him by the Ogidi Ijumu community over the years.
The meeting could be described as more than a ceremonial visit. It was, in many respects, a reunion of identity, memory, accomplishment, and communal affection, a reminder that even at the height of professional attainment, the bond between a man and his roots remains profoundly powerful.
Throughout the visit, conversations flowed freely around shared history, community aspirations, education, leadership, and the future of young people from the area.
The atmosphere reflected not only celebration but also hope, hope that the emergence of Professor Adeniyi at the helm of one of Nigeria’s notable private universities would inspire a new generation of excellence and service.
The delegation prayed for wisdom, strength, and divine guidance for the new Vice Chancellor as he assumes office, expressing confidence that his tenure at Baze University would be marked by innovation, stability, academic excellence, and humane leadership.
For those present, however, the enduring image of the day was not merely the official congratulations but the unmistakable warmth with which Professor Adeniyi received his people, with gratitude, humility, emotion, and an open heart.
