the public presentation of the autobiography of the iconic scholar in Offa, Kwara State.
By Emmanuel Elebeke
Ilorin- The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has praised Africa’s first professor of geology, Prof. Mosobalaje Olaloye Oyawoye, who clocked 91 this month, on the formal launch of his autobiography in Offa, Kwara state.
The said he was at the book launch to honour a man who did not only make Nigeria proud but the entire African continent.
“I am here to celebrate with an icon not just of this country but the continent and probably the world,” the Minister said at the public presentation of the book, ”Path of Destiny.
“It’s a unique event, a 91-year-old man, who has taken 10 years to put together his life history. But this is not just an ordinary 91-year-old man, this is a man who scored first in many fields. The
first African Professor of Geologist and a man who has used his position to benefit society”‘ he stated.
Alhaji Mohammed described Prof. Oyawoye as one of the moving spirits behind the establishment of the University of Jos, which actually started as University College, Jos.
He said though, Prof. Oyawoye left the academia about 30 years ago, the don remains active in community service.
The Minister said he was particularly impressed by the premium which the author, in his book, placed on integrity.
“Prof. I think one thing that struck me very much about the book is that you put a lot of value on integrity. I think integrity is that single commodity that is so rare. It’s about the single most important ingredient in the building of a person or a nation,” he said.
Over N5million was realised in the book launch, which the author said would be channeled into his charity organization, Monmodu-Jamiu Oyawoye Foundation.
Dignitaries at the event include the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mr. Alfa Belgore; former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and the Pro-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Dr. Wale Babalakin, who formally presented the book.
