UI VC commissions Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe’s Corner at KDL  

The Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Idowu Olayinka, today, 10 February 2020
has officially commissioned Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkugbe’s Corner, Postgraduate
Reading Room at Kenneth Dike Library (KDL), University of Ibadan, Ibadan.
 
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olayinka appreciated the honour Emeritus Prof Akinkugbe bestowed on the University of Ibadan by donating his collection of books.
The Vice-Chancellor also commended the donor for recently attracting a sum of Three Hundred
and Fifty-Two Million Naira (N352,000,000:00) to the University of Ibadan, stressing that
books, which have been digitalised by Kenneth Dike Library will further enrich intellectuals of
various fields of study in this dispensation and the future.
He assured the donor that KDL will put the collections to good use, and requested that the link to
the digitalised materials be publicised.
 
The benefactor, Emeritus Professor Akinkugbe applauded the ancient landmark of the University
of Ibadan.
He hinted that the urge to donate one-quarter (¼) of his collections was borne out of the quest to
replace some of the KDL books that are already wearing out; torn and gathering moist, adding
that he chose to donate the books that are relevant to the economy, library, politics, medicine to the
postgraduate section of the Kenneth Dike Library.
Prof Akinkugbe further said the endowment is not just in books but also in a statue and an image
that depicts gods and goddesses of ancient Greeks. He, therefore, appreciated the Vice-
Chancellor for the opportunity given him to donate to the University Main Library, Kenneth
Dike Library. Prof Akinkugbe noted the relationship between digital and people, cautioned that
few years to come, most people that believed passionately in digital format will still see that hard
copies are still essential to education.
 
Earlier in her comments, the University Librarian, Dr. Helen Komolafe-Opadeji said this is the
first time the University Library System would set aside space for donated collections of one of
its living legends.
She added that the collection is a mixture of ancient and modern medical and non-medical books
that were acquired as far as 1948 to date. The collections are referred to as prized books that
included biographies of notable individuals at the local and international levels and reports from
Elliot Asquith and Ashby Commission. The University Librarian was, therefore, full of gratitude
noting that the donation will immeasurably add value to the present print collections in KDL and
support learning, teaching and research activities.
 
Present at the occasion were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof Kayode
Adebowale; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships), Prof.
Olanike Adeyemo; Registrar, Mrs Olubunmi Faluyi; Provost, College of Medicine, Prof
Olubunmi Olapade-Olaopa; Dean of Students, Prof. Keye Abiona; Deans of Faculties, Directors
of Centres/Institutes, Heads of Departments, members of staff, friends and family.
By Nike Okotete
Senior Communication Officer
Directorate of Public Communication