At Prof. Adeniyi’s book, foundation launch, Olanipekun calls for review of lecturers’ salaries (see pix)

The Federal Government has been called upon to increase the salary of lecturers in tertiary institutions across the country.
This was made known on Thursday in Lagos by Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), at a book and foundation launch at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Olanipekun said “it’s important that something has to be done about it. We are here to honour and celebrate the author of the book and his achievements.
“I appreciate those in the academics. If not because of them, we all wouldn’t be here”.

He eulogised Professor Femi Adeniyi and said a lot of students passed through his womb as he has given birth to a lot of scholars, describing his womb as fertile and productive.
“You deserve our honour and respect, you deserve our support and encouragement, there are very few people in the world who are like you.
“When I was told a professor doesn’t earn up to a million naira a month, immediately I led a delegation to the Body of Benchers to meet with Justices of the Supreme Court.
“Also at the Supreme Court, no justice earns cumulatively up to eight hundred thousand naira. The delegations and I started making some moves but it has now yielded some dividend.

“I told my colleagues at the meeting of Pro-Chancellors that we have to do something, we surrender the lives and future of our children to them and we have to do something about the issue.
“How much is the worth of Adeniyis of this world? The entire world put together. He has to take care of his family and himself. We must come to their aid to assist them in terms of academics. Prof sir, you have done well for yourself and the society. May the Lord continue to uphold and honour you and keep your family”.
The University of Lagos Vice Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Victoria Ayodele Atsenuwa.
She thanked everyone who came out to celebrate one of their own at the university.
“It’s my pleasure to welcome you all to the University of Lagos, as the VC couldn’t make it due to official assignments.
“Because of the love and recognition placed on the author, that was why the VC directed that two of us represent her at the occasion. We also appreciate the honour and privilege to host the event in our school”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Ayodele Ogunye, went down memory lane on how he met the author at the then University of Lagos Vice Chancellor’s office 47 years ago.
He said as newly recruited staff, “his number then was 467, I was 469 and late Professor Olunloyo’s number was 470. Thank God, we are still together doing well.
We are both in Waterloo Group and I am the leader. It’s because of the member of the group that made us to gather here. We all have stories but not everyone has the opportunity to tell his or her own.
“It’s grace for Professor Femi Adeniyi to write his own. He is a rare man and also a workerholic person. For some of his students to be here shows the type of man the he is. I want to urge you to be kind to your students, you can see some of his students are now professors.
“We are not just here to launch the book but to launch his foundation in order to give back to the society, especially the indigent ones. Professor Adeniyi cannot be doing what he’s doing today if he had no proper education. It’s because of whom he is that makes some of us to be here today”.
Earlier, Professor Femi Adeniyi thanked everyone for honouring him at the book and foundation launch and everyone for contributing to the foundation and launch of the book.
He said: “We will offer scholarships and financial assistance to students from under privileged backgrounds to enable them to pursue higher education and achieve their academic goals. We will also support education programmes and initiatives designed to uplift disadvantaged groups and foster educational equity.

“Through target training and skills development programmes, we will empower individuals and communities to enhance their capabilities and contribute positively to the society. We are also going to engage in capacity building, research and innovation and also review policy and development. Those who are going to benefit from it are mostly students, education institutions, educators and leaders”.