Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has congratulated Africa’s first Professor of Geology, Prof. Mosobalaje Olaloye Oyawoye, 91, on the launch of his autobiography.
“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”, at Offa, Kwara State, on Saturday.
“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 said.
Mohammed said he was particularly impressed that Prof. Oyawoye
was one of the moving spirits behind the establishment of the
University of Jos, which actually started as University College,
Jos,” he said.
He said though Prof. Oyawoye left the academia about 30 years ago, he
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.
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.
