The administration of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has pledged to honour the memory of Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist who lost his life to a lion at the university’s zoo.
The university’s registrar, Mr. Adetunji Bakare, made this announcement on Wednesday during a one-day workshop commemorating the first anniversary of Olawuyi’s passing, held at the Pit Theatre in the Department of Dramatic Arts at OAU.
The workshop, which was organised by the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), carried the theme “Workplace Safety Awareness.”
Olawuyi died on February 19, 2024, while attempting to save a junior colleague from a lion attack during feeding time.
The registrar clarified that the gathering was not to mourn Olawuyi’s death, “but his heroism.”
Bakare assured that the university would take steps to immortalise Olawuyi’s legacy.
He praised Olawuyi’s bravery for risking his life to protect someone else.
The registrar also stated that the institution has taken steps to improve workplace safety and create a more secure working environment for staff.
Speaking at the event, the NAAT National President, Mr. Ibeji Nwokoma, described Olawuyi as a martyr who sacrificed his life to save another.
Represented by the immediate past National Treasurer, Dr. Rachel Hassan-Olajokun, Nwokoma appealed to the university to rename the zoo in Olawuyi’s memory.
In the same vein, Mr. Reuben Temerigha, Managing Director of Western Diamond Energy Limited (WEDEL), urged organisations to prioritise the safety and well-being of their employees.
Speaking through Mr. Harry Ipalibo, Manager of Health Safety Security and Environment at WEDEL, Temerigha stressed that workplace accidents and hazards continue to pose serious challenges.
He added that the late Olawuyi’s courage and selfless act serve as a powerful reminder of the daily risks faced by many workers, emphasising the need for preventive safety measures.
Temerigha highlighted challenges to workplace safety, including a lack of awareness and training, failure to comply with safety regulations, dangerous work conditions, fatigue, human error, and weak safety cultures.
To address these issues, he recommended comprehensive training, strict enforcement of safety protocols, promoting a safety-first culture, conducting regular audits and risk assessments, and implementing employee wellness programmes.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NAAT-OAU, Mr. Matthew Oluwaniyi, said the event aimed to honour Olawuyi, whose death underscored the dangers many workers face daily.
Oluwaniyi emphasised that Olawuyi’s legacy calls for concrete actions beyond mere remembrance, urging the university to immortalise him by naming the OAU Zoological Garden in his honour.
