On Thursday, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the President’s wife, announced a N1 billion donation for the horticultural landscaping of the Obafemi Awolowo University campus in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Tinubu, who was visiting the university on Thursday for the unveiling of the 2.7-kilometre Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way, reminisced about the magnificent landscape of the institution while she was a student there years ago.
The road, a grand pavilion, and a monument on the OAU campus were donated by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and named in Mrs Tinubu’s honour.
She lamented that the campus’s natural landscape had greatly degraded over the years, calling for urgent steps to repair the ecosystem and recover the beauty of the academic community.
Blaming poor maintenance culture for the degradation of the campus landscape, Tinubu announced a donation of N1bn towards the restoration of OAU’s horticultural landscape.
She said, “I will donate N1bn for OAU’s horticultural landscape to be restored. The campus used to be beautiful when I was here. Ife is crying out for help. It used to be a beautiful campus, and the beauty must be restored.”
The President’s wife expressed her appreciation for the projects named after her by the Ooni, noting that the event was part of Oba Ogunwusi’s 50th birthday celebrations.
Earlier, Oba Ogunwusi stated that the projects were named after Senator Tinubu in honour of her contributions to humanity’s well-being.
The royal father praised Mrs. Tinubu’s outstanding leadership and dedication to education, women’s empowerment, and national unity, saying, “A golden statue is erected to immortalise her virtuous personality and to showcase the strength of a teacher, mother, and wife at the very heart of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.”
He added, “Furthermore, a state-of-the-art hostel has been built, whose dynamic pavilion reflects her progressive nature.
“The construction of the 2.7-kilometre road with glowing solar street lamps provides a viable alternative for Obafemi Awolowo University students during recent blackouts on campus. The road, now known as ‘Senator Oluremi Tinubu Way,’ symbolises the many paths she has opened for youth, women, and the underprivileged in our society.
“The biggest hostel and pavilion in the history of Obafemi Awolowo University, which bears her name, represent her efforts to create spaces for learning, development, and empowerment for all.”
In his remarks, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, represented by his deputy, Mr. Kola Adewusi, stated that his administration remains committed to improving infrastructure facilities throughout the state.