”He is humble and intelligent”, Professor Fabiyi extols his ‘student’, Rauf, who is now a Professor of Agricultural Production Economics

By Bukola Hameed

A Professor of Professors, as he was fondly referred to this afternoon by all who graced the occasion of Professor Rauf M. O’s Professorial Celebration at Soun Civic Hall, Ogbomoso today, has extolled the sterling qualities exhibited by his student.

Professor Fabiyi described the celebrant who is one of the recently elevated Doctors (PhD) to the rank of Professor at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH as someone blessed with high alacrity, humbleness and intelligence.

“Professor Rauf is highly intelligent, smart and always ready to make headway irrespective of the daunting challenges associated with academic sojourn. His doggedness saw him through thick and thin, from his PhD days up till the present feat. I am confident that Professor Rauf will break new grounds in his chosen career, and proffer solutions to lots of problems in terms of Agricultural Production as it relates to youth productivity and employment.”

The smile-ladden celebrant, Professor Rauf, thanked his “Oga”, Professor Y. L Fabiyi for his untiring support, wives, family members, colleagues from department, students, friends and, well wishers from far and near. He said joyfully, ” Tongue can’t express my gratitude to all of you. You are just wonderful, and I am lucky to have you around me. God bless you all.”

Expressing his goodwill message, Professor Rauf’s immediate elder brother, Mr Mikail Rauf, expressed optimism in his brother’s efficiency as he reached the peak of his career, adding that his steps right from childhood has been of one that would make the family proud one day. He noted that Professor Rauf’s unprecedented strides in terms of good human relations, focus and resilience are second to none.

Earlier in his lecture, Imaam Ismail Busayri from Papua New Guinea, reiterated the position of Islam as regards learning and useful knowledge acquisition. He said, ” Islam is a religion and a way of life built on knowledge as evident in the first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUI) which centred on literacy. Therefore, foremost were the Muslims in diverse fields of human endearvours namely; Astronomy, Geology, Linguistics, Optics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Arts and other spheres of life.”

Speaking with News Live Nigeria correspondent, one of the students who had him as Project Supervisor, Miss IyanuJesu Akinpelu, showered encomium on the celebrant, saying he’s worthy of being celebrated. She said, ” I was fortunate to be his project student; he was more than a lecturer to us, he created father-children atmosphere for us which made us develop confidence in our ability. He loves his work. He loves his students. He is kind and intelligent too.

Among the dignitaries at the occasion are Iba Aminullah Abogunde, Professor Y. L Fabiyi, Imam Ismail Busayri, the guest lecturer, Professor Durowoju M. O of Mechanical Engineering, Prof. (Mrs) F. Olagunju, HOD, Agricultural Economics, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Prof. (Mrs) A.A. Adepoju of Agricultural Economics Dept, Prof. Azim Ige, Dean of Students Affairs, LAUTECH Ogbomoso, Dr Yusuf Kamil from the University of Ilorin, Dr Bakrin Lateef from OOU, Dr Lasisi B. T from EACOED, Oyo and a host of others from different walks of life.

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