According to a press release signed by the Director, Media and Public Affairs of the Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife has demonstrated uncommon commitment to education, innovation and human capital development by splashing a total of ₦19 million on outstanding graduating students and innovative lecturers of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The philanthropic intervention took place on Friday, 19th December, 2025 during the institution’s Convocation Ceremony in Ibadan, where the Ooni, an alumnus of the Polytechnic, personally celebrated excellence and innovation.
The overall Best Graduating Student, Kemisola Yusufa, a Microbiology graduate who recorded an impressive 3.87 Grade Point, received a cash award of ₦6 million. In addition, six Best Graduating Students, one from each of the six faculties of the Polytechnic, were rewarded with ₦1.5 million each, while two lecturers, winners of the Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Award for Innovation and Technology, received ₦2 million each in recognition of their research ingenuity and contributions to technological advancement.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Ooni of Ife who also serves as the Permanent Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Traditional Rulers Council (SNTRC)—commended the management and staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, for sustaining the institution’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and discipline. He described the Polytechnic as a defining chapter in his personal and professional journey, recalling his days as an Accountancy student over three decades ago.
“This citadel of learning remains my foundation in life,” the Ooni stated. “I left this great school 30 years ago as a student of Accountancy. To reconnect with my roots today, three decades after graduation, is deeply fulfilling. I remember my days in Unity Hall and Ramat Hall, navigating studentship without knowing what the future held. Today, by the grace of God, I stand before you as the Ooni of Ife. This institution helped shape that journey.”
The gesture, widely applauded by the academic community, underscores the Ooni’s enduring belief in education as a catalyst for societal transformation and his resolve to motivate young scholars and educators to pursue excellence, creativity and innovation. Beyond the monetary value, the intervention sends a powerful message on the importance of rewarding merit, nurturing talent and strengthening the bridge between alumni success and institutional development.
