All Progressives Congress Chairman, Yemi Sanusi bags prestigious fellowship award, promise facilitating projects to federal college of education, Abekuta

Damilare Adeleye (Intern)

The Ogun State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Yemi Sanusi on Thursday bagged the prestigious Fellowship Award of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Osiele, Abeokuta.

Penpushing reports that the awardee, who the Asoju Oba of Egbaland, was formally decorated and presented with the fellowship insignia by the Chairman of the Federal College of Education (FCE) Governing Council, Mr. Alex Eyengho, alongside the Provost of the College, Dr. Rafiu Soyele.

The ceremony held at the Aduke Maina Hall campus of the institution was attended by members of his family, political associates and other well-wishers, who described the conferment of the award as well deserved

Penpushing further reports that the honour was bestowed on him in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the growth and development of the college, as well as his sustained commitment to advancing education in Nigeria.

The conferment, was part of activities marking the college’s golden jubilee anniversary during the College’s 26th Combined Convocation Ceremony for the award of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).

Penpushing also reports that Sanusi in his acceptance remarks, expressed deep appreciation to the management of the college, Chairman of the Board of the Chartered Institute of Directors, and numerous supporters who have stood by him over the years.

“I thank you all for this. God will bless you all. Let me always thank my wife who always mentions me in the appreciation like this. I thank you. Thank you very much’, Sanusi emphasised.

Penpushing reports that the awardee responding to a request concerning the construction of a signature building in the College in honour of Governor Dapo Abiodun, assured the management that the request should be considered accomplished, reinforcing his continued support for infrastructural development within the institution.

The awardee who is also Managing Director of Akin and Sanusi Company Limited reflecting on the honour, described the fellowship as a renewed call to national service and greater dedication to educational advancement.

“They called me about three years ago but I wasn’t around. But this honour is a call to service. Service to the nation. Service to the college, service to the educational sector and service to humanity. I will continue to try my best for the college, for the nation, and for Ogun State,” he declared.

Penpushing further reports that the Provost, Dr. Soyele, addressing Sanusi alongside other awardees explained that they were carefully selected after a thorough evaluation of their records, noting that their achievements reflect diligence, resilience and consistent dedication to excellence.

The Provost emphasized that the awards were intended not only to celebrate past accomplishments but also to inspire the recipients to continue contributing meaningfully to society.

“Your achievements and testimonies to your hard work, resilience and unwavering dedication to excellence. We have looked into your records and we have seen now, how much you have imparted in the life of youth in different ways’, Soyele said.

‘Therefore, we feel that the college as a center of excellence should honour the excellent guests of yours in the past and God shall honor you more. We believe that this will spur you to do more. Please, do not relent in good works you have been doing and you are known for in society. We pray that you shall be rewarded by God and society’.

Penpushing also reports that Chairman of the Governing Council, Mr. Alex Eyengho, earlier in his remarks traced the historic evolution of the college as the first tertiary institution in Ogun State, describing it as a hallmark of academic excellence and institutional stability.

“This is the center of excellence in everything and in every strata of any way you want to look at it. From the students to the management and staff. And this is the most peaceful tertiary institution in Nigeria,” he asserted.

“Our students, if you are doing a two-year course or three-year course, it will be exactly that number of years. No strike, no protest. The students are very understanding, very cooperative. The unions are active, but understanding and very cooperative’, he added

Penpushing reports that Eyengho highlighted the college’s newly granted dual mandate status, which empowers it to award degrees in various programmes, and urged parents to enroll their children in the institution for quality and uninterrupted academic training.

The Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun represented by Senator, Shuaib Afolabi Salisu of Ogun Central Senatorial District, congratulated the college management on the 50th anniversary, describing the institution as inseparable from the history and identity of Ogun State.

“Your history is intertwined with the history of our state. You came into existence as Federal Advanced Teachers College in January 1976. Our state was created a week later on the 3rd of February as Ogun state. And therefore, what we are celebrating today as our 26th convocation and our 50th anniversary is also an extension of Ogun, the Gateway State. Therefore, I like to congratulate you,” he remarked.

Penpushing further reports that he described Ogun State as the cradle of education and Nigeria’s education capital, referencing the historic St. Peter’s Primary School as the first primary school in the country, just as he characterized the college as a factory of factories, emphasizing the multiplier effect of teacher education.

“You are a factory of factories. Your products are factories on their own. They go ahead and produce other products. A doctor can only attend to a patient at one time. Your products become factories and they manufacture other products,” he said.

Penpushing also reports that he commended the institution for selecting individuals of exemplary character as fellows and expressed personal pride in Sanusi’s recognition.

“From the chairman of our party Chief Yemi Sanusi. He is sturdy in integrity, in candor, in truthfulness, in honesty, in perseverance, and in loyalty to a call. I’m extremely proud that you have been selected for the fellowship of your school,” he said.

“I am here not just as a senator, not just representing the governor. I am a person of Odeda Local Government. You have honored us in Odeda Local Government. Chief Yemi Sanusi, I am here to be associated with you. You are a symbol of who we are in Odeda Gbayi and we are proud of you.”

Penpushing reports that he equally advised graduating students to look beyond their certificates and harness their creativity and skills to add value to Nigeria and the global community for sustainable development.

The dignitaries present at the event were the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of Colleges of Education, Mrs. Uchenna Cecilia Uba; the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijoke Okwelle; traditional rulers; government officials; principal officers; leaders of academic and non-academic unions; and students.

Penpushing further reports that as part of the anniversary activities, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola School of Languages Complex was commissioned by the Olowu of Owu, while the Minister of Education inaugurated the Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa CBT Complex, both located within the College campus—further underscoring the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and infrastructural advancement.

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