The Acting Provost, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, Dr. Nelson Aderemi Oyewo has felicitated his boss and predecessor, Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi on the occasion of his 59th birthday, holding today, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
In a release made available by ‘Wale Adeoye, Special Assistant on Media Matters to the Provost quoting the Acting Provost, “Today, I celebrate my predecessor and immediate past Provost, Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi who played pivotal roles in the development of the College on his 59th birthday. The giant strides and feats recorded by oga shall remain evergreen in history of this College. On behalf of the Governing Council ably led by Prof. Matthew Odedokun, College Management, Staff and Students, I wish oga a happiest 59th birthday and pray for good health for him in his journey insha Allah.”
Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi, fien, fcai, J.P a quintessential leader, administrator, technocrat and the 7th substantive Provost of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, was born on June 7, 1963 to the family of late Pa & Mrs. Ismail Bibelomo Ayinla Adefabi of Ayedun Compound, Isale Gbobi, Koso, Iseyin, Oyo State.
He had his primary education at L. A Primary School, Oke-Esa, Iseyin (1971-1976); secondary education at Anwar-Ul-Islam High School, Iseyin (1976-1981) and later proceeded to Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo (1982-1984) for his Higher School Certificate. In a quest for a University education, young Adefabi proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (O.A.U) where he obtained Bachelor Degree of Education in Economics with First Class Honours in 1988 and University of Ibadan, Ibadan where he obtained Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Economics of the Faculty of the Social Sciences in the years 1997 and 2007 respectively.
Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi, fien, fcai, JP started his career on January 1, 1990 with the then St. Andrew’s College of Education, Oyo (now Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo) as an Administrative Officer II. In response to an internal advertisement, he was later appointed Lecturer III cadre in the Department of Economics in 1993, thus bringing him in to Academic. He rose to the post of Chief Lecturer on October 1, 2009. As a golden fish that has no hiding place, he held the positions of Head of Department (Economics) and Acting Dean, School of Arts and Social Sciences before his appointment as the Deputy Principal (Lanlate Campus) of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, the position he occupied between March 8, 2012 and May 15, 2014.
Indeed, feathers of excitement flew on May 16, 2014 when the good news of his meritorious appointment as the Provost, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo filtered into the College Community. Between then and May 15, 2022, he worked doggedly to move the College to higher grounds.
Dr. Adefabi’s career reveals one interesting phenomenon which cannot be ignored. It is the visible hand of providence in his education and training as if God arranged a programme to prepare him for the role he was to play in the affairs of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo. In keeping a date with history, so pervasive were the achievements of Dr. Rasak Adefabi during his tenure as the Chief Executive with his bold accelerated development programmes for the College.
During Dr. Adefabi’s tenure of office as the College Provost, he worked tirelessly in the area of human empowerment and development. His administration, as a matter of great importance funded numerous workshops, trainings, seminars and conferences for staff and students both within and outside the shore of the country. Among the giant strides recorded by his administration include:
i. The attainment of full accreditation status by the College for all its academic programmes across the six schools by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and National Universities Commission (NUC) for the College Degree programmes in affiliation with Ekiti State University (EKSU).
ii. Establishment of a state-of-the-art Computer Systems Centre with full access to the Internet
iii. Change in the names of Schools to reflect NCCE standard
iv. As at 2019 NCCE evaluation, Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo is rated 8th among Colleges of Education in the Federation, 2nd among State Colleges of Education and 1st in the South-West.
v. Establishment of the College Academic Planning Department in line with NCCE directive
vi. Construction of modern edifice learning structures which copiously addressed the Covid-19 challenges
vii. Establishment of the College Alumni Relations Unit
viii. Establishment of the College Legal Unit
ix. Establishment of the Department of Theatre Arts
x. Establishment of the School of Early Childhood and Primary Education
xi. It is on record that his tenure as Provost witnessed the establishment of the following solid revenue generating ventures:
(a) Table Water Production Business
(b) Functional Bakery
(c) Agricultural Venture
(d) EACOED Nursery and Primary School
xii. Sponsorship of numerous Academic and Non-Teaching Staff to Conferences and Workshops
xiii. Mr. Saheed Agboluaje, a regular degree student won an International Award of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry 2019 competition held in Paris with dollar rewards.
viv. A full integration of the School of Vocational and Technical Education into the mother campus in Erelu, Oyo through a seemingly painless movement of both students and staff while providing for infrastructural needs.
xv. Diplomatic management of labour unions and attending to their requests towards moving the College forward.
xvi. Establishment of the Directorate of Campus Security Outfit.
xv. At the twilight of his departure, his administration received one hundred (100) pieces of iPads from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under the able leadership of Prof. Adeolu Akande which was distributed to top members of the College Management.
Not only these, his administration as jinx breaker at different times granted conversion of statuses to many staffers of the College thereby bringing relief and succor to them occasioned by many years of stagnation on the same level. In addition, worried by attendant psychological trauma of prolong casualization of staff, over thirty (30) Sandwich staffers had their appointments upgraded to a permanent one, thus successfully bringing them to the mainstream of the College. This was carried out without undue publicity and devoid of advocacy nor show of praises.
Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi is a man of minimum words but maximum impacts. Among other qualities, he is institutional memory. One is marvelled at his deftness in recounting College’s historical events and dramatis personae with precision. He is a Member, Nigeria Economic Society (NES); Member, Association of Nigeria Economics Educators (ANEE); Fellow, Institute of Chartered Administrators of Nigeria; Fellow, Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria and Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Economics (FNIE). As an astute lecturer and Economist has to his credit, 13 Seminar and Conference papers, 31 journal articles, 5 chapters in edited books and 10 books.
He earned several awards from various organizations and bodies. Some of which are: Ph.D Scholarship Award from African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Nairobi, Kenya 2003 and 2004 respectively; Award of Ph. D Education Trust Fund (ETF) Research Grant FGN (2004); 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of 21st Century (2013) by the International Biographical Centre (IBC) Cambridge, England; The Great Builder Award by the Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) and Rotary Club of Oyo Metropolis (Rotary International District 9125 Nig.)
A devoted Muslim, Dr. Rasak Adetunji Adefabi is happily married with upwardly mobile children.
We identify with you today and celebrate your contributions to the College as you turn 59 sir. We pray you live to witness more productive and prosperous years in life by God’s grace.