AfDB Adviser, Ooni of Ife to Grace OAU Chemical Engineering Department’s 55th Anniversary

he Department of Chemical Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is set to host a landmark celebration for its 55th anniversary this Saturday, June 28, 2025. The event will be distinguished by the attendance of Professor Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, a Senior Special Assistant to the former President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife.

Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, an alumnus of the department, will deliver the keynote address titled “Rebuilding the Broken Walls” at the Design Studio Auditorium, African Centre of Excellence, OAU. Renowned for his expertise in innovation systems and development economics, Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka’s presence is expected to bring a global perspective to the event.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, will serve as the Royal Father of the Day, lending his royal support to the department’s ongoing efforts to sustain quality engineering education and foster innovation in Nigeria.

The 55th anniversary celebration will not only commemorate over five decades of excellence in teaching, research, and innovation but will also feature the official launch of a substantial ₦54 billion endowment fund. This ambitious fund is geared towards advancing the department’s legacy of academic distinction, industry relevance, and positioning it for greater global competitiveness. Additionally, a commemorative book chronicling the department’s milestones will be officially launched.

In a statement released by the department, organizers emphasized the significance of the event as a convergence of academia, industry, and royalty, underscoring the department’s forward-thinking vision for the future of chemical engineering in Nigeria and beyond.