University of Ibadan Honours Fanimokun With Ambassador Extraordinaire Title
Nigeria’s premier university, the University of Ibadan, has honoured Chief Tunde Fanimokun, a developmental economist, an administrator per excellence and the Agba Akin of Iruland with the award of Ambassador Extraordinaire of the university.
The award, which was hosted at the University Senate Chamber on Friday, February 14, 2025, was witnessed by the top management of the university and eminent Nigerians.
In his acceptance speech, Chief Fanimokun expressed his delight at the honour given to him by the most prestigious university in Nigeria.
Going down memory lane, Chief Fanimokun narrated how and when he started working with the Lagos State Government during the time of Mobolaji Johnson when he was recruited after he graduated from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He narrated how his path crossed with the then-action governor of Lagos, the late Chief Lateef Kayode Jakande, at the home of Professor Akin Mabogunje in Ibadan before Jakande became governor of Lagos State.
He said that at that meeting in Ibadan, Chief Jakande challenged him to offer suggestions on how Lagos State can be developed and opened up for business.
After the 1979 election, which the late Lateef Kayode Jakande won as the governor of Lagos state, Chief Fanimokun stated that, to his surprise, he was named as the Permanent Secretary of Economic Development in the Office of Lagos State Governor.
His assignment included opening up 1004 Victoria Island axis to Epe with the idea and vision that in the near future, blue chip companies and other businesses will spring up in the area.
In validation of this vision, several years later, multi-million dollar businesses have sprung up in the axis, which included that of Dangote Refinery and others.
Fanimokun maintained that Jakande’s regime did not get involved in any corrupt activity to the extent that with the military intervention and setting up of probe panels, nothing incriminating was found against him as the administration was given a clean bill and cleared of all corruption charges.
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Upon his retirement, one of Nigeria’s richest men in Nigeria and philanthropists, the late Chief Wahab Iyanda Folawiyo, recruited Chief Fanimokun to take charge of his fastly developed empire due to his unblemished record in the civil service, especially under Chief Jakande’s government.
He did not forget to mention how he was equally approached by the popular Oniru Family of Lagos Island to help manage their estate which today is running into billions of dollars.
Fanimokun also thanked almighty God for making him part of the Banana Island project, which today is the best sought-after Island in Africa.
He was so delighted to tell the audience confidently but with utmost humility that he built Lagos State, Folawiyo conglomerate and Oniru Estate.
He added that when he decided to do something on his own he went on to create a model in entrepreneurship. This, he said, will impact positively on many generations in the future who will emulate it by creating wealth and eradicating poverty in the land.
‘I am a strong believer in entrepreneurship, Fanimokun maintained”.
One significant high point of the event was the turning of the sod of the new Faculty of Economics and Management and Faculty of Science, which the respected Lagos high Chief promised to build for the academic improvement of the generation of Nigerians.
Fanimokun, who was well received by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Kayode Adebowale and his management team, said, “I am doing these from the bottom of my heart. What God has given me is for the development of Nigeria”.
There was also the singing memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Divine Sterling Enterprise (DSE), a firm founded by chief Tunde Fanimokun, and the university’s management.
Fanimokun praised the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O.Adebowale for his tenacity and his ability to get four gigantic projects from him for the school.
He said Prof Adebowale is a round the peg in a round hole.
The event culminated in the launching of an endowment of a professorial chair in Project Management in honour of HRM Oba Idowu Abiodun Oniru, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, Victoria Island and environ Lagos State.
