By Nudoiba Ojen
Accomplished pharmacist and former health minister, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, is a great man of honours as he is acknowledged, commended and celebrated wherever he goes.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, who is the founder and chairman of Julie Plc, formerly Julie Pharmacy Ltd, is a prophet who is honoured even at home as he takes the matter of Ado Ekiti, his hometown and indeed Ekiti State with all required attention and seriousness.
That was why it did not come to anyone as a surprise when the state-owned citadel of learning, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, recognized his contributions to the state and country with a doctorate at an event that Governor Biodun Oyebanji described as “celebration of scholarship, success and the result of hard work”.
Oyebanji had said, “It is my singular honour to congratulate Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi on the conferment of the honorary doctorate of the university. There is no doubt that this is a well-deserved recognition. I have no doubt in my mind that the university will benefit tremendously from the collaboration”.
Adelusi-Adeluyi was conferred with Doctor of Law (honoris causa) by EKSU at the grand finale of the institution’s 28th Convocation ceremonies.
The pharmacist, who could not hide his happiness, however, see in the event, an opportunity to further make case for what would be of tremendous importance to the state and her people.
He said that timely completion of Ekiti State International Cargo Airport would open up the state to opportunities for networking and investments.
Adelusi-Adeluyi called on Ekiti State Governor Oyebanji to redouble efforts and put mechanisms in place to make the state’s airport operational.
He said, “The governor of the state, Biodun Oyebanji, should prioritize the issue of the airport because if the airport is open and functional, it will open up opportunities for networking, businesses and also investments from investors.
“I know the governor is a very humble man, as he faces this challenge, he will not stumble.
“I flew from Lagos to Akure for 30 minutes. I can assure you 65 per cent of those who flew from Lagos to Akure that day (Wednesday) were coming to Ekiti State. We don’t have an airport and Ekiti is a very well endowed state,” he said.
The pharmacist, who also made case for learning of indigenous languages in universities, queried, “A challenge of university education is the understanding of our language. Why can’t we learn our own language?
“In India, Japan, they learn their own languages. Why can’t we learn Ekiti dialect in this institution? We should do something about it,” Adelusi-Adeluyi said.
A total of 10,739 graduates were awarded first degrees and diplomas on the first day while 155 others were conferred with postgraduate degrees and diploma during the grand finale of the 28th EKSU convocation ceremonies.
Among dignitaries at the convocation ceremony included Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji; the new Chancellor, Dr Tunji Olowolafe; Vice-Chancellor, Prof Edward Olanipekun; Pro-Chancellor, Prof Akin Oyebode, commissioners and leadership of EKSU Alumni Association led by the Global President, Mr Dipo Bamisaye.
