“Adeleye lived by the highest standards. One of his most memorable and impactful words of wisdom was, ‘Don’t sign survey work you did not do, it may be your death in the profession’. This powerful statement encapsulates his unwavering commitment to integrity and responsibility”
By John Odunayo
Surveyors in Ekiti State have paid glowing tributes to the memory of a great patriarch of the surveying profession, High Chief (Surveyor) Peter Adeyinka Olayinka Adeleye.
The Valedictory Session in honour of the late surveyor, was organized by the Body of Fellows, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Ekiti State Branch in Wednesday.
Adeleye, a native of Igede Ekiti, died in June at the age of 93.
The surveyors walked into the NIS House, Ado Ekiti venue of the event to celebrate the life and times of the departed great patriarch of the profession.
Among the virtues which the late Surveyor Adeleye exemplified in his lifetime and which were celebrated on the occasion were honesty, integrity, discipline, responsibility and forthrightness.
The surveyors did not mince words in charging their colleagues to emulate these and other virtues.
The Chairman, Board of Fellows, NIS Ekiti State Branch, Chief Rufus Ogunleye, who said honesty and integrity were crucial to the surveying profession, charged surveyors to take a cue and reap the gains of being virtuous.
Ogunleye said, “We should be honest. Honesty is the best policy and it pays. If you are not a honest person, you cannot go into surveying. We have to avoid cutting corners. Again, let us encourage our children to go into surveying profession. They will not regret it.
“We gather today to celebrate Chief Adeleye’s enduring legacy, acknowledge his significant contributions to the surveying profession and recognize his profound impact on our community.
“Chief Adeleye’s unwavering dedication, expertise and passion had been a source of inspiration to countless professionals in our field. His pioneering work, selfless mentorship and exemplary leadership have left an indelible mark on our profession and will continue to guide future generations,” the Chairman, Board of Fellows said.
The NIS Chairman, Ekiti State Branch Chairman, Surveyor Sunday Afolayan, in his tribute, described the late Adeleye as “a staunch advocate for ethical practice, consistently abhorring dishonesty, laziness, and unprofessional conduct”.
Afolayan said that the late Adeleye “lived by the highest standards, and one of his most memorable and impactful words of wisdom was, ‘Don’t sign survey work you did not do, it may be your death in the profession.” This powerful statement encapsulates his unwavering commitment to integrity and responsibility”.
“High Chief Adeleye’s impact on our industry was immense and will be forever remembered. He not only advanced the technical frontiers of surveying, but also fostered a spirit of excellence and integrity within the community. His vision helped shape the very foundations upon which modern Nigerian surveying stands,” the NIS Chairman said.
In the keynote address, a fellow and former Chairman, Ikere Local Government, Surveyor Rufus Akeredolu, said that the late Adeleye “left an indelible mark on all of us and on the very landscape of our country. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate future generations to pursue excellence, to mentor others, and to lead with integrity. We are forever indebted to his contributions”.
Akeredolu, who said that Adeleye’s career was defined by his pioneering work on some of Nigeria’s most significant and challenging projects, listed such to include the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and the Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill, which he was were not just jobs, but “monumental undertakings that required extraordinary expertise”.
“Chief Adeleye’s most enduring legacy is the investment he made in people. He was a beacon of mentorship, selflessly dedicating his time and energy to nurturing the next generation of surveyors. He didn’t just teach the technical skills; he instilled the core values of honesty, diligence, and professionalism. Many of us in this room today owe a part of our success to his guidance and unwavering belief in our potential,” he stated.
Also, the Surveying and Geoinformatics Department of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, in its tribute delivered by Dr Israel Taiwo, said that the late Adeleye’s impact on education, especially the surveying community, would forever be cherished.
Taiwo said, “We celebrate his unwavering commitment to mentoring and guiding students, his passion for surveying and geoinformatics, and his tireless efforts to shape the next generation of professionals. His legacy will continue to inspire us to strive for excellence and to uphold the values of professionalism, integrity, and innovation that he embodied”.
The Surveyor General of Ekiti State, who was represented on the occasion by Mrs Asogbon, commiserated with the Body of Fellows, all surveyors in the state and the family of the late Chief Adeyinka.
The surveyor General, who described the deceased as a great man, expressed hope that all coming behind would follow his footsteps.
The Secretary, Body of Fellows, NIS Ekiti State Branch, Dr Oyedokun Abiodun, in the body’s tribute, lauded the fellows, NIS members, Ekiti State Surveyor-General, Surveyors in Academics and Young Surveyors for the honour which the befitting tributes to Chief Adeleye’s extraordinary life and accomplishments represented.
The Body of Fellows prayed for the family that the late patriarch had left behind.
According to the biography, the late Adeleye, who worked as Chief Surveyor-Boundaries in Federal Surveys before establishing P.A.O. Adeleye and Associates, a renowned surveying firm, was involved in notable surveying projects including the Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill, and Bakassi area, demonstrating his expertise in surveying and mapping.
