Ayo don't mind Bolaji, get a mighty SIGN and warm congratulations
Jibo
Professor Jibrin Ibrahim
Senior Fellow
Centre for Democracy and Development, Abuja
Follow me on twitter @jibrinibrahim17
On 2 November 2016 at 10:49, ayo_olukotun via USA Africa Dialogue Series <usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com> wrote:
--Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.From: Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 09:21:15 +0000 (UTC)To: ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com >; bankole omotoso<ajibabi@outlook.com>; Bayo Okunade<bayookunade@gmail.com>; Benjamin Olatunji Oloruntimehin<ben_ olatunji2003@yahoo.com >; BISHOP CROWN<bishopisaaccrown@gmail.com >; bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk<bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk >; bode fasakin<bodefasakin@yahoo.co.uk >; bukky dada<bukkydada@hotmail.com>; Bunmi Ayoade<maximaxiforte@gmail.com>; Attahiru Jega<attahirujega@yahoo.com>; antonia simbine<tsombe98@yahoo.com>; anujah@yahoo.com<anujah@yahoo. com >; aoyewo@aol.com<aoyewo@aol.com>; Ephraim Aor<rainbowtumise@gmail.com>; Caleb Ayoade Aborisade<caborisade@yahoo.com >; Candice Homan<CHoman@iie.org>; charles akinola<akindijiakinola@gmail. com >; chibuzo nwoke<chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>; Christian Ogbondah<chris.ogbondah@uni.edu >; Chukwuma, Innocent<innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org >; ggdarah@yahoo.com<ggdarah@yahoo.com >; Damilola Taiye<lola2kid@yahoo.com>; Daniel Bach<d.bach@sciencespobordeaux.fr >; Dele Seteolu<folabiset@yahoo.com>; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu<toksx@yahoo.com>; Egbokhare Francis<foegbokhare@yahoo.com>; eojo12000<eojo12000@yahoo.com> ; fademolaadeoye@gmail.com<fadem olaadeoye@gmail.com >; fadesola@oauife.edu.ng<fadesola@oauife.edu.ng >; Faith Adebiyi<faithadebiyi01@gmail.com >; Femi Babatunde<ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com >; friday Okonofua<feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk >; Francis Irele<abiolairele@gmail.com>; Francis Ojo<ojofrank@gmail.com>; Gbenga Dr. Owojaiye<gbenjaiye@hotmail.com>; Glory Ukwenga<gloryukwenga@gmail.com >; Grace Edema<gmso200212@gmail.com>; Omatsola Edema<charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk >; Omo Adugbe<omoadugbe@gmail.com>; Obadiah Mailafia<obmailafia@gmail.com> ; Ogunfolakan Adisa<babaadii@yahoo.com>; olatoye_ojo<olatoye_ojo@yahoo. com >; Nduka Otiono<Nduka.Otiono@carleton.ca >; Nwulu, Paul<p.nwulu@fordfoundation.org >; Lai Olurode<olurode@yahoo.com>; Lanre Idowu<lanreidowu@gmail.com>; lanre oluwaniyi<lanre1256@hotmail.com >; BGI Legal<bgilegalservices@gmail.com >; sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk<sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk >; Sola Akinrinade<solakin@msn.com>; shirleygreta@yahoo.com<shirleygreta@yahoo.com >; simon Emeje<simon_emeje@yahoo.com>; simonkolawole@yahoo.com<simonkolawole@yahoo.com >; Joel Nwokeoma<joelugon@yahoo.com>; Niyi Akinnaso<niyi.tlc@gmail.com>; olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk<olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk >; Oladipo Osasona<ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk >; OLAYEMI FOLINE<offlinenspri@gmail.com>; OLAYODE OLUSOLA<kennyode@yahoo.com>; Paul izah<pizah2003@yahoo.com>; peju oti<pejuoti2002@yahoo.com>; Prof Dipo Kolawole<profkolawole@yahoo. com >; Prof. Lere Amusan<lereamusan@gmail.com>; Tiwa<tiwaolugbade@yahoo.com>; Tolulope Sajobi<ttsajobi@ucalgary.ca>; Tunji Olaopa<tolaopa2003@gmail.com>; Tunde Oseni<tundeoseni@gmail.com>; twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk<twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk >; Ibrahim Gambari<Ibrahim.gambari@gmail.com >; IHRIA ENAKIMIO<ihriae@gmail.com>; olufemi onabajo<olufemionabajo@yahoo.com >; olukotun bob-kunle<bobkunle@yahoo.com>; madeyeye2002@yahoo.com<madeyeye2002@yahoo.com >; Margaret Ayansola<mdayansola@gmail.com>; Margaret Solo-Anaeto<soloanaeto. margaret@gmail.com >; michaelfaborode<michaelfaborode@gmail.com >; Moshood Omotosho<mashomotosho@yahoo.com >; Ngozi<mediaworldintl@yahoo.com>; Bose<bose@pindfoundation.org> ReplyTo: Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>Subject: Re: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in GovernanceToyin, (and Ayo!!!)Thanks Toyin, for ensuring that Ayo is deservedly celebrated for this recognition. But Ayo must understand why I have those exclamation marks with his name above. Well, it's his well-known care-free disposition to things material (this is anything but material, though), plus an un-usual capacity to literally forget to mention that which is outstanding about himself. That trait was there when he was our Students' Union 'Presido' in the early '70s - always the 'rough-and-ready', but highly thoughtful idea/action leader, with hardly the slightest concern for any airs or circumstance attaching to his role. Intellect accompanied by self-effacing humility? He knows why I'm writing all this.Just last Sunday, the very day before the announcement, Ayo and I literally 'talked and talked' (one hour or a little more??), reminiscing over the radical (mostly Marxist/leftist) Professors and lecturers who had inspired us at Ife in the '70s, and how it somehow feels (if you see how things have gone against our brightest hopes from that time) that all that inspired energy and hope burning in our belly may have been dashed. We spoke - both seriously and in self-deprecating humour - about how the much touted 'impending CRISIS of the Nigerian bourgeouisie . . ' (which radical students tended to interprete as their 'internal contradictions' and ultimate failure - VERY SOON) has thus far failed to materialise; how, in fact, the 'bourgeouisie' (whoever they are) seemed to have done VERY WELL since then, in capturing power, capital (our commonwealth) and the machinery of public governance - thank you very much!!, etc. And we played around with a couple new ideas about how we might ensure the next generation doesn't also inherit our frustration and sense of emptiness on the collective-public-space front, etc.With this development, Ayo has just been given a platform that provides a rare opportunity to help our country in the urgent task of reconstituting its infrastructure and institutions of the mind, especially around the challenges and opportunities of developmental governance (integrity in service, commitment and rigour in effort, a strong sense of the supremacy of the shared/public space and cause (of course, with adequate respect for the 'sacred', private space of the individual). It's even nicer that Ayo will have an opportunity to more directly influence/enhance the worldview and public-good orientation of our youth (including, by the way, anyone on this group who may still, like me, be among Nigeria's youthful 'leaders of tomorrow!!).In that long conversation, Ayo did not for a minute mention the honour nearly at his door (I'm sure, already there, - since he would have had the Chair appointment and day of announcement cleared with him as at when we talked our marathon). Again, humility in the service of great intellect!!My special plea, Ayo. Please do not let anyone place any bogus, out-sized door-plaque on your Professorial Chair office door. Let the modesty play on. A small 'good-example' anecdote to underscore the plea. Years back, my wife and I went visiting our son who had then just started studies in something called 'Part 3 Mathematics' in Cambridge. I learnt it was a course/skill area used in Theoretical Physics, etc. (I can't write a line on that subject!!). While there, I asked my son to take us to the office of the wheel-chair-bound maths/physics genius, Stephen Hawkins, who I knew occupied the Lucasian Chair of Physics and Maths, a Chair first occupied by Isaac Newton. He obliged, and the great man's door sign was small, exactly same-size, same scripting as those of the other Profs on that floor. It struck me as modesty in the service of rare intellectual latitude. Has anyone noticed that if our Governors attend an event, their chairs - de-rigueur - have to be bigger and most (often distastefully) lavishly adorned than the other VIP's chairs? Oh, the Dep. Gov's one is the next bigger and bogus, and may be, then, the ones for the Commissioners, etc - and then regular ones for Mrs&Mrs Everybody Else. Why not just a good, standard FUNCTIONALLY comfortable chair for everyone? This is one of those areas (generically speaking) where we need some society-wide 'growing-up' mind process. So, Ayo, part of your challenge with this Chair is (however modest the results) in trying to help this country trim the boundaries and gestures of excesses and self-indulgence by power holders and leaders. Buhari provided a lovely example over last weekend at his daughter's wedding.Congrats, Prof. Ayo OlukotunBolaji
From: "ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com" <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>
To: bankole omotoso <ajibabi@outlook.com>; Bayo Okunade <bayookunade@gmail.com>; Benjamin Olatunji Oloruntimehin <ben_olatunji2003@yahoo.com>; BISHOP CROWN <bishopisaaccrown@gmail.com>; Bolaji Ogunseye <erinje@yahoo.com>; bokwechime@yahoo.co.uk; bode fasakin <bodefasakin@yahoo.co.uk>; bukky dada <bukkydada@hotmail.com>; Bunmi Ayoade <maximaxiforte@gmail.com>; Attahiru Jega <attahirujega@yahoo.com>; antonia simbine <tsombe98@yahoo.com>; anujah@yahoo.com; aoyewo@aol.com; Ephraim Aor <rainbowtumise@gmail.com>; Caleb Ayoade Aborisade <caborisade@yahoo.com>; Candice Homan <CHoman@iie.org>; charles akinola <akindijiakinola@gmail.com>; chibuzo nwoke <chibuzonwoke@yahoo.com>; Christian Ogbondah <chris.ogbondah@uni.edu>; "Chukwuma, Innocent" <innocent.chukwuma@fordfoundation.org >; ggdarah@yahoo.com; Damilola Taiye <lola2kid@yahoo.com>; Daniel Bach <d.bach@sciencespobordeaux.fr>; Dele Seteolu <folabiset@yahoo.com>; Dr. Awolowo Dosunmu <toksx@yahoo.com>; Egbokhare Francis <foegbokhare@yahoo.com>; eojo12000 <eojo12000@yahoo.com>; fademolaadeoye@gmail.com; fadesola@oauife.edu.ng; Faith Adebiyi <faithadebiyi01@gmail.com>; Femi Babatunde <ofemibabatunde@yahoo.com>; friday Okonofua <feokonofua@yahoo.co.uk>; Francis Irele <abiolairele@gmail.com>; Francis Ojo <ojofrank@gmail.com>; Gbenga Dr. Owojaiye <gbenjaiye@hotmail.com>; Glory Ukwenga <gloryukwenga@gmail.com>; Grace Edema <gmso200212@gmail.com>; Omatsola Edema <charlieedema@yahoo.co.uk>; Omo Adugbe <omoadugbe@gmail.com>; Obadiah Mailafia <obmailafia@gmail.com>; Ogunfolakan Adisa <babaadii@yahoo.com>; olatoye_ojo <olatoye_ojo@yahoo.com>; Nduka Otiono <Nduka.Otiono@carleton.ca>; "Nwulu, Paul" <p.nwulu@fordfoundation.org>; Lai Olurode <olurode@yahoo.com>; Lanre Idowu <lanreidowu@gmail.com>; lanre oluwaniyi <lanre1256@hotmail.com>; BGI Legal <bgilegalservices@gmail.com>; sanyaoni@yahoo.co.uk; Sola Akinrinade <solakin@msn.com>; shirleygreta@yahoo.com; simon Emeje <simon_emeje@yahoo.com>; simonkolawole@yahoo.com; Joel Nwokeoma <joelugon@yahoo.com>; Niyi Akinnaso <niyi.tlc@gmail.com>; olu_okotoni@yahoo.co.uk; Oladipo Osasona <ladiposasona@yahoo.co.uk>; OLAYEMI FOLINE <offlinenspri@gmail.com>; OLAYODE OLUSOLA <kennyode@yahoo.com>; Paul izah <pizah2003@yahoo.com>; peju oti <pejuoti2002@yahoo.com>; Prof Dipo Kolawole <profkolawole@yahoo.com>; Prof. Lere Amusan <lereamusan@gmail.com>; Ayo Olukotun <ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>; Tiwa <tiwaolugbade@yahoo.com>; Tolulope Sajobi <ttsajobi@ucalgary.ca>; Tunji Olaopa <tolaopa2003@gmail.com>; Tunde Oseni <tundeoseni@gmail.com>; twasaolu@yahoo.co.uk; Ibrahim Gambari <Ibrahim.gambari@gmail.com>; IHRIA ENAKIMIO <ihriae@gmail.com>; olufemi onabajo <olufemionabajo@yahoo.com>; olukotun bob-kunle <bobkunle@yahoo.com>; madeyeye2002@yahoo.com; Margaret Ayansola <mdayansola@gmail.com>; Margaret Solo-Anaeto <soloanaeto.margaret@gmail.com >; michaelfaborode <michaelfaborode@gmail.com>; Moshood Omotosho <mashomotosho@yahoo.com>; Ngozi <mediaworldintl@yahoo.com>; Bose <bose@pindfoundation.org>
Sent: Wednesday, 2 November 2016, 3:53
Subject: Fw: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> Date: Wed, 2 Nov 2016 02:26:47 +0000To: ayo_olukotun-yahoo com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com>Cc: ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com<ayo_olukotun@yahoo.com >; ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com<ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com >; balogundele@yahoo.com<balogundele@yahoo.com >; Ebunoluwa Oduwole<ebunoduwole2k2@yahoo.com >Subject: FW: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance
From: Ayo Banjo <profayobanjo@yahoo.com>
Reply-To: "nwosuobi75@yahoo.com" <nwosuobi75@yahoo.com>
Date: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 7:12 PM
To: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>
Subject: Re: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in Governance
Hello Toyin,Well dpoken!Ayo Banjo
On Tue, 1 Nov, 2016 at 18:34, Toyin Falola<toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu> wrote: Professor Ayo Olukotun, Pioneer Chair, Oba Sir Sikiru Adetona Professorial Chair in GovernanceIt has been announced by the Olabisi Onabanjo University at Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria, that Professor Ayo Olukotun is to occupy the newly created Oba Adetona Chair. The announcement clearly delineated the objectives of the new academic Chair as following:(i) Initiate and execute researches that have the capacity of proffering solutions to contemporary challenges and issues of governance at the local and global levels.(ii) Promote scholarship, rigorous research activities and opportunities for collaboration with scholars and institutions committed to issues of governance.(iii) Serve as springboard for attracting quality staff and students to the Department of Political Science through research output.In view of his distinguished professorial and intellectual backgrounds, Professor Olukotun is a perfect fit for the honor, as he is a scholar who will energize the Olabisi Onabanjo University's intellectual community as well as to provide reasonable interventions in critical moments and, in the process, analyze the complex ways in which contemporary education is aligned with politics and development.Axiomatically, it is not an exaggeration to underscore that Professor Olukotun's garment is a string of pockets, each serving as a container of contents of stellar significance. There are, indeed, those on politics, governance, democracy, institutions and all those listed in the aforementioned objectives. Most certainly, there is no need to elaborate on these totemic accolades. However, what is key and at the very core of the garment and its pockets is the overall mindset that connects a moral economy to a humanitarian order when it comes to Professor Olukotun. Exemplifying the foregoing is the relentlessness of his weekly pieces on one aspect or another of the character of the Nigerian nation.Clearly, the honoree's moral economy has been connected to a moral compass and its community, via his own long list of recipients of his weekly bags of words, coupled with our own megaphone known as the USA-Africa Dialogue, the alternative Internet site that further broadcasts them far and wide. In totality, Professor Olukotun has created a popular moral movement that generates humanistic-cum-ethical ideas about the state of our being, our nationhood, our future. Without any shade of doubt, he is our leader, and it is befitting that the academy has recognized him transparently. We salute this decision and, in our own way, we publicly honor Professor Olukotun's brilliance and his sense of intellectual purpose.With Professor Olukotun serving as the first occupant of the Oba Adetona Chair, I am more than assured that he will be a pathfinder, creating a new junction between the ideals of this great university and the humanistic concerns about the future of humanity in general. Furthermore, I am optimistic that new norms will congeal around him to serve as a glue that will bring together activists of the Left with pragmatists of the Right, without the exclusion of cultural jammers, with the overall purpose of discussing the interests, expectations and, above all, the contributions of citizenship. History, politics and nature, in the process, will spell out the structural changes we need in our humanistic conditions.In appointing Professor Olukotun to this Chair, the Olabisi Onabanjo University has distinguished itself with a clear statement: that scholarship and humanitarian activism is, symbolically, a Siamese Twin that is needed on a serious campus to redefine our intellectual goals, retool our academic politics, and re-generate profound ideas to benefit academia and practical policies. In this important framework, the generous Oba Adetona and the gifted Professor Olukotun are agents of transformation to create a new space to promote and, in the final analysis, to enforce a new national scholarly ethos as well as orientation, coupled with stellar humanitarian ethics.As colleagues, who admire high quality accmplishments of other colleagues, do please join me in saluting as well congratulating Professor Olukotun and, in unison, joyously exclaim loudly: this is the day that Olabisi Onabanjo University has made, and we shall rejoice in it!Toyin Falola, November 1, 2016
Toyin FalolaDepartment of HistoryThe University of Texas at Austin104 Inner Campus DriveAustin, TX 78712-0220USA512 475 7224512 475 7222 (fax)
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