The University of Lagos (UNILAG) Ekitiparapo Association on Thursday, September 24, 2026, held a send-forth ceremony in honour of its immediate past President, Prof. Ademola Omojola, and Secretary, Prince Oriwaye J. Adefolalu, at the Faculty of Arts Board Room, UNILAG.
The ceremony provided an opportunity for members to celebrate the contributions of the outgoing leaders while reaffirming their commitment to the continued growth and unity of the UNILAG Ekitiparapo Association.
Call for Unity and Preservation of Ekiti Heritage
In her welcome address, the President of the Association, Professor Adefunke Komolafe, commended the outgoing leaders for their dedication, resilience and contributions to the growth of the Association. She noted that the ceremony was both a formal farewell and a celebration of their legacy of service, urging them to continue offering guidance and mentorship to the Association.
In his appreciation, Prof. Omojola expressed gratitude for the progress recorded by the Association. He commended his former Secretary, Prince Adefolalu, for his energy and commitment, noting that their different approaches complemented each other during their tenure. He expressed delight at the Association’s positive trajectory, saying he was confident that its affairs were now in capable hands.
The Chairman of the event and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics and Research) of the University of Lagos, Prof. Wole Familoni, FAS, commended the current executive officers and members of the Association for their impressive turnout to celebrate the two outgoing leaders. He expressed appreciation to the former leaders for their dedicated contributions to the growth and development of the Association, urging them to sustain their commitment to service and continue making meaningful contributions even after their retirement from the University.
In his remarks, Prof. Omojola expressed gratitude for the progress recorded by the Association. He commended his former Secretary, Prince Adefolalu, for his energy and commitment, noting that their different approaches complemented each other during their tenure. He expressed delight at the Association’s positive trajectory, saying he was confident that its affairs were now in capable hands.
Similarly, Prince Adefolalu thanked members of the Association for honouring him and the immediate past President. He encouraged members to sustain the spirit of unity, regular meetings and constructive discussions aimed at advancing the Association. He also urged members to remain proud of their Ekiti heritage and language, humorously describing the Ekiti language as “the heavenly language for all saints.
Prof. Ademola Omojola: Distinguished Scholar and Administrator
Prof. Ademola Omojola is renowned for his expertise in Remote Sensing, Geographic Information Systems, environmental studies and climate-risk assessment.
An alumnus of the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Sir Sandford Fleming College, Ontario, Canada; Prof. Omojola’s research interests include environmental inventory, land-use and land-cover change, climate risks and adaptation strategies in urban areas. He has taught and supervised students at various levels, contributed to curriculum development and served as a visiting professor and consultant to several national and international organisations, including the World Bank, UNICEF and WHO.
The Professor of Geography (Geoinformatics) is a Fellow of the Geo-information Society of Nigeria and serves on the Governing Council of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. He is Chairman, Board of the Institute of Maritime Studies (IMS), UNILAG.
Prince Oriwaye J. Adefolalu: Three Decades of Dedicated Service
Prince Oriwaye J. Adefolalu, of the Oniwe Ruling House, Ilawe-Ekiti, was also recognised for his distinguished career and community service. A trained accountant, he retired from UNILAG on May 13, 2026, as a Chief Executive Officer after 30 years of service.
During his career, he served in various capacities including Accountant, Works and Physical Planning; Accountant, UNILAG Ventures; and Faculty Finance Officer. He also served as Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), UNILAG Branch, from 1999 to 2004, where he established the UNILAG Senior Staff Welfare Scheme.
Prince Adefolalu was the pioneer Secretary of the UNILAG Ekitiparapo Association from 2018 to 2026 and contributed to initiatives including the Ekitiparapo Endowment Fund for indigent students of Ekiti State origin
Report: Oluwatoyin Ojo-Alo
Photograph: Samuel Dosumu
Photo Editors: Onabayo Eniola and Lawal Mistura (Intern)
