The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ValidViewNetwork, Mr. Kayode Ogunjobi, FHEA, FFAN, has joined other well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating Professor Gboyega Augustine Adebayo on the successful completion of his tenure as Dean of the Postgraduate School, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), describing his exit as the end of an era defined by excellence, integrity and uncommon service.
In a goodwill message to mark the end of the tenure, Ogunjobi lauded Professor Adebayo as a distinguished scholar and accomplished administrator whose leadership significantly strengthened postgraduate education at FUNAAB. He described the former Dean as “one of the finest Physics scientists Nigeria has produced,” noting that his intellectual depth commands respect both locally and internationally.
Reflecting on his personal and professional encounters with Professor Adebayo, Ogunjobi said that beyond his academic brilliance, the former Dean’s administrative acumen ushered in far-reaching reforms at the Postgraduate School. According to him, Adebayo’s leadership added lasting value to postgraduate administration, with achievements that would endure for generations.
Ogunjobi highlighted key milestones recorded under Adebayo’s tenure, including the introduction of similarity checks for Master’s and PhD dissertations and theses to strengthen academic integrity, the installation of smart screens, and the adoption of virtual oral examinations to modernise postgraduate assessments and improve efficiency.
He noted that the innovations made it possible for supervisors to participate in oral examinations remotely without compromising academic standards. “The Postgraduate School under his watch removed barriers imposed by distance, as I was able to participate in the oral examination of my students despite being several kilometres away,” Ogunjobi said.
The environmental researcher and media professional also commended Professor Adebayo for addressing long-standing challenges associated with transcript processing. He explained that the issuance of student copies of transcripts alongside notifications of results significantly eased transcript preparation and reduced stress for postgraduate students.
On the international front, Ogunjobi praised the establishment of a functional Memorandum of Understanding between FUNAAB and the Institute of Research in Agricultural Development (IRAD), Cameroon, for manpower training, as well as the selection of FUNAAB as a host institution for the DAAD In-Country and In-Region Scholarship Programme, describing both as landmark achievements of the outgoing Dean.
He further described Professor Adebayo as a leader of rare humility and kindness, noting that his calm disposition, thoughtful interventions and non-discriminatory approach set him apart.
Recounting personal experiences, Ogunjobi described the former Dean as “one of the best human beings in that enclave,” whose generosity and sense of responsibility spoke volumes about his character.
Ogunjobi added that Professor Adebayo, a proud product of FUNAAB, exemplifies the type of leadership Nigeria needs to surmount its present challenges. He also acknowledged the support of the former Dean’s wife, Chief Mrs. Doyinsola Adebayo—an alumna of FUNAAB and Founder of WICCI—describing their union as symbolic of loyalty and shared values.
As Professor Adebayo moves into the next phase of his career, Ogunjobi, an Associate Professor of Wood Utilisation and Protection, wished him continued success, praying that his legacy of excellence, humility and service would remain indelible within FUNAAB and beyond.
Meanwhile, other notable individuals have continued to shower encomiums on the academic. Commenting under the congratulatory message, an admirer described Professor Adebayo as “a thoroughbred scholar and administrator whose impact on postgraduate education at FUNAAB will be felt for many years to come.”
Another noted that “his calm leadership style, integrity and student-centred reforms set a benchmark that will be difficult to surpass,” while a third hailed him as “a rare blend of intellectual brilliance and genuine humanity, an academic leader Nigeria should proudly celebrate.”
