35TH CONVOCATION: AFUED Alumni President, Olowogboyega Harps On Demonstration of Love

... As University Marks 61st Anniversary 
By Joseph Sunday 

The Global President of Alumni Association of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Dr Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade has admonished the entire University community to dwell in love in all ramifications.

Delivering his welcoming address at the AFUED Founder’s Day Lecture held at Olusegun Obasanjo Auditorium on Wednesday 21st May, 2025 to mark the 61st anniversary, and the 35th Convocation ceremony of the Institution, Dr Oyebade, a Federal Commissioner representing Oyo and Osun states at the Federal Civil Service, craved the indulgence of all the stakeholders in the University community to work harmoniously in love to achievement the set goals of the institution.

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Olowogboyega, a one time Head of Service and Secretary to the Osun State Government, also called on all to use the new status of the university to champion a new course for the institution.

He was of the opinion that whatever position one attains in life shouldn’t be used as an instrument to intimidate or oppress others.

Dr Oyebade, who philosophically alluded to the book of 1Corinthians, chapter 13 verses 1-12, conveyed his message of love to the entire University community;

“If I speak in the tongues of men, and women like Arbicans who are in all walks of life, or of angels in heaven, but do not have love for my Alma mater, Adeyemi Federal University of Education, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

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“If I have the gift of prophecy like all our old lecturers and mentors and can fathom all mysteries like all our newly elevated Professors and Associate Professors and all knowledge like Professor Samuel Akintunde, the Acting Vice Chancellor and if I have a faith that can move mountains like the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Olajuyigbe but do not have love for this University, I dare say, I am nothing.

“If I give all my possessions to the institution, the poor and the needy among us and beyond, and give over my body to hardship and pain that I may boast, but do not have love of Adeyemi Federal University of Education, I gain nothing”.

He aroused the curiosity of the audience by describing the kind of attributes Love members of the University community should possess by saying that;”Love we must put as a collective signature is patient with the Management, that love is kind to Unions, Staff and Students, It does not envy, it does not boast, it does not proud. It does not dishonor others nor disturb the peace of Ondo Community, it is not self-seeking nor rent-seeking.

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“It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. “That Love does not delight in evil on our campus like cultism, drug abuse or prostitution, but rejoices with the truth of moral codes and intellectual pursuits. It always protects the sanctity of peace as our culture, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres as the conscience of our collective morality”.

He delved further on the eternal nature and greatness of Love by saying “Love never fails but where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away”.

“For we know in part as a College and we prophesy in part in that ecosystem, no one knows all! but when the perfect comes as a full-fledged University, what is in part or imperfect goes away.
When we were just a College, we talked like a College, we thought like a College, we reasoned like a College.When we now become a full-fledged University, we must put the College ways behind us.

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For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face in a University of many Colleges and Faculties”.

“Then we knew in part; Now we shall know fully, even as we are fully known as a University”

“And now these three remain the pillars of our take-off as Adeyemi Federal University of Education: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love”.

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He charged the audience to let love rule their affairs and allow peace to be their culture of Excellence.

Stressing the evils of hatred, Oyebade quoted the words of Maya Angelou saying: ‘Hate has caused a lot of problems in the world, but it has not solved one yet. ‘Let love rule our world”, Dr Festus Olowogboyega concluded.

Meanwhile, football players from the Faculty of Education, AFUED, has defeated their counterpart from the Faculty of Science with a lone goal in a football competition held in the institution.

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The competition organized by the National Alumni Association of the University, was part of activities to mark the 35th convocation ceremony and 61st Year Anniversary of the institution.

During the explosive football encounter which held at the Prof. Yoloye Sports Complex on Tuesday May 20, 2025 in the university, players from the two participating teams from Faculties of Education and Science exhibited good mastery of the round leather game to the admiration of spectators, who cheered them with thunderous applause.

At the end of the first half of the match, which ended goalless, the sport complex, filled to capacity witnessed discussions among football lovers who were discussing the outcome of the first half among themselves.

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However, at the resumption of the second half, the tempo of the game changed, as players from the two sides became aggressive in their strives to win the match.

This effort, however, paid off later as a player from the Faculty of Education, Bamigboye Michael, scored a goal few minutes after the commencement of the second half.

However, moves by the players from the faculty of science to equalize later proved abortive as the leading team defended their lone goal advantage.

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At the end of the football encounter, the National President, Adeyemi Federal University of Education Alumni Association, Dr. Festus Adegboyega Oyebade, congratulated the two participating teams and urged them to continue to exhibit their talent, praying that the good lord will bless and keep them.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the prizes to the winning team,( Faculty of Education) and the runner-up(Faculty of Science).

While the players from the Faculty of Education were given a trophy and cash prize of 100,000, their counterpart from the Faculty of Science got 20,000.

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Eminent personalities who graced the occasion include Acting Vice-Chancellor of AFUED, Prof. Samuel Akintunde; National President AFUED Alumni Association, Dr. Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade, His Vice Associate Professor Segun Owotewa, Dean Faculty of Arts and Chairman, Committee of Deans AFUED, Prof Yemi Ogunsiji as well as Professor Akinbi Joseph.

Others were members of Alumni Association AFUED, staff and students as well as sport lovers from far and wide.

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