The Day SACOETEC Stood Still for Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon
August 20, 2024 belonged completely to the Provost of Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology SACOETEC, Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon who had been Provost of the institution since 2016. It as the day chosen by SACOETEC Chapter of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union COEASU to celebrate the achievements of the outgoing Provost of the institution.
COEASU Chairman Dr. Modupe Oba-Adenuga led out an unprecedented entourage of everyone that mattered in the National COEASU to honour a Provost who they unanimously declared was exceptional. in their words, the union specializes in fighting provosts, but in the case of Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon, they were making an exception and celebrating the provost because he had distinguished himself as a partner rather than an obstacle to achievement of union objectives.
In attendance was the newly inaugurated Chairman of SACOETEC Governing Council, Prince Wole Sowole who was clearly overwhelmed by the testimonies he was hearing from all quarters, added to what he had himself experienced working with the Provost since he took office as the Chairman of the Governing Council. In his remarks. Prince Sowole commended Dr. Kiadese who he described as ever ready to work. The Chairman was full of praise for the achievements of the outgoing Provost which were visible even to the harshest of critics. Closing his remarks, Prince Sowole regretted that there was no mechanism to make Dr. Kiadese stay longer, saying, “Ï wish you were my Provost”.
Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon became Provost of the then Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu in 2016. The College was at the brink of collapse with salaries of several months owed and courses without accreditation from the NCCE (National Commission for Colleges of Education). Through thick and thin and with the support of Gov. Dapo Abiodun MFR, the College was nurtured back to life. At the point of handing over the reins of power, the College had carried out two successful accreditation exercises for NCE. The College had also started a Degree Programme in affiliation with Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye. The Degree Programmes had grown from seven to fifteen programmes and two sets had graduated with the pioneer set already completing the mandatory NYSC programme.
Within this period, leveraging on the ingenuity of the first Governing Council of the College led by the distinguished Prince Adeyemi Adefulu MFR, the College changed her nomenclature from Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu to Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology, Omu-Ajose. It was not only a change of name, it was an expansion of the offering of the College, accommodating much more than the NCE offering which was struggling with dwindling enrolment. It was the dream and cardinal project of Prince Adeyemi Adefulu MFR to wean the College from a road to nowhere. The result is now evident.
In attendance was the Speaker of Ogun State House of Assembly 2019 – 2014, the Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olakunle Oluomo. His presence meant more than just an attendance because he remains Dr. Kiadese’s mentor. Dr. Kiadese describes him not simply as a mentor, but a father and a pathfinder. His support has meant everything to the provost. In his remarks, Rt. Hon. Oluomo expressed his pride and satisfaction that Dr. Kiadese had undeniably done so well. He was highly appreciative that Dr. Kiadese did not let down his constituency as also attested to by the entourage from Ifo who attended the programmes marking his departure from the College.
Chairmen of labour unions TUC and NLC were also in attendance and took turns to tell the rich audience their various encounters with Dr. Kiadese that made them come all the way to honour him. Members of the last Governing Council were also in attendance, represented by Prof. Stella Adejoke Sheyin and Mr Julius Adeyemi. Three former Deputy Provosts who worked with Dr. Kiadese were also available to talk about their experiences with him. Mr. Hammed Agboola, Mr Adeyemi Babatunde and Mr. Tosin Osibodu were all full of praise and so was Mr Patrick Ossai, a veteran lecturer in Education Psychology. Barrister Dapo Odukoya, a member of the Visitation Panel that rescued the College from crisis in 2019 was also in attendance.
The College that Dr. Kiadese was handing over in 2024 is not the College he received in 2016. Every area has felt his touch. From infrastructure to staff development and from investment to leadership. With an endless list of firsts that he achieved to new visions he had laid foundation for, it was a constant refrain among speakers that the government needed to find a successor with the capacity to improve on what Dr. Kiadese had achieved. A Book of Reading in honour of Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon was unveiled at the event.
Tuesday August 20 is etched in the minds of people who attended the event. It was the day the entire school stood still for one man who had made his mark so deep, it would be difficult to forget.
Post Script
As it turned out, Dr. Adeola Kiadese was succeeded by the COEASU Chairman who hosted this event, Dr. Modupe Oba-Adenuga.
The Governing Council led by Prince Wole Sowole has named the auditorium that hosted this event after Dr. Adeola Kiadese Lukmon.
