Ex-Students Honour Babawale as Omisore Encourages Inter-cultural Marriages

Former students of the renowned University of Lagos Professor of Political Science and author Gabriel Olatunde Babawale, who met recently in Osogbo, Osun State, have described him as a standard institution in mentoring, role model, problem-solving, courageous leadership and constructive engagement.

The ex-students, who are currently leaders in different fields, were reflecting on the mentoring and challenge to leadership drawn from the erudite scholar as his students at the former Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, over 35 years ago, where they all bagged degrees in different courses. 

Among the proud old students was the former provost of former Adeyemi College, now acting Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Adeyemi Federal University of Education, Ondo, Prof Samuel Akintunde; current Provost of Federal College of Education Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr. Rafiu Soyele; a senior lecturer at the College of Education, Dr. Segun Jegede; a senior information manager, Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Mr. Abiodun Fanoro, a retired school principal, Mrs. Soneye, among others.

They met at the wedding reception of Prof. Babawale’s daughter, Oluwafunmito, in Osogbo, which was presided over by former Deputy Governor Iyiola Omisore. 

Omisore emphasised the importance of culture and the need to accord respect to cultural values as Africans and Yorubas. According to him, marriage, an aspect of culture, must be founded on the fear of God, mutual respect and tolerance. 

He commended Babawale for always giving culture its rightful place by holding his children’s wedding ceremonies in his home state after concluding all the traditional processes at home.

Omisore noted that one of the beauties of African culture is its diversity, emphasising the increasing need for cultural exchange through inter-cultural marriages.