By Rotimi Agboluaje
Tributes flowed from all directions as the renowned scholar, Prof. Amos Oyesoji Aremu, marked his diamond birthday on March 30,2024 and launched his memoir,  chronicling his stint and strides at the Distance Learning Centre [DLC],  University of Ibadan [UI].
 Aremu, a Professor of Guidance Counseling and Human Development Studies at the premier university, is an acclaimed scholar in policing and criminal justice. He was a former Director, DLC, UI. The don has held many leadership positions in academia and Christendom. The popular public affairs analyst has just been appointed as the first Deputy Vice Chancellor [DVC], Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State.
Expectedly, family members, friends, colleagues, acquaintances, professional associates, members of academia, captains of industry, scholars, policy makers, his mentees, and others trooped out in their thousands to honour and celebrate God’s grace upon  the doting man.
Some of the personalities who graced the occasion included a former Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau [rtd],who was the chairman;a former Vice Chancellor of UI, Prof. Idowu Olayinka; Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Clement Kolawole; renowned security scholar, Prof. Olawale Albert, Prof. Ayodeji Omole, Dr. Gani Adeniran, Prof. Francis Egbokhare; Mr. Tayo Adebowale, a Chartered Accountant who was the chief launcher, among others.
 Dambazau was represented by Mr. Toyin Oyewoga
Tastefully decorated, the venue of the event, the UI Alumni Centre, Ibadan, was a beauty to behold. The guests at the event took turns to eulogise the professor, describing him in glowing and superlative terms.
Leading the pack was the Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Biodun-Oyebanji. The Ekiti State First Lady, who was the special guest of honour, said Aremu’s name was synonymous with excellence, accommodation, commitment and scholarship, maintaining that the younger generation should also imbibe those virtues.
Dr . Biodun-Oyebanji said: ‘’Prof. Aremu is a mentor of mentors, whose profound impact on academic and literary worlds is undeniable. His name has become synonymous with excellence in scholarship and his contribution has shaped the landscape of social sciences and humanity.
‘’Prof. Aremu’s dedication to service, commitment to knowledge dissemination and his profound impacts on countless lives stand as a testament to his exceptional character and leadership. As he celebrates this milestone, and we gather here to honour Prof. Aremu, let us also reflect on the power of education, mentorship and continuous learning in shaping the brighter future for generations to come.
‘’When I came to UI as a new staff member, Prof. Aremu gave me a very comfortable landing. He is very accommodating, and loving. If you have a problem, he is readily available to help you solve it. The younger generation can also learn those virtues of excellence, accommodation, commitment. Let us be accommodating, receptive and be ready to help one another. Let us always bend backwards to help people. These are virtues well pronounced in Prof. Aremu.
‘’He is a wonderful mind. I pray he should continue to be a blessing to the body of Christ and humanity as a whole.
‘’Let me use this opportunity to congratulate you on your new appointment as the Deputy Vice Chancellor, [Academic] of Achiever University, Owo. Thank you and happy birthday to you’’.
While congratulating Aremu, the 12th Vice Chancellor of the university, Olayinka, lauded his contributions to scholarship and humanity.
On his part, the Director-General, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria [DAWN] Commission, Mr. Oyeleye, said he had known Aremu for the better part of the last 30 years. He stated that the professor epitomised diligence, integrity and dedication which must be emulated by the younger generation.
The DG said: ‘’ I have known him for the past 30 years as a diligent and gentleman. He is an excellent man and man who cares passionately about other people’s future.
‘’The younger generation can learn from his dedication, passion and integrity. Here is a man that you find in his office at 8.00 a.m. That is hard work and dedication. If he says yes, that is it, you can go to bed. That is integrity. And I wish him well’’.
On his part, Prof. Olawale Albert of  the Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan described the celebrant  as an intelligent and foremost researcher in policing.
Also speaking, the Deputy Director, News and Current Affairs, Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Zonal Station, Mr. Adewumi Faniran lauded the contributions of Aremu to societal development.
Wife of the celebrant, Deaconess Olajumoke Aremu described her husband as hardworking and caring while also appreciating God for sparing his life.
Speaking, the celebrant, Aremu, said he would be more dedicated to God and humanity. ‘’Attainment of age 60 is by God’s grace and opportunity to serve God and humanity . I will be more  dedicated to serving humanity and God’’, he said.
 The book written by the celebrant with the title: ‘My Unibadan Distance Learning Centre Years –A Memoir’, was reviewed by Prof. Francis Egbokhare.
 Reviewing the book, Egbokhare, of the Department of Linguistics, University of Ibadan,  said the ten-chapter book, with a foreword by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Aare Afe Babalola, x-rayed the shortcomings and gains of open distance learning in Nigeria as well as recommended workable realities of running this mode of learning as a venture.
Egbokhare, who is  a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, lauded Prof. Aremu’s strides and efforts in the academic world.
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