I join many others to mourn the glorious exit of Professor emeritus Ladipo Ayodeji Banjo, the longest serving Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (1984 to 1991). Although there were provisions in the relevant legislation, no other Vice Chancellor ever had the rare opportunity of serving a second term before the latest University Miscellaneous Act made the tenure just a single five-year term and no more.
My first encounter with Professor Ayo Banjo in my student days was in 1985. Before then, his family history had been relayed to me by my mother who knew his other senior brother, Dr Bayo Banjo in the city. Their father, the vicar who made a name in Oyo town, was originally from Ijebu Igbo. Through their mother, the Banjos were related to my mother from Adeoyo axis, a neighbourhood of Ibadanland where Olubadan Aminu reigned from in the 1970s.
In UI, I was (I am still) a member of the Sigma Club, a club known for its celebration of philanthropy and service. During our active days, the Club received great support from Vice Chancellor Ayo Banjo. In 1985, when Sigma awarded scholarships to some indigent students, Professor Ayo Banjo presented the money to the students in his office, and to seal the memory, we took pictures with the students and the executive members of the Club in front of the Trenchard Hall.
My next encounter with him was during my graduation ceremony in 1986, inside the Trenchard Hall. From a close distance, my impression of the Vice Chancellor was of a humble father figure, a man of peace and harmony, someone who could not hurt a fly. In the over two years that I spent as an undergraduate during his administration, there were no protests against his leadership or his policy, no academic or non-academic staff uprising against him. One of the turbulent unrests of the time was the students’ anger against the military junta which culminated in the stoning of the motorcade of the Visitor, the President and Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) during the commissioning of the University Water Project. The President left the university campus unceremoniously through the gate of the Polytechnic, Ibadan.
By the time I became a staff in 1989, my relationship with Professor Ayo Banjo as VC had become closer. With that closeness, I became more respectful of the office and appreciated the enormity of the position of the Vice Chancellor.
The events of 1991 brought me closer to him. First, I was elected as Secretary to Congregation. I had to take minutes and fix dates of meetings with his approval. I was really not prepared for the assignment having just served as Assistant Secretary of Congregation only for a session, a replacement for Dr. Sanwo who moved to Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University). The Secretary, then Dr Dele T. Fawole (later Professor) simply asked me to accept to act Assistant Secretary, not knowing that he was already grooming me to succeed him. On the epic day, Dr Fawole merely whispered to the VC who immediately announced to members of Congregation that I was the next Secretary to Congregation! My initial worry, a big challenge, was how do I, a veterinarian, meet up to the standard of a Professor of English as Congregation Secretary? To my greatest surprise, the VC was very accommodating and helpful. He left much of my recording, the substantial body of the minutes of the meeting that I forwarded to him for correction untouched, apart from minor punctuations.
Another historic event in 1991 was about the election of the Dean in my Faculty. A new Dean was to be elected prior to the presentation of new graduates for induction into the veterinary profession. After the official notification of the Vice Chancellor by the Faculty Officer, the VC had accepted the schedule but certain intrigues crept into the process. The VC was evidently displeased with the Dean and he was not going to attend the induction ceremony which would invariably put the Dean and the Faculty in bad image. As Professor Ayo Banjo’s Congregation Secretary, I sought his attention and impressed on him, in my own sense, the implication of his absence at the all-important ceremony. He nodded as I spoke, and when he stood up, he called on his Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Sola Akinyele, to join us, from his office to the Trenchard Hall venue of the induction ceremony. What would have been a dent in Professor Ayo Banjo’s smooth relation with my Faculty was saved by his own willingness and humility to take to my subordinate plea!
In this last year of his administration as head of management, the campaign for succession was up in the air. As expected, the various aspirants and their supporters were already strategising. Upon the close of nominations for the Senate representatives on the Selection Board for the appointment of the Vice Chancellor, a serving Dean was disqualified based on the regulations as presented and interpreted by the Deputy Registrar (Academic). The regulations were clear. There was great tension on the floor of Senate on that day and I pitied the Vice Chancellor who had to go to a great length to justify the decision of the Deputy Registrar on the disqualification.
The last of the memorable events of 1991 happened on November 30th, his last day in office. On this day too, there was tension which reached an anti-climax by evening time. Although the process of the appointment of a new Vice Chancellor had been concluded and three names had been forwarded to the Visitor, as it was the practice at the time, no announcement was made as at the morning of November 30, 1991. In the absence of any official pronouncement, it seemed that the University was preparing for an administrative uncertainty. It was indeed a loud silence, with the camps of the three shortlisted candidates apprehensive and expectant. I was busy in Sultan Bello Hall, venue of the send-off party organised for the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Ayo Banjo. At the close of work, yet no words from Aso Rock. Then at exactly 4pm, on the network broadcast of Radio Nigeria, there was the news of the appointment of three Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities: Professor Daniel Saror for ABU (Zaria), Professor Wale Omole for OAU (Ife) and Professor A.B.O.O. Oyediran for UI (Ibadan). The evening news ended months of speculations and permutations, and what followed is now part of history.
May the soul of Professor emeritus Ayo Banjo rest in perfect peace. Ire o!
Dr. Adeniran is retired staff of the Department of Veterinary Pathology,Â
University of Ibadan.