The United Kingdom of Ekinrin-Adde was agog with dignitaries from all walks of life on Friday 23 June 2023 as His Royal Majesty, Oba Anthony Bamigbaye Idowu, Aghe Maworo I, Olu Adde of Ekinrin-Adde Kingdom, conferred on five of his illustrious sons, the Distinguished Honorary Award of Merit of OMO ATATA Hall of Fame. One of the honorees is the Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University Lokoja, Professor Gbenga Solomon IBILEYE.

At exactly 10:27pm, the name, Gbenga Ibileye was announced for his award. As fate would have it, Prof Ibileye’s uncle, Professor Joseph Olajide Hambolu, who was the then young Gbenga’s guardian at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, was asked to present the award. After receiving the award, Gbenga in his natural humble manners, handed over the award to his Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, who in turn dramatically handed it over to the co-owner of the award, Mrs Stella Monisola Ibileye.

In his response, Professor Gbenga Ibileye dedicated the prestigious award to his late father, Pa Emmanuel Olorungbon IBILEYE who made sure he got the education that has taken him to this height. The Provost appreciated his Vice-Chancellor for bringing the best out of him. He appreciated his friends from all walks of life, especially the staff of Federal University Lokoja. He specially thanked the PhD students of Institute of Governance and Development Studies, Federal University Lokoja (Abuja Campus) for sending delegates to grace the occasion. 

Present at the occasion were the Head, Department of English & Literary Studies, Prof Adeshina Olarewaju Lawal; Deputy Provost CPGS (Admin), Prof Ofure Aito; Head, Department of Geography, Dr Joseph Olaniyi Folorunsho; Deputy Director, IGDS and Coordinator of the Department of Linguistics & African Languages, Dr Tosin Samson Olagunju; Secretary, CPGS Mr Babafemi Adeniyi. Others are Drs Felix Egwuda, Kaseem Olaniyi, David Lanlege, Tenimu Adogah, Yomi Orungbami, Senator Okosun, Messrs Ikpelemo Emmanuel, David Babatunde, Ayuba Yahyah, Mela, Fabulous. Mrs Josephine Oyinbo, Ms Bunmi Balogun, Ms Nduke-Abasi (NUPEMCO) Madam Tina, and Hajia Sabdat.

Congratulations! See more pictures here