AJAYI CROWTHER DESCENDANTS THANK ACU FOR SITING CAMPUS IN THEIR TOWN
Indigenes of Osoogun, Oyo state, the hometown of late Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, have expressed their gratitude to Ajayi Crowther University Oyo, for the campus of the University to be sited in the town. The group, which consisted of descendants of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, came with Rt. Rev. O.O. Oduntan, bishop of Crowther diocese, Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), whose diocese is located in the area.
The traditional ruler of the town, His Royal Highness Oba Moses Olalere, expressed gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor, Rt. Rev. Professor Dapo F. Asaju, for initiating the move stating that the departed bishop, who was the first African to be consecrated as such, would have been further immortalized with the new campus. Bishop Oduntan had earlier expressed joy that the campus is coming on stream under his watch as Bishop of the diocese. He thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the move, stating that Bishop Asaju has done a great service to the memory of the missionary by bringing a campus of the University to his hometown.
In a letter of appreciation from the town, presented by Dr. J.O. Osonke, former Rector of Ibarapa Polytechnic Ibarapa, Ibadan, the town expressed gratitude that their departed great evangelist had finally been honoured in his hometown. He announced that the town had donated 40 hectares of land to the University.
In his response the Vice-Chancellor said he felt a personal obligation to do his own bit in immortalizing Bishop Ajayi Crowther, not only because of the exploits of the first African to be ordained a bishop, who took Christianity to virtually all parts of Nigeria, but also because Asaju’s trajectory in life had always been interspaced with memories of the departed Bishop.
‘The primary school I attended in present-day Kogi state was founded by Ajayi Crowther during his missionary trip to that area. The First institution I had the privilege of being the head was Crowther Graduate Seminary, Abeokuta, and now I am Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo. You can see that I have long contact with the memorial of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther’ Asaju told his audience.
The Vice-Chancellor, who is also Bishop Theologian, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), revealed that he had also had spiritual encounters with the departed bishop, and expressed happiness that he has the privilege to contribute his own quota to in immortalizing Bishop Ajayi Crowther. He said the University’s Faculty of Agriculture, School of Anglicanism Studies, School of Entrepreneurship Studies will be located there, alongside a Mausoleum and Museum where bishop Crowther’s artefacts would be kept. He showed those in attendance Ajayi Crowther’s Bible, pen, and compass, and said they would be moved to the museum at Osoogun campus. He promised to work with Bishop Oduntan to ensure that Ajayi Crowther was finally buried in his hometown. Principal Officers of the University were in attendance at the Council Chamber where the guests were received.
Later the Vice-Chancellor took his guests to the University radio station and the permanent site on a facility tour. The visitors were awed by the level of development in the permanent site in barely six months.
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