BY LAW IBITOYE
Planting of trees has been described as one of the veritable ways to immortalize an Icon who lived for the uplifting of mankind, formation and rapid development of Forestry in Nigeria.
This was the position of scholars of Forestry in Nigeria at the official establishment of Arboretum in honour of the first Professor of Forestry in Africa, Prof. Samuel Kolade Adeyoju on Thursday at the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Ijan Ekiti who died a few months ago, aged 88 .
The Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Forestry Commission, Mr Adekunle Sunday said the Arboretum would be a teaching and international research center for students and tourists, adding that government donated all the trees planted in Ijan Ekiti to honour Emeritus ADEYOJU who made Ekiti proud.
Mr Adekunle said the Ekiti State government has been proactive in planting trees considering its numerous benefits to individuals and the State. His words ” I appreciate the Forestry Association of Nigeria, EKSU management and GADEF who donated trees to be planted at EKSU for their support to immortalize our father and ICON who had positively impacted lives, we shall maintain the Arboretum and make it a global event”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti state University, Prof Babatola Ayodele, was represented by the DVC, Development, Prof. Ayan Adeleke had eulogized the Emeritus Professor who left a great imprint in the institution.
The event was organized by
The Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, Ekiti state University, Ado Ekiti in conjunction with Ekiti state Forestry Commission and Green to Abundant Development and Empowerment Foundation (GADEF) and Forestry Association of Nigeria.
Giving her opening remarks, HOD Forestry and Wildlife Management Ekiti state University, OLUFUNKE Olayode, welcomed members to the event. She opined that the Arboretum would host diverse tree species not only for teaching and Research but would be a world heritage center for seedlings collection to be reared outside. She added that 88 trees would be planted to commemorate the number of years the ICON spent on earth.
There were goodwill messages from National Secretary of (FAN), Prof Olukayode Ogunsanwo, Past President and Secretary Africa Forestry Forum in Kenya, Prof Labode Popoola, Mr Ojo KEHINDE, Director of Forestry, Ekiti state, Chief Executive Officer, GADEF, Mr Olatilu OLUBUNMI. All commended late Adeyoju whom they said was : Generous, diligent, knowledgeable, prayerful, supportive and instrumental to their careers .
Also, Prof Olukayode Ogunsanwo hinted that late Prof Adeyoju
was one of the members that drafted the documents that established the Forestry Association of Nigeria in Oct 1970 and was instrumental to many developments in FAN.
Speaking further,
Dr SIKIRU TAE LAWAL, a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State said ” Emeritus ADEYOJU
Was a man of honour and virtue, diligent, knowledgeable and a family man to the core; He raised many of us, he was the first Professor in Ijan and today we have more than ten Professors in Ijan and most of them passed through him .
The former Deputy Governor charged the Ijan community and the family to maintain the plantation so that trees do not go into extinction in Nigeria..
Responding on behalf of the family,
Mr Obafemi Emmanuel Adeyoju, brother to the late Emeritus and son , Mr Banji Adeyoju appreciated the gathering for the love extended to the family and promised to nurture the legacies of their father.