The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ogun State chapter has honoured the immediate past Rector of the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Igbesa, Dr Olufunke Akinkurolere, with “outstanding innovation leadership award of the year.”
Akinkurolere, an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, was honoured alongside the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Dr Olusegun Aluko and four other personalities.
She was honoured in Abeokuta, the state capital, at “Your Image Award 2022 and lecture” organized by the NIPR and the PR Primus Ltd. The lectured was themed “Turning Around The Nation: the leadership question.”
Presenting the award to the former Rector, Governor Dapo Abiodun applauded Akinkurolere’s giant strides in turning around the state’s institution during her eight years as the helmswoman.
“As the immediate past rector of our foremost institution, I can attest to it that you deserved this award,” Abiodun represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Waheed Odusile, said.
Speaking with newsmen, the honouree said “I am very happy and I want to appreciate everybody who worked with me as the Rector for eight years. When you are getting an award, it is not as if you single-handedly achieved what you have been honoured for. So, I want to thank my team at OGITECH. They are wonderful people, the eight years we spent together was memorable.
“We had target and by the grace of God we were able to pursue it because we were focused and God actually helped us.”
She said through innovation, the institution under her watch, had digitalized admission processes, payment, computation of students’ results among others.
“I can confidently say that we now have a process that is working for us. This is one of so many things that have won us these awards,” she said.
On his part, FPI Rector bagged “outstanding corporate good governance award of the year.”
Aluko told newsmen that the award shows “we are doing something good and people have recognized it.”
Aluko, whose tenure is winding up, also said his administration has put in place mechanism for smooth running of the polytechnic, saying “there wont be any issue about transition and progress of the polytechnic.”
Other awardees are, Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Prof Felix Salako, Vice Chancellor of Crescent University, Prof Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, Chief Fassy Yusuf and Rasheed Bolawinwa.
