At its 20th Founders’ Day, the Abeokuta-based institution Crescent University celebrated 94 staff for 15+ years of service while laying the foundation for Africa’s AI future.
ABEOKUTA — Crescent University, Abeokuta made history on Saturday, becoming the first private university in Nigeria to formally institute a Long Service Award for staff who have served 15 years or more.
The landmark recognition came during the institution’s 20th Founders’ Day celebration, where 94 employees were honoured for their loyalty and contribution to the university’s growth since its inception.
Among those celebrated were the Vice Chancellor Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, Registrar Barrister Zakariyau Ajibola, Deputy Vice Chancellor Prof. Rasaki Kareem, and Chairman of Ceremonial Activities Dr. Kola Adesina.
The move signals a shift in how private universities value institutional memory and staff retention, setting a new benchmark for human resource practices in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Balogun of Owu Kingdom, led tributes to the university’s late founder, Prince Bola Ajibola.
He described Prince Ajibola as a “visionary who committed his life and resources to building an enduring educational legacy” and praised his son, Board of Trustees Chairman Mohammed Maruf Adesegun Ajibola, SAN, for sustaining that vision.
“Ajibola remained a nation-builder from childhood until his death,” Obasanjo said, noting that Crescent University continues to impact lives two decades on.
The anniversary also marked another milestone: the establishment of a new Department of Artificial Intelligence. The department received immediate backing from two prominent Egba bigwigs — the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Osi of Egbaland, Chief Bode Mustapha — who each pledged the donations of ₦10 million each for the endowments.
The investment positions Crescent University to become a pioneer in AI training on the continent.
Artificial Intelligence is fast reshaping industries worldwide, from healthcare and finance to agriculture and security. With global AI spending projected to exceed $500 billion by 2027, Nigeria risks being left behind without homegrown talent pipelines.
Crescent’s new department aims to close that gap by developing skilled graduates who can build, deploy, and govern AI systems locally.
Beyond coding, the curriculum is expected to integrate ethics, law, and policy — a nod to founder Ajibola’s legacy as an international jurist — ensuring Nigeria produces not just AI users, but AI leaders who understand context.
The Vice Chancellor Professor Ibrahim Gbajabiamila disclosed that the university now hosts over 3,500 students from across Nigeria and has begun construction of a multi-million naira Medical Science Laboratory Complex donated by the Abdul Samad Rabiu Foundation of BUA Group.
He said plans are also underway to establish a College of Medicine, while commending staff for their dedication, noting that many stayed despite other opportunities.
The day featured the presentation of the 2026 Bola Ajibola Community Service Awards to Asiwaju Kamal’deen Akintunde, retired DIG Adeleye Oyebade, and Aare Kazeem Bakinson.
Prof. Abdul-Qadir Abikan, DG of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, delivered the Founder’s Day Lecture on the “Collapse of the Rule-Based World Order,” warning that Africa must build industrial and technological capacity to avoid subordination in global affairs.
Other dignitaries included Ogun Chief Judge Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdul-Kabir Obalanlege, and alumni who witnessed the public presentation of Trends in Constitutionalism and Constitutional Adjudication in Nigeria, a book published in Ajibola’s honour.
Twenty years on, Crescent University is betting that loyalty and innovation can coexist — rewarding the people who built its past while funding the technology that will define its future.
By Waheed Ogunjobi, Ph.D
Journalist, Author, Academic Researcher, PR Consultant
08035004741 waheedogunjobi@gmail.com_
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