Waheed Ogunjobi, Ph.D
ABEOKUTA — Crescent University’s 20th Founder’s Day turned historic on Saturday as the institution unveiled a new Department of Artificial Intelligence, a move hailed as a continental milestone in tech education.
The department received immediate royal endorsement, with two prominent Egba icons — the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Osi of Egbaland, Chief Bode Mustapha — each pledging ₦10 million endowments to kickstart its operations.
The twin donations signal deep traditional support for the university’s ambition to become a pioneer in AI training in Africa.
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping global industries — from healthcare and finance to agriculture and security — with worldwide AI spending projected to exceed $500 billion by 2027.
Without homegrown talent pipelines, Nigeria risks being left behind.
Crescent’s new department aims to close that gap by producing graduates who can build, deploy, and govern AI systems locally.
Speaking at the event, former Nigerian President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo eulogised the founder, the late Prince Bola Ajibola, describing him as a global icon who made Nigeria and indeed Ogun State proud.
“He left behind a legacy of excellence and service that we must sustain,” Obasanjo said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ibrahim Gbajabiamila urged philanthropists to support the institution with infrastructure to sustain the founder’s legacy.
Delivering the Founder’s Day lecture entitled “Collapse of the Rule-Based World Order: Whither International Law and Institutions,”_the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Abuja, Prof. Ibrahim Abikan, observed that the concept rests on the presence of people in society who will always stand against injustice and oppression.
The ceremony also featured the conferment of the Bola Ajibola Community Service Award on former National President of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Alhaji Kamal’deen Akintunde.
Receiving the award, Alhaji Akintunde described it as “a mandate, not a destination,” pledging to sustain advocacy for quality and accessible education.
He paid tribute to the late Prince Bola Ajibola, who, according to him, taught that “a Muslim’s highest pursuit is to be an Intellectual Mujahid — using knowledge to liberate communities from ignorance.”
While commending federal reforms in technical education and university consolidation, Alhaji Akintunde urged the government to ensure that policies translate into real impact at the grassroots.
Dignitaries at the event included the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo; the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Obalanlege and the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu among others
Waheed Ogunjobi
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