The pioneer Provost of the Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State, Professor Abdulrafiu Adebayo, recently shared his experiences managing the institution in the last four years.

The high networth event, which attracted a host of dignitaries from Iwo community, saw the management of The Wings Schools bid farewell to the Provost and the other members of team of the Federal College of Education.

According to the outgoing Provost, the first step he took upon being appointed was to contact other members of the team – the Registrar, the Bursar and the Librarian.

Together, they agreed to work as a team. He used the occasion to shower encomiums on the members of his team as he directed that a minute silence be observed in honour of the departed Bursar, Dr. Adebayo Lasisi, who worked so hard to ease the movement of the college from the temporary site to the permanent site along Oyo Road.

He described the Registrar, Alhaji M. Aderibigbe Yusuf, as a workaholic and the Librarian as someone who never said no to any role given to her. He referred to the college Librarian Dr. (Mrs.) Deborah Funmi Iyanda as an uncrowned deputy Provost.

In his own speech, the Principal of The Wings Schools, Mr. T. K. Sanusi appreciated the efforts of the pioneer Management team of the Federal College of Education, Iwo, for a job well done. Mr. Sanusi praised the Provost for his drive at improving on students enrolments.

Chairman of the occasion, Alh. Abdulwakeel Remi Situ, who is the Tutor General of The Wings Schools, in his address, acknowledged that pioneer’s roles are not only tasking and risky but a thankless job as well. Just before the Pioneer begins to savour the success of his foundational efforts, the time to leave office is up.

In his own contribution, the Proprietor of The Wings Schools, Prof Lai Olurode commended the management team of FCE, Iwo, for committing their best to the running of the affairs of the school even though it was then a new College in its infancy. He further stated that unlike other baby institutions that couldn’t stand the test of time, the management of FCE, Iwo, was able to administer the school because of their distinctive qualities of the diverse members of the team. He referred to them as rare talents.

Prof Lai Olurode,an ex- National Commissioner with INEC, directed cogent questions to the outgoing Provost such as how did the management handle internal and external conflicts; how did they deal with the exaggerated perceptions of people about the powers of the Provost when it comes to employment matters and contracts awards, which partnership worked and which ones didn’t for the Provost.

In reaction to these posers, the outgoing Provost, Prof Rafiu Adebayo said he owes his success to God and to the fact that he and other members of the team saw one another as a family and they followed the blueprint prepared by the team. Also, he commended the people of Iwo for providing a fertile land for them to cultivate and for supporting the new higher institution both in cash and kind.

The Provost was full of commendation for The Wings Schools as the school authorities provided classroom facilities for the College for a couple of years and until the gradual location to the permanent site. However, he said his leadership of the College wasn’t without challenges. Whenever he encounters challenges, he runs to God and tries never to apportion blames to his team. In lieu of this, he advised students and others present to run to God when they encounter difficulties.

While concluding his speech, he appreciated the Registrar, Alh. Yusuf, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Dr. Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the pioneer Chairman of the Governing Council of the College, Alhaji Liad Tella , Alhaji Abdulrasheed Mogaji, the Chairman of Isokan Musulumi of Iwo, the members of IBOT, and Prof Lai Olurode, the outgoing Librarian, Dr Mrs Deborah Funmi Iyanda for doubling also as the deputy Provost. He also extended his appreciation to the outgoing registrar, the late Bursar, members of staff, and well meaning Iwo indigenes for their cooperation.