The Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics (The Pan-African University of Excellence), Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, has been conferred with the Life Fellowship award of the Africa Information Technology Consultancy (LFAITC) by the Council and International Academic Board of the body.

Prof. Adedimeji was also decorated as a ‘Most Notable and Top Distinguished Encyclopedist of the 21st Century with Five Stars’ for his outstanding contributions to higher education, just as he was invested with a Life Fellow of the Chartered World Institute of Encyclopedia of Books as a Chartered Encyclopedist by the Chartered World Institute of Encyclopedia of Books.

Presenting the awards on Tuesday in Abuja to the Vice Chancellor of behalf of the Council members, including Prof. Sir M. Howard Pilley representing Europe and Prof. Sir Luis Emilio Abad representing Americas and the Registrar, Prof. Sir Abhiram Kukshreshtha, representing Asia, the President of the Institute and Consultancy, Prof. Sir Bashir Aremu, noted that the Councils of the organisations decided to present the awards to Prof. Adedimeji as a way of appreciating his immense contributions to higher education and advanced learning.

Prof. Aremu, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Crown University Int’l Chartered Inc., Santa Cruz, noted that the Institute and Consultancy had been observing Prof. Adedimeji’s exploits from a distance remarking that he had served creditably as a pioneer Vice Chancellor of a private university in Kwara state before his current assignment. The President added that during the period, Prof. Adedimeji laid a good foundation for the University and was able to leave indelible footprints on and lasting memories in the students, staff and the hosting Community.

The Crown University Vice Chancellor, who is also a UNESCO laureate, further stated that Prof. Adedimeji hit the ground running immediately he resumed in Abuja, stressing that his activities since last year are now positioning African School of Economics as a major player among the 21st century universities in Nigeria. He urged the honouree not to rest on his laurels but to continue impacting the global society with his excellence in scholarship and service.

In his response, Prof. Adedimeji appreciated the Boards of Africa Information Technology Consultancy and Chartered World Institute of Encyclopedia of Books for the awards remarking that he considered them a mark of appreciation to his institution, African School of Economics. He said he was receiving the awards on behalf of the University which he said has been committed to developing the capacity of African youth with cutting-edge university education especially through its partnership with Princeton University and other global institutions.

While acknowledging the vision of the Founder, Prof. Leonard Wantchekon, and the support of the stakeholders, Prof. Adedimeji stressed that African School of Economics operates in other African universities and is licensed in Nigeria to offer degrees in 20 academic programmes and as well as postgraduate diploma, Master and Ph.D. degrees in Social Sciences.

He added that the University also develops individuals and professionals through its Executive Courses and provides specialised skills through Leonard Wantchekon School of Advanced Studies and the Pan-African Centre for Language Immersion, the latter of which offers language skills in Arabic, English, French, German and Mandarin (Chinese).

In their separate remarks, the Registrar of the University, Mrs Emilomo Ogunboye; the University Librarian, Dr. Antonia Ejikeme; the Bursar, Mr Stephen Adegbite and the Dean of Postgraduate School, Prof. Adegboyega Karim, extolled Prof. Adedimeji’s leadership, saying that he has institutionalised a culture of discipline on the university community especially with his attitude to time and his open door policy, noting that his simple but firm leadership approach keeps everyone on their toes.

They also appreciated the Institute and the Consultancy while recalling that Prof. Adedimeji is a serial winner having been earlier conferred with Sir Ahmadu Belo Sardauna Distinguished Merit Award as an Epitome of Good Leadership by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students (NANSS) in February this year and decorated by the authorities of the University of Ilorin as a distinguished ambassador of the University of Ilorin in July as part of the University’s 50th anniversary.

The highlights of the occasion held at the Boardroom of the University included exchange of gifts by the institutions and discussions on areas of collaboration in library resources, Information Technology and academic exchange.
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