By Prof Hassan A. Saliu
I first met Prof. Ajayi at the University of Ilorin when I joined it from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, in 1998. He did not start his lecturing job there. After bagging his B.sc degree from UNN in 1984, he was posted to the Anambra State College of Education for his mandatory one year youth service before securing his first regular lecturing job as an Assistant Lecturer with the university of Ilorin in 1989. He did that after obtaining his MSc degree from the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin in 1988. He emerged as the best graduating student of his set at UNILORIN. He obtained his PhD from the same University.
Upon my arrival at Unilorin, I also met some other lecturers such as Prof. Lucky Orwasa, Prof. Johnson Olaniyi, Prof. Omede, Prof. Emmanuel Ojo, Joshua Durojaiye and others. Of course, under the very senior Professor, Prof. Ebun Davies of blessed memory.
Academics @ Federal University, Lokoja troop to listen to Prof Ajayi’s Inaugural Lecture in 2021
We quickly developed the comradeship for the benefit of the Department. One year after joining the University, I aspired to be the Head of the Department, but I was not so lucky. The view of my colleagues was in favour of another colleague whom they voted for. The late Dr. Nwosu thus became the Head of the Department in 1999. This, no doubt, created an issue, but it was not sufficient to make us enemies to one another. Three years after, I had my own time as a HOD, and all my colleagues rallied round me. I want to believe that I did my best in breaking new grounds when I was in the saddle in the department.
For instance, in 2003 when I organized the first National conference in the department, Prof. Ajayi was one of the colleagues who made presentations at the conference. He was my Examination Officer when I held fort as the HOD between 2002 and 2004. On account of an issue which was difficult for us to resolve at our level, he left Unilorin and migrated to Covenant University, Otta, where he rose rapidly in the system by occupying enviable positions in the University. He became a Professor at the university in 2005.
One thing led to another, and he was seconded to the Landmark University also established by Bishop David Oyedepo to serve as the pioneer VC of the University between 2011 and 2014. The University is located in Omu-Aran in Kwara State. While in the saddle, he did his best for the university and laid a good foundation for successive Vice-Chancellors to build upon. He later migrated to the Federal University, Lokoja, where he is easily one of the Professors with considerable experience in University administration. Little surprise, he is heading the Governance Institute in the University.
Ajayi was here too
From the story I have been told, Prof. Ajayi works seamlessly with the current VC, Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, to the advantage of the department. This showed during our last annual conference that held in the University, where he co-chaired the Local Organizing Committee with the VC.
As a scholar, Prof. Ajayi is generally in the area of Comparative Politics, an area he is well- known. He has contributed a number of articles from that area of Political Science and others that have been published in reputable outlets across the world. The last time I checked, he has over seventy publications with a robust public speaking profile to his credit.
He has once enjoyed the Fulbright fellowship that took him to the Texas University, Austin, in the United States. Prof. Ajayi has mentored a number of younger colleagues who are ever grateful for his mentorship. He has served as External Examiner to several departments of Political Science and has participated in several of NUC’s accreditation teams to Nigerian universities.
Prof. Ajayi has extended his services to the Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, where he has served on sabbatical and currently, as a visiting Professor to the university. He is a loyal member of the NPSA, who has carried out some assignments for the Association. For instance, he handled the assessment of democracy for Kogi State for us. He has also served as a discussant in one of our programmes in 2024.
He is one of the few authors who have submitted their chapters to one of the books that I am coordinating. Again, he was part of our success story in Lokoja during our 34th conference held in April 2024 as the co-chair of the Local Organising Committee for the conference.
My impression of him is that he is a gentleman who tries to be at peace with himself and others. He concerns himself with that which he has an interest in. This is a virtue, not a vice. He speaks less and minds his own business. However, I want to advise that now that he is advancing in age, a little more assertiveness is required for him to properly mentor our younger colleagues who look to us for guidance.
On behalf of the EXCO, I say happy birthday to you, Prof. Ajayi. More blessings!
The author is the incumbent President, NPSA.
