The Ogun State Government has commended Rotary District 9111 for donating a Peace Institute to Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, describing the project as a major contribution to education, peace building and leadership development in the state.
Speaking at the inauguration of the institute, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako Oyedele, said the facility would strengthen the university’s capacity to promote dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation, civic education and community development.
She said, “With the Rotary Peace Institute, Olabisi Onabanjo University now has another significant facility that can support dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation, civic education and community development, expanding its frontiers beyond conventional teaching to leadership development.”
Salako Oyedele noted that Rotary had remained a dependable partner of the Ogun State Government through interventions in healthcare, community empowerment and peace building.
According to her, “These projects are people centred and deeply rooted in the idea of service.”
The deputy governor added that the institute was particularly important because Ogun serves as Nigeria’s gateway state and industrial hub, where sustained peace is essential for development.
She urged graduands of Cohorts 3 and 4 of the institute to put the knowledge they acquired into practice by becoming ambassadors of peace, dialogue and constructive problem solving in their communities.
While praising Rotary District 9111, led by District Governor, Prince Henry Akinyele, for the initiative, Salako Oyedele assured the organisation that the Ogun State Government would continue to embrace partnerships that strengthen education, promote peace, support healthcare and improve the well being of residents.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Abosede Oderinde, expressed appreciation to Rotary for donating the institute and for its commitment to paying monthly honorariums to tutors.
She described the gesture as an act of educational philanthropy that would help produce graduates equipped with skills in conflict mediation and prevention.
Oderinde assured the organisation that the facility would be properly utilised and maintained for its intended purpose.
Earlier, the Rotary District Governor, Prince Henry Akinyele, said the institute was an initiative of past district governors aimed at training students in peace building, mediation, community engagement and conflict prevention through education.
He reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to community service and educational development through its various programmes.
The event featured the official inauguration of the Peace Institute building, presentation of an award to the deputy governor for her support, and the presentation of certificates to the first set of participants who completed the institute’s three month peace programme.
