The University of Ibadan School of Business has officially been commissioned by Aliko Dangote, and the school has been named Aliko Dangote Complex.
The complex was commissioned today after the 3rd Eminent Person Business Lecture which held at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
Representing Dangote, Engineer Ahmed Mansour delivered a lecture on “A case for backward integration” where he advised that there is need for everyone to “go back to the land”.
He touched on the need for Nigerians to go back into agriculture as the food business is the business for all, of all time and for all seasons.
He, therefore, explained that the business world of the day is in need of all person in all field and orientation with “clear knowledge of management principle.”
“We need pediatrician. We need engineers. We need managers…because in today’s business world, we need people with clear knowledge of management principle,” he said. “We hope this Centre will produce great entrepreneur that will make wave in world of business.”
In her address, Halima Dangote, a Member Board of Trustees, Aliko Dangote Foundation Board, she charged the audience to work hard and never fear failing.
“It took him [Dangote] 30 years. He failed but he never took his eyes off the ball. But it not all about failing, it more about moving forward after failing. Just never take your eyes off the ball,” she advised.
Starting small is also part of the game,
she added.
While giving the welcome address at the commissioning, the Director of the UISB, Professor Adenike O. Osofisan, the first female professor of Computer Science in Africa, expressed her joy on how the completion of the building was done solely by Nigerians.
“This work you are looking at,” she said pointing at the building, “was born by Nigerians. No Indians. No British. No Lebanese.”
According to the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Idowu Olayinka, through the aid of the Dangote Foundation “over 200 million has been spent on the complex.”
Other dignitaries at the event include: Governor Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo state, who was represented by the states Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela; Nde Waklek Joshua Mukta, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Council of the University; Zouera Youssoufou, MD/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation Board; Deans of Faculties among others.