By Folaranmi Ajayi
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), on Saturday, has conferred an honourary doctorate (honoris causa) in Finance on the chairman and chief executive office (CEO) of The Address Homes, Olabisi Onasanya at the seventh convocation ceremony of the university. .
According to a statement made available by his media and public relations manager, Adejuwon Osunnuyi, the conferment was approved by the university;s senate in recognition of Onasanya’s professional excellence as a banker and accountant and for his exemplary leadership in the country with positive impacts on the lives of many people.
According to the statement, the former group managing director/CEO of First Bank Plc, was decorated by the vice chancellor of FUOYE, Abayomi Fasina; chancellor of the university.
Other awardees included football legend, Segun Odegbami, and legal luminary, Wole Olanipekun (SAN).
Onasanya is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Taxation.
He also served as a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers’ Sub-Committee on Fiscal & Monetary Policies, and of the Presidential Committee on Reduction of Interest Rates.
In his acceptance speech, the honouree expressed gratitude to the vice chancellor of the institution, governing council, the senate, staff and students of the university for finding him deserving of such an exalted honour, promising not to relent in his efforts.
According to the statement, the elated Onasanya, who was accompanied to the event by his wife, Helen Onasanya, and some of his close friends and associates, announced the donation of one N1 million to the FUOYE’s best-graduating student in Accounting, Oyedele Abibat Adejoke, a 24-year-old lady who bagged first class in Accounting.
The Address Homes chairman also promised to give yearly scholarships to the best students of Accounting and Real Estate Management as a means of giving back to society and encouraging the young ones.