Awards and encomiums poured on the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the First Technical University, Professor Ayobami Salami, on Wednesday, when a symposium was held in his honour.

The symposium with the theme, ‘Green Technology for Sustainable National Development’, was organised by the Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences, which also gave Salami two awards.

He was so celebrated because of his outstanding performance as the VC, bringing the institution to reckoning within its first five years.

Salami bagged the Faculty Award and the Green Chemistry Leadership Award at the event.

He will exit office on May 8.

On hand to present the awards were the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Abiodun Salami, the pioneer Dean, Professor Remi Ogunfowokan; and the Director of the IPPTO, Dr Samson Alayande.

In her address, Abiodun Salami explained that the faculty considered the outgoing VC an exemplary leader and achiever. She said,  “He saw rainbows where others saw clouds. He saw brains that could be developed and hands that should be trained. He saw a dense forest that should be turned into limelight. He saw this place full of mud, where people had to wash their shoes before entering offices and classes. But he has transformed the muddy place to this habitable environment. Professor Ayobami Salami has grown the two roofs he met here to several roofs.”

Also at the symposium were the incoming VC, Professor Adesola Ajayi; new Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Iyiola Tela; the Registrar, Mrs Olayinka Balogun; and the University Bursar, Pastor Kehinde Olatokun.

Also present were the Dean of Engineering and Technology, Professor Charles Akanbi, who spoke glowingly about the uncommon attributes of the outgoing VC; Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Professor Steven Ojo; pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences, Professor Remi Ogunfowokan; Pioneer Dean of Students Affairs at Tech-U, Professor Surajudeen Ajadi, and the incumbent, Dr Caleb Aborisade, as well as the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Applied and Natural Sciences, Dr Oluwabusayo Ogunjinmi.

Others include Professor E. Ajayi Olajubu, Prof. Olatunji Okesola, the Librarian, Dr Abruraheem Akinbode; Director of the Vice Chancellor’s Office, Mrs Lanre Omolola; Director of Academic Planning, Dr Oluranti Sangodoyin; Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development, Professor Olusegun Awotoye; Director of the Centre for Languages, Professor Adebayo Mosobalaje; and the Director of the IPPTO, Dr Samson Alayande, who was also part of the organising committee.

In his keynote, Professor Solomon identified the likes of wind power, water hydro power, solar power transport, biofuel, geothermal energy and the tidal as aspects of clean energy climate action.

He, however, identified some of the challenges of green technology. These, according to him, include high cost, insufficient information, lackluster investment, uncertainty about impacts and poor public perception.

Some of the catalysts, he noted, would include good policy development and implementation, awareness creation, encouraging research and adequate funding.

Hurst envisioned a green world where life would be far better, while highlighting some of the opportunities inherent in green technology.

“Imagine what the future could look like. The future will look like what we want it to look like. It will look like what we design it to be,” he said.

Chikere spoke on the need to strategise and overcome impediments on roads to achieving professional goals and breakthroughs. Using her own experience as a woman as an example, she said one should brace for personal, systemic and societal impediments.

At the symposium, which was also attended by the university’s Auditor,  Adebisi Adekunle; Principal of Tech-U Academy,  Esther Aina,; and Legal Office, Barrister Yomi Opakunle, Professor Olukayode Adebimpe, who is the Orator of the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, read Professor Salami’s citation, while Professor Ojo also paid a tribute to him.

In his remarks, the outgoing VC commended the faculty for organising the symposium whose theme, he noted, was very relevant to mankind in general.

According to Salami, green technology and other alternative sources of energy are those that any 21st university should show deep interest in, based on the reality of dwindling resources and the contradictions occasioned by climate change.

Salami thanked the faculty for deeming it fit to honour him, while thanking all the staff of Tech-U, who worked with him to make the dream of the institution a reality.