Lead City University has recorded another major milestone as its vice chancellor, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo, has just received the prestigious Thabo Mbeki Award for Excellence in Leadership from the University of Texas, Austin, United States.
The Thabo Mbeki Award for Excellence recognises and honours outstanding African leaders who have made lasting contributions to scholarship, ethical leadership, and institutional development.
The award, named after former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, is conferred on individuals whose leadership influence has extended beyond their immediate institutions to impact society at large.
Reacting to his recognition, Prof. Adeyemo, while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Toyin Falola @73 Conference, expressed deep gratitude to Emeritus Professor Toyin Falola, University of Texas, Lead City University Chancellor, Professor Gabriel Ogunmola; Chairman of the institution’s Board of Trustees, Emeritus Professor Johnson Aladekomo, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Jide Owoeye, whose support has shaped his leadership journey.
Continuing, Adeyemo noted that “the award reflects the collective efforts of the governing council, management, staff, and students of Lead City University, Ibadan, in advancing academic excellence and institutional growth.”
He dedicated the award to the entire Lead City University community.
The Toyin Falola @73 Conference, themed “Religion, Culture and Politics in Nigeria,” brought together scholars, intellectuals, and professionals from across Nigeria and beyond.
Declaring the conference open, Prof. Adeyemo described the event as a celebration of scholarship, ideas, and intellectual courage.
He noted that “the conference was convened to celebrate the remarkable achievements of Distinguished Professor Toyin Falola – an incredibly prolific scholar of African and African Diaspora History; the first Emeritus Professor of Humanities of Lead City University; the Jacob and Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin; and the most cited African historian of our time.”
Eulogising the Emeritus Processor, Prof. Adeyemo said, “at 73, Professor Falola stands not merely as a historian, but as an institution whose intellectual productivity, generosity of spirit, and global influence continue to shape scholarly conversations on Africa’s past, present, and future.
“His (Falola’s) has consistently projected the image and prestige of Lead City University through his writings, commentaries, and intellectual guidance, thereby enhancing its academic visibility locally and internationally.
“I recall many a time how Professor Falola organised and supported several high-profile academic engagements for the University, including the Professor Ayo Olukotun Lecture Series, which has enriched the institution’s intellectual culture.
“I can’t even begin to mention his generous endowment of academic prizes, notably the Professor Ayo Olukotun Memorial Prize for the Best MSc Student in International Relations / Political Communication, as well as his most recent endowment of N10 million in honour of Cherno Njie, a freedom fighter, for the best student in Political Science,” he added.
The VC acknowledged the timeliness of the conference theme, given Nigeria’s evolving socio-political realities.
“The intersections of religion, culture, and politics remain central to our national experience—shaping governance, citizenship, identity, conflict, cooperation, and development. These forces intersect in complex ways that demand rigorous scholarly interrogation and honest dialogue,” he said.
With the institution hosting the Falola @73 Conference, Prof. Adeyemo expressed how proud he was, noting that the event aligns with the university’s vision of academic excellence and socially responsive scholarship. He added that it was particularly meaningful because the celebrant is both an Emeritus Professor and an active member of the LCU Governing Council.
He commended the conference chairman, Dr. Samson Ijaola, the conference organising committee, and all sub-committees for putting together a programme of remarkable depth and diversity, reflecting Nigeria and Africa’s rich scholarly traditions. The VC expressed hope that the conference deliberations would yield ideas capable of transcending academic boundaries and contributing meaningfully to national development.
Previous recipients of the Thabo Mbeki Award for Execellence In Leadership include Professor Tunji Olaopa (2018) for his work in the civil service, and Professor Adamu Abubakar (2025) for his contributions to African education.
Credit: newspeakonline.com
