Soyinka cedes Ijegba Forestage to FUNAAB

By Funmi Bewaji

 Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka , on Tuesday, ceded the custody of the Ijegba Forestage to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), as part of his effort to expand the frontiers of knowledge.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the literary giant and tbe institution in a low key ceremony held at the Ijegba Forestage in Abeokuta.

Professor Soyinka who is an Honorary Doctorate Degree Awardee of the citadel of learning, expressed his broad views on how the entire space should be put into use now and even after his exit. 

He expressed his strong conviction on the need to run the place as an autonomous body that is dedicated to the promotion of knowledge of science and humanities and  bringing together researchers all over the world to use the facilities in their natural form, irrespective of discipline.

The Ijegba Forestage, comprising several hectares of land areas housing  residence, library, and writers’ retreat residency is to be managed by the University to promote academic, cultural, ecological, and recreational studies leading to deepening of multicultural studies that can strengthen the integration of science and humanities.

Responding,the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Felix Kolawole Salako  expressed appreciation to the Nobel Laureate, assuring that the University will make the best use of the gesture of the donor using his ideals as a guide. 

Salako noted that in spite of the separation of disciplines for award of degrees, all of them have a point where they merge for the benefit of mankind.

The University, FUNAAB, recognises this dictum when it awarded honorary degrees to Professors Wole Soyinka and Toyin Falola, who are in the field of Humanities.