By: Oluka Emeka Samuel & Ifeoluwa Adediran
Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, was agog on Thursday, 10 September, 2026, as staff stood still to celebrate the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, on the occasion of her birthday.
The day, filled with surprises from Principal Officers and various staff groups, saw staff trooping to the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge and office, respectively, to honour her.
The surprise celebration was kick-started by the principal officers, who arrived at the vice-chancellor’s Lodge with birthday cakes, drummers, and a saxophonist—a lively ensemble popularly known in Nigerian parlance as “paranran” – to wake Prof. Oduwole with birthday wishes. They were followed by the Works and Services team in similar fashion, with drummers and a saxophonist, all singing and praising God for preserving the Vice-Chancellor’s life to see another year.
After the show of love at the Lodge, the day’s events moved to Crowther Hall, where the Chapel held a Communion Service in her honour. The prayer event was followed by a quick visit to the Chapel under construction and to sites at the Offa-Metta campus for the new hostel, Pharmacy, and the Gross Anatomy Complex, where prayers were offered for God’s divine intervention on each project.
The Public Relations and Legal Unit Team stole the show of the day as they ambushed the Vice-Chancellor in her office with a scintillating display by Tolu Abeke, who dished out native panegyrics in honour of Prof. Oduwole.
Others who came around included the Ajayi Crowther University Women Association (ACUWA), with celebration chants, while the Staff Fellowship Executive presented her with a beautiful frame. Representatives from First Bank of Nigeria were not left out, as they came with a beautiful cake to wish her well.
Earlier at the Communion Service, an elated Prof. Oduwole expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness and for preserving her life to witness another glorious year.
She also offered prayers for the University, asking God to enlarge its coast, make the institution honourable, and continually uphold and guide it. She encouraged everyone present to pray the same prayer for themselves, trusting God to enlarge their coast, make them honourable, and continually be with them.
The day was marked with prayers, celebrations, and good wishes for the Vice-Chancellor and all those who came around to wish her well.
