The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has donated a building to the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, as part of efforts to strengthen banking and finance education in the country and to bridge the gap between theory and practice, the academia and industry.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the institute, it said the edifice was one of the seven model projects across the six geo-political zones donated to various institutions.
It stated that the OOU was chosen based on its pioneering role as the first tertiary institution in the CIBN linkage programme.
The ultramodern structure, which serves as a lecture theatre, demonstration class and multipurpose centre, was unveiled by the President/Chairman of Council, CIBN, Ken Opara, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Prof Oluwatoyin Ashiru.
At the ceremony, the pro-chancellor expressed appreciation for the gesture of the CIBN and their act of philanthropy and corporate responsibility.
“This noble gesture identifies with the spirit of collaboration between the academia and the corporate world. By working together, academia and industry can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application,” Ashiru said.
In his remarks, Opara congratulated Olabisi Onabanjo University for being the first tertiary institution in the CIBN linkage institution, an accomplishment which afforded the institution the privilege of being one of the beneficiaries of the institute’s legacy project.
He said, “It gladdens my heart to note that the linkage collaboration which was consummated between our institute and Olabisi Onabanjo University on May 4, 1998, is waxing stronger and this building that is being commissioned today, is endowed to this institution in recognition of its pioneering role as the first institution in Nigeria to embrace what has now become a global phenomenon.
“The success story of CIBN linkage at this institution led other universities and even professional bodies to embrace the linkage scheme. Following the success recorded here in OOU, the linkage programme was extended to the polytechnics in 2009, 11 years after Olabisi Onabanjo University blazed the trail.
“Today, out of the 77 institutions on the scheme nationwide, 24 are polytechnics and four of these polytechnics are beneficiaries of the legacy project. It is also instructive to note that Olabisi Onabanjo University has produced a total of 496 associates through the linkage programme from inception to date, while a good number of associates obtained a first degree in Banking and Finance through the scheme.”
The statement stated that the previously inaugurated legacy projects were donated to the Polytechnic Ibadan (South-West Zone), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (North-East Zone), Federal Polytechnic, Nekede (South-East Zone), Rivers State University (South-South Zone), Kano State Polytechnic (North-West Zone) and the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, (North-Central Zone).
