President Muhammadu Buhari has joined family, friends and professional colleagues of Prof. Layi Ogunkoya in celebrating his 85th birthday on November 7, 2019.
The President’s congratulatory message is contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday.
President Buhari congratulated Ogunkoya for a life dedicated to the search and promotion of knowledge, advancement of human skills, and contribution to national development.
He felicitated with the scholar, “who identified his strength early in research, turning a professor in 1979, spending more than 35 years in the service of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and working as Interim Vice Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University, where he restored normalcy to the institution”.
The President urged Ogunkoya to take pride in the wisdom he had imparted to many over the years, ”especially in his field of Chemistry, the immeasurable, multiplier effect it has had on the nation and the world”.
He further affirmed that “the foundation of every society is laid on dedicated scholars like the former Vice Chancellor”.
He also saluted Ogunkoya for setting up a foundation that would further strengthen and propagate his philosophy of building society through good and quality education.
President Buhari prayed that the almighty God would bless the renowned scholar with longer life, and sustain his fountain of wisdom to keep inspiring upcoming students and researchers.

Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian military ruler and presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) speaks during an interview with Reuters at a private residence in Lagos February 19, 2011. Buhari, the main opposition candidate in Nigeria's presidential election, said he was optimistic it would be a more credible race than in the past but warned events in north Africa showed people would no longer accept a rigged vote. Picture taken February 19, 2011. To match Interview NIGERIA-BUHARI/ REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT)