The management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo has showered encomiums on the University of Ibadan (UI) Chief Information Officer, and media professional, Mr. Sunday Saanu for his contributions to the image making and management of the institution during his a-year sabbatical with the faith-based institution.
Ajayi Crowther University at a colourful farewell ceremony in honour of Mr. Saanu whose sabbatical lapsed 31 August, 2024 said “Saanu has added values to the university with his professional competence, dedication, discipline and passion”
The ACU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Timothy Abiodun Adebayo, who led other management team members in paying tribute to the media expert, recalled how he made spirited efforts to bring Saanu to ACU on account of his impressive performance in UI as Media Assistant to the VC, saying “Saanu has not disappointed him, rather, he has contributed immensely to the development of ACU.
According to Prof. Adebayo, “when I noticed Saanu’s writing in various media, I spoke with the former UI VC, Prof. Idowu Olayinka about my desire to bring him to ACU on sabbatical. I spoke with Chief Wole Olanipekun and they all supported the idea. He came in 2021. But after spending two months, bureaucracy recalled him to UI. I promised that anytime they released him, I would still take. Good enough, UI released him in 2023 for a year sabbatical and he reported here immediately”
“In the last twelve months, everyone has felt his impact. My friends all over the world have been asking me, where did you see that man. Saanu writes well with good command of English language. I have learned a number of English words from his various write-ups. There was a day I queried the use of a particular word or phrase in his article and I called my Deputy who is a professor of communication, Prof. Popoola didn’t want to tell me that I was wrong while Saanu was right, and he had to be diplomatic about it”, the VC said.
According to Prof Adebayo, “during the crisis in ACU, Saanu played a major role. He was the one who suggested to me that I must urgently meet both the students and staff of the university. I discussed the idea with my Deputy, but I didn’t say it was coming from Saanu. The idea worked perfectly and Saanu complemented my efforts until we put the crisis behind us”
The VC noted that the only problem with Saanu was that “you don’t regularly see him in the office. When I investigated why he wasn’t always sitting in the office, I discovered that he was always hiding in one corner to do his work in order to avoid distractions. And, when you read his work, you will be mesmerized by the quality of research that had gone into his work, dazzling his readers with amazing expressions and depth of knowledge”
“Saanu uses Facebook as his major medium of expression. Today, you see him in a complete agbada, looking gorgeously like an elder, tomorrow you see him in a smart suit, looking radiant and vivacious.
He is a lively guy with humble dispositions. As you are going back to UI, don’t forget ACU. Keep writing about us. I know you yourself enjoy ACU because we pay salaries regularly”, the VC stated, adding, “this is the first time we are organizing this kind of event for anyone who came on sabbatical”
University’s Librarian , Dr. Bosede Adebimpe Ajiboye who corroborated the VC’s views disclosed that she knew Saanu before meeting him and before becoming ACU’s librarian on account of his writings in the media, pointing out that “here is a writer whose work you must read till the end”
“I started following Mr. Saanu when I knew I would be coming to ACU. His write up on the DVC, Prof. Popoola dazed me. Since then, I have been reading everything he posts online. You know there are some writers you must read. Mr. Saanu is one writer whose work you must read. You can’t read his work without gaining something. I can also say, he dresses well. His pictures on Facebook are ever clean and beautiful. He is disciplined and dedicated”, Dr. Adebimpe Ajiboye maintained.
Deputy Registrar in Vice Chancellor’s office, Mr. Olusegun Ojo who represented the Registrar, Dr. Jadesola Babatola noted that Saanu, like Joseph in the Bible relates well with everyone even as he does not joke with his work. I never knew Saanu before, but when he came and he started performing and everyone was talking well about him, I paid attention and discovered that he was a nice person with a humble attitude.
Mr. Ojo however observed that hiding away from public glare was his own way of working, advising him to always tell people his whereabouts.
In his own contributions, ACU Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olufemi Atoyebi who anchored the event hinted that he had learned a lot from Saanu in terms of language and logic in public relations job in the university, stressing, “if I write something, I will show to him, and he would make suggestions such as, “tone down the language, remove this, add that” When I want to be annoyed, he would say, “don’t be annoyed with anyone because in this job, you need everyone to succeed”
Other contributors including the university’s Auditor, Mr. Ogunkeyede Oluwasanmi, Secretary to the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Mrs. Bose Banjo, Procurement Officer, Mrs. Temitope Famiyesi and a corps member in VC’s office, Miss Elizabeth Olamide expressed similar sentiments, describing Saanu as ever friendly and smiling personality.
Responding, Saanu who became a little emotional confessed that he never imagined that ACU could honour him in such a lavish manner, disclosing that “all my expectation was that the VC would just shake my hand and bid me good bye. But, with all these encomiums, I am humbled and honoured. Bear with me that I am becoming emotional. These tributes are overwhelming”
While thanking Prof. Adebayo for inviting him to ACU and giving him support, he promised that he would never forget the university for providing a platform which he said has taken his career a notch higher.
The university later gave him a plague of meritorious contributions to the institution.