The University of Ibadan, yesterday graduated a couple, Olawale Ajao and Ekundayo Alimot Omolaja from the same department.
The couple, both from the Department of Linguistics and African Languages are among the 4,897 graduands that the Premier University will award Masters Degree academic honour on Thursday at the famous International Conference Centre of the institution.
Blessed with two children, (Rahmattallahi Asawumi Ajao and (Abdul-Rahman Asagbayi Ajao) Ajao and Omolaja graduated from the Department of Linguistics and African Languages for their first degree in Yoruba and Linguistics respectively in the Premier University.
Their journey as a couple began in 2015 when Omolaja, a final year student, gave a nod to a proposal from Ajao, a 100-level student.
Although, Omolaja was three years ahead of her lover at master’s level, just as the case was during their first degree days, as fate would have it, both share the same graduation year due to deferments on two occasions on maternal grounds.
Ajao, the correspondent of Alaroye newspapers in Oyo State, is an epitome and ambassador of Yoruba culture, consistently advocating for its preservation and promotion.
The Iwo town, Osun State, born journalist, has received several awards for his contributions to Yoruba culture. These accolades include the,”Best Promoter of Yoruba Culture” by the Correspondents’ Chapel of Oyo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in 2012 and the “Most Culturally Inclined Award” by the Association of Faculty of Arts Students at the University of Ibadan in 2017 and 2018.
He was also honored with the “Award of Excellence on Propagation of Yoruba Language and Culture” by the Federation of Oyo State Students’ Union (FOSSU) in 2019 and the “Finalist of the Year” by the Yoruba Studies Students’ Association at the University of Ibadan in the same year. These accolades are testament to his dedication and effectiveness in promoting Yoruba culture.
Known for his consistent donning of Yoruba attire, the Alaroye’s correspondent has also made his mark in the field of journalism, receiving the “Oyo State Youth Award in Journalism” in 2009 from the Oyo State Agency for Youth Development and the “Most Child Friendly Award” in 2019 by the Mediation Conciliation and Human Rights Center.
Recently, he was honored as the “Best Yoruba News Writer of the Year 2022” by the YOMAFA Global Award.