AAUA Registrar, Arajulu, wins Akoni Oodua Heritage Education Merit Award

The Registrar of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Olugbenga Arajulu, has been honoured with the Akoni Oodua Heritage Education Merit Award 2025 in recognition of his professional excellence and leadership in the education sector.

The award, organised by Oodua Edu-Essence Magazine, recognised Arajulu as one of Nigeria’s outstanding education leadership personalities for the year.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at the Enuwa (Ile Oodua) Palace of the Ooni of Ife, and featured the theme, “Searching through the Role of Indigenous Knowledge in the Educational Development of Nigeria.”

The event was hosted by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and attracted several dignitaries, including the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee in Ondo State, Gabriel Ariyo, who served as Father of the Day; the Olori of Ikare Akoko, Folasade Momoh, as Mother of the Day; and Adeola Falaiye of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who delivered the keynote lecture.

The award was formally presented to Arajulu in his office on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, by the award coordinator, Temidayo Ayodele.

Speaking during the presentation, Ayodele said the registrar was selected based on his “diligence, dedication to duty, exemplary leadership abilities, and unwavering commitment to excellence,” adding that he had brought “a touch of excellence, honour, and integrity” to his position as the university’s chief administrative officer.

In his response, Arajulu expressed appreciation to the organisers for the recognition, describing the award as a motivation to sustain high professional standards in the discharge of his responsibilities.

He said the honour would further strengthen his resolve to contribute meaningfully to the growth and administrative efficiency of Adekunle Ajasin University.

The recognition comes shortly after the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Olugbenga Ige, was listed among Nigeria’s Best Performing Vice-Chancellors by the internationally recognised TELL news magazine.