I A R$T Director Obatolu Gets Transparency And Corruption Free Award

The Executive Director of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Tr aining (IAR&T), Ibadan, Prof. Veronica Obatolu was recently conferred with a Transparency Africa Honor, as well as a corruption-free certificate.

The honor which was in recognition of Prof. Obatolu’s dedication and efficiency came through the Transparency Africa organization held at the Institute’s Conference Room, Moor Plantation, Ibadan , had in attendance the management and Head of Departments of the organisation.

While speaking at the event the Program Coordinator of Transparency Africa, Ambassador David Christopher disclosed that the Transparency Africa has been monitoring the activities of Prof. Obatolu for some time and that extensive research has shown that she merited the honor bestowed on her .

Present at the occasion are the Deputy Director, Dr. J. A. Adetumbi; Deputy Registrar/Secretary to the Institute, Mr. ‘Deboye Popoola; Deputy Bursar, Mr. M. O. Fadipe; few of the Institute’s Professors, including Prof. L. B. Taiwo; Prof. B. O. Lawal; Prof. G A Oluwatosin; Prof. F Owolade; Prof. A .Omole. Also present were some Heads of Programme, Including Dr Adeoyolanu (Land & Water Resources Management Programme); Dr. (Mrs) Olanipekun (AVAP); Dr. Olasoji (Maize Improvement Programme), as well as, Dr. (Mrs) Oyegbami and Dr. (Mrs). E. O. Farinde; grandchildren of the awardee representing the family were also present.

The Public Relations Officer, Dr. A. S. Amusat and Mr. Ridwan Yusuff from Public Relations Unit were equally at the occasion.

Ambassador David Christopher introduced the other two members of the team as follows; Ambassador Goriola Mosobalaje from Nigeria and Ambassador Joseph Konan from Ivory Coast

In his opening remarks, Ambassador David ChrIstopher disclosed that the aim of the Transparency Africa is to see that the continent, especially Nigeria is free of corruption across sectors, either public or private.

According to him, corruption has been a major bane to development in Nigeria in particular and Africa at large, as such, it’s right that such phenomenon is curbed, hence, their organization’s mission.

In trying to curb the surge of corruption, ‘our organization has set out to independently investigate highly profiled personalities across public and private sectors and anyone found exonerated of corrupt practices are conferred the biggest honor of Transparency Africa, which according to him will encourage and promote good deeds of transparency, true and modest people and this is why we are here.’

” Despite the alarming rate of corrupt practices in Nigeria, some individuals have been distinct, plain and pure in their dealings in their respective positions and the case of the Institute’s Director is not different as they have found her worthy and deserving for the biggest Transparency Africa Honor”

He revealed how the Director’s profile has been investigated by the organization right from her youthful days in Ahmadu Bello University till she became the Executive Director of IAR&T in 2019 and we are convinced of her good track record of corruption-free activities.

Transparency Africa admonished the Executive Director to continue to be an inspiration and hope for women and girls of coming generations.

The representative of Transparency Africa from Ivory Coast, Ambassador Joseph Konan in his remarks also urged Prof. Obatolu not to relent in offering her best which according to him will still take her to greater heights .

He, however, prayed for the Executive Director, Prof. Veronica Obatolu that God will continue to strengthen, guide her right and provide her the wisdom to navigate through the hurdles of her job and enjoined her to continue to live a corrupt-free life, ‘as you do not know who is watching you’, he added”.

In her remarks, the Executive Director, Prof. Veronica Obatolu, while appreciating the organization, she said “I won’t deceive you, I never expected this, in fact, when I got a call from your team, I told them I wasn’t around and would be available in the office on the 2nd or 3rd August, but still I didn’t see this coming, I thought it was one of those things. I’m sorry to say, but I’m not always carried away by receiving honor like that and the management team knows. Before I can receive, I always want to see that it is based on WHO I AM, not the position I’m holding and you (Transparency Africa) referencing my days in ABU has really proven that you did your homework well. It was today (2nd August), just after our seminar that the PRO (Yusuff) informed me about the award presentation.

Expressing her amazement at the award given to her, she said “with this, I’m short of words, it’s just an amazement to me and I want to assure you personally that I will be part of this Transparency growth because I know it is what we need in Africa and it is when we are transparent and accountable for everything we do that we can grow Africa, and everyone that wants to grow Africa will be transparent and accountable for whatever he/she is doing. I sincerely want to appreciate you for the honor
because when I think about myself,

“I don’t really think I deserve this (award) because I was going to ask that what’s the criteria adopted to found me worthy of this award, but with your speech earlier, I was able to deduce my own personality that I’m oblivious of, so I want to say a big thank you for this and even though I’m still amazed that this is really happening.

“I’m convinced you gave me this award based on who I am because the long history of mine you people traced has proven so, not because of the position I hold.”

In addition, she said that although a leader is always at the forefront,  “this award may not be possible without the people that are pushing from behind and that’s why I decided to call the team together to see where they have led me to, because the people seated here, the professors (though not all are here), the management team, Heads of Programme, even friends and Dr. Farinde, who is representing the family here, they are the push behind everything that you’ve seen and I want to sincerely thank you all, you people have made my name stand out.

“I would have wished we had this at the seminar, in the larger room, so that everybody can see that we need to be engaged. Let us be engaged because you never know who is watching you and who will tell an history about you. Once again, Transparency Africa, I thank you.”

Prof. L. B. Taiwo while speaking at the event appreciated the team and grateful for the Award Presentation, because to him, ‘her dealing has proven to be rightly so.

“The Director is someone who is sincere, straightforward and pure in her ways, as a result, this award is so deserving’, he said.

Also, in his remarks, Prof. Oluwatosin described Prof. Obatolu as a very blunt person and “we all know a blunt person is expected to be sincere, hence her personality.”

He also described the Director as an open-minded individual and a developer, because the Institute’s number of Professors have increased to 19 from four when she took the mantle of leadership in 2019.

“So, you (Transparency Africa) have made the right call by awarding her this Honor,” he said.

While corroborating the above, Prof. B. O. Lawal said she (Director) engages staff a lot and she’s a good time manager because she’s the first or among the first to resume to work everyday.

“She’s a good mentor, woman of excellence and a wonderful friend,” she added.

She then congratulated her on the meritorious award and charged her to even do better and continue to make the Institute proud.

In a similar vein, Prof. Omole congratulated the awardee and said she possess the qualities of straightforwardness and truthfulness, adding that there are instances where she has been reviewed (unknown to her) and she came out pure.

“She has also never had any issue with the EFCC or ICPC since her assumption of office and this rightly posit she’s doing the right thing,” he said.

Representative of the family at the occasion, Dr. E. O. Farinde expressed her gratitude to the team and appreciated them for honoring the Director.

In her words, “as you have honojred her, you have honoured me and the family, and for that, we are grateful to you’, she said while adding that the Director is a very transparent person, strict but with love and sincere in her dealings.”

To further justify that, Prof. Owolade appreciated the team and claimed that the Director is highly committed to good projects.

He said that she assesses projects critically before giving go-ahead and to put that in context

He said, “as close as I am to her, she has not approved any projects for me this year and I understand because there are other better projects than mine, that’s to tell you how sincere and impartial she is.”

In a closing remark, the Transparency Africa’s Program Coordinator, Ambassador David Christopher said to the Director, “this is an admonition to you and a challenge to you to continue to do good and be transparent in your dealings as you are a light and hope for many women and girls of coming generations.