Remembering University of Ife — by Victor Oladokun
I had the privilege of attending the University of Ife, Nigeria, at a time when, believe it or not, I had an Afro that could rival any of the Jackson5 brothers, and when many exchange students from the UK, Canada, and the United States opted to study at Ife for at least a year.
Ife’s exceedingly beautiful architecture and landscaping was designed, at the request of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the then Premier of the Western Regional, by the famous and brilliant Israeli architect Arieh Sharon.
Chief Awolowo and the Western Regional Government wanted a university that would not merely be a clone of colonial institutions and buildings left behind by the British. He wanted something extraordinarily better and iconic.
For that, he and his Government turned to #Israel, and in particular to Sharon who arrived Nigeria in 1961. His architectural designs were in sync with Awolowo’s thinking and ambitions, and took into consideration the hilly terrain and landscape, the overall environment, and local Ife cultural elements.
Not long after, beautiful geometric designed buildings began to emerge including Oduduwa Hall, the Library Building, the Faculty Buildings, the Pagoda shaped Central Cafeteria, and the Pharmacy and Health Science Buildings, alongside wide pedestrian spaces.
The University of Ife was not just a center of academic excellence, it was a bold statement by Nigeria’s young political leaders that a newly independent Nigeria could build and design institutions and facilities that rivaled the very best in the world.
The University moved into its new home in Ife (away from its temporary location in what is Ibadan Polytechnic today) in 1967.
In the following years, Ife would attract academic giants including VCs Oladele Ajose, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi, Ojetunji Aboyade and Cyril Onwumechili; as well as distinguished faculty such as Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Professors Biodun Jeyifo, Isaac Akinjogbin, Itsejuwa Sagay, Babs Fafunwa, and T.A.I. Grillo, among many others.
One man’s dream and one region’s ambition gave birth to what we all – alumni, current students, and faculty – celebrate as the Greatest of the Great … GREAT IFE!
I hail!
