55 OOU Students Graduate from Rotary-sponsored Peace and Security Training

Fifty-five students from Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, have completed a three-month certification course in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution, and Security Studies sponsored by Rotary International District 9111. The graduation ceremony was held on Friday, May 23 2025, at the Adebola Adegunwa Hall on the university’s main campus.

The students, drawn from two batches (cohorts), received certificates for completing the course. The first cohort consisted of 19 graduates, while the second cohort comprised 36. The programme is part of Rotary’s efforts to promote peace at the grassroots and build capacity in communities.

Speaking at the ceremony, which drew hundreds of students, the Vice-Chancellor of OOU, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, commended Rotary for its partnership, describing the initiative as a step toward building a peaceful and united society. He noted that conflict is a normal part of human life, but what matters is how it is managed. “With this programme, you have been taught how to settle issues without always running to the police or court,” he said.

Prof. Agboola also welcomed Rotary’s plan to build a Rotary Peace Centre at the university, which will support research, training, and community peace efforts. The outgoing District Governor, Rotarian (Dr) Oluwole Kukoyi, said the course was designed to localise Rotary’s international peace efforts for Nigerian communities. He explained that education, youth empowerment, and cultural exchange are key ways to promote peace and prevent violence.

Dr Kukoyi added that Rotary, with over 1.4 million members in more than 220 countries, is committed to making a global impact. He assured that the group’s partnership with OOU would continue to grow and bring “greater dividends” to the university. In his welcome speech, the Chairman of Rotary District 9111 Peace and Conflict Prevention Committee, Rotarian (Dr) Isaac Bankole, gave details of the programme. He said the first cohort had 78 applicants, out of which 30 were selected, while the second batch had 302 applicants and 50 admissions. The course started in December 2024 and ended in May 2025.

Dr Bankole said the course was designed to help participants understand the roots of conflict and how to build peace in a country like Nigeria that faces multiple security issues, including communal clashes, religious crises, and farmer-herder conflicts. He also commended the programme’s coordinators — Prof. Richard Aborisade, Director of Research, and Prof. Bamidele Ilo, Director of the Business School, along with other facilitators, for handling the programme professionally.