The event of Friday last week, which held at the Yusuf Grillo auditorium, Yaba College of Technology was meant to be a send forth party for the immediate past rector of the college, Mr. Olubunmi Owoso. But it turned out to be a golden opportunity for stakeholders to assess his tenure which lasted from 2001 to December 2009.
Dignitaries who took turn to pass their verdict on Owoso include Chief Tola Adeniyi, former Managing Director, Daily times of Nigeria who is also a Senior Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor, Mr. Segun Sowunmi, also a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Gbenga Daniel on Media/Economic Planning; Elder Joju Fadairo, Chairman, Governing Council of the College, Mrs. Margaret Ladipo, the college’s rector, Mr. Kunle Adams, Head of Public Relations Unit of the college and other dignitaries.

According to Sowunmi, who delivered a lecture titled: “Leadership and Legacy,”Owoso bequeathed a good legacy during his eight year tenure and contributed to the developmental process of Yabatech.

He explained that the former rector perfectly fits into the description of a legacy leader who is courageous, able to take risks with quiet tenacity, able to look inward before acting, able to identify the motivational needs of others, able to identify the vulnerability that triggers negative emotions of others, capable of discussing all details before forming an opinion a well as able to appreciate the fact that everyday is an opportunity for continuous improvement,

Sowunmi added that legacy leaders, of which Owoso is one, are remembered more for their interpersonal skills, emotional control, intelligence and ability to quickly transform groups into a vision-driven team.

Reference was made to the articulation of a development agenda under Owoso prior to the presidential directive on the need to come up with a strategic plan of action.

The 7-major thrusts of his administration’s development agenda, which have catapulted the college to the fast lane to modernity, include academic and professional development, promotion of staff and student welfare, infrastructure and physical development, institution of effective and incisive management, improved revenue generation, and control promotion of external and public relations and discipline and soft skill development.

The implementation of these agenda was effected largely with resources from federal government annual capital grants, ETF and Technical and Vocational Education interventions, private sector corporate social responsibility grants and internally generated revenue.

To Ladipo, her immediate predecessor in office is a visionary leader, a great achiever and a man of dogged determination, adding that he is an erudite scholar, academician and a man who has spent all his working life in education.

To the institution’s public relations manager, Owoso is the first rector of the college to articulate a strategic plan which charts a new direction for the institution, gives it a new vision and mission statements, new objectives, core values, adding that the 7-major thrust of his administration’s strategic plan was successfully accomplished.

Adams says: “Mr. Owoso gave consideration to the opinions of his subordinates and allowed freedom of expression of ideas. He delegated duties to his staff. He was a visionary and responsible leader.”

While responding, Mr. Owoso, who has returned to the classroom in the college, acknowledged that he might have made mistakes while in office since no human being is perfect. He offered apology for those genuine mistakes but had no apology for the steps he took to render any toxic element within the college harmless.