Sunday Saanu
He is a perfect-picture of geniality and civility. Sired in the true tenets of African virtues and values, Dr. Olabode Olajide who is the current University Librarian (UL) at Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) is indeed a gentleman with all the trappings and sensibilities of a cosmopolitan scholar, on his steady journey to becoming a professor very soon. Today is his birthday, but far more than celebrating a passage of times and days in calendar, this is a tribute in honour of a man in whom there is no guile.
In Dr. Olabode, we can see the parameters of friendship and relationship, as well as fidelity to friendship. It is no happenstance that some people describe him as a Reverend gentleman without the collar. Clearly, from his sartorial preferences to leadership style, he stands tall and far away from the archetypal lot. Little wonder the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole is almost always making jokes out of his either beautiful fashion sense or his riveting cap at the Management meeting. At the Management meeting, where we meet regularly, you will always feel the imprimatur of Dr. Olabode's positive vibes as well as the scent of his smiles.
Shockingly, I never knew he was at my interview as Director of Public Affairs and Communication until we spoke one day and he shared his impression with me. Hear him, "Honestly, Director, you did very well at the interview. Everyone was impressed by your performance. The two candidates before you did not perform at all. We had almost dismissed the exercise as a failure until you came him. When you came in, you changed the atmosphere. You dazed everyone with the practical demonstration of your skills. You convinced everyone that you were a candidate for the job! The way you displayed your past works from the University of Ibadan dazzled all of us. We had no doubt that you really understood the job. And, since you have resumed, the entire university community can see that we have made the right choice" I felt happy with his sentiments. And, we have been friends ever since.
Meeting Dr. Olabode, one will be struck by the force of a gentle soul with a mental magnitude that belies gentility. Yet, you never see him, basking in intellectual self-adulation. Everyone who meets him, leaves with remarkable memories of his uniqueness and wholesomeness, with his signature smile, sparkling and infectious. His calmness even in the midst of chaos is amazing. He is ever cheerful as if he had not a care in the world. Interestingly, this handsome University Librarian whose humility of a lamb is touching, is known for respect for self and others. His default behavior is that of mutual respect, tact, and calmness. He stands for whatever that is noble and honorable.
Obviously, he is a stickler for punctuality. Whenever the Management team has an outing, you will see him waiting at the point of taking off. The Vice Chancellor simply likes him. You will hear the VC fondly referring to him as "Jide". The fact remains that this handsome man with numerous pairs of classical glasses is raised in the finest mix of Christianity and Yoruba mores. He is a man of excellent and exquisite taste, culture and tradition. In his work, he demonstrates an uncommon drive, determination and diligence leading to his present position.
Dr. Olabode Olajide is a Certified Librarian of Nigeria (CLN), a Member of the Nigerian Library Association (MNLA), and a Fellow of the Institute of Policy Management Development (FIPMD). He has over 20 years of progressive professional experience in librarianship, with extensive expertise in ICT-driven library services, digital information resource management, research support, and library innovation. He has played a pivotal role in advancing digital transformation, strengthening library services, and promoting staff development in academic libraries.
He holds a Ph.D. in Library and Information Science from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Dr. Olajide has authored over 40 scholarly publications in reputable local and international outlets. He has supervised undergraduate and postgraduate research projects and continues to contribute significantly to scholarship and professional practice in Library and Information Science.
His research interests include academic librarianship, digital libraries, electronic resources management, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Artificial Intelligence in libraries, information literacy, school library development, and library service innovation.
A recipient of the Carnegie Continuing Professional Development (CPD 6) grant, Dr. Olajide is committed to advancing smart and digital library services and promoting technology-driven teaching, learning, and research in higher education.As he marks his birth anniversary today, one can only pray that God continues to enlarge his coast as he advances in age. A happy birthday, UL. More of God’s blessings.
Saanu, Ph.D, is the Director of Public Affairs and Communication, FUOYE.
