The Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, was on Wednesday, 12 August 2026, honoured alongside other distinguished alumni at a special event organised by the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The event, the Distinguished (Special) Alumni Lecture and Reunion, was part of activities marking the 65th anniversary of OAU and was held at the university’s Oduduwa Hall.
According to a statement from LAUTECH Public and Alumni Relations Unit, the programme brought together dignitaries and alumni of the university, with the presentation of Awards of Excellence to Professor Kalilu and other distinguished alumni, including the Chairman of the Day, Mr. Bode Adediji, and renowned sculptor, Mr. Dotun Popoola.
The Chief Host was the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, while the host was the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Professor Babasehinde Ademuleya. Professor Bamire was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Ganiyu Adesola Aderounmu.
The programme also featured a lecture titled ‘OAU at 65: The Impact of EDM Alumni on Nigeria’s Real Estate and Built Environment Leadership’, delivered by Mr. Boluwaji Alabi, an alumnus of the university, as well as the launch of a compendium of EDM alumni.
Professor Kalilu, who was accompanied to the event by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management and Operations), Professor Tunde Ogunkunle; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development and Partnerships), Professor Lukman Sunmonu; and other ranking members of staff of LAUTECH, received the Award of Excellence as a distinguished alumnus of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, in recognition of his academic prowess and exemplary leadership.
In its citation, the faculty described Professor Kalilu’s career development as extensive and phenomenal, with 27 years of professorial experience.
It noted that, as a scholar, the Professor of Art and Art History is polymathic and outstanding, with a long list of pioneering and groundbreaking achievements.
The faculty said: “He was, remarkably, the first to publish a book on the volatile national problem of cultism on the Nigerian campus. He introduced Nigeria’s first Bachelor of Technology degree programme in Fine and Applied Arts and introduced Nigeria’s first set of postgraduate curricula for Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Technology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Fine Art and Applied Art, with novel specialisations such as Electronic and Digital Art and Form and Material Technology, among others.
“It is noteworthy that he successfully trained Nigeria’s first hearing-impaired Art Historian and produced Nigeria’s first Master of Technology degrees in Fine Art (Drawing) and Applied Art (Communication Design).
“He also produced Nigeria’s first Doctors of Philosophy in Fine Art (Environmental and Industrial Sculpture) and in Applied Art (Ceramics and Glass). Moreover, he produced the global first Doctor of Philosophy in Form and Material Technology in Fine Art and Nigeria’s first Military Artist with a Doctor of Philosophy degree. In 2018, he produced LAUTECH’s first Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture Science and Technology. Professor Rom Kalilu had both supervised and examined 165 postgraduate students in diverse specialisations, including 44 PhDs.
“Professor Kalilu’s administrative skills and leadership experiences are intense, integrous and ambidextrous. He was Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Acting Vice-Chancellor, and Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH.
“He is a recipient of many awards and prizes, including the Gold Medal in the 1978–1979 All Africa Painting Contest; Merit Prize in International Postage Stamp Design Contest; the Outstanding People of the 20th Century Outstanding Achievement Medal; and the Distinguished and Exceptional Universal Award of Accomplishment.
“He was also selected as one of the 500 Leaders of World Influence by the American Biographical Institute. Professor Rom Kalilu is a member of several organisations, Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists, and a Justice of the Peace.”
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