LAUTECH VC Prof Kalilu embraces Ori Africa initiative of Pekun Olaleye

LAUTECH VC Prof Kalilu embraces Ori Africa initiative of Pekun Olaleye

Femi OGUNLANA

“Ori Africa” is an initiative of businessman and art promoter Chief Pekun Olaleye with a bold vision to engender African renaissance, in both cultural and traditional sectors.

Chief Olaleye, founder and visioner, in his determined effort to propagate the concept, took it to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo state, recently where he was proudly and enthusiastically received by the Vice Chancellor of the institution Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu in his office.

Prof Kalilu (right) with Ori Africa founder Chief Olaleye

Olaleye, a Fine Art graduate of the institution, unveiling the scope of the initiative said it was conceptualised to provoke the people of Africa to “reconnect with their roots, embracing their cultural identity and harnessing the heroism and innovations of their forebears to transform the African continent and make it a hub of education, innovation, technology and development.”

Prof Kalilu, who supervised Olaleye’s final project at LAUTECH, was excited about the initiative expressing support and highlighting means to make “Africans own their innovations and technologies.”

An authority in Art and History, Kalilu promised to keep his door open for Ori Africa for possible collaboration.

Also, the Head of Department of Fine Art, Dr Akinde, on the same day, received Ori Africa’s founder, pledging support as custodians of Art and History and to welcome Ori Africa at all time.

Writing about the visits in his social media handles, Olaleye posted, “It was a profound honour to pay a courtesy visit to the sitting Vice Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Professor Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, a foremost Professor of Art and History, Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists and Member of the International Association of Astronomical Artists. This living legend was my Thesis supervisor

“We also reconnected with the Department of Fine and Applied Art ably led by Dr. Akinde (HOD). From sculpture to strategy, legacy lives on!”

Dr Akinde with Chief Olaleye

Giving further insights into the concept, Olaleye, the Agbaakin of Okin-Apa, in a chat with ogbomosoinsightonline.com stated, “Ori Africa envisions a continent where African people, especially the youth, are deeply rooted in their cultural identity, connected to the stories of their ancestors, and inspired to transform those stories into powerful platforms for development, education, enterprise and innovation. Through immersive cultural journeys, digital archives, and collaborative heritage projects.”

He added, “We aim to bridge the past and the future – nurturing pride, purpose, and prosperity across the African continent and its diaspora through the lenses of history, art, and enterprise.”

An MBA holder, he unveiled that the project would explore the continent by visiting “museums, African villages, and notable sites, documenting, preserving, and celebrating the soul of our heritage.”