Dirai Hails Tunde Kelani’s Appointment as Visiting Fellow to FUNAAB

Ololade Adeyanju/

Do it Right Africa Initiative (Dirai) has congratulated veteran Nollywood movie producer and Yoroba cultural icon, Tunde Kelani, popularly known as TK, on his appointment as Visiting Fellow to the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State (FUNAAB).

Dirai is a group of African professionals at home and in the diaspora who are committed to the socio-cultural and political rebirth of Africans.

The congratulatory message was contained in a statement by Dirai’s Global Coordinator, Mr. Olamide Idowu, which is posted on the group’s website.

Dirai described Kelani, who is the Global Coordinator of the group’s Elders Forum, as a person who is “full of energy and knowledge to continue to add moral and cultural values to our generation”.

The statement reads: “We congratulate the Global Coordinator of DIRAi’s Elders Forum Bàbá Tunde Kelani on his appointment as a Visiting Fellow to FUNAAB, Abeokuta Nigeria.

“We can say without any fear that TK is full of energy and knowledge to continue to add moral and cultural values to our generation.

“We know TK will use this opportunity to support the society of our dream particularly in helping African reorientation.”

In his reaction, Kelani described the appointment as an opportunity “to bring my decades of industry experience to train students in preparation for their entry to the industry plus arming graduates leaving the university with skills to create their own jobs, rather than queue in the market.”

He also expressed gratitude to everyone who has congratulated him on the appointment.

He stated: “To state that I have been overwhelmed by comments and felicitations by colleagues, friends, family and Nigerian public on my appointment as Visiting Fellow to FUNAAB Abeokuta, will be an understatement. I am grateful and appreciative. God bless you all.

“It has been observed all over the world, universities are realising the disconnection between them and the industry. This disconnection is a sad case in Nigeria! Our universities train people for the industries yet both are not talking! My appointment and engagement with FUNAAB, Abeokuta is to bring my decades of industry experience to train students in preparation for their entry to the industry plus arming graduates leaving the university with skills to create their own jobs, rather than queue in the market.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the University deserves commendation for the bold step.

“And to my dear colleagues, this is an extension of our responsibilities. I shall need your experience and expertise in this assignment at appropriate times. Thank you.”

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