From the Soil of Igboho to the Pinnacle of Academia: The Triumph of Integrity

The announcement of Engr. Rasheed Akanbi, MNSE, as the substantive Director of Works and Physical Planning at Fountain University, Osogbo, effective July 1, 2026, is a deeply moving victory for merit, resilience, and unyielding character. In an era where society often looks for shortcuts to success, Engr. Akanbi’s trajectory proves that honest labor, profound humility, and unwavering integrity will always be crowned with enduring glory.

For a proud son of the soil from the noble lineages of Ile Obanisun (Oke Afin) and Otun Agoro Compound (Modeke), rising from the classrooms of Baptist Central School and the historic Irepo Grammar School in Igboho to lead the infrastructural development of a premier institution is a monumental milestone. Beyond his decorated two-decade engineering profile at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), his rugged determination—manifested in his willingness to utilize his personal vehicle for commercial purposes during challenging economic seasons rather than compromise his strict Islamic piety—stands as the ultimate testament to his down-to-earth persona. He chose the difficult path of honor over the cheap shortcut of compromise.

Below is a poetic tribute to a consummate professional, an institutional archivist of development, and an ambassador of grassroots inspiration.

THE BLUEPRINT OF HONOR
‘A Tribute to Engr. Rasheed Akanbi, MNSE, Director of Works and Physical Planning, Fountain University, Osogbo.’

The ancient hills of Igboho do not merely breed men;
They forge giants in the furnace of humility,
Nurtured by the quiet streams of honest labor,
And anchored by the unshakeable pillars of character.

Today, the wind of victory blows softly through Ile Obanisun, Oke Afin,
And a song of profound gratitude echoes from Otun Agoro Compound, Modeke.
The spirits of our ancestors smile upon the legacy of Pa Fatola Yusuff Akanbi,
And the maternal grace of Madam Bilau Agbeke illuminates the heavens.
For the seed they sowed in tears, discipline, and prayers,
Has grown into a massive iroko tree in the forest of institutional excellence.

Look back, ‘Omo Akanbi’, look back to where the foundation was laid!
From the historic corridors of Baptist Central School, Oke Afin,
To the life-shaping classrooms of the great Irepo Grammar School,
Your journey was mapped with grit, focus, and expansive dreams.
From the rocky terrains of the homeland, your destiny took flight—
Anchoring at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, for your Bachelor’s degree,
And scaling higher to the University of Lagos for your Master’s.

But while academia certified your intellect,
It was the furnace of professional trials that certified your soul.
Let the world hear the story of a Chief Engineer who disdained no honest labor!
A brilliant asset at FUNAAB who, when the economic winters bit hard,
Refused to look to the left or right for ill-gotten wealth.
He did not compromise the tenets of his faith; he did not stain his hands with deceit.
With absolute humility, he put his own vehicle on the road for commercial service,
Steering through the waves of life to secure an upright livelihood,
Wiping the sweat from his brow, yet keeping his gaze fixed on the Almighty.
As a devout, pious Muslim who views compromise as a poison to the soul,
He chose the rugged path of dignity over the fragile illusions of ill-acquired ease.

Twenty years of meticulous layout plans, structural drawings, and master blueprints—
Steadily rising from an Engineer II in 2008 to Chief Engineer in 2021—have led to this moment.
By the decree of divine timing, the ultimate crown of administrative leadership has landed.
The Governing Council of Fountain University, Osogbo, has found its visionary builder.

This is more than a professional advancement, Engr. Rasheed Akanbi;
This is a collective validation for every youth striving in the hinterlands of our nation.
It is a loud, resounding message to contemporary society:
That humility is not a weakness,
That being down-to-earth is the highest form of nobility,
And that the path of integrity, though long and steep, leads inevitably to the palace of honor.

We celebrate you, our brother, our ambassador, and our proud son.
May your tenure at Fountain University be distinguished by sustainable landmarks,
May your technical competence continue to set a world-class benchmark,
And may the fountain of your leadership and blessings remain ever flowing.

Go forth and build with distinction, for the hand of the Almighty is firmly upon you.
Our homeland is proud of you.

Congratulations, Director!

David Alani Ige (The Scribe) Public Affairs Commentator
Phunshor01@gmail.com, Igboho, Oyo State.