ILE-IFE, NIGERIA — Obafemi Awolowo University has honoured the Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Professor Razaq Kalilu, with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his significant contributions to art, scholarship, academic development, and university administration.
The award was presented by the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management at OAU, which recognised Kalilu as a distinguished alumnus of the faculty. In its citation, the faculty described Kalilu’s career development as “extensive and phenomenal,” noting that he has accumulated 27 years of professorial experience and has been described as a polymathic and outstanding scholar.
The faculty highlighted several pioneering achievements that set Kalilu apart in Nigerian academia. He was the first to publish a book on cultism on Nigerian campuses and introduced Nigeria’s first Bachelor of Technology degree programme in Fine and Applied Arts. He also developed Nigeria’s first postgraduate curricula for Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Technology, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Fine Art and Applied Art, with specialisations including Electronic and Digital Art and Form and Material Technology.
Kalilu’s impact on mentorship and academic supervision has been equally remarkable. The faculty noted that he has “both supervised and examined 165 postgraduate students in diverse specialisations, including 44 PhDs”. Among his notable achievements, he trained Nigeria’s first hearing-impaired Art Historian, produced Nigeria’s first Master of Technology degrees in Fine Art (Drawing) and Applied Art (Communication Design), and produced Nigeria’s first Doctor of Philosophy graduates in Fine Art (Environmental and Industrial Sculpture) and Applied Art (Ceramics and Glass).
The citation further stated that Kalilu produced Nigeria’s first Military Artist with a Doctor of Philosophy degree and, in 2018, produced LAUTECH’s first Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture Science and Technology.
Beyond his academic contributions, the faculty described his leadership experience as “intense, integrous and ambidextrous,” noting that he has served in various administrative capacities, including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Acting Vice-Chancellor, and Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH.
Kalilu has also received several international recognitions, including the Gold Medal in the 1978–1979 All Africa Painting Contest, the Merit Prize in the 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.
The honour from OAU underscores the growing recognition of academics who have contributed significantly to Nigeria’s higher education sector, particularly in the arts and scholarship. For Kalilu, the award represents not just personal recognition but also an affirmation of the importance of interdisciplinary scholarship in shaping the nation’s intellectual landscape.
