OAU to Honour Late Zookeeper Olabode Olawuyi
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has announced plans to immortalise Mr. Olabode Olawuyi, the veterinary technologist who tragically lost his life while trying to rescue a colleague from a lion attack in the university zoo.
At a workshop marking the first anniversary of Olawuyi’s death, the university’s Registrar, Adetunji Bakare, emphasized that the event was not a celebration of loss but a recognition of his heroism. He assured that OAU would preserve Olawuyi’s legacy and had implemented measures to enhance workplace safety.
The workshop, themed “Workplace Safety Awareness,” was organized by the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). Speaking at the event, NAAT National President, Ibeji Nwokoma, described Olawuyi as a martyr who died saving another life. He urged the university to rename the zoo in his honor.
Reuben Temerigha, Managing Director of Western Diamond Energy Limited (WEDEL), also called for improved workplace safety across organizations, emphasizing the need for better training, risk assessments, and enforcement of safety regulations to prevent similar tragedies.
NAAT-OAU Chairman, Matthew Oluwaniyi, reiterated that Olawuyi’s sacrifice serves as a call to action, advocating for the renaming of the OAU Zoological Garden in his memory.
