By: Ola Adefeso
A passionate Business Man and the Chief Executive Officer, of Balkeem Nigeria Limited and HIQ Media Limited, Akeem Adeola Salami has been honoured with Bola Ajibola Community Service award of Entrepreneurship and Leadership Mentoring category by the Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The award ceremony was organised as part of activities marking the 18th Founder’s Day of Crescent University, Abeokuta, with six deserving Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in different fields, being honored with Bola Ajibola Community Service Awards 2024 which came in four categories including ‘Welfare and Child Ethics’, ‘Reading Culture and Education Advocacy’, ‘Da’wah and Hospital Welfare Support’ and Entrepreneurship and Leadership Mentoring .
Akeem received the award alongside others, notably an ace broadcaster, Owu-Abeokuta kingmaker, and author, Chief Abiodun Lasile.
In the case of Akeem salami, his contributions to global educational growth through his well celebrated E-learning platform tagged “MOBILE CLASSROOM” that was adopted by both the Federal Government of Nigeria and UNICEF as veritable learning platform throughout the Covid 19 Period, as well as his business empires which included Smooth Ride Executive Car Rental Services and leasing, Balkeem Venture which produces Popular ijebu lawa Garri, Igbo kwenu yellow Garri, Konfam snacks as well as the prestigious HIQ Media Limited which has managed several local and multi-national companies earned him the award.
All these Establishments according to the award recipient, Akeem Salami has generated hundreds on f employment for the youths.
Guest Lecturer at the 2024 Founder’s Day, Dr(Mrs) Mosun Bello-Olusoga speaking on the theme “Competence And Self-Determination For Women Leaders”, stressed the need for women to invest more in personal development to excel in their respective leadership roles in the society.
The Renowned banker encouraged women to be courageous and determined to succeed at any given opportunities, if they must be recognized in the all fields of human endeavours
Also sharing the same view, the Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola in his Keynote address emphasized the need for competency among women to succeed in their various leadership positions.
The monarch who described women as making the waves of good leadership, stressed the need to give more attention to education and development of women because of their great influence in the society.
Proprietor and Chairman, Board of Trustees of Crescent University, Prince Mahruf Adesegun Ajibola(SAN) while pledging the board’s resolve to move the great citadel of learning to the greater height in terms of academic excellence under his watch, rewarded lecturer and students in the Bola Ajibola College of Law for doing the school proud as a sole representative of Nigeria and entire continent of Africa at an international event in France .
The proprietor, who said that his father would have clocked 90 years old on the day of the 18th founders day celebration , appreciated everyone for showing love and support despite the fact that his father was no more.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Ibraheem Gbajabiamila also appreciated the guest speaker, Olowu, awardees and others for their selfless services to humanity
The Vice-Chancellor stated that the university had achieved one of the major objectives of the late founder to ensure both male and female students have equal opportunity of 50-50 to university education, which according to him, is even of female students than male in the ratio of 70-30