By Our Correspondent
Former students, Christian organisations and faith communities have honoured a retired Professor of Mathematics, Prof. Felix Makanjuola Aderibigbe, as he marked his 70th birthday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The celebration, held on Sunday, August 30, 2026, brought together members of Grace Covenant Centre, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), the Gideons, Gospel Musicians Association of Nigeria (GOMAN) and the Ado Varsity Christian Union (AVCU-NIFES), alongside the professor’s former students and mentees.
Alumni from across Nigeria participated in the celebration, while former students based in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada joined the event virtually through a live stream.
As part of the celebration, the organisers announced two major gifts in recognition of Prof. Aderibigbe’s decades of service to education, mentorship and Christian ministry.
The first was a ₦1 million academic endowment fund established in his name at Ekiti State University (EKSU).
Under the arrangement, the best graduating student in the Department of Mathematics will receive a ₦100,000 cash prize at every convocation for the next 10 years.
The organisers said they would consult with Prof. Aderibigbe to identify a particular course within the Mathematics Department that has special significance to him, with the award to be tied to outstanding performance in the selected area.
The celebrant was also presented with a Toyota Venza SUV by his former students and mentees as a practical expression of appreciation for his sacrifices, mentorship and leadership over the years.
Responding to the honours, an emotional Prof. Aderibigbe, alongside his wife, Prof. Mrs. Esther Aderibigbe, expressed gratitude to the alumni and Christian communities for the recognition.
They said seeing former students succeed in different parts of the world remained one of the greatest rewards of his years of academic and spiritual investment in people’s lives.
The celebration ended with prayers by Christian leaders for Prof. Aderibigbe and his family, with prayers for continued strength, sound health and longevity as he continues to contribute to the university community and the Christian faith.
