Your Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN
Your Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, our Guest Speaker.
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Adeola Fuwape,
Dean, School of Management Technology, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi
All other protocol duly observed

This is a very auspicious moment for me as we all have gathered for the 5th Annual Lecture of the School of Management Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure. I know we have learned new things from the topic for this lecture, “Mineral Resources Management for National Cohesion and Development,” as delivered by the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, His Excellency, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. He has also shared with us how we can take advantage of our abundance natural resources for national unity and development.
First of all, I would like to thank the members of staff of this great institution, particularly, the School of Management Technology for honouring me with an award of Distinguished Industrial and Human Development Monarch Par Excellence. I am truly obliged for this great honour and recognition.
Well, this is a very proud moment for me to be associated with this great institution, and I cannot thank you enough for honouring me with this award. Let me also say this with all sincerity, I believe in synergy, and this is one of the attributes that has helped me in the journey of life. This award and honour is registered in my name, but at the backend, there are people whom God has positioned around me to help support my vision in the area of continuous service to humanity.
Thank God for blessing me with such great people that allow me to bring the best in me and encourage me to further reset my limits to extreme.
God has always been the one that enables me to progress, and what I feel is that the entire surrounding of mine from my family to friends, members of staff both in my companies and the Palace are blessed through God. I can witness this by seeing each of their effort being converted into an excellent thing.
This award is obviously another motivating spirit for all my future activities into the service of human and capacity development. This courage and confidence has only come in by the trust that this institution have in me. Thank you for this motivation and faith.
Permit me to say this; Igbara-Oke has been a partner in progress in the areas of human capacity development. This is part of what propelled the town to have a structure ready on an expanse of land mainly for academic and entrepreneurial activities. As I speak, the structure is over 80% completion. This was made possible with various contributions from Igbara-Oke sons and daughters, both at home and in Diaspora, and coordinated by Igbara-Oke Development Council, IDC.
Mr. Vice Chancellor, it will interest you to know that Igbara-Oke is currently hosting RSG-320, Independent Field Mapping for students from the Department of Remote Sensing and GIS of the School of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Once again, this honour is for all Igbara-Oke sons and daughters home and abroad, and I want to on their behalf say that Igbara-Oke is ready and will continue to partner and support the course for human and capacity development.
Thank you so very much for this honour, I am highly grateful. God bless you.

His Royal Majesty,
Oba (Dr.) Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede FCIM, MBCIM
Ilufemiloye, Ogidi III
Paramount Ruler and Prescribed Authority,
Olowa of Igbara-Oke kingdom