By Idris Katib
The International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day is an official public holiday in many countries of the world. In most countries,including Nigeria, Labour Day or International Workers’ Day,is commemorated on 1st May.
Remarkably, a few days to this year’s International Workers’ Day, 25th April 2026, the prestigious Crescent University, Abeokuta also known as citadel of academic and moral excellence pioneered a special recognition of its workers totalling 94 for Long Service Awards.
At the awards, witnessed by the former president of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other VIP dignitaries, the recipients were treated to a pomp and pageantry which is quite novel in either private or public universities in Nigeria.
The euphoria of this recognition spread like wildfire to the length and breadth of education sector in Nigeria and beyond, given the deluge of feedback received by the university management within few days after the programme.
The awards, which cut across all cadres of academic and non-teaching staff of the university, included the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila, His Deputy, Prof. Rasaki Kareem, Registrar, Prince Zakariyya Ajibola, senior lecturers, Assistant Registrars,accountants,nurses, drivers, porters, clerical officers and ICT officers. In fact, the gesture was extended to messengers and cleaners who met the criteria.
At the ceremony, the leadership of the university disclosed that members of staff whose had spent between fifteen and twenty years in service of the two-decade old academic institution were publicly honoured with award plaques, certificates and handsome cash gifts between Two Hundred Thousand and Five Hundred Thousand Naira.
According to the Proprietor,Prince Ma’ruf Adesegun Ajibola in the plaque presented to each of the staff awardee, the Long Service Award is ” in recognition of your unwavering dedication, loyalty, and meritorious service to Crescent University,Abeokuta.Your commitment and contributions over the years have significantly advanced the vision and excellence of this institution”. This is better appreciated when employees are celebrated alive than a posthumous award.
Celebration of its workers with Staff Long Service Awards just five days to the International Workers’ Day was never a coincidence but a bold statement by Crescent University that workers around the world are not only due for recognition but one with pomp and pageantry which accompanied this very first edition.
With this novelty, Crescent University, Abeokuta has made a bold statement that workers are the engine room of any organization or institution.
The crescent university model of celebrating its staff is a remarkable approach to putting workers on the spotlight of due recognition, compensation and motivation to do more.
A resounding applause to the visionary leadership of Prince Ma’ruf Adesegun Ajibola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who doubles as proprietor and chairman of the board of trustees for sustaining an enviable legacy of his father.
* A public relations practitioner, writer and an academic scholar, Idris Katib wrote from Crescent University, Abeokut
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