Ibadan – Governor Seyi Makinde, has congratulated Professor Saheed Aderinto, a professor of History and African Diaspora Studies at the Florida International University, for winning the $300,000 Dan David Prize in History.
The governor in a congratulatory message to the winner on Wednesday maintained that Aderinto’s feat apart from being exemplary, is heartwarming and a source of pride to Oyo, his home state, Nigeria and humanity in general.
The statement signed by the Special Assistant (Print Media) to the governor, Moses Alao, indicated that the governor added that the feat recorded by Prof. Aderinto projects the finest form of the Pacesetter spirits, which Oyo State indigenes possess.
He hailed the Ibadan-born scholar for being a shining light and a worthy example in the academic world, calling on the younger generation to follow the examples set by models like Aderinto and others across different fields of human endeavours.
“I celebrate our brother and worthy son of Oyo State, Professor Saheed Aderinto, on winning the Dan David $300,000 Prize in History, reputed as the largest financial reward in the History discipline.
“This success is, no doubt, an outcome of hard work and excellent pedigree built over many decades of scholarly pursuit. It reflects the finest form of the Pacesetter spirits possessed by Oyo State sons and daughters.
“This is another wake-up call to the younger generation of Oyo State indigenes and Nigerians that there are worthy models all around, who they can emulate and whose paths they can toe to greatness.
“On behalf of the Government and good People of Oyo State, I celebrate Prof. Aderinto and wish him well in his future endeavours,” Makinde said.
