By Our Reporter
It is a double celebration for Professor Isaac Ayodele Olatunji of Federal University Oye Ekiti as the distinguished academic is set to deliver the institution’s 24th inaugural lecture on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
The lecture, titled “Housing Care and Support for Nigerians –The Optimality Dimension to a Critical Real Estate Decision,” will hold at the Senator Ndoma Egba Hall of the university by 2:00 p.m. and will be presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole.
Two days after the inaugural lecture,Professor Olatunji will celebrate his 70th birthday anniversary on Thursday, May 28, 2026 — the same day he is expected to formally retire from active academic service, having attained the statutory retirement age for professors in Nigeria.
Professor Olatunji, a former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management (EDM) at FUOYE, previously served as Head of the Department of Estate Management and Valuation at Federal University of Technology Minna before joining FUOYE.
A source within the university described the inaugural lecture as exceptional, noting that it coincides with the professor’s retirement from service.
According to the source, “Professor Olatunji will probably be one of the few lucky academics to have their inaugural lectures as parting gifts on the retirement eve. This type rarely happens and this makes this one a very exceptional occasion.”
A Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers since 2004, Professor Olatunji practiced
Estate Surveying and Valuation for more than two decades before joining academia in 2005 as Lecturer II. He rose through the ranks and became a full professor in 2020.
Known for blending practical experience with academic excellence, Professor Olatunji earned the nickname “Pracademic” due to his practice-based teaching approach and his ability to bridge the gap between professional practice and scholarly research.
He was once described as a “total researcher” by Professor J.I. Ighalo, a testament to his commitment to research and academic development.
During his time at FUOYE, Professor Olatunji contributed significantly to institutional development through practical research initiatives.
He led a team of valuers and professionals in the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management to advise the university on critical real estate valuation decisions.
He also played a role in the establishment of the Students Village Land Allocation and Development Committee (SVLADC), helping the university formulate policies aimed at improving housing and land development management.
Professor Olatunji has consistently maintained that addressing challenges in Nigeria’s housing sector requires professionals who can combine academic research with real-world experience to effectively connect theory with practice.