The legendary Nigerian, whose name is synonymous with the popular Japanese auto brand, Toyota, Chief Michael Ade. Ojo has just turned 86.
History records that the Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State born industrialist and celebrated philanthropist founded his flagship company, Elizade Nigeria Limited which started as an automobile marketing company in 1971 and evolved into a dealer of only TOYOTA vehicles and spare parts in Nigeria in 1976, has since grown to become a conglomerate, having Toyota Nigeria Limited, Elizade JAC Autoland (distributors of JAC Cars and light trucks), Mikeade Property Development Company Ltd, Mikeade Investment Company Limited, SMT Nigeria Limited (Distributors of Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Trucks, and Mack Trucks in Nigeria), among others, as its subsidiaries.
Another lasting legacy project which Chief Ade. Ojo has bestowed on Nigeria and posterity is Elizade University which he founded in his hometown of Ilaramokin, Ondo state in 2012, a university which “seeks to be globally competitive, producing entrepreneurial, innovative and ethical graduates; a university that is driven by a strategic developmental agenda which is embedded in the vision of the Founder, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo himself, which vision includes engagement of high quality faculty members to complement goal driven students, leveraging on the infrastructural endowment of the University for excellence”.
Using the occasion of the Elizade University founder’s 86th birthday, the institution’s Executive, Special Duties, Mr. Stephen Ogodo, disclosed that Chief Michael Ade.Ojo invested N45bn in this ivory tower.
In Ogodo’s words, “In a nation where funding poses a formidable challenge to higher education, Ade.Ojo’s steadfast dedication to nurturing Elizade University has been nothing short of exemplary. The funds he has poured into the institution have been instrumental in propelling its growth and infrastructural development, maintaining a pace conducive to realizing its full potential”.
He added that “Funding is the major challenge facing Nigerian universities. However, the founder of the University has kept to his promise of nurturing Elizade University to maturity by providing funds for infrastructural development. Mr. Michael Ade.Ojo has spent over N45 billion on the university project”.
Ogodo concluded that “This financial backing has facilitated various advancements within the university, including the recruitment of top-tier faculty members to complement the ambitious students and harnessing the institution’s infrastructure for excellence. Such a meticulously crafted strategy has propelled Elizade University toward the realization of its vision and mission, resulting in noteworthy accomplishments within its relatively short existence”.
