The first Asiwaju of Ibadanland and an outstanding entrepreneur, Chief Jacob Olabode Amao, OON has multiplied joy at the University of Ibadan Crèche/Nursery School with his latest donation of additional building, consisting of four classrooms, computer room and offices.
The Crèche which has been rejecting applications from parents who wish to enrol their children, as a result of inadequate classrooms cried to its chairperson of the Board and the wife of the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mrs. Eyiwumi Olayinka who promised that there would be solutions to the challenge.
Mrs. Olayinka reportedly pleaded with the VC, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka to do something about the inadequacy of classrooms for the rising population of the children of the staff of the University interested in patronizing the Crèche.
The VC was said to have approached Chief Amao who had earlier single-handedly built and donated the Crèche to the University many years ago.
The Ibadan-based philanthropist subsequently agreed to the proposal of the Board, promising to utilize the remaining land by building additional structure that will cater to the need of the little babies. Amao, a self-made accomplished entrepreneur of no mean feat, was born in Ibadan about 85 years ago and is the first Asiwaju of Ibadanland.
Amao was the sole distributor of Sony Electronics Products for West Africa since the early 1950s, and Chairman of Atlantic Carpet and Bode Foam. He is a philanthropist who has contributed to Ibadanland and UI.
He has endowed in perpetuity over One Hundred Million Naira to Bode Amao Foundation through which indigent students have been benefiting from scholarships to complete their university education.
Amao personally built the Crèche/Nursery School for the University during the tenure of Professor Omoniyi Adewoye , rejecting the idea that the building be named after him.