Students of the Department of Animal Production were taken by surprise on Thursday when respected scholar and academic leader, Prof. Abdulmojeed T. Ijaiya, rewarded more than 50 students with ₦2,000 each for arriving early to his scheduled lecture.
What began as a routine academic session quickly turned into a moment of excitement and admiration as the professor announced the spontaneous reward, aimed at encouraging punctuality and discipline among students. Beneficiaries of the gesture described the experience as both motivating and inspiring, noting that it reinforced the value of time management and commitment to academic responsibilities.
The unexpected development sparked conversations across the department, with many asking what kind of lecturer Prof. Ijaiya truly is.
For students who have encountered him over the years, the answer appears consistent: he is widely regarded not only as an educator but as a mentor and father figure to countless students who have passed through his tutelage.
Beyond classroom teaching, Prof. Ijaiya has built a reputation for sustained humanitarian support. Departmental records and student testimonies highlight his consistent financial assistance to struggling students, his annual academic award for the overall best graduating student in the department, and his support for undergraduates engaged in small-scale entrepreneurial ventures to sustain their studies.
Colleagues describe him as a scholar deeply committed to academic excellence and student welfare, blending intellectual rigor with compassion. His actions on Thursday further reinforced that image, underscoring a teaching philosophy that extends beyond lectures and textbooks to character building and mentorship.
Prof. Ijaiya hails from the distinguished Ijaiya family of Offa in Kwara State, a lineage reputed to have produced approximately 15 professors — a testament to a long-standing tradition of scholarship and academic excellence.
As discussions continue within the university community, one question lingers: could such gestures signal a broader call for value-driven leadership in Nigeria’s higher education system? For many students in the Department of Animal Production, Thursday’s experience was more than a financial reward — it was a reminder that impactful teaching often goes beyond the classroom.
