Adeleke Applauds Ponnle Family as N150m Endowment Fund Launched for OAU Engineering Students

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has lauded the family of the late Engr. Michael Ayantunde Ponnle and Engr. (Mrs.) Comfort Olufunke Ponnle for establishing a N150 million MicCom Memorial Endowment Fund to support engineering students at Obafemi Awolowo University.

Speaking at the inauguration of the fund held at Oduduwa Hall, Ile-Ife, Adeleke described the initiative as a remarkable tribute that reflects Nigeria’s capacity for innovation and industrial growth.

He noted that the endowment goes beyond honouring the deceased, providing a sustainable platform for advancing engineering education, research, and innovation.

The governor paid glowing tribute to the late couple, describing them as visionary pioneers who contributed significantly to Nigeria’s industrial development through the establishment of MicCom Cables and Wires during a period when indigenous manufacturing was still evolving.

He said their complementary strengths, noting that while Engr. Ponnle drove enterprise development, his wife ensured technical excellence, discipline, and quality standards.

“Together, they built not only a successful business but also a legacy that continues to impact national development,” Adeleke said.

He urged beneficiaries of the fund to embrace the opportunity with a sense of responsibility, stressing that they are inheriting a legacy that demands purpose and dedication.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to education and innovation, Adeleke emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between government, academic institutions, and the private sector to drive sustainable development.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of MicCom Cables & Wires Ltd, Bukola Adubi, said the endowment was created to preserve the legacy of the late engineers while opening doors for future generations.

She described the Ponnles as trailblazers in Nigeria’s industrial sector, having founded one of the country’s earliest indigenous cable manufacturing companies at a time when local production capacity was still developing.

Adubi explained that the fund is designed to promote academic excellence, support outstanding engineering students, and encourage innovation and research within the university.

“The endowment is not just symbolic; it is a deliberate investment in Nigeria’s technological future,” she said, adding that it will help strengthen research, academic programmes, and intellectual inquiry in engineering disciplines.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Bamire, commended the Ponnle family for the initiative and called on other alumni and philanthropists to contribute to the growth of the institution.

According to him, the fund will enhance research capacity, provide scholarships, upgrade facilities, and equip students with the skills needed to address critical challenges in Nigeria and across Africa.

He added that the initiative further reinforces the MicCom family’s longstanding commitment to excellence within the university’s Faculty of Technology.