How My Wife Inspired Me To Donate Hall Of Residence To Crescent University — Karim
Daud Olatunji
Businessman and philanthropist, Agbaoye Orikolade Karim, has revealed how his wife, Yeye Olufunke Karim, inspired the donation of a hall of residence to Crescent University, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in honour of the institution’s late founder, Prince Bola Ajibola.
Karim disclosed that the decision to endow the building, named Karim Foundation Hall of Residence, followed their attendance at a book launch organised in honour of the late jurist in 2025.
He said both of them independently developed the desire to support the university’s vision, with his wife subsequently encouraging him to ensure that the project became a reality.
The building was officially commissioned on Friday, October 16, 2026, as part of activities marking the first day of the university’s 18th convocation ceremony.
Speaking at the commissioning, Karim described his wife as a driving force behind the realisation of worthy visions, adding that the donation was an expression of the family’s appreciation for the late Ajibola’s enduring contributions to humanity.
According to him, the endowment was also an opportunity to recognise the legacy of the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and judge of the International Court of Justice, whose commitment to education led to the establishment of Crescent University.
Karim said, “The inspiration to donate this building came when my wife and I attended the book launch organised in honour of Prince Bola Ajibola in 2025.
“Before we left the programme, I had the impression that we should do something to support his vision. Interestingly, my wife had the same impression and later impressed it on me that we should ensure the endowment was accomplished.”
He described his wife as someone who not only shares worthy visions but also helps to bring them to fruition.
Karim added that the donation was a way for his family to appreciate the Ajibola family for preserving and advancing the late jurist’s legacy.
He subsequently dedicated the building to Almighty Allah and humanity before formally commissioning it.
The ceremony was attended by the donors, university management, traditional rulers and other dignitaries, including the university’s proprietor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prince Adesegun Ajibola, SAN; Pro-Chancellor, Alhaji Rafiu Adisa Ebiti; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibraheem Gbajabiamila; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Rasaki Kareem; and the Oloola of Ilara, Oba Mutiu Adedimeji Alani Lawal.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Gbajabiamila, highlighted the vision and sacrifices of the late Bola Ajibola in establishing the university, recalling that the property was initially conceived as a housing estate before the former jurist decided to transform it into an institution of higher learning.
He said Ajibola committed his personal resources to the project, including selling his assets in Nigeria and abroad to establish the university.
Gbajabiamila explained that the institution was founded on the principles of academic and moral excellence, stressing that character remained a critical component of its educational philosophy.
“At Crescent University, if you fail in character, you fail in all,” the vice-chancellor said.
He expressed appreciation to the Karim family for the donation, describing the project as a significant contribution to the university’s growth and development.
The vice-chancellor also commended the site engineer, Olaolu, for his professionalism and commitment throughout the construction process.
In his response, Prince Adesegun Ajibola recounted the challenges surrounding the establishment of Crescent University, revealing that he and some others initially viewed his father’s plan to establish the institution as a distraction.
