The Vice-Chancellor of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Prof Razaq Kalilu, has been honoured by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, for his contributions to art, scholarship and leadership.

Kalilu was honoured alongside other distinguished alumni at the Distinguished (Special) Alumni Lecture and Reunion organised by the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, OAU, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

The event, held at the university’s Oduduwa Hall, was part of activities marking OAU’s 65th anniversary.

According to a statement by the LAUTECH Public and Alumni Relations Unit, the programme featured the presentation of Awards of Excellence to Kalilu and other distinguished alumni, including the chairman of the day, Bode Adediji, and renowned sculptor, Dotun Popoola.

The chief host and OAU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebayo Bamire, was represented at the event by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Ganiyu Aderounmu, while the host was the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Design and Management, Prof Babasehinde Ademuleya.

The event also featured a lecture titled, “OAU at 65: The Impact of EDM Alumni on Nigeria’s Real Estate and Built Environment Leadership,” delivered by OAU alumnus, Boluwaji Alabi, as well as the launch of a compendium of EDM alumni.

Kalilu, who was accompanied by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Management and Operations, Prof Tunde Ogunkunle; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development and Partnerships, Prof. Lukman Sunmonu; and other senior members of LAUTECH staff, received the Award of Excellence as a distinguished alumnus of the Faculty of Environmental Design and Management.

The award recognised his academic achievements and leadership, with the faculty highlighting several of his contributions to art education, research and academic development.

In its citation, the faculty described Kalilu’s career development as “extensive and phenomenal,” noting that he has 27 years of professorial experience.

It also described him as a polymathic and outstanding scholar, citing his pioneering achievements in art and art education.

The faculty said Kalilu was the first to publish a book on cultism on Nigerian campuses and introduced Nigeria’s first Bachelor of Technology degree programme in Fine and Applied Arts.

It further stated that he introduced Nigeria’s first postgraduate curricula for Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Technology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in Fine Art and Applied Art, with specialisations including Electronic and Digital Art and Form and Material Technology.

According to the citation, Kalilu also trained Nigeria’s first hearing-impaired Art Historian and produced Nigeria’s first Master of Technology degrees in Fine Art (Drawing) and Applied Art (Communication Design).

The faculty said the LAUTECH VC produced Nigeria’s first Doctor of Philosophy graduates in Fine Art (Environmental and Industrial Sculpture) and Applied Art (Ceramics and Glass), as well as the global first Doctor of Philosophy in Form and Material Technology in Fine Art.

The citation added that Kalilu produced Nigeria’s first Military Artist with a Doctor of Philosophy degree and, in 2018, produced LAUTECH’s first Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture Science and Technology.

The faculty noted that Kalilu had “both supervised and examined 165 postgraduate students in diverse specialisations, including 44 PhDs.”

On his administrative career, the faculty described his leadership experience as “intense, integrous and ambidextrous,” noting that he had served as Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH.

Kalilu is also a recipient of several awards, including the Gold Medal in the 1978–1979 All Africa Painting Contest, Merit Prize in the International Postage Stamp Design Contest, the Outstanding People of the 20th Century Outstanding Achievement Medal and the Distinguished and Exceptional Universal Award of Accomplishment.

He was also selected as one of the 500 Leaders of World Influence by the American Biographical Institute and is a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists and a Justice of the Peace.