TIM AKANO BAGS TWO DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS FROM OAU AND BAPTIST DAY SCHOOL OLOPONNA

Renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and philanthropist, Mr. Tim Akano, has been honoured
with two Distinguished Alumnus Awards by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Baptist
Day School, Oluponna, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to education, mentorship,
technology, innovation, and community development at large. Both awards were conferred in
November 2025, and this mark a significant milestone in Mr. Akano’s lifelong commitment to
human capital development and social impact.

Mr. Akano, a 1983 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, was recognized by the university
for his global impact in entrepreneurship, technology and innovation, as well as his sustained
mentorship of students. In 2023, he awarded 1,000 scholarships that was worth ₦60 million to
OAU students for them to study Artificial Intelligence. Since then, he has consistently adopted
five students from the Department of International Relations annually under his structured
mentorship initiative.

In the same vein, at Baptist Day School, Oluponna, Mr. Akano received a historic honour as the
first alumnus ever to be decorated with a Distinguished Alumnus Award since the school was
established in the 1930s. During a recent visit to the school, Mr. Akano inspected several
infrastructural projects financed by him through the Tim Akano Foundation three years ago.
These include the construction of a borehole, modern toilet facilities for teachers and pupils, and
the erection of a perimeter fence and gate around the school which has prevented incessant
disturbance of pupils by Fulani Herdsmen who previously engaged in reckless grazing within the
school premises, polluted the environment with cow waste, and exposed the children to security
risk. All these challenges have since become a thing of the past following the erection of the
perimeter fence.

In addition, the School Principal recounted a tragic incident that occurred before the fence was
built, when a nine-year-old pupil was kidnapped within the school premises and was never
found. According to the Principal, the pupil had gone into a nearby bush to answer the call of
nature, unaware that kidnappers were hiding there. Since the completion of the fence three years
ago, no case of pupil kidnapping has been recorded in the school.

The principal further disclosed that the school has experienced a geometric increase in enrolment
since Mr. Akano’s intervention. In 2025 alone, over 30 new pupils were enrolled. This is a trend
that has been consistent over the past three years.

To further enhance safety and learning conditions, the Tim Akano Foundation pledged to provide
a grass-cutting machine to maintain the expansive school compound, noting that the pupils are
fragile and overgrown vegetation could expose them to snake bites. The Foundation also
announced the adoption of 10 best graduating pupils, committing to sponsor their secondary
school education.

Furthermore, in a move to motivate and support teachers, the Foundation introduced a monthly
cash incentive for all teachers, aimed at complementing the modest government salaries. The
November incentive was paid immediately, with assurances that the initiative would continue in
perpetuity.

In a symbolic and emotional moment, Mr. Akano presented the pupils with the glazed copy of
his Primary School Leaving Certificate, issued by Baptist Day School in 1975. All pupils were
invited to hold the certificate as a powerful reminder that “if I can do it, you can do even more.”
In appreciation, the school management presented Mr. Akano with the Distinguished Alumnus
Award, celebrating his transformative impact on the institution and its pupils.

Similarly, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Akano was honoured with the Distinguished
Alumnus Award for his sustained mentorship of students and his contributions to
entrepreneurship development, technology, and innovation within Nigeria and the global
community.

The double recognition underscores Mr. Tim Akano’s enduring legacy as a bridge between
education, opportunity, and societal transformation.