Renowned entrepreneur, technologist, and philanthropist Mr. Tim Akano has been conferred with two prestigious Distinguished Alumnus Awards by Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and Baptist Day School, Oluponna. The awards, presented in November 2025, recognize his transformative contributions to education, technology, and community development.
A 1983 graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Akano was honored for his global leadership in innovation and his dedicated mentorship of the next generation. His impact at OAU is marked by significant financial and intellectual investment; in 2023, he provided ₦60 million in scholarships to 1,000 students to study Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, through his structured mentorship initiative, he continues to adopt and guide five students from the Department of International Relations annually.
In a historic ceremony at Baptist Day School, Oluponna, Mr. Akano became the first alumnus to receive a Distinguished Alumnus Award since the institution’s founding in the 1930s.
During the visit, Mr. Akano inspected several projects funded by the Tim Akano Foundation. Three years ago, the Foundation intervened to resolve critical infrastructure and security challenges by constructing a borehole, modernizing sanitation facilities, and erecting a perimeter fence.
Before the fence was built, the school faced severe security threats, including unauthorized grazing by herdsmen and a tragic kidnapping incident involving a nine-year-old pupil. Since the completion of the perimeter wall, the school has reported zero security breaches. This newfound safety has led to a “geometric increase” in enrollment, with over 30 new pupils joining in 2025 alone.
To ensure continued progress, the Tim Akano Foundation announced several new initiatives during the ceremony:
Secondary School Scholarships: The Foundation will sponsor the secondary education of the school’s top 10 graduating pupils.
Teacher Support: To boost morale, a monthly cash incentive for all teachers was introduced to supplement government salaries, with the first payment disbursed immediately.
Safety Maintenance: The Foundation pledged a modern grass-cutting machine to keep the grounds clear and protect students from environmental hazards like snake bites.
In a moving tribute to his roots, Mr. Akano presented the current pupils with his original 1975 Primary School Leaving Certificate. Allowing each student to hold the document, he shared a message of hope: “If I can do it, you can do even more.”
These dual honors from OAU and Baptist Day School underscore Tim Akano’s enduring legacy as a bridge-builder between education and opportunity, proving that one individual’s commitment can transform entire communities.