The University of Ibadan (UI) has again honoured the Founder of FCMB Group, Otunba Michael Olasubomi Balogun, by naming its modern and multi-purpose conference centre after him.

The centre will be unveiled and renamed Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre.cording to the university, the decision is in recognition of Otunba Balogun’s numerous and significant contributions to the development of the institution, education and the country over the years.

UI, in a letter to the FCMB Founder from the Governing Council and signed by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi, said: “We acknowledge with gratitude, your prayers and goodwill for the continuous progress of the University’’.

Balogun is said to be the first Board Chairman of UI Ventures, who brought his business acumen into play to transform the organisation into a full-fledged business group. Today, UI Ventures whose hotel arm has about 110 rooms of quality standard, is into printing, landscaping and horticulture, consulting, bakery products, computer training centre, petrol station as well as a fast food business, among other interests.

Commenting on the naming of the architectural masterpiece after him, Otunba Balogun expressed profound gratitude to the UI for finding him worthy of the honour. He stated: “I thank you for appreciating my services and commitment to the University of Ibadan by this recent honour that you bestowed on me. I feel honoured by and I deeply appreciate the long and personal relationship I have had with the University of Ibadan over the years. It is my prayer that the university will continue to retain the position of a primus-inter-pares among the tertiary institutions in Nigeria.’’

The Otunba Subomi Conference Centre has five halls. It can accommodate between 3,000 and 5,000 guests in the main auditorium and up to 7,000 guests in the entire complex. The parking lot that can accommodate about 700 cars is also a major value added. The interior of the conference rooms are tastefully decorated.

The centre offers an extensive range of modern facilities and services. Such facilities include presentation screens, projectors and individual highly sensitive microphones. that can be used independently in each of the halls or in all the halls simultaneously.