The Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, has been described as a worthy promise-keeper that should be emulated by people in public offices and other positions of authority. The University Chaplain, Prof. Very Revd Tola Oduyale, who extolled the virtues of the Vice-Chancellor, said he fulfilled the promises he made while assuming the mantle of leadership of the University. In his sermon at the Convocation Service held at the Chapel of Abundant Life, Main Campus, Ago-Iwoye, Oduyale remarked that the Vice-Chancellor had done the bidding of God and managed the University in accordance with divine principles. This, he observed, informed why God is pleased with him.
Quoting copiously from the Scriptures to support his teachings, the cleric emphasised the importance of keeping to promises. According to him, it is biblical to always keep to one’s word. The Chaplain, who recalled how Prof. Olatunde took over the leadership of the University and made some promises, noted with delight that the managers of the institution had been doing the will of God.
“One of the ways by which you can get things going is to declare it, speak it forth! I want this and it would happen. But you have to work at it. The Bible says faith without work comes to nought,” he stated.
“The managers of this University have conceived good things concerning this University. We should appreciate the Management for the good plans that brought us to this stage. All that God created was for the benefit of humanity and mankind. And what shall we be found doing as a University if we are not doing the will of God for the benefit of humanity?’’ Oduyale explained that a few years ago when the Vice-Chancellor was appointed, he made some declarations concerning the progress of the University which, today, had been virtually fulfilled by him.
His words: “The first promise was that you will project the good image of this University. I can say today that indeed you have scored a pass mark concerning that. Why and how were you able to achieve this? It’s because consciously and unconsciously you were doing the bidding of God.”
“You are managing this University according to divine principles. This University is thoroughly established today. The Vice-Chancellor said he will project the good image of the University and indeed the image of OOU is highly projected.”
The Chaplain added that the Vice-Chancellor also promised to improve the webometric ranking of the University, secure full accreditation for all academic programmes, provide standard facilities for the varsity and ensure prompt payment of staff salaries and equally inculcate discipline.
“All he said he would do in the last four and half years, he has done,” Oduyale maintained. “As you can see all over the campus, second-to-none infrastructures are springing up by the day.”
“He said he would pay staff salaries on time and inculcate discipline. Since this current Vice-Chancellor assumed responsibility as the chief manager of this institution, salaries have always been paid as and when due and this is what keeps us going. The Vice-Chancellor has improved the lot of staff and God is pleased with you and the Management,” he said.
The Chaplain affirmed that going by the number of graduates it had produced in about 40 years of existence, OOU has made great contributions to humanity, while praying God to bless the University with someone who would continue to do the will of God as the successor of the current Vice-Chancellor.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor expressed gratitude to God for all the positive developments that had taken place during his tenure, saying nothing could have been achieved without the permission of God, the prayers of religious communities and support of staff and students of the University.
Prof. Olatunde noted that he recognised the significant roles of religious institutions in guiding the moral conduct of students as well as shaping the behaviour of younger ones, hence his decision to accord them well-deserved recognition.
“I believe very strongly that there are two key areas that can guide students to be of good behaviour. The behaviour of our students today is due to the influence of the church community and the mosque community. The reason is because that’s where you have the highest congregation of students at any particular time and it is on weekly basis. And through that, they’ve been able to impart on them and we are happy that today, all the accolades we’ve been able to get from other people about the behaviour and dressing of our students are because the church and the mosque have played their roles,” he submitted. The Vice-Chancellor appreciated the leadership and members of the Chapel as well as the entire Christian community for their cooperation and support for his administration, urging them not to rest on their oars.
Those in attendance at the service included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof Deji Agboola; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Charles Adekoya; Registrar, Mr Femi Ogunwomoju; University Librarian, Dr Adebambo Oduwole, and the Bursar, Mr Semiu Makinde, among others.
