 |
| CAC President, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele |
By Boluwatife Oparinde
"This convocation ceremony is meant not only to celebrate the awards/degrees conferred on you today but it also affords you an opportunity to reflect on the greater responsibility which the achievement places on you. We live in a society that is desperately seeking for help, and our being around at such a time as this is not without reason," the President, Christ Apostolic Church, Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor Samuel O. Oladele has charged graduating students of Joseph Ayo Babalola University.
Pastor Oladele said this while delivering his Visitor's Address, on the occasion of the 14th Convocation and Award of Degrees of Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji Arakeji, Osun State, held on Friday, December 8, 2023 at the University premises.
In his admonition to graduands and honorees, the President congratulated them on their successful completion of study, noting that it "is a thing of joy to see the fruit of your labour."
"The Bible calls us Salt and Light both of which have the characteristics of impact and integrity. As you go, you are to live in such a way that people who come in contact with you will glorify God because of your character, conduct and communication," he counselled.
Speaking as the Visitor of the institution, the clergyman announced that some of the decisions made in the course of the year believed to put JABU in good stead among global universities.
He highlighted them to include, review of the 16-year old law of the University undertaken to strengthen Corporate Governance structure; inauguration of a Visitation Panel on May 3, 2023 with a mandate to review/evaluate the university performance for a period of ten years; Reconstitution of the Governing Council; and Reconstitution of the BOT.
The JABU Visitor also announced the appointment of Pastor Professor Anthony Olusegun Adegbulugbe as the new Chancellor of the university who according to him, came on board "with vast experience of leadership in academics and economic both at national and global level. His appointment became necessary as a result of the transition of the immediate past Chancellor, Pastor Dr. Wemimo Odunaiya."
"Similarly, Elder Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan SAN was appointed as Pro-chancellor/Chairman of Council of the university. He comes with a very rich cognate experience in university administration, national jurisprudence and corporate governance. His appointment was due to the retirement of our dear father, Pastor Professor A.M.A. Imevbore who had served meritoriously in that capacity since the inception of the university," he said.
On award of degrees honoris causa (honorary doctorate degrees), the President congratulated the awardees, Elder Abiola Popoola, Elder ESV Oluwadare Bello and Pastor Peter Ashade respectively, who were honoured "in recognition of their achievements and positive contributions in their chosen fields of endeavour."
"I admonish you to see your recognition today as a call to duty not only in terms of project donation to the university but also in contributing your wealth of experiences to the Human Capacity Development efforts of JABU as well as our beloved Church, CAC," he said.
Pastor Oladele prided that JABU is living true to her name as the first Entrepreneurial University in Nigeria, trusting that the "mandate can be actualized with access to needed resources from our friends and partners like you and others that are here present."
In his conclusion, Pastor Oladele appreciated the JABU Vice Chancellor, Erudite Professor Ola Fakolujo, "for providing excellent leadership as well as for his untiring efforts in turning the fortune of the university around for good" as well as the "stakeholders students, staffs, parents, management, our host communities, council and trustees for co-operating to ensure a peaceful and purposeful learning and living environment in JABU."