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Tag: David Oyedepo

  • The way out for a nation under trial

    The way out for a nation under trial

    Text of an address at the Ninth Convocation ceremony of Covenant University, Ota by the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo on Friday, June 27, 2014.

    It is with thanksgiving and deep appreciation to God that I welcome us all to the 9th Convocation Ceremony of Covenant University, dubbed the Release of Eagles 2014.

    I also invite you with excitement to connect with the spirit and symbol of what the convocation ceremony holds, which is indeed a commencement to higher levels of responsibility and a testimony of the goodness and faithfulness of God in seeing the vision of raising a new generation of Leaders realized. This is indeed a time to mark the validation of Covenant University’s total substantiation and credence to the pursuit of learning and character worthiness, in the actualization of her vision of being a leading World-class University, as we have vowed to see demonstrated, in the quality and overall disposition of the graduates of Covenant University. We have every assurance that they have satisfied all the quality assurance criteria to ignite the change we all desire. We are indeed happy to release to world, an army of reformers, fresh from the stable of our University. On this note, I again welcome everyone to this august occasion of the 9th Convocation Ceremony of Covenant University.

    I have continued to explore the relevance of University Education as a platform for addressing the issues of the day and I have come to the realization that Universities do not just exist to teach and graduate students, but rather to provide a platform for rigorous intellectual discourse that aims at providing solutions to the bugging issues in the society. This is what has informed the topic of my Convocation Address today, captioned: Towards the Way Out for a Nation under Trial.

    As we are all aware, the state of Nigeria today speaks of restiveness and unrest. It is therefore with  a deep sense of responsibility as a stakeholder, a patriot, as well as one of the leaders of the day,  that I will, in communicating my thoughts on this issue, be constructively pungent, responsibly factual, patriotically objective, positively futuristic, as well as passionately optimistic( Oyedepo, 2012 & 2014).

    At this point, I want to believe that a detailed diagnosis of the current state of our nation is vital. Medical doctors as we all know will always demand the running of series of tests before embarking on any treatment; this is the process of diagnosis. To disregard the result of diagnosis, is to expose a patient to the risk of death. I believe it is high time we began to x-ray and explore the root cause of the prevailing issues in our nation in order to come up with applicable solutions to the grave situations bedevilling our great nation Nigeria.

    It is glaring that in Nigeria today:

    •Danger is looming, but there is hope

    •The nation is fast drifting towards disintegration, but there is hope

    •Nigeria is facing challenges that openly threaten her existence, but there is hope

    •Some are bent on religious war for whatever their reasons, but there is hope

    •When a people become hopeless, they become helpless

    •Faith will not produce when hope is dead

    •To keep hope alive is to stay alive (Oyedepo, 2012)

    The story of the biblical prodigal son is apt here and we can therefore draw a corollary and applicable lessons for weaving solutions for the current predicament we are faced with as a nation in mapping out the process of restoration, peace, stability and prosperity.

    Firstly, the prodigal son came to himself, told himself the truth about himself, when he came to his wits end. We must come to ourselves as a nation and tell ourselves the truth, no matter how bitter.

    Secondly, he outlined the steps of action towards the restoration of his dignity.

    Thirdly, he rose up to action, and overnight, his frustration and devastation was turned to restoration and celebration.

    This is what this Convocation Address is set to accomplish, to bring Nigerians to see the facts of the situations and engage with the issues in order to outline the way out.

    Now, let’s look at the problem.

    In a recent article, captioned: Boko Haram Led Pogroms, Ethnic Cleansing and Medieval Bestiality in Nigeria’s North East, Co-written by Dr. Pogu Bitrus, Rev. Ibrahim Dauwa, and Rev. James Yaga, JP, and published in the Guardian of June 10, 2014, the following issues which should be of grave concern to every responsible Nigerian, were outlined:

    Firstly, the writers asserted;

    “In 2012, in a widely publicized video recording that is easily accessible on the internet, Abubakar Shekau, the late erstwhile leader of Boko Haram announced the mission statement of his sect. Among other things, he said ‘this war is not political. It is religious. It is between Muslims and unbelievers (arna). It will stop when Islamic religion is the determinant in governance in Nigeria or, in the alternative, when all fighters are annihilated and no one is left to continue the fight. I warn all Muslims at this juncture that any Muslim who assists an unbeliever in this war should consider himself dead’, as confirmed by the writers of the article.”

    Secondly, the writers stated;

    “As communities in the defunct Northern Region we are not unaware of the inspiration of Boko Haram and their sponsors. It is no news that the average Northern Muslim thinks that Nigeria is his to dominate, and its riches his to dispense. In October 1960, the late Premier of the defunct Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, had declared: ‘The new nation called Nigeria should be an estate of our great-grandfather, Uthman Dan Fodio. We must ruthlessly prevent a change of power. We use the minorities of the North as willing tools and the South as a conquered territory and never allow them to rule over us, and never allow them to have control over their future.’ (Parrot Newspaper, 12th Oct. 1960; republished on November 13, 2002, by the Tribune Newspaper, Ibadan.)”

    The above statement is quite pregnant and portends a political time bomb should the present generation of the defunct Northern Region dare to pursue this stance.

    Thirdly the writers further stated that;

    “Before the late Sardauna made this very revealing statement, the Conference of Northern Chiefs, in response to a letter from the UK-based West African Students’ Union (WASU) to the Northern emirs asking them to support the constitutional evolution of Nigeria into an independent nation, had declared ‘holding this country together is not possible except by means of the religion of the Prophet. If they want political unity let them follow our religion.’ (Obafemi Awolowo, Path to Nigerian Freedom, London: Faber and Faber, 1947, p.51.)”

    Again, I see another bomb shell here, which is more of call to a religious war.

    Most disturbing, is the reported raid of the Boko Haram sect  across 26 villages in Borno State which are predominantly Christians; where homes and churches were razed down and thousands scattered. The data from this article indicated that well over 500 people were killed in twenty of these villages, while the number of deaths in the six others was not determined. Also, over 50,000 were reported displaced and fled to neighboring Cameroun and other parts of the country.

    It is disheartening to note that Boko Haram sect is reported to have brought down the Nigerian National Flag in the raided communities and hoisted their own flag in its place.

    From all the forgoing and without mincing words, the nation is already at war. The leader of the Boko Haram openly claimed that the sect is an Islamic Jihadist group and they have proved this over and again by their heartless atrocities to date. They have declared, and that openly, a total war against Christianity, Western Education, with a vow to drag Nigeria back to the Stone Age.

    Furthermore, certain painful thoughts can be gleaned from all of these; a religious war is looming, in fact, in some parts of the nation, that war in my view has already broken out. To pretend not to see this simply amounts to hypocrisy. We must therefore not politicize this issue. Action is not only needed but timely action.

    Taking a cue from the case of Iraq, I want to believe that, if the Iraqi Government had taken timely action, the catastrophe that now plagues that nation, may not have arisen. We must indeed wake up to the truth that we have a deadly battle in our hands as a nation; we must therefore rise up to speedily address this grave situation, before it becomes too late.

     

    The cost of insurgency

    Let us take a cursory look at the cost of some major wars in Africa, and see how foolhardy it is to go to war.

     

    Sudan

    Nature of Conflict: Ethnic and religious

    Duration: 1955-1972; and 1983-2005 (almost 50 years of conflict)

    Casualties: About 500, 000 killed; over 2 million displaced

     

    Sudan/Darfur

    Nature of Conflict: Religious and ethnic (Darfur Genocide)

    Duration: 2003-Date (9 years of conflict)

    Casualties: Over 400, 000 killed; 3 million displaced

     

    Somalia

    Nature of Conflict: Religious and ethnic

    Duration: Ogaden War, 1977- 1978; Civil War, 1991-2003; Islamic

    War, 2003- Date (22 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 550, 000 killed

     

    Ethiopia

    Nature of Conflict: Power struggle

    Duration: 1971-1984 (12 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 500, 000

    Rwanda

    Nature of Conflict: Ethnic

    Duration: April-July 1994 (just within 100 days)

    Casualties: Over 800, 000 killed

     

    Democratic Republic of Congo

    Nature of Conflict: Power tussle among political gladiators, and resource struggle

    Duration: 1996-Date (6 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 800, 000 killed

     

    Liberia

    Nature of Conflict: Ethnic and political (class, personal; ambitions of warlords)

    Duration: 1990-1995; 1999-2001 (7 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 220, 000

     

    Sierra Leone

    Nature of Conflict: Political, resource (diamond) struggle, ethnic

    Duration: 1991-2000 (9 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 200, 000

     

    Uganda

    Nature of Conflict: Power struggle, class and personal ambitions of Political leaders

    Duration: 1969-1979; 1989 (11 years of conflict)

    Casualties: 300, 000; 30, 000

     

    Nigeria

    Right here in Nigeria, the Civil War, an ethnic-induced conflict of only 30 months claimed over 800, 000 lives.

    The above gory picture of destruction, disruption and desolation of lives and property, is the reason why we need to think and re-think. All of the statistics above should provoke our commitment to timely engagement in a quest to finding solutions to this looming danger, by finding the way out of our current events before it degenerates to a calamitous situation. May we not experience another war as a nation forever!

    The place of the university context in all of these

    Generally, education in my view is a platform for empowering Man’s intellect to think solutions, while University education is all about empowering Man to create solutions to the challenges besetting humanity.

    Putting in context what a University should offer and the contributions it must make to society, let us examine a statement made by John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America, who noted that:

    “We live in an age of movement and change, both evolutionary and revolutionary, both good and evil. And in such an age a university has a special obligation to hold fast to the best of the past and move fast with the best of the future.”

    These thoughts should help us reassess the role that Universities must play today in Nigeria, particularly in the current times, in addressing the issues of the looming danger and the concomitant repercussions, if not nipped in the bud!

    In my view, a University is a place where solutions to societal problems are found and value added to humanity. A University is not a place for hermits so that people there live as recluse, but a platform that defines values and inspires research. The real worth of a University is only determined by the problems it solves and the solutions it proffers.

    In order to be relevant as Universities, we must continue to engage in research that will help solve the challenges and problems our societies face. Robust thinking that comes with quality education must be the reason behind the stability, security and economic empowerment of the developed nations of today. As long as we remain regimented, we will continue to be relegated. As embedded in our Departure Philosophy in Covenant University, we must continuously advocate new ways of thinking.

    The mind of the Nigerian should be transformed into new minds that can conceive a new Nigeria into existence, indeed, minds that can resist the indoctrination of evil. This is why I believe that developed nations are far more politically stable, economically buoyant and far more futuristic in their perspective and engagement, all of which is traceable to their solid educational infrastructures. The fact is, wherever goes education, there goes civilization. When Egypt was leading in education, she was also leading in civilization. For example, Greek historians, artists and Mathematicians went to Egypt for their education between 2900 – 2400 BC. This is why university education has been a vital platform for national development all through human history.

     

    The way forward

    It is my expectation that this Convocation Address  will serve as a wake-up call to all those who believe in the Nigerian Project, to rise up to give hope in these trying times. We can therefore create the tomorrow we desire by creatively engaging our diverse resources- cultural, intellectual, human, and natural, etc. We can indeed create the tomorrow we desire by creatively engaging our intellectual resources towards its realization. This is where the University Context in Nigeria comes in and indeed Covenant University.  Universities in Nigeria, and I dare say, in Africa, must drive relevance by continuously addressing and proffering solutions to the challenges of the day. If a University is to be the bastion and a place for the creation of ideas and ideals, the current saga of Boko Haram and all the associated challenges, including the bewildering disappearance of over two-hundred (2OO) plus Chibouk Girls are issues that should engage the University platform in intense discourse, debates and solution finding workshops, etc.

     

    The University System in Nigeria must become responsive to the issues and challenges of the day. It should no longer be business as usual. University education should be beyond certification and must seek application in real life context for improving the lot of humanity and driving causes for the good of all.

    It is high time that government began to partner with universities in searching out answers to bugging issues such as we have on our hands today.  Likewise, universities should engage in relevant topical research, exploring time tested truths with demonstrable futuristic engagements as they champion the expansion of the frontiers of knowledge. This will be a step in the right direction in tackling the current challenges as this will benefit the society immensely. New programmes can be evolved in areas such as, Security Science,Management of displaced persons etc. These along with similar programmes can come up as new subjects of study and research in our Universities.

    For example, only last month,  26th -28th of May, 2014 to be precise, Covenant University’s African Centre for Leadership Development (ALDC),  (a Centre committed to nurturing transformational leaders for Nigeria and Africa, hosted a Conflict Management and Resolution workshop aimed at seeking indigenous solutions for contemporary socio-political, economic and cultural issues affecting Nigeria and Africa at large. Many of such initiatives should become the order of the day in our universities.

     

    Where do we go from here?

    It is pertinent at this point in the course of this lecture to critically examine the options at our disposal that can be employed in putting a halt to this impending holocaust.

    I have always believed in finding indigenous solutions to indigenous problems. You will agree with me that in the animal kingdom, all animals find local solutions to their local problems. They do not travel neither do they import goods and services, yet they succeeded in providing solution to all their problems. It is also common knowledge that in the plant kingdom trees do not move, yet from the same position they are able to access all they need.

    But man is the most intelligent creature of all of God’s creation, yet because he will not take responsibility, he has not succeeded to find solution to his own local problems.

    Someone once said, you are not a failure until you start looking for who to blame for it. There is no amount of foreign interest or support that will be a substitute for our indigenous engagement in finding solutions to the issues of our day.

    I have always believed that no solution can be more enduring than home-grown solutions.

    I am therefore putting forward the following thoughts which should inspire both the citizens and those in government to engage in the process of finding lasting solution to these unfortunate issues.

    It is therefore important to note the following:

    1.  Definitely not talking about the issues at stake is not the solution

    2.  Ignoring the facts before us will not make it falsehood

    3.  Wishing the challenges away is not the solution as wishes never change situations. For instance, it will be sheer madness to wish that Boko Haram does not exist. The facts and figures are evident.

    4.  Poverty can not be adduced for the reason for the Boko Haram Insurgency. As recently reported in international media, Two Syrian brothers born of same parents who are citizens of Belgium joined the jihadist fighters in Syria. They were young men who had good jobs but chose to join the jihadist.

    5. It is not class discrimination either, otherwise other villages being raided should not have come to play; because their inhabitants are poor people, living on subsistence farming.

    6. It is also not about oppression of the high and mighty, otherwise, the issues of the abducted Chibok Girls should not have been part of the fight. The issues here are raised for us to search deeper. It is against this background that I am calling on our Universitiesto look into the issues staring us right in our face and with every sense of urgency, proffer home-grown solutions.

    In addition, it is my expectation that the Nigerian Government at all levels, National University’s Commission, the Leadership of Universities at various levels, stakeholders in education and other sectors of development will respond to this clarion call.

    Pretense has always been a failed ideology and it must have brought us to where we are today. As I once noted, you cannot not fail with facts. We must come to understand where we are and the issues at stake and how to deal with them. From the information available in the media- print, electronic and social, Nigeria is fast becoming a breeding ground for a potential, religious and ethnic war. We either stop it now or it stops us later. The destiny of our nation Nigeria is hanging in the balance. This means therefore that all men and women of substance and courage should rise up and speak up. Before our very eyes, Abuja has been hit several times. The seat of Government in the nation has constantly been threatened by insurgencies more frequently in recent times.

    Only two days ago, 25th of June, 2014, Banex Plaza, a commercial centre in Wuse, Abuja was hit. In addition, many villages in the North-East of Nigeria have been turned to ghost towns overnight as their inhabitants had to flee for safety! This is why all Universities across the Nation should create platforms for intense discourse and publish widely for Nigerians to know what our findings are.

    Enough of these pretenses, we are face to face with a looming holocaust. This is a call to take up intellectual arms, Nigerian Universities must arise and speak up, and individuals in the nation must rise up to this call! It is time for all of us to start seeking the way forward.

     

    Conclusion

    Having examined and presented the issues of the day in our nation, we must not despair but with every sense of hope and faith in God, look forward to a future we desire with great optimism as there is no irreversible situation with God. We must therefore keep hope alive, for a better, peaceful, stable and prosperous tomorrow for our Nation Nigeria.

    May I at this point congratulate the Parents of our dear Graduands, hearty congratulations! I salute your tenacity and commitment and celebrate your role in this process. May you live to enjoy the fruit of your labour. Amen.

    Finally to the Graduating class, the Elite Set, our soon to be released Eagles, we are releasing you as Eagles. If there ever was a time, that your world needed you, that time is now. Everybody will admit that never has the world faced the kinds of challenges it faces today, but challenges are stepping stones to championship, and only the challenged end up a champion. Go forth therefore and take the Covenant University vision to the uttermost parts of the world at large and be the world changers that you have been raised to be as you see all the challenges on your path as opportunities; as you continue to build on the foundations of Character, Courage and Capacity and you can be sure you cannot fail. Remember that Life is a race not a sprint but a marathon and will always require patience and endurance to make the most adventure of life!

    Let me leave you with these rules which are sure to make prize winners of you in the race of life:

    1: Recognize that Life is a race and only runners ever win the prize

    2. Life is work and the worth of every life is a function of the quality of its work

    3: Life is a seed time and harvest adventure; and whatever a man sows that he shall reap. Therefore, every good thing a man does the same he shall receive from the God.

    4: Life is warfare; and it is largely spiritual warfare;

    5. Jesus is life, and taking Him along in your journey makes the journey great.

    Therefore, we release you today as Covenant Eagles, the Elite Eagles, spread your wings and soar, your world is waiting for you. I love you with passion and I cannot not wait to see you manifest as the Eagles you have been raised to be! Be blessed, every one of you in Jesus Name. Amen

    May I on this note ask us all to appreciate the faithfulness of God in bringing us to this point in time in the history of our University, culminating in this 9th Convocation Ceremony. I deeply appreciate everyone who is here today to celebrate the release of the 9th batch of Eagles, thank you so much and God bless you.

    God bless Class of 2014, the Elite Eagles,

    God Bless Covenant University,

    God bless Nigeria, and

    God bless Africa!!!

    Thank you all for listening.

    David Oyedepo, FNAE

     

     

     

     

  • Oyedepo visits Okorocha over bomb scare

    Oyedepo visits Okorocha over bomb scare

    •Prays for leaders

    The General Overseer of the Living Faith Church International (aka Winners’ Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, yesterday visited the Imo State headquarters of the church over the Sunday bomb scare.

    The cleric, who also visited Governor Rochas Okorocha at the Government House in Owerri, thanked him for intervening to avert disaster.

    He said it was regrettable that the nation was being plagued by the Boko Haram insurgency, which had taken a toll on the citizens’ lives and property.

    The clergyman prayed for God’s intervention and prayed that God should  “give our leaders the wisdom to stop terrorism.”

    Bishop Oyedepo,   who stressed that prompt action was needed by the government to solve the problem, noted that Boko Haram was beyond politics.

    He urged people to cooperate with the government to tackle the menace.

    Governor Okorocha hailed Bishop Oyedepo for the visit and assured that government would not relent in its efforts to ensure the security of life and property.

    “Imo State is protected by the Holy Spirit,” he added.

    The governor lauded the Living Faith Church for uplifting the spiritual lives of the people and promoting education by establishing one of the best universities – Covenant University in Sango Ota, Ogun State.

    Okorocha enjoined Oyedepo to build a campus of the university in Imo State, assuring that the state would provide land.

  • Oyedepo calls for spiritual warfare against Boko Haram

    Oyedepo calls for spiritual warfare against Boko Haram

    Oh Lord, to whom vengeance belong, show thyself. Lift up thyself, thou Judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph?”

    These were the words the Senior Pastor of Living Faith Church (aka Winners Chapel), Bishop David Oyedepo, quoted from the Book of Psalms 94:1-5 during the Sunday service of the church in Ota, Ogun State.

    The cleric was delivering a sermon, titled: Covenant Day of Vengeance.

    He decried the sustained attacks and killings of Christians in the North by the Boko Haram sect, adding that the attacks were a declaration of war on Christians.

    The cleric urged Christians to rise up for a spiritual battle.

    In a special session, titled: A Battle for the Soul of Nigeria, Bishop Oyedepo called for concerted intercessions among Christians.

    The Chancellor of Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, said the case of the abducted over 200 Chibok schoolgirls was a grave concern and an assault on the nation and the church.

    He said: “Chibok is a largely Christian community and between 80 and 90 per cent of the abducted girls are Christians.”

    These, the cleric said, were besides the thousands of believers and a number of pastors who had been slain, especially during services since 2010.

    “We must rise and silence this evil group called Boko Haram,” he said, quoting from Ecc. 8:11.

    Bishop Oyedepo quoted extensively from the Bible to buttress his call for spiritual warfare.

    The renowned cleric said Christians should understand that the battle is against the powers of darkness, quoting from Eph.6:10-12 and 2Cor.10:3-5.

    He said the nation should fight with prayers to bring down the violent sect.

    According to him, to trust in the nation’s strength is a risk and trusting in men for victory, instead of God is futile.

    Therefore, he added, to bring down the terrorists, there should be active engagement of the spirit of God.

    It is high time the church took responsibility, rise up to pray to heal the nation, Bishop Oyedepo said, quoting 2Chronicles 7:14.

    To get the desired result, the senior pastor said Christians should apply the right prayers, quoting James 4:1-2 to buttress his point.

    According to him, Christians should begin to invoke the wrath of God upon the camps of Boko Haram, their collaborators and sponsors.

    Quoting Isaiah 63:4 and 61:1-2, Bishop Oyedepo said Christians should understand that they were in the last days, the day of God’s vengeance.

    He said it was time Christians started to curse the Boko Haram network, adding that everything that mocked the people of God was ordained for a curse and that everyone that curses the church must be cursed in return.

  • Shiloh: Oyedepo predicts rebirth of small nations’ economies

    Shiloh: Oyedepo predicts rebirth of small nations’ economies

    A Warning of an imminent economic holdocaust by small nations has been issued.

    The holocaust, according to the President Bishop of the Living Faith Church, aka Winners Chapel International, Bishop David Oyedepo, which will economically teach the world a lesson, will be not be a mere occurrence but a heavenly agenda to bring about a brand new world.

    Oyedepo spoke on the final night of the annual convention which was held inside the auditorium of the Faith Tabernacle, Cananland, Ota, in Ogun State.

    The theme for this year is: ‘Exceeding Grace’.

    Oyedepo also predicted that very soon, churches will become nations that will govern humanity by establishing hospitals, creating jobs and ministries.

    He declared, “Soon, small churches will be exalted when the government loses control of how to control things and we are seeing the clouds of it already. Then, they will need the prophets of the day.”

    With three million viewing worshipers represented in 173 countries and 247,109 worshipers on the website, Oyedepo told of how God revealed to him the mission to spread the gospel to all nations.

    He said, “It was on April 10, 1982. I had an 18-hour revelation. I had no television box then. There wasn’t even any internet then, only the NTA and Radio Nigeria. God told me nations and millions will gather and listen to me speaking from one spot. It was unimaginable, but I never understood until now.”

    He also informed the congregation that no foreign expertise was involved in the building of the 50,000 capacity Tabernacle, which is acclaimed to be the largest and sophisticated in West Africa.

    Bishop Oyedepo urged Nigerians to cultivate the habit of giving, as it is a spiritual transaction that opens doors to financial prosperity. He also announced that next year’s Shiloh will hold from December 9-13.

    Dignitaries present at the night service included the Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, and wife, Judith, and wife of the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun.

  • 20-year old is CU’s best Student

    20-year old is CU’s best Student

    Michael Eromhonsele, 20, was the celebrity at the eighth convocation of Covenant University, Ota, where he led 1,495 other graduands with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.92 last Friday.

    The Civil Engineering graduate said in an interview that trusting God and being focused helped him to be the best.

    “First, I must acknowledge God’s favour and His support over me. Second, I did not entertain any form of distractions. I did not attend parties, and I did not have any girlfriend or what you may refer to as a lover. I concentrated on my studies all through,” he said.

    However, the beginning was not that smooth for the boy as he said he struggled to make sense of the school’s rules and regulations.

    “My first few days in the university campus were uneventful,” Eromhonsele recounted. I used to be a bit a confused because then I was not used to the prayer regime that had been part Covenant University. Along the line, I realised spirituality formed one of its core values, and that CU doesn’t not compromise on that; so I had to find my rhythm and as soon as I did that, there was no looking back for me.”

    But those virtues, though demanding, are what helped the 20-year old make it to the top and won him endless applause at the convocation held at the university chapel for the first time.

    Once he found his bearing, Eromhonsele said he ‘hugged’ his books between 10pm and 1.00am every night.

    “Those are the hours I found most convenient to read. As soon as I closed my book, I went to bed. I woke up at 7am, and got ready for my classes. Our lectures start at 8am,” he said.

    Apart from being the best overall student, Eromhonsele also won additional crown- he was the Best Student in the College of Science and Technology where he read Civil Engineering.

    Eromhonsele plans to study Structural Engineering at postgraduate level so he can help to improve Nigeria’s construction industry.

    “I have already secured admission to the University of Surrey in the United kingdom to read Structural Engineering for my masters. I chose this particular course because I feel the need to improve on the structural aspects of construction works.”

    The second child of a civil engineer father and a mother who is into business, Eromhonsele, thanked his parents Mr Gabriel and Mrs Charity for their unflinching support which he believes culminated in his victory.

    “My parents contributed in no small measure to my education and of course my victory today. Besides, they always counsel and remind me of my background and the son of whom I am, warning me not to go off track as a result of this,” he said.

    Aside his parents, he equally acknowledged inputs from his teachers whom he said also helped shaped his career.

    On what lessons he would be taking home from his alma mater, Eromhonsele said one thing he learned was that the kind of company one keeps definitely determines one’s future.

    At the ceremony, the Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, counseled graduating students to embrace transformational rather than transactional leadership.

    Nebo in his address titled: “Transformational leadership and the Quest for Global Relevance”, noted that leadership in the 21st century is globally more challenging and calls for people who can influence others more creatively to attain organisational goals.

    At the convocation tagged: ‘Release of Eagles 2013; held at the university’s chapel, CU produced 144 first class, 720 second class upper; 565 second class lower graduands, while 67 made third class.

    At the post graduate level, the university graduated 111 masters, and 30 doctorate degree recipients.

    Nebo who addressed a large crowd comprising principal officers of the university, guests, parents and students, described transformational leaders as role models who inspire their subordinates, change their organisational culture by implementing new ideas, and achieve higher ideals and moral values, among others.

    He said: “This is a period when new leaders are needed who can adequately balance speed in a rapidly changing world, uncertainty and leadership to evolve the future.

    “The world economy is now global. We now live in a global, highly competitive village driven by knowledge. The world has evolved into a global knowledge economy that has no patience for ignorance and indolence.”

    The minister said just as President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformational agenda is on course, he expects that the graduands who leave their alma mater and join the transformational train to make Nigeria economy better.

    Nebo told the graduands that as children whose parents have invested heavily in them, they cannot afford to fail.

    Henceforth, Nebo charged them to be job creators rather than job seekers going by the status of the university that produced them.

    He said: “Sub-Saharan Africa is featuring a robust growth and Nigeria is one of the growth leaders. Indeed, Sub-Sahara Africa is enjoying the longest period of sustained economic growth in her history. Around the globe, Africa is being looked upon as a ray of hope, the next big opportunity, the place to invest, and the bastion of growth. These opportunities promise to come if we are able to bring about transformational change in the way we do business, in our education system, in our focus on entrepreneurship and our quest to promote creativity and flexibility.”

    The Minister praised the CU Founder and Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, describing him as a man with passion and big dream for university education, which he has demonstrated with CU which now ranks among the best institutions in the country.

    Guests at the occasion include the first woman Vice-chancellor in the history of Nigeria, Prof Grace Alele Williams, Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbwesola represented by the Commissioner for Environment Prof Olubukola Oyawole and Minister of Education Prof Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai’i who was represented by Prof H. Essien from the National Universities Commission (NUC), traditional rulers, among others.

     

  • ‘Why public universities produce few first class graduates’

    ‘Why public universities produce few first class graduates’

    Micheal Osayi emerged the 2013 best graduating student of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, with a total CGPA of 4.926. In this interview with Samuel Akpan and Sonia Nwosu, the Civil Engineering graduate who hails from Edo State, speaks on his academic accomplishments, dream of becoming a first class graduate and how he emerged best graduating student.

    Who is Michael Osayi? 

    I am the second child of Engr Gabriel Eromhonsele and Mrs. Charity Eromhonsele. I am 21 years old. I am from Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State. I am a lover of God, a lover of people, and a lover of soccer. I am a critical thinker and solution provider.

    Give a brief background of your academic accomplishments?

     During my primary education, I was usually among the top three in my class. In junior secondary school, I was a little above average. It was during my senior secondary education that I began to take academics seriously. After the first year of my senior secondary education, I finished as the best in my class (SS1B) and won an award in mathematics. At the end of my second year, I was the 2nd best in SS2 class and won the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN) award. I finished my secondary education as the best graduating student and as a finalist in the Maltina National Reading competition.

    Did you aspire to be a first class graduate?

    When I gained admission into Covenant University in 2008 my goal was to leave with a first class degree and I thank God that I was able to achieve it.

    What motivates and inspires you?

     My major source of inspiration is God’s word- the Bible. According to Dr. David Oyedepo, every other book informs but the Bible transforms.

    Is Michael all about academics or are there more sides to him?

     During my stay in Covenant University, I was privileged to engage in some social and leadership activities. I was a course representative from 100-500 level and engineering class representative from 100-300 level. I was a floor representative, floor chaplain, and wing chaplain in 200 level. I was an executive in my department in 300 level and an executive in communion unit of CU’s chaplaincy. I was also privileged to be the financial secretary of TechWeek 2011.

    What lessons did you learn from Covenant University?

     The first and foremost lesson is the fact that without being a friend of the Holy Spirit you cannot achieve and maintain good success. The second is the fact that the people you have around determine the events in your life. During the first semester of 200 level, I offered 14 courses and held five leadership positions but by the help of the Holy Spirit I finished with a 4.95 GPA that semester. That was when I learnt the first and foremost lesson.

     What’s next for Michael?

     My future ambition is to become one of the leading structural engineering consultants in the world.

    What roles did the school play in molding you?

     The events that occurred during my stay in Covenant University have made me spiritual, diligent, and responsible, built my capacity, given me a possibility mentality, and have taught me sacrifice. Covenant University has played a major role in molding me.

    What is your  formula  for academic excellence?

     First of all, you have to know that you are a success not because of your talents or abilities but because of Christ in you. Secondly, you have to prepare wisely by making sure you attend all lectures, do all assignments, and start studying early. Finally, try to study with your friends and make sure you teach others.

    What is your reaction to the growing concern about increase in first class graduates produced by private institutions?

    It is not a concern to me but a blessing to Nigeria. Most of the lecturers in public universities believe that a first class result should be for a few people, so they try their best to frustrate their students to ensure that they “suffer” in order to obtain a first class. Also the environment and infrastructure is not conducive for learning in most public universities. This also hinders the students from expressing their full potential. But in private universities like Covenant University, the infrastructure is good, the environment is good, and lecturers give students the scores they “deserve”. In summary, in most public universities the mentality of “suffering” is built into their students but in Covenant University, students are built with a mentality of “sacrifice”.

    What is your advice to other students?

    My advice to students is for them to live their lives for a purpose and not for pleasures. A life lived for a purpose brings fulfillment and pleasures but a life lived for pleasures brings poverty and corruption. There is a time for everything under the sun. Do the right thing at the right time. 

  • Covenant University holds 8th convocation

    Covenant University holds 8th convocation

    Covenant University would hold its eighth convocation ceremony next week.

    The ceremony tagged: “The Release of Eagles 2013” would take place from July 24 to 28 at the University Chapel, Canaanland, Ota, Ogun State.

    The five-day event would begin with special convocation assembly, after which the Chancellor of institution, Dr. David Oyedepo, would address a World Press Conference.

    Also lined up for the ceremony is a convocation lecture on Thursday, July 25. This would be delivered by a former Executive Secretary, National Council for Tertiary Education, Ghana, Dr. Paul Effah.

    He would speak on the topic: “Repositioning African Universities for Excellence: Theoretical and Practical Perspectives.”

    The award of First and Higher Degrees, and presentation of prizes to worthy grandaunts holds on Friday, July 26. The keynote address for the day would be delivered by the Honourable Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo. He would speak on “Transformational Leadership and the Quest for Global Relevance”

    The ceremony ends with a Special Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, July 28 at Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota.