The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Honour

  • CU alumni honour Chancellor Oyedepo

    CU alumni honour Chancellor Oyedepo

    IT would not have been out of place if a big party was organised to celebrate the 58th birthday of Bishop David Oyedepo, Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota Thursday last week.

    However, the alumni association of the institution decided to set the day aside for service to humanity.

    In the quiet of the African leadership Development Centre of the university, members of the alumni who launched a new initiative tagged: Dr David Oyedepo Day of Service (DODOS), which president of the group, Muyiwa Fadugba said will focus on providing environmental, health, education, social services to communities.

    “Today, we are gathered to institute the lifestyle of Dr David Oyedepo as a legacy for generations to come. We have come to establish our commitment to be the extension of his hands and heart, as we subscribe to an annual day of service to humanity. We have come in this manner today to bring to birth the desires of Dr Oyedepo that we would do greater things than he has done in his lifetime. We have come to identify with a man who has demonstrated the greatest value in life- loving people and serving them. We have come to pledge our allegiance and followership to his philosophy of taking the lead in meeting the needs of others,” he said.

    Fadugba added that non-CU alumni interested in participating can register their interest on a website dedicated to the intiative (www.davidoyedepodayofservice.com).

    Eulogizing Oyedepo, Pastor Abraham Ojeme, Vice President (Foreign Missions) of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, owners of Covenant University, said, “service is not just doing; service is a lifestyle. He is an embodiment of the love for God and love for man; the whole of his heart panting after God and after men. He is an enigma, and the way we can have more of him is to reproduce his own spirit so that we can have more of him in our own lives and this world will be a better place.”

    Speaking earlier, The CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Aize Obayan who commended CULCA’s initiative said the gesture is also an extension of the three key mantra of a university.

    “Universities all over the world are known for teaching, research community service. Even education must translate into contributions. A university cannot just celebrate its certificates, its contributions that come out of its graduates, research findings by its teachers are also able to add to the society.”

    “It’s commendable of the alumni association to flag this day particularly for the Chancellor who has given his whole life for service even from childhood. Now our eagles are all over the world, carrying out the light of education. So, this service mentality is the mentality to think others which we have seen in the life of the Chancellor who has given himself to working 16 18 hours a day.”

  • African students honour YABATECH Rector

    As the All Africa Students Union (AASU) inducted the Rector of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Margaret Kudirat Ladipo, into its hall of fame Friday last week, other heads of institutions were urged to learn from her leadership skills.

    The students also honoured YABATECH with the Outstanding Institution award and presented the Rector with a plaque and a framed tribute of herself.

    Presenting the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award at the Conference Room of the institution, the AASU General Secretary, Comrade Olufemi Lawson, said the likes of Dr Ladipo and other past recipients of the award were examples of the kind of leaders Africa needed to get to the Promised Land.

    He said underdevelopment in Africa was as a result of poor leadership and not resources, adding that the AASU awards are aimed at identifying leaders with qualities that lift the continent to a place of pride in world affairs.

    Among other attributes, Lawson said Dr Ladipo was found worthy of the award because of the cordial relationship she has with students, who fondly call her Aunty Kudi.

    He said: “YABATECH has entered the list of those institutions we find worthy in Africa. We are here not just to celebrate the milestones of YABATECH but to challenge others to use the institutions to learn that things can be done right. Since our mother took over, the student/management relationship has been peaceful. Nigeria has the highest record of student/management conflict in Africa.

    “When the nomination came, a lot of persons on the panel did not know much about Madam Rector. But when I googled her name, I found not less than 1,000 entries and I can tell that not one was negative,” he said.

    In her response, Dr Ladipo said she was humbled by the gesture, one that she treasures above other accolades.

    “My beloved students, I realise that this award is in recognition of the humble achievements that I have been able to record in the course of my stewardship as Rector of this great institution. It is indeed a reference point of recognition for my contributions to the educational development of our youths. This is quite remarkable, considering the fact that this honour is only bestowed on eminent Africans, who have distinguished themselves in their various endeavours,” she said.

  • Surveyors get 17 Fellows

    The Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) has elevated 17 members to Fellows.
    The new Fellows, according to a statement, were administered with the oath of office at an investiture last month, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    NIS President Hon Bode Adeaga, in a remark, said the members admitted Fellows were worthy of the honour.
    Adeaga charged them to maintain the “highest moral standard and untainted integrity”, as well as “uphold a strict code of personal and professional conduct at all times.”

    In a message on the occasion, Governor of Oyo State Senator Abiola Ajimobi challenged the surveyors to contribute to efforts that will make a difference in the economy and also “play by the rules”.

    Speaking on the theme “Explaining the Security Challenges in Contemporary Nigeria,” the guest speaker, Prof. Isaac Olawale Albert, said surveyors had a key role in the overall security of the country.

    The professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, at the University of Ibadan, charged them to contribute to efforts to bring lasting peace to the polity, as professionals cannot practise in an atmosphere of crisis and violence.

    On the rising campaign of violence by the Boko Haram sect, Albert advised the government to dialogue with the extremist sect which is the greatest threat to the country’s corporate existence. He argued that the “use of force” would not solve the long-drawn crisis.

    Aside the 17 Fellows, the professional body also bestowed awards of “distinguished fellows” on 27, some of them elderly members for their “passion, commitment and contribution” to uplifting the institution.

  • Yaba College honours NIQS boss

    President of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS ) Mr Agele Alufohai has been honoured with a special award for professional excellence.

    The award, according to a statement was given by the School of Environmental Studies, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos at the fourth edition of the school’s Lecture/Award ceremony.

    The event, which was hosted by the School of Environmental Studies and held at the College Hall, had as its theme: The role of good governance in national development.

    Speaking the Chairman and Dean, School of Technology, Mr Adigun, said that the award was given toAlufohai in recognition of his contribution to the industry in the past three decades.

    He advised Alufohai and other awardees to consider the honour bestowed on them as a fresh call to contribute more to the growth and development of the Building/Construction environment and the nation at large, adding that the world is aware of their excellent performance and that posterity will never forget them.

    The Chairman used the occasion to advise students to continue with their quest for the top as they are the future of this great nation and the Environmental Society at large.

    In his lecture delivered at the event, Dr. G. S. Mmaduabuchi Okeke of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, said that good governance requires continued support for a strong and vibrant civil society that would engage the government in a constructive manner to bring about accountability and transparency in governance, and ultimately engender meaningful development.

    He further urged the gathering to build a strong education sector with enlightened citizenry which will aid building a strong economy for the people.

    In his speech, Alufohai thanked the Dean, Staff and Students of the school for the award. He added that the Quantity Surveyors Board remains committed to assisting the nation and citizens in the development of the country’s landscape especially in advocating for an effective economic policy framework that will channel the government’s energy towards ensuring proper project management. He therefore urged students to develop self-confidence and position themselves as prized asset to their employers.

    In appreciation of the award, Alufohai instituted the Agele Alufohai Academic Excellence Endowment, which will provide scholarship to cover school fees, accommodation and feeding for the best overall Quantity Surveying Student studying for National Diploma (ND) 1 & 2 and Higher National Diploma (HND) 1. Akintunde Oyewale subsequently emerged
    successful as the first candidate to win the award. Similarly, the best overall student in HND 2 category will henceforth win N100, 000 annually under the endowment. He assured that the scholarship will last for as long as there is life, noting that this will encourage students to put in their best to academic performance.

    Alufohai is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors and Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyor of United Kingdom and Ireland and a graduate of Yaba College of Technology.