The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Oyewole, has called for the support, understanding and fervent prayers from members of the University community, to transform FUNAAB into a world-class University. Professor Oyewole, while speaking on the first working day special Christian and Muslim prayer sessions, organised in the University simultaneously to usher-in the New Year, sought the cooperation of all stakeholders while expressing his optimism that whatever challenge the University may be facing at the moment, would soon become a thing of the past.
“I see our challenges as surmountable. We need to brace-up. We need to work together. There is need for change in our attitude”, the Vice-Chancellor stated. Professor Oyewole also stressed the need for the University stakeholders to come up with new ideas and innovations that would make FUNAAB a leading citadel of learning, noting that Management was ready to accept useful and necessary changes that would improve the system. The Vice-Chancellor, who is also the President, Association of African Universities (AAU), called for unity of purpose in the task of building the University, stressing the need to treat students with love and deserved respect, as he encouraged the students to acquire the necessary skills that would help them secure a bright future and never forget to have the fear of God in whatever they do.
In his sermon, the Pastor-in-Charge, Ogun Province I of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor (Professor) Michael Aduradola, said Jesus Christ remains the real path to peace, health, breakthrough, abundance, marital bliss, opening of impossible doors, success and ultimately, access to heaven. He admonished Christians to approach the throne of grace in 2016 for them to fully realise their dreams and aspirations, as prayers were offered for the peace, progress, economic development and prosperity of the University and the country at large, during the service.
Similarly, at the FUNAAB Muslim Community Mosque, the Vice-Chancellor has appreciated members of the University community for their contributions over the years. The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the University Librarian, Dr. Mulikat Salaam, lauded all the stakeholders for their commitments. The Chief Imam of the mosque, Professor Idris Ayinde, who was represented by the Deputy Imam, Dr. Sarafadeen Abdulkareem, advised leaders to be wary of their positions, as they were bound to be surrounded by many friends and associates in the course of moving-up in their careers, warning that human beings easily get intoxicated with power. He expressed his appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor for promoting qualified members of staff, appropriately.
The Chief Imam also encouraged members of the community to always support their leaders because whenever a leader failed, the entire community would suffer for it, as he prayed for the success of people in leadership positions, noting that everybody had the potential of becoming leaders. The Amir, FUNAAB Muslim Community, Professor Kehinde Okeleye, advocated for peace and tranquility in the University and the country in general, adding that without peace there could never be any development, as he prayed for peace, the less-privileged and troubled spots in the nation. The leader of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Mr. Lukmon Afolabi, who represented the FUNAAB Students’ Union, prayed for God’s protection on the students, as he advised them to diligently face their studies.
