The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kolawole Salako has called on members of the University community to always embrace peace. Speaking during the 28th Annual Christmas Carol of the Chapel of Grace, Prof. Salako, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Development), Prof. Clement Adeofun, stated that there can only be development when there is peace. The Vice Chancellor admonished members of staff and students to ensure peaceful coexistence, stating that over the years, the University Management had been able to make remarkable achievements because of the presence of peace on campus. Prof. Salako advised all to be humble, stressing that one of the main lessons that the life and times of Christ had taught man is humility and that Christmas signifies peace, as a gift
from Christ to the world.
The guest minister at the service, Bishop Jide Orire of the Save and Serve Christ Family Church, Ibadan, Oyo State, charged Nigerians to embrace the cross of Jesus, stating that without Christ, humanity would be lost forever without any hope. In his Christmas message titled “Jesus the Shining Light”, Bishop Orire disclosed that at the beginning of creation, man died and became the ‘enemy’ of God as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. He reiterated God’s love for humanity, stating that His love and compassion for mankind prompted Him to give man power over all other things created by God, noting that the birth and death of Christ had reconciled man back to God by becoming partakers in the inheritance of the saints.
The Bishop encouraged the congregation to come to repentance since there is no other way that man be saved except by the name of Jesus. In the same vein, the Presiding Bishop of the Covenant Life Way Church, CampAlabata Road, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Bishop Richard Ige urged Nigerians at home and abroad to put all their troubles before Christ. Bishop Ige, who is also the Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Odeda Local Government Chapter, highlighted the reason for the Christmas season, which he described as centering on Jesus and that there is no government nor person that can solve their problems, except Christ.
Earlier, the Chaplain, Chapel of Grace, Prof. Christian Ikeobi expressed his gratitude to God Almighty for the good things that He had done for the chapel and the University at large, stating that the first carol service of the chapel was held in 1993 at the old campus of the University at IsaleIgbein. He appreciated both academic and non-teaching staff of FUNAAB for making it a point of duty to attend the service despite the ongoing strike. At the occasion, there were carol presentations by the Choir and Drama Unit of the Chapel and Bible recitations by the children from the chapel’s missionary field from Egbeda, Lagbuta, and Ojoo villages, among others.