| JONATHAN VISITS EKITI SATURDAY FOR AFE BABALOLA VARSITY'S ENDOWMENT FUND |
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| Written by Lere Olayinka | |
| Thursday, 18 March 2010 | |
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The Ekiti State Government is finalizing plans to receive the Acting President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan who will on Saturday lead other dignitaries to the N12 billion endowment fund launch of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD).
Governor Segun Oni who
visited the institution yesterday after a rain storm blew off the roof
of its female hostel, assured that activities lined up for the
university’s first founders day will go on as planned.Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Wale Ojo Lanre, said in a statement made available to journalists that Governor Oni promptly left his office around 7:48 pm, yesterday when he learnt about the damaged, which the rainstorm did to female hostel of the institution. “I am unhappy with this development. But this is our week and nothing must stop us from celebrating a great historic event in the life of Ekiti State. This is a challenge, we will show that we are able and capable,” the Governor told staff and students of the university,” Oni said. Governor Oni, accompanied by his deputy, Alhaji Sikiru Tae Lawal and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, promised that the affected parts of the institution will be repaired within 24 hours and assured that all activities lined up from Thursday to Saturday will go on as planned. Responding on behalf of the students, Miss Titilope Adewale commended the governor for “being a caring governor-parent, who could abandon his home at that point in time and rushed down here this night without postponing it till tomorrow to boost our morale. This showed how compassionate and affectionate the Governor is,” Miss Adewale said. Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Sidi Osho, at a press conference, said the institution which opened its doors four months ago, has started attracting international recognition. Specifically, Prof. Osho said the European Business Assembly last week appointed, Chief Afe Babalola, the university’s founder as the first African honorary vice president of the Club of Rectors in Europe. This is coming closely on Chief Babalola’s appointment as an honorary professor of the International University by the same assembly, a gesture described by the vice chancellor as “an international recognition of the monumental and record-breaking achievements of ABUAD and its founder.” “These are indeed very monumental and unprecedented achievements worthy of celebration and commendation. This is why we have extended invitation to all the people that matter in Nigeria both in government and the private sector, including the acting president,” Prof. Osho said. The university will formally admit its first set of 237 students during its matriculation on Thursday, while on Friday an inaugural lecture titled ‘The Private University and the American Higher Education’ will be delivered by Prof. Arthur Sussman, a professor of law at the University of Chicago, United States of America. Prof. Osho explained that the proceeds of the endowment will be completely devoted to “providing scholarships for indigent students, securing of endowed chairs and projects. The capital will be held in perpetuity in a fixed account and only the earnings will be utilized.” She said that the endowment fund is premised on the vision of Chief Babalola “to establish a 21st century first class university primarily to lead education reform and demonstrate to Nigerians that it is possible to eradicate problems of indiscipline, strikes, unstable academic calendar and cultism in our higher institutions.” The university intends to award full scholarships to 500 indigent and brilliant students by September, this year |
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