AREGBESOLA TASKS UNIVERSITIES ON MANDATE DELIVERY AS HE COMMISSIONS KINGS VARSITY

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state yesterday commissioned Kings University Odeomu even as he urged the nation’s universities to desist from alleged conducts capable of causing undue distraction from the mandate they are expected to deliver to enhance rapid transformation of the society.

He said the university system is supposed to engage in intellectual activities that would lift the society saying alleged report of sexual harassment and exploitation, victimisation, cultism, and prostitution have become common occurrences and denting the image of the ivory tower.

He spoke yesterday at the maiden matriculation, official presentation and investiture of Chancellor of Kings University,Odeomu,Osun state, Bishop Mathew Ashimolowo.

He said alleged degeneration in the university if not checked was capable of destroying the nation’s education system.

Governor Aregbesola who advised the matriculating students to imbibe the culture of hardwork and ethos of Omoluabi also tasked them they acquire skills capable of making them self employed after graduation instead of looking for paid jobs which he said are difficult to come by.

He said,’’You should know from the beginning that you should not leave this university and then bew searching for jobs that are not there..Therefore, you must ensure you acquire practical skills that will enable you to overcome the challenges of unemployment and shrinking job opportunities in our country’.

‘’There is a huge opportunity before you to make you what you have carved out for yourselves to become.

He commended the proprietor of the university, Bishop Mathew Ashimolowo for his vision in establishing the university.
Aregbesola also apologised for the inability of his government to complete the construction of the Gbongan-Akoda Road and other road infrastructure in other parts of the state blaming the stagnation of the projects on paucity of fund.

He urged the management of the university to relate to their immediate environment and the country at large in a way that would bring improvement to the life of the people.

The Chancellor of the university,Bishop Ashimolowo noted that the nation still requires more universities to cater for the interest of millions of candidates seeking admission for higher education.

He explained the vision of the university is to train and produce future leaders who should be able to do things differently to
accelerate the development of the country.

Ashimolowo noted that Africa is blessed with everything it needed to take its rightly position in world affairs but regretted that leadership has remained an inhibiting factor.

He said, ‘’In our little way aimed at contributing to the development of the society,Kings University is out to transform minds. The great
challenge in our society is that people are informed but they are not transformed’’. he said.

He noted that paid job is only capable of making man a little above broke but entrepreneurship will liberate him and make him to be more creative and conquer the world’’.

Stressing that the current students in the university are mainly on scholarship provided by the university, he said the objective was to make entrepreneurship a core programme to be taught as part of the school curriculum.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Oladiran Famurewa in his speech expressed delight that the university had become a reality.

Famurewa,who expressed deep gratitude to the defunct Implementation Committee of the university headed by Professor Sola Akinrinade said the university aimed at establishing a culture that would make the students above their peers in the society.

He assured stakeholders that management would show sense of responsibility,openness and credibility in the conduct of its affairs.

Dignitaries present at the event included Deputy Governor of Osun,Titi Laoye Tomori,,the Ooni of Ife,Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi,Ojaja 11 and Olori Wuraola,other traditional rulers,representatives of universities,sSenators Iyiola Omisore,Yinka Omilani ,Olasunkanmi Akinlab, ex-Minister of Police Affairs,Alhaji Jejili Adesiyan,, Professor Muib Opeloye among others