Address Delivered by the Acting
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ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE ACTING VICE CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR NOSA OWENS-IBIE AT THE NINETH (9TH) CONVOCATION OF CALEB UNIVERSITY ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 11, 2019 AT THE UNIVERSITY MULTIPURPOSE HALL, IMOTA, LAGOS, NIGERIA. His Excellency, The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu Representatives of other Governors Honourable Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Abubakar Adamu Rasheed Commissioners The Proprietor & Visitor, Dr (Prince) Oladega Adebogun Chancellor Chairman and Members of the Caleb University Board of Trustees. Pro-Chancellor, Chairman of Council and Members Members of University Senate and Congregation Our revered Traditional Rulers Fellow Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of other Universities Eminent Citizens and leaders of collaborating professional bodies Our dear Parents of the Topaz graduating class and other students Members of the 2019 Graduating Class Gentlemen of the Press Ladies and Gentlemen BREAKING FORTH, MARCHING ON We give God All the Glory We give God Honour We give God All the Glory We give God Honour THE UNFOLDING PICTURE: Standing before you today are 10 pioneers of the Caleb University Graduate Development Scheme. They are the future, and represent the blend of intelligence, passion and character. While we have a history of predominantly male academic staff, the Pioneers fully express a deliberate policy by Caleb University, of promoting gender balance, and an acknowledgement of the remarkable performance by the ladies, with strong showing yearly in the top academic performance category. Two of them resigned full-time employment in the country’s top banks, to join this team. With them, we are grooming staff and leadership with unrivalled passion for the Caleb Dream. Showcasing The Pioneers, is symbolic and a message to today’s graduating class, our current students, and the growing community of potential students to whom studying in Caleb University is a dream they are hoping would materialise sooner. When they were demonstrating noticeable commitment to the core values of this university as undergraduates, The Pioneers had no idea that a great cloud of witnesses were taking note. Then from the blues, they were contacted with an offer, and today they are being announced as role models of a new order. At least one of them would one day become the vice-chancellor of this great university. Among today’s graduates are those who will be the next to be celebrated. Let me use this opportunity to announce, as an affirmation of our delight in the take-off of the scheme, starting from November 2019, a member of The Pioneers would serve as Acting VC for a day each month of the year, based on a schedule, while the two leading performers during the one-day tenure would be acting VC for the remaining two months of the year. Going through this unique citadel of learning and character development, is a remarkable journey which some begin to appreciate the more when they get out there and discover that the reality they were prepared for, is not about to change, but is so dynamic and manifesting in manifold sophistication, that only those that know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 11: 32). Sooner, the Topaz. Graduating Class would demonstrate to their world, our world that Nigeria is the breeding ground of geniuses with a lot to offer Talking about Caleb University as a blossoming centre of creativity, we have today also launched the new tune of our school anthem. The new tune is the product of a competition moderated by the student leadership for our students only. Despite the tight timeline, we are immensely proud of our students and delighted at their responsiveness. I specially congratulate the winner of the anthem tune competition, Attah Paul Adu-Ojo, 300 level, Department of Architecture. The new tune is an acknowledgement of their creativity and speaks to the subject of wisdom which ties in to the progression in the name of each graduating class in this university. In 2017, the Emerald class graduated, while the 2018 graduates constituted the Amethyst Class. The 2019 set is the Topaz Class. The Bible in Job 28: 19 speaks about the Topaz of Ethiopia as very precious. Our dear graduating students, you are precious to us and you will be precious to your world, in Jesus name. The Almighty God who has brought you this far will never leave nor forsake you, in Jesus name. We cannot but acknowledge those that God has used to make this day possible. First is our Proprietor, Prince (Dr.) Oladega Adelowo Adebogun; our Chancellor, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd); the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), ever-supportive Professor Peter Akinsola Okebukola, and members of the Board; and our passionate Pro-Chancellor, Professor Fola Tayo and members of the University Council. We thank our dear Parents and stakeholders; distinguished members of Senate and staff of Caleb University; top Government Officials, Traditional Rulers (the Ranodu of Imota and Anyagburen of Ikorodu); Alumni, Gentle persons of the Press; and others too numerous to mention HIGHLIGHT OF ACTIVITIES: Our distinguished Proprietor, Chancellor, Chair of the BoT, Pro-Chancellor, special guests, ladies and gentlemen, permit me to highlight major events last session: 2019 CONVOCATION STATISTICS: Compared to 409 graduates in 2017, and 477 in 2018, 733 students are graduating this year. The details are as stated below: Undergraduate Programmes: a. Total number of First Class 24 b. Total number of Second Class Upper 235 c. Total number of Second Class Lower 255 d. Total number of Third Class 40 e. Total from the undergraduate programmes 554 Postgraduate Programmes: a. Total number of distinctions: 19 b. Total number of pass 160 c. Total 179 NB: Total for Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes is 733. 2 Honourable Mention: Our overall Best Graduating Student in 2019 is Otibhor Imuse, First Class Honours, Biochemistry, with CGPA of 4.85 The overall best graduand at the postgraduate level, is Temitope Adedayo-Ojo, Master of Business Administration, with a CGPA of 4.96. Graduate Development Scheme Ten distinguished graduates of Caleb University pioneered the Graduate Development Scheme as staff of the University - as assistant lecturers or graduate assistants, on October 2, 2019 1. Chiamaka Joyce Ehizenagah, Microbiiology/Industrial Biotechnology 2. Solomon Adekunle Babamboni, Architecture 3. Temitope Siyanbola, Business Administration 4. Ayishat Olanrewaju, Mass Communication 5. Omotola Elizabeth Nejo, Mass Communication 6. Oreoluwa Popoola, Accounting, Finance and Taxation 7. Ogorchukwu Ofili, Economics 8. Chioma Anioke, Political Science and International Relations 9. Racheal Okeyemi, Computer Science 10. Ifeoluwa Oluwatosin Olayemi, Chemistry/Bio-Chemistry/Industrial Chemistry Physical Development 1. The Sports Arena which development had stopped for a couple of months, is scheduled for completion by November 2019 2. The School of Communication – an architectural showpiece, is nearing completion. It is set to be the destination of cutting edge media and communication education nationally and regionally 3. The new Cafeteria building construction has progressed rapidly. It is expected to be completed within the year. Its features include space for students and staff, and to produce variety of food and fruits for clients 4. The remodelling/renovation of the Council Chambers was completed on July 14, with its use commencing on July 15, 2019 International Programmes 1. The bursar, Mr Adesina Abubakre, participated in the “Understanding and Solving Complex Business Problems” programme.held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Boston, USA from March 21-22, 2019 2. The registrar, Mrs Folake Okor, participated in the Canada International Conference on Education at University of Toronto, Mississauga, Canada, from June 23-28, 2019 3. Prof Olusegun Ajibola, Dean, Caleb Business School, participated at the Conference of Rectors, Vice-Chancellors and Presidents of African Universities, of the Association of African Universities, with the theme “The Role of Higher Institutions in Promoting the Continental Education Strategy for Africa”, held at Al-Axhar International Conference Centre, Cairo, Egypt, from July 8-11, 2019 4. The acting VC, Prof Nosa Owens-Ibie, participated in the West Africa Advanced Leadership & Management Program, Singapore, July 22-24, 2019. He received the “2019 Transformational Leadership Award in Organizational Performance”, during the programme 5. Five lecturers and 34 students of the Department of Architecture participated in the Cityscape Conference, at the World Trade Centre, Dubai, from September 24-27, 2019 - Director of Quality Assurance, Dr Moses Akiibinu, is representing Caleb University at the ongoing 7th Conference of the Association of West African Universities, at the Universite D’Abomey Calavi, 3 October 8-12, 2019. He is presenting a paper titled, “Industrialization, Urbanisation and Environmental Pollution: The Ameliorative Efforts of Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria.” Milestones in Scholarship 1. The article of Dr Moses Akiibinu, Associate Professor and Director of Quality Assurance, titled “Metabolic Dysfunctions in Nigerian Pre-eclampics”, and published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, has been rated the best paper in the world in the area of thyroid hormonnogenesis from 2013-2017. Dr Akiibinu has received a letter of commendation from the university for his strides in research. 2. Dr Ernest Onyekachi Nnabuihe,