Universities must continue to be places of ideas – VP Osinbajo

By Amaka Abayomi

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has said universities must continue to be places of ideas as communities and the nation depend on the thinking of those in these varsities to grow the economy.

Speaking at the home coming reception and recognition award held in honour of the Vice President, four state governors and a deputy governor, Osinbajo said the university must remain a place of great ideas and inspiration and the only way is to make the varsity comfortable for the best minds amongst them.

Also honoured were Governors Akin Ambode of Lagos, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, Chief Willie Obiano of Anambra, Mr. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom and Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, Deputy Governor Abia State.
Osinbajo said “the University of Lagos has defined my life in so many ways and that is why I decided to become a teacher. Even today, the first thing that is known about me is that I am a university teacher.

“Universities must continue to be places of great ideas that would grow the economy and this can be achieved by making them comfortable enough for the great minds to come up with great ideas that would benefit the economy.”

In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, said the gathering would serve to motivate the students to show them that hard work, diligence and dedication to work pays and these are the hallmarks of success.
Bello said “Unilag is 53 years and has produced great individuals who have proven their worth wherever they find themselves. The varsity continues to excel in its academic pursuit and all round development of its students.

On the 1st of November 1962, the first lecture was held here with a student population of 131. Now the student enrolment stands at 52,779.

“It is interesting to note that apart from the Vice President, who is an alumnus of the Faculty of Law, the other guests are Accountants with Governors Ambode, Obiano, Emmanuel and Deputy Governor Chukwu are graduates of Department of Accounting while Governor Dankwamba is an alumnus of the Department of Economics.
“In the face of gradual reduction in government funding of education, occasioned by the decline in oil price, we need to look inwards as the varsity has nobody to turn to but its alumni and friends of the varsity.”

Speaking on behalf of the Governing Council, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Prof. Jerry Gana, said the gathering is to celebrate the alumni who have achieved a lot in their fields of endeavours.
He said “On behalf of the Council, we welcome and salute the awardees. We are proud to say that they all drank from Nigeria’s foremost citadel of learning – UNILAG.”
Advising students to take advantage of the great brains that are in this varsity, the Anambra State governor, Mr. Willie Obiano, said “Unilag is a great institution that has produced some of the best people in Nigeria and I am very grateful to have passed through this great institution for my first and second degrees.

This is the highest award one can get as an alumni of this institution.”
Pointing out that Ivory Towers have critical and strategic roles to play in the growth and development of any nation, the Deputy Governor, Abia State, Ude Oko Chukwu, commended the varsity management and Governing Council for finding them worthy of such honours.

Chukwu said “in Nigeria, Unilag has remained, among other things, a veritable vehicle to drive and grow the development initiatives of the Nigerian nation for the optimum benefits of the people. Varsities are, therefore, the precursors and catalysts for national development and progress.”
Present at the awards were the Vice Chancellor; the Deputy Vice Chancellors; management staff, members of the Governing Council, including the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Media, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye; President of the Alumni, Dr. Sonny Kuku; among other dignitaries.