By Babatunde Philips
Ado Ekiti
As the Vice Chancellor Ekiti State University Professor Edward Olanipekun marks the third year anniversary in the leadership of the Citadel of learning with a thanksgivng service, dignitaries from in and outside the state have gathered to celebrate the tremendous development witnessed in the school in the last three years.
Top government Functionaries including the Secretary to the Ekiti State Government, Mr Foluso Daramola, Body of Permanent Secretaries, Representatives of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Principal Officers and other senior officials of the university as well as Clergymen of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti made a conference at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy, Ekiti State University.
In his homily, Rev. Fr. Lawrence Adetola charged those in positions of authority to take a cue from the legacies of Olanipekun whom he said was humble in the service to God and humanity.
According to him, whoever God has favoured, needs to know that the purpose and the position is an opportunity to serve and not to aggrandize wealth or victimize others. “Those who God has favoured should not use the position to oppress their subordinates”
Fr. Adetola observed that people are too desperate to get into positions of authority because of the entitlements attached to the office, rather than to offer quality service, adding that such desperados do not have anything tangible to offer.
The Catholic priest commended Professor Olanipekun for having the mind of thanksgiving and for not forgetting that it is the mercy of God that made him the Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Edward Olanipekun emphasized the need to thank God in every situation, hence the need for the event.
A statement by the Head, Directorate of Information & Corporate Affairs, Mr Bode Olofinmuagun noted that the VC commended the various staff unions in the university for their cooperation, he appealed to them to reconsider their position on the current nationwide strike action in the interest of Ekiti State University, being a State institution with its own peculiarities.
Speaking briefly before his benediction, the Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaye prayed for the early resolution of the ongoing ASUU strike. He urged ASUU to restrategize in view of the fact that the union is negotiating with a seemingly deaf and dumb government.