Welcome Address Of The Vice Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello, Mni, Fnli, Npom, Fspsp At The Interdenominational New Year Prayer For The Year 2024 Held On Tuesday, 2Nd January 2024

Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic, Prof. O. OMOBITAN

Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike BOYO

The Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel FANU

The Bursar, Mr. Saidi OLAYINKA

University Librarian, Dr. Omawumi Makinde

Leaders of our Religious Communities

All Members of the University here present

Our world class students

Good morning and happy new year.

It is my joy to warmly receive you all back at work after the brief holiday and to welcome you to this interdenominational prayer programme with which we commit the new year to the hands of the Almighty God. We instituted this prayer in recognition that God must be put first in all things and I can say it has been working for this university.

I acknowledge the presence of the leaders of our religious communities who would be conducting the prayers and indeed, everyone present this morning.

My speech this morning will be brief, because we have another important programme after this. However, I will begin on a note of gratitude. I give thanks to the Almighty God who has spared our lives to witness the new year 2024. What can we give to God for all His goodness over us and our university? Brothers and sisters, Nothing but thanks.

The book of Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Similarly, a prominent verse from Suratul Rahman, says “which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?” My dear colleagues, which of the favours of God can we deny?  Is it the favour of life? Of surviving that challenging year 2023? Of good health? Of peace that is reigning on our campus? We have every reason to thank God today.

Today, I also want to thank you my dear colleagues for keeping faith with us, believing in us and supporting our administration. Like all normal human societies, we all had our expectations, both as workers and as management. But even though the socio-economic reality of the country made it difficult to achieve all of them or meet all expectations, in the year, we were still able to resolve all differences and work together for the progress of our university.

2023 was a tough year especially on the economic front, not just in LASU, but everywhere. However, it was also a year that took us significantly closer to our vision of becoming the best University in West Africa. Together, we wrote a better chapter of our story as an institution with the achievement of several lasting developments.

Some of our wins in the year includes successfully conducting the 26th Convocation Ceremonies with unprecedented level of success and producing the best graduating student in history of the university, getting the NUC’s approval to commence 21 new programmes and being recognized as Nigeria’s most digitally advanced State University with three awards at the Nigeria Technology Awards, amongst others. It is also to our collective credit that we had an uninterrupted academic calendar, it means that some of our staff did not enjoy the luxury of a deserved holiday throughout the year.

I acknowledge the sacrifices that we made, and from the depth of my heart, I thank you.

Having said that, I have a message for us today, let’s be patient, let’s be hopeful, everything will be alright. As the Yorubas will say, “Ti a ba ni suru, oun ti o to nbo wa seku”. It means, if we are patient, that which is not enough will still become abundant. Let’s keep hope alive. Let’s encourage ourselves, let’s strengthen ourselves. There is a better tomorrow to look forward to. Under my administration and by the grace of God, LASU will work for all of us. We will all enjoy the fruit of our labour in this land. We will not die before we enjoy the rewards of our hardwork.  “owo wa  ni gbogbo wa ma fi gba eto wa o”.

However, I urge us to always stand for what is true and fair at all times.  Always let the betterment of this university be in your heart. Let’s commit ourselves anew to hardwork and dedication knowing that the future of our children and those to come is at stake. LASU is our collective projects, Let’s make it work.

Let’s sing this song together, “LASU yi ti gbogbo wa ni, ko ma gbodo baje, tori kosi university miran ti a le lo, gbeeeee kajo gbeeeee”

I thank you and God bless you.

We are LASU, we are Great.

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, mni, fnli, NPOM, FSPSP,

Vice Chancellor.