The founder and newly inaugurated chancellor of KolaDaisi University Ibadan (KDU-I), Bashorun of Ibadan Land, Chief Kola Daisi, has donated a special endowment fund worth N1,000 000 000 billion as his initial subscription to the university’s Endowment Fund.
Chief KolaDaisi, who disclosed this at the maiden convocation ceremony and installation of chancellor of the university last Thursday said he gave the fund to commemorate the maiden convocation of the four-year old university and that the university might attain the competitiveness and distinction that he envisaged.
He expressed the hope that the fund would serve as a reassurance that the future is bright for the institution.
“My dream for KolaDaisi is to achieve the fame and renown of a ‘Havard’ or ‘Cambridge’ and I trust that with the support of all the stakeholders, the good Lord will make the actualisation of this lofty dream a reality,” he said.
Delivering the first convocation lecture of the university, the vice president, Professor Yemi Osibajo, charged the newly graduated students of the institution to believe that they have all that it takes to succeed.
“Do not accept or believe the story that you will not succeed or that the years that are gone by were better than yours. Always be suspicious of those who always talk about the good old days. You are graduating in the most advanced moment in human history,” he said.
He also enjoined them to be determined to be known for integrity, reliability and diligence and be prepared for opportunities in life, just as he stressed the place of character and self-discipline in achieving great success in life.
“Character is self-discipline. There are many talented people who do not succeed, probably because they lack self-discipline. It is self-discipline that enables you to take up opportunities when they come. Opportunity, they say, knocks; but these days, it whispers. Most people have great hope and dreams, but are hardly prepared for the opportunity when they come.”
While harping on integrity as basic honesty and trustworthiness as virtues the graduates must possess, he said “trust, and not money, is the real currency of interaction whether it is commercial or social. If people find you trustworthy, the class of the degree you have will not matter. Everybody is looking for a trustworthy person to partner with or to employ.”
Also speaking at the event, the pro-chancellor and chairman governing council, Professor Adeniyi Osuntoogun, said though the license for the establishment of the university was granted by the National Universities Commission in November 2016, the commitment of the founder has been commendable in providing funds and resources for the running of the university.
He congratulated the founder and proprietor of the institution on his installation as the first chancellor of the institution, while he appreciated other members of the Board of Trustees, formally under the chairmanship of late Emeritus Professor Oladipo Akinkungbe, as well as the contribution of the former principal officers of the institution.
The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, who was represented by the Director of Finance and Accounts, Mr Sam Onanzi, in his goodwill message, congratulated the university on its numerous achievements within the space of four years, saying it’s indeed a milestone.
Former executive secretary National Universities Commission, (NUC), Professor Julius Okogie, under whose tenure the university was license in his speech at the event noted that by all standards as a young university, KDU-I had done very well and he was proud to identify with institution.,
“To me KolaDaisi University has done better than Harvard University, “he said.
The vice chancellor of the institution, Professor Adeniyi Olatubosun, in his address stated that out of the 52 graduating students, 12 graduated with first class, 22 with second class upper division, 17 second class lower division and one third class degrees.
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