“Government alone cannot support universities to the extent that is required….A lot will have to come from the Alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all over the world are run.
REMARKS BY THE VICE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, AT THE 2017 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS AND CELEBREATION OF UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS AT 55 IN ORIENTAL HOTEL, LEKKI, LAGOS ON FRIDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2017
PROTOCOLS
It is a special occasion for me and I was determined to stay till the very end because it is not often that one gets a chance to enjoy the company of many who have either been colleagues or seniors in the same university and in any event it is not often that one gets to celebrate the 55th anniversary of a great institution.
I want to say that UNILAG has proved time and time again to be not just a university of first-choice but also the university of firsts! So many firsts in different areas; just reading about Doctor Olukoya, he was the first to clone genes. Hardly anyone would know that the pastor and founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles was also the first to clone genes. That is an absolutely outstanding thing.
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was also the first Nigerian to get a PhD in a Nigerian university in Applied Mathematics. I think that there are so many other Firsts, but the most important thing today is to ensure that those firsts do not become the last. We must ensure we continue in the great traditions of the University of Lagos and this is why I am so excited to see a lot of committed alumni who want to see to it that our University goes from glory to glory.
It is important that we do so because just as the pro-chancellor pointed out, government alone cannot support universities to the extent that is required, to keep them even at the current levels. A lot will have to come from the Alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all over the world are run.
I am so excited to see that our fund raising project is one that has clearly shown the way to go with respect to developing our University.
I would like to congratulate all our awardees of today, and I want to say that not only are their achievements worthy of celebration, the fact that you come from such a great institution and honoured by the institution is real reason for us to congratulate you and rejoice with you.
I would like to thank every one and hope that when we celebrate our 60th, we will all be here, and we will all be here to celebrate the 70th,80th and 100th as well, for the young ones among us like Wale Babalakin and co!
God bless you all, thank you.