The Chancellor of Covenant University, David Oyedepo, has admonished the graduates of the university to take responsibility for their lives so as not to become a liability in the future.

Oyedepo, who is also the Founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide gave this charge while addressing the graduands at the 18th convocation ceremony tagged, ‘Release of Eagles 2023′.

He encouraged the new graduates to take responsibility for what life throws at them rather than complaining or blaming others for their failures.

The chancellor also reiterated the institution’s commitment to its unique mode of training.

He said, “As commonly said here, those who will not take responsibility today, will end up as liability tomorrow. Destiny is a non-transferable responsibility. One either faces it or is phased out. Someone has said you are not a failure until you look for whom to blame for it. l believe sound education is the sure foundation for every great nation.

“As a University, we have remained committed to our unique mode of training and the pursuit of our departure philosophy which we refer to as our founding philosophy. May I admonish all our graduates today, to continue to embrace the training gleaned from Covenant University so as to enhance their capacity for exploits in life.

“In conclusion, let me congratulate all parents and guardians of the graduates, because you gave your sons, daughters, or wards access to the best form of education available in the world today.”

In his admonition, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Board of Regent of the institution, David Abioye, enjoined the graduates to not despise an humble beginning.

He also encouraged them not to be deterred when starting small.

He noted, “At this moment, may I say that today you are wearing gown but in the next few hours, it will be absolutely irrelevant as you proceed to town. The only way to gain access to town is by starting small. Town has no regard for your gown but for your impact.

“While your brain is allowed to think great and your mouth to talk great, starting small is non-negotiable, non-optional and mandatory. It is important to note that starting small does not connote being in doubt of one’s greatness, neither does it disprove your vision for greatness; nor does it make one look slow or indolent.

“In the integral process of life, you don’t jump up, rather, you grow up to stay up by starting smal. “Small’ is a relative term which is all about starting from where you are. For instance, as in getting an employment or utilizing what you have as capital in doing business, e.t.c.

“It is as you continue adding to the small that you gradually assume greatness just as Jesus succinctly illustrated in the parable of talents in Matthew 25:14-18. One started with five, another with two but the third buried his, despisefully thinking it was insignificant. Remember the admonition in Zechariah 4:10 that we should not despise the days of small beginning.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Abiodun Adebayo, disclosed that 238 students graduated with First Class among the 1,379 graduates in various degrees.

In his words, I am pleased to inform this distinguished audience that today, we are celebrating the products of our life-applicable learning factory with the conferment of 1,175 Bachelor’s and 204 higher degrees in various disciplines, having found the graduands worthy in character and in learning. In the Bachelor’s degree category, 283 (24.09%) of the graduands made First Class, while 656 (55.83%) are in the Second Class (Upper Division). Also, 214 (18.21%) of the graduands are in the Second Class (Lower Division), and 22 (1.87%) of the graduands are in the Third Class category.

“In the higher degree category, there are 57 persons who are being awarded the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. In the Master’s degree category, there are one hundred and seven (107) persons graduating with a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree, twenty-seven (27) obtaining a Master of Engineering (M.Eng.) degree, while two (2) persons are being conferred with Master of Arts (M.A.) degree. Also, in the professional graduate programme category, eleven (11) of the graduands are being conferred with a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree.”

Adebayo, while congratulating the graduates, urged them to embrace the virtue of an eagle which endures storm to earn its honour.

“I want to congratulate the class of 2023 as you are released as Eagles today. It is evident that you have been equipped to soar higher and conquer unimaginable feats in the name of Jesus Christ. Please don’t despair even when the journey gets tough and stormy but remember that an eagle earns its honour from the storms it endures,” he concluded.

In a remarkable show of solidarity and support, the Kwara State Government has commenced the disbursement of financial assistance to 26,852 students of Kwara State origin in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

The disbursement, which started on Monday, follows a thorough screening process that lasted weeks.

Each beneficiary received a palliative fund of 10,000 Naira directly into their account to augment their expenses in the wake of the fuel subsidy removal.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq says the palliative is a token support for the students. It is another in the multisectoral palliatives that his administration has rolled out since June.

“The distribution of the Palliative Fund is a testament to the government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of its students,” chairman of the students’ palliative committee Prof Shehu Raheem Adaramaja said in a statement announcing the disbursement.

“By extending this financial assistance, the governor is showing empathy to the students and parents who need all the support they can get at this time.

“The disbursement of funds was made directly to the bank accounts of the students, ensuring transparent and efficient allocation. Efforts were made to ensure that the funds were received by students from diverse academic disciplines and backgrounds, helping to cater for the needs of a wide range of deserving students from 140 higher institutions across the country.

“You would recall that an online platform was created some weeks ago for eligible students to register online and provide necessary data, including their bank details.

“At the end of the registration exercise, a total of 30,775 students registered online. In the data verification and analysis carried out by the technical committee, those with incomplete registrations, multiple registrations, forged citizenship certificates, etc, were weeded out, and that pegged the number of beneficiaries at 26,852.

“The Kwara State Government remains resolute in its commitment to the welfare of the people, including students. This is just one of the many initiatives of the government to ease the financial burden on students and foster an atmosphere where they can thrive academically. It is recalled that the administration had similarly rolled our free bus services for students, especially in the metropolis.”

Signed by:

Prof. Shehu Raheem Adaramaja

Chairman, Government Committe on Students’ Palliative Fund/Chairman, Kwara SUBEB

September 26, 2023

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday flagged off the distribution of instructional materials and sports kits to pupils of public basic schools across the 16 local governments of the state.

The gesture, according to the Governor, was part of his administration’s plan to enhance educational standards, and reduce the burden on pupils/students’ parents amid economic reality in the country.

This comes a day after the administration opened bids for the 2020 FGN-UBEC/SUBEB intervention projects, where at least 215 contractors had signified interest.

“This flag-off ceremony for the distribution of both instructional materials and sports kits procured from UBEC/KWSUBEB interventions of 2018 and 2019 matching grants is of great significance to the upliftment of basic education in the state. It reduces the burden on pupils/students’ parents, most especially in this hard time in the country,” he said in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government of the state.

AbdulRazaq, who was represented at the event by Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, said the programme was also aimed at repositioning basic education in the area of sporting activities, and to provide pupils/students with good and sound health.

“Similarly, this administration is working assiduously at ensuring effective teaching and learning of physical education and other subjects in our schools through prompt payment of salary, implementation of promotions, payment of palliative and provision of instructional materials which in turn breeds a conducive teaching and learning atmosphere in our schools,” he added.

AbdulRazaq appreciated key stakeholders who he said are working round the clock in ensuring the success of all programmes of the administration, with particular reference to school leaders, administrators, teachers, and non-teaching staff.

The event was well attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Mrs. Rebecca Bake Olanrewaju; TIC Chairmen for Irepodun Comrade Jide Oyinloye, and Oke-Ero, Hon. Gbenga Yusuf; traditional rulers from Irepodun LG led by the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo Oba Ismaila Yahaya Alebiosu; and former deputy Chief of staff to the Governor, Princess Olubukola Babalola, among others.

Chairman Kwara SUBEB, Prof Raheem Adaramaja, for his part, said Governor AbdulRazaq has been doing so much to reposition the education sector, including the procurement of multi- million naira textbooks and sports kits that he said are meant to make the students physically and mentally fit.

He thanked AbdulRazaq for the prompt response to the yearnings and aspirations of workers in the state, especially the teaching and non-teaching staff.

Adaramaja also praised the federal government through UBEC, the royal fathers, religious leaders and other relevant stakeholders for playing outstanding roles that culminated into the successes of the state government in the sector.

Mrs. Olanrewaju, in her remarks, said what is being witnessed in the state’s education sector is unique and commendable, and affirming all this process is capable of fully reviving the lost glory in that sector.

She appealed to all benefiting schools to make sure that the given items are properly delivered and maintained to achieve the set target.

Olupo of Ajase-Ipo Oba Ismail Yahaya Alebiosu, in his submission, said the project further attests that the administration is focused on changing the face of the education sector that he called a bedrock of any society.

He hailed AbdulRazaq for truly serving the masses, and how his government encourages the youth to fulfill their life dreams, alluding to his ascension to the throne of his forebears at youthful age as a case study.

“We thank His Excellency for deeming it fit to promote education at all times. We pray that Almighty God will continue to be with His Excellency. A government that sincerely has people in mind is the government that always thinks of how to bring its people out of ignorance,” the monarch said.

Some of the instructional materials for distribution include textbooks of Mathematics, English, Basic and Technology, Computer, Nigerian History and Jolly Phonics, plastic chairs and tables, ECCD materials, ICT equipment materials, and toys for ECCD materials among others.

The sports facilities include sets of table tennis, 120 sets of Jessey, traditional opon ayo; balls – volley, focal and hand balls; boots of different grades; crutches, mobile cane, typewriters, talking calculators, print magnifiers, digital recorders, adaptive laptops, sensory toys, walking frames and wheelchairs for pupils with physical disabilities, among others.

Atere Abiola Ameenat

Press Secretary,

Kwara SUBEB

September 21, 2023.