LandMark University Omu Aran Launched By Winners' Chapel

The town of Omu-Aran in Kwara State stood still on Monday as the first tertiary institution in the area, Landmark University, was dedicated.
Traditional rulers, politicians, sons and daughters of Omu-Aran as well as members of the Living Faith Church ( a.k.a Winners Chapel), who owns the institution, filled the university auditorium where they were led in prayers by Bishop David Oyedepo, President of the church and Chancellor of the university, to hand over the institution into God’s hands like he said was done when Covenant University, (CU), Ota, started in 2002.

However, Oyedepo remarked that Landmark would surpass the achievements of Covenant University given that six times, more money has been invested in getting the university started.　He added that the institution would fulfill its mandate to educate young people who would provide solutions to Nigeria’s problems.

He said: "What university education should provide is to enhance the capacity of men to think and generate solutions to help the environment and that is what Landmark University is here to provide.　 Landmark will make her contributions in empowering Nigerians to gain control over our problems and provide solutions.

"We are going to be handing over this institution to Jesus.　 When Covenant University was being dedicated, the Lord told me ‘hand over to me now’, and since then we have not had problems moving Covenant from glory to glory.　 Today, the university has produced more Fulbright scholars than any first generation university.　 So much more has gone into Landmark than Covenant University.　 The financial investment is six times more.　 So, we are not expecting less than six times more than what Covenant has achieved."

A lot of dignitaries gave goodwill messages expressing their joy at the establishment of the university in Omu-Aran, which is also Oyedepo’s hometown.　

Oba Oladele Ibitoye, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, thanked Oyedepo for surpassing his request that some faculties of the CU should be moved to Omu-Aran and sought the establishment of a medical college for Landmark University.

"When they were starting Covenant University, I went to the Bishop and requested that some faculties be brought here.　He promised to bring four faculties.　 Thereafter, God still used him to bring a full-fledged university here," he said.

Governor Bukola Saraki, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Joel Ogundeji, said he was glad about the establishment of the university as it would reduce the burden on the government to provide education for its people.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Gubernatorial Aspirant for Kwara State, Mr Mohammed Dele Belgore (SAN), who described CU as the best maintained tertiary institution in the country, expressed confidence that the existence of Landmark would enhance the economic development of the state.

"What we have here is an economy that will propel Kwara State and Nigeria to greatness.　 Industries will develop because of the university.　 The first effect we are going to see is the creation of employment.　 When this sort of activity comes from well-meaning people without any penny of government money, then that person must be commended," he said.

The university was presented with 500 copies of Oracle ICT textbooks by the Managing Director of New Horizons, Lagos, Mr Kayode Akano.

Facilities already in place in the institution which the Bishop said would focus on agriculture, include an auditorium, cafeteria, faculty buildings, engineering workshops, laboratories, hostels, Senate building, staff quarters and the university guest house.

The new university has Prof Matthew Olarotimi Ajayi as Vice-Chancellor; Mrs Mary Aboyade, Registrar; Mrs Felicia Yusuf, Director, Centre for Learning Resources; Prof. Sunday Otokiti, Dean, College of Business Administration and Social Sciences, and Prof. Josiah Olatunde Bello, Dean, College of Sciences.

Other dignitaries at the event were Justice Oyeyipo, former Chief Judge of Kwara State; Prof A. N’allah, Vice-Chancellor, Kwara State University, Malete; Dr Owolabi Oyeleke, Pro-Chancellor, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo; Bishop David Abioye, Executive Vice President, Living Faith Church; Prof Aize Obayan, Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University; General David Bamgboye, first Military Administrator of Kwara State, Hon Lai Mohammed, ACN chieftain, among others.
Bless you.