BISHOPS OF SUPRA WEST DIOCESAN BOARD MEET IN ACU, COMMEND ASAJU

Chairman of the Proprietors of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Most Rev. Dr. Friday Imaekhai, who is Archbishop of Bendel Province and Chairman of Supra West Diocesan Board, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), has expressed the gratitude of Proprietors of the University to the Vice-Chancellor, Rt. Rev. Professor Dapo F. Asaju, for the transformation his tenure has brought to the University, and the passion he has shown in the execution of his duty. He said the House of Bishops in Supra West were in a dilemma in terms of choosing his replacement given Asaju’s insistence not to take a second tenure. He told the bishops and the Vice-Chancellor to be prayerful as they search for the Vice-Chancellor’s replacement since his tenure would expire in October 2020. He said it was regrettable that Asaju has turned down the offer of a second tenure, insisting that it was very important that a worthy successor, who would work with equivalent zeal and passion, should be appointed when Asaju exits, for the fast-paced development in the University to continue.

Archbishop Imeakhai spoke after the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the University, Emeritus Professor Ayo Banjo addressed the Bishops during their meeting at St. Andrew’s Chapel of the University. The two-day meeting ended on Tuesday, January 28, 2020. Professor Banjo thanked the House of Bishops for their support to the University and pleaded with them to improve on their funding of the University in order to sustain the giant strides the University had made under the watch of Professor Asaju. The Treasurer of the Board, Dr. Segun Okeowo, disclosed that a Committee of the Governing Council, set up to find new ways of funding the University, had come up with the concept of Legacy Projects, wherein Philanthropists and others with interest in the advancement of Education, would be called upon to take up projects or donate substantial sums to the University. He said the Committee which is chaired by the new Chancellor of the University, Chief Dr. Tunde J. Afolabi(MFR), has a target of three billion naira, and has made commendable progress towards meeting that target. In his response the Vice-Chancellor thanked them and pleaded with them to ensure that the Chapel, being built by Supra west in the University be completed by September, to enable him do his valedictory convocation thanksgiving there.

Earlier the Vice-Chancellor had taken the bishops to the new site of the University, where development commenced two months ago. He took them round the projects under construction in the new site which includes, perimeter fence, the Gatehouse, two faculty buildings to accommodate the Faculties of Basic Medical Science and Engineering, Vice-Chancellor’s office, Council and Senate Chambers, Multi-purpose Hall, Registrar’s Office, Bursary and Cafeteria. He said the land, located on Oyo-Ogbomosho road, was so vast that every diocese in Supra west could site a project in any portion of the new site and name it after the diocese. He told the very delighted bishops that work commenced there barely two months ago yet three of the buildings had been roofed. The bishops prayed fervently for him to continue the good work he was doing at the new site.