Oni of ife donated #10million to unilag

His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife,
Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll has
donated the sum of ₦10million to the
Postgraduate School of the University
of Lagos during its 2015/16 Annual
Lecture and launch of the
Postgraduate Trust Fund held at the
Main Auditorium of the university.
Announcing the monarch’s
donation , the Chairman of the
occasion and pioneer Managing
Director of GTBank, Mr Fola
Adeola, said research at the
postgraduate level was a necessary
ingredient in any endeavour
geared towards the development of
any society.
While delivering the annual lecture
entitled “Redefining the Role of
Traditional Institutions for
National Development”, Ooni
Ogunwusi said it was time for
traditional rulers to lead by
example. He said the time had
passed when traditional rulers
intimidated and molested their
subjects, even going as far as
forcefully taking women as wives
and concubines.
“I am honoured to be here to talk
about an issue I’m very passionate
about,” he said. “It is time to live
by example. We, as traditional
rulers, must show the world that we
can work together and make this
place a better place. It is very
important for leaders to have
compassionate feelings towards
their people. Such a leader will
never be forgotten.”
He regretted that the current
Nigerian constitution does not
recognise the special role played by
traditional rulers.
“Kings are not made; they are
born. I consider myself privileged
to be chosen by the King of kings to
be in this position, this exalted
throne respected all over the
world,” he said.
SThe monarch said the black race
has a lot to be proud of, insisting
that Africa (and Ife in particular)
was the cradle of world civilisation.
“Civilisation started from the black
race,” he said. “They (white people)
met everything here, including
democracy. They worked upon it,
and improved upon it. Ifa is the
custodian of every knowledge.”
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the
University, Professor Rahamon
Bello, described the monarch as a
blessing to this generation.
“The School of Postgraduate Studies
Annual lectures have been given by
the cream de la cream in Nigeria,
including the Sultan of Sokoto,
Alhaji Muhammed Abubakar III,
the former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and the former Governor
of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde
Fashola,” the Vice Chancellor
added.
He further disclosed that the fund
“would be used to assist indigent
postgraduate students who are
desirous of carrying out their
research bench work within or
outside the country.”