By Gabriel Dike
Outgoing Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, yesterday revealed how Pastor Enoch Adeboye and other men of God predicted his return to office after his removal in 2020.
Prof. Ogundipe also revealed that God told him during his ordeal in August 2020 that lead to his removal by the Governing Council under Dr. Wale Babalakin, that he shouldn’t worry because the battle is his to fight for him.
The outgoing VC disclosed this at the end of his tenure valedictory programme, which attracted former UNILAG VC, Prof. Rahamon Bello, Chief Ayo Opadukun, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, incoming VC, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, VC of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill and several dignitaries, who showered encomium on Prof. Ogundipe.
He revealed that many prominent Nigerians including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu called him after his removal and they faulted the action of Dr. Babalakin, which did not follow due process.
Ogundipe said he got calls from Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo and other religious leaders, who assured him that he would return to his office.
The outgoing VC acknowledged his management team, UNILAG Senate, the four staff unions and the students for standing firm in his support during his ordeal.
Said he: “Every thing we did, we put institutional loyalty first. We never thought of what we can gain as individual.
“One thing I have learnt, is university system runs as a system. But one man in UNILAG decided to disrupt the system but the system fought back.”
Chairman of the occasion and former Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Rahamon Bello, advised Nigerians to learn from the university successful transition from one VC to another without rancour.
Bello warned that the university would never tolerate the attempt by anybody to truncate the smooth running of the university again.
“What happened in UNILAG in August 2020 should not have happened. UNILAG is an institution that can not be rubished by just one man. If anybody thinks he can rock UNILAG, he will fail,” he stated.
Pastor Igodalo saluted Ogundipe’s doggedness and his fight during the crisis, adding, “it has not been easy for him in the last five years.
The UNIPORT VC, Prof. Georgewill acknowledged the support UNILAG workers and students gave Ogundipe during the crisis, noting, “without them the story will have been different.”
The four staff unions recalled the August 2020 crisis and how they stood by Prof. Ogundipe untill he was reinstated by the Federal Government in November 2020.