VP Osinbajo At The Distinguished Alumni Awards & UNILAG At 55 On 13/10/2017

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GREAT UNIVERSITIES RUN ON THE STEAM OF ALUMNI & PRIVATE SECTOR SUPPORT, SAYS OSINBAJO

“Government alone cannot support universities to the extent that is required. A lot will have to come from the Alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all over the world are run.”

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 2017 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARDS AND CELEBRATION OF UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS AT 55 IN ORIENTAL HOTEL, LEKKI, LAGOS, ON FRIDAY, THE 13TH OF OCTOBER 2017

PROTOCOLS

It is a special occasion for me, and I was determined to stay till the very end because it is not often that one gets a chance to enjoy the company of many who have either been colleagues or seniors in the same university, and in any event, it is not often that one gets to celebrate the 55^th anniversary of a great institution.

I want to say that UNILAG has proved time and time again to be not just a university of first choice but also the University of firsts! So many firsts in different areas; just reading about Doctor Olukoya, he was the first to clone genes. Hardly anyone would know that the pastor and founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles was also the first to clone genes. That is an absolutely outstanding thing.

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God was also the first Nigerian to get a Ph.D. in a Nigerian university in Applied Mathematics. I think that there are so many other Firsts, but the most important thing today is to ensure that those firsts do not become the last. We must ensure we continue in the great traditions of the University of Lagos, and this is why I am so excited to see a lot of committed alumni who want to see to it that our University goes from glory to glory.

It is important that we do so because, just as the pro-chancellor pointed out, government alone cannot support universities to the extent that is required, to keep them even at the current levels. A lot will have to come from the Alumni and the private sector. That’s how great universities all over the world are run.

I am so excited to see that our fundraising project is one that has clearly shown the way to go with respect to developing our University.

I would like to congratulate all our awardees today, and I want to say that not only are their achievements worthy of celebration, but the fact that you come from such a great institution and are honoured by the institution is a real reason for us to congratulate you and rejoice with you.

I would like to thank everyone and hope that when we celebrate our 60^th, we will all be here, and we will all be here to celebrate the 70^th,80^th and 100^th as well, for the young ones among us like Wale Babalakin and co!

God bless you all, thank you.