The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof Oluwatoyin Ogundipe has disclosed that he received a divine instruction not to act like a fool, during his face off with the Governing Council of the university led by former Chairman Wale Babalakin.
Penpushing reports that, Ogundipe made the disclosure while speaking at the launch of a festschrift in his honour, which was attended by prominent personalities and academicians including the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who wrote the foreword to the book.
The 12th vice-chancellor of the university emphaised that he received inspiration to remain calm and not ‘fight dirty’ during the crisis, from the Biblical verse of Proverb 26:4-5,adding that he had nursed a mission of sustaining the vision of the university’s forefathers by turning impact-driven research activities into the currency spent on the campus.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. The self-confident fool thinks too highly of himself and his opinions, and he shares them freely”, Ogundipe quoted Bible verse
Penpushing further reports that, Ogundipe, a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) speaking publicly for first time on the incident, recalled that the crisis crawled in like a thief at night
“But soon the crisis crawled in like a thief in the night. My character was assassinated and maligned. I wanted to fight as a human being but God held me back and told me the fight was for him. And he did fight it for me. He directed me to Proverb 26:4-5.”
Penushing also reports that, the Professor of Botany thanked many scholars who honoured him with their intellectual gift, and commended the university’s staff and students for standing by him throughout the troubled period.
The title of the book is “Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe at 60: Audacity of Resilience”, and is a compilation of articles by various scholars and friends of Ogundipe including the immediate past vice-chancellor of University of Ibadan, Idowu Olayinka; a former University of Lagos(UNILAG) Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof Folasade Ogunsola; Vice-Chancellor of National University of Lesotho, Prof Sola Fajana, among others.
Penpushing reports that the book, was reviewed by the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, Martins Oloja, and was chaired by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Principal Partner of Rotimi Jacobs and company, Rotimi Jacobs, while the book was publicly presented by Engr Remi Oseni.
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