Professor Shadrach Olufemi Akindele of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA)has been formally inaugurated as the 4th Substantive Vice Chancellor of Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State on Wednesday, 17th January. 2024 at the university's auditorium.
In his inaugural speech after being installed by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Pastor Ezekiel Odeyemi, Akindele said "no man receives anything unless it is given. I know it is the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in my eyes. Quite often, change in the baton of leadership is met with fear, trepidation and anxiety which is normal in every human society. However, let me allay your fears by saying I am here to do God's will. I am here to inspire, motivate and will be committed to promoting an environment where innovative ideas will thrive. This is because as a private faith-based university, we can not afford to be casual or lazy in the way we do things. We will do our jobs to the best of our abilities knowing fully well that God is a faithful rewarder."
Professor Akindele said one of the the focus of his administration will be to ensure that he maintains the uniqueness of RUN as a Christian University. He said "in addition to acquiring whatever degrees from this University, our students should be discipled to become Christlike so that they will become true change agents in the society. We, as leaders, must also model Christ to them in whatever we do. This is the core area of my assignment here and I will be unapologetic about it."
Professor Akindele promised to focus on fund generation to boost the revenue of the university and improve it's infrastructure from it's current state. He said "unlike public universities where manna drops from Abuja, private universities do not enjoy that privilege. It is even so bad that they are excluded from benefitting from TetFund to conduct research that will benefit the whole society. Expanding the revenue base of our university is a must if we must achieve what God has sent us to do here. The increase in students enrollment in recent years has put more pressure on our infrastructures such that they are becoming grossly inadequate. Our peculiarity at RUN is that all students are accommodated on campus. That means for every student we admit, we provide befitting accomodation to them. To achieve this, we need to build more hostels and lecture theatres and that is the primary focus in the first year of this administration. We are trusting God to get benefactors who will come and invest in the development of our university."
On sustaining the tempo of excellence in the university, he said staff will be encouraged and motivated, while the university will leverage on the goodwill the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has world-wide to attract renowned academics across the globe to improve on the teaching and research activities at RUN.
To further make it's product relevance globally through skill acquisition and community services, Pofessor Akindele said "we will emphasise on volunteer skills and community services by our students. This will equip them for global performance. We must imbibe in our students the spirit of selfless service which will be a part of character components of their degree programme. Each student will be mandated to render certain number of hours to community services either on campus or in communities around. We also plan to introduce French language proficiency to our students to enable them acquire a second international language that will qualify them for better global job opportunities. This will enhance their marketability."
The new Vice Chancellor promises to respectfully and humbly work with the Visitor to the University, the Chairman and members of the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor, the Chairman and members of the Governing Council and all stakeholders in the university system.
He acknowledged all former Vice Chancellors and principal officers of the university for their roles at different times in making RUN what it is today and assured of making it better and pray God reward their efforts.
He emphasized the issue of dynamism in leadership and cracking a joke he said "each time there is a change in leadership, people always talk about the big shoes left by the predecessor which the successor may not be able to fill. Because individuals are different, the shoe of the predecessor may either be oversize or undersize for the successor such that he or she may not be able to run properly with it. I have a good news for you that I brought my own shoes."
Professor Akindele acknowledged the Visitor to the university, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye and his wife, Pastor Folu Adeboye for the vision to establish the university and for nurturing it in collaboration with other stakeholders to the growth and development it has attained.
He specially acknowledged the presence of the Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji and the large represation of staff and students she led to the inauguration. He said "special thanks to my Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji for releasing me on leave of abscence because without her approval I won't be here today. I also thank the Dean of my School in FUTA, the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology (SAAT), Professor Oluwatoyin Oludahunsi, my Head of Department, Professor A. G. Adedayo, eminent Professors from SAAT and other Schools and other staff and students of FUTA who are here to honour me. The Lord will honour you too."
A presentation was made to him by the Head of Department, Forestry and Wood Technology, Professor A. G. Adedayo.
