The Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has explained why he kept mute during the crisis that rocked the university in 2020.
He told the audience at the public presentation of his autobiography titled, ‘Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe @ 60: Audacity of Resilience’, which held on Tuesday that God asked him to remain quiet.
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Professor Ogundipe who actually clocked 60 in May, 2020, said the event to mark the day was impossible due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that shortly after then, crisis erupted in the university.
“When I wanted to react, God said I should keep quiet. God referred me to the Book of Proverbs chapter 26 verse 4 in the bible. I wanted to fast, God said I should celebrate. I wanted to fight back, God said the battle was His. So, I thank God that He stood by me during the Tsunami. It is by the grace of God that we were not consumed by the crisis,” he said.
The University was in 2020 enmeshed in leadership and union crises.
The then Governing Council, led by Dr. Babalakin, had filed a petition alleging that there were some infractions in the award of contracts which include the on-going library project.
The Council also accused Ogundipe of wrong-doing, gross misconduct, financial recklessness and abuse of office among others.
It took the intervention of members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement who carried out an investigation into the contract award crises.
The supremacy battle between the University management and the Pro Chancellor, Babalakin, however lingered, leading to the postponement of the University’s 51st convocation scheduled to hold in March, 2020.
Amidst the crisis, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the constitution of a special visitation panel to look into the lingering crisis at the university following the happenings that lead to the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe by the Governing Council while he prior to commencement of work by the panel asked both Professor Ogundipe and Babalakin to recuse themselves from official duties pending the outcome of the report of the special panel.
After review, Buhari approved the report of the Special Visitation Panel to the University, thereby reinstating the embattled Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the 12th Vice Chancellor of the university.
Speaking at the book launch, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Special Guest of Honour, saluted the courage and resilience of the VC in the face of trouble.
He said audacity is needed to respond to issues when they happen in the society.
He described Prof. Ogundipe as a humble and devoted family man who never forgot his humble background; saying, humanity has a lot to draw from his wealth of experience. “The VC went through a lot but in all, he came out stronger, bolder and better,” he said, while he acknowledged the fact that Ogundipe always acknowledges the God factor in his life.
The Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, expressed hope that the book will inspire the readers, particularly, the youth.
He said, “To be resilience in the face of difficulty in life is a good thing. Also, the ability to stand in the face of tough times is what we need now. The book will give hope to the hopeless.”
The book which consists of 345 pages and 16 chapters was edited by Chukwu, Lucian Obinna; Falaiye Muyiwa; Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Abigail and Onuminya, Temitope Olabisi.
The anthology reveals the different facets that make up the life of Professor Ogundipe. It is structured around four pillars: His romance with nature and family life; the academic and quintessential researcher; university leadership and administration; and, the God-fearing Father figure.
