Nigeria’s billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Femi Otedola has donated the completed block A of a multi-billion-naira faculty of engineering complex to Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos State, in fulfillment of his dream to add a lasting value to the institution and its students.
The billionaire businessman who is the Chancellor of Augustine University handed over the complex to the school at the inauguration and handover ceremony held on Wednesday, in the presence of his mother and inspirer of the project, Lady Doja Otedola; Proprietor of the institution and Archbishop of the Metropolitan Sea of Lagos, Archbishop Adewale Martins, amongst other dignitaries.
At the ceremony held, Otedola also laid the foundation stone for phase 2 of the faculty complex, which he promised would be completed in not more than two years.
According to LIB report, the management of the institution named the engineering faculty building after Lady Doja Otedola in appreciation of her passion for the betterment of the university and its students.
In his remark at the occasion, Otedola said he made the commitment to donate one building of the engineering faculty to the school in March 2018, but later increased his commitment to the engineering complex to N2 billion, during his mother’s 90th birthday celebration.
‘It is with thanksgiving to God that I express my great delight for today’s ceremony for the commissioning of the first block of the engineering complex of Augustine University.
‘I thank God that my dream of donating the first block of the faculty of engineering building has become a reality.
‘On the 11th of March 2018, at the fundraising dinner organized by my sister, Dame Sena Anthony, I made the commitment to donate one building of the faculty of engineering to the university.
‘On realizing that the first building is a four-building complex, during my mother’s 90th birthday celebration last year, I increased my commitment to the engineering complex to the sum of N2 billion.
‘I hope the construction period for this building will not be more than two years in view of the envisaged rapid growth of the students of the university with the admission of engineering students in the school,’ Otedola said.
Otedola who is the Chairman of Geregu Power Plc mentioned that his dream was to support Augustine University to become the number one centre of excellence in Africa for the study of various disciplines of engineering.
He thanked the proprietor of the university for naming the engineering faculty building after his mother, saying ‘I’m glad that she is alive to witness this historic event in view of her unflinching commitment to the university.’
While extolling the university, Otedola stated that, ‘Augustine University upholds the noble Catholic tradition of the type of higher education which does not only achieve intellectual excellence but moral and cultural excellence in preparing the students for important leadership roles in our society. The vision and mission of this university should be supported by all of us.’
He said he looked forward to hosting everyone physically present at the occasion to similar ceremony in two years’ time when they would cut the tape for the inauguration of block 2 of the engineering complex.
