A lawyer, Modupe Alakija, and his wife, Folorunsho, who donated a N1 billion building to the Faculty of Law of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, say the gesture was a testimony to God’s love for their family.
Alakija, who was accompanied by his wife, spoke on Tuesday in Oyo at the inauguration of the building reputed to be the largest law faculty in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Primate of the Anglican Church of Nigeria, Rev. Nicholas Okoh, conducted the inauguration.
Alakija said: “The building of the facility and its donation is a testimony to God’s faithfulness over my family.
“This building is a testimony of the love and faithfulness of God almighty on my family.
“As a young man, I did not pay much attention to academics, but was involved in drinking and partying to the extent that my father condemned me that I will serve my mates.
“As a matter of fact, I was not so serious with life out of the children in the family.
“Nobody expected anything good out of me.
“But later on, I realised my responsibility to myself first and foremost, and to others.
“I gathered my acts together and went to study law and was called to the bar.
“This surprised everybody.
“I could remember in 1971 while standing in front of a High Court in Lagos, an old friend of mine whom we used to drink together saw me and said: ‘Alakija, when did you become a lawyer? And how?’
“It’s all the grace of God.
“Later on, I met my amiable wife, my pillar and my strength.
“We joined all our resources together with a determination to build up a happy family.
“I eventually worked for eight years in a law firm.
“I wish my father is alive today to see that I am not serving people in an hotel in Ikoyi.”
Alakija ended his speech by singing a hymn: “Blessed assurance.”
The three-storey building, designed by an architect, Mobolaji Adeniyi, houses the entire law faculty consisting of four departments, with offices for lecturers and Head of Departments.
Adeniyi said: “The structure has moot courts for practical sessions, two libraries – a big library and an e-library – students centre with offices of the students’ union of the faculty, seminar rooms and five big classrooms that can take up to 100 students.”
Other features of the building include a big auditorium, which could accommodate about 750 people.
The Pro-Chancellor of the university, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who also donated a Vice Chancellor’s Lodge, described Alakija’s donation as uncommon contribution to the law profession.
Olanipekun said: “Today is a great day and a beginning of a new dawn.
“As pro-chancellor of this university, I am delighted for a time like this.
“I thank God for the life of my brother and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Alakija.
“Anglican brought education to Nigeria.
“It is in furtherance of this that this family donated this building to this institution.
“And let me say that I am particularly appreciative for what you’ve done for the law profession.
“The first profession established by decree by God.
:We thank you for the advancement of knowledge and giving to humanity.”
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the institution, Prof. Oladipo Akinkungbe, said the inauguration of the edifice “was a consummate act of philanthropy by a Nigerian whose reputation for giving is widely acknowledged nationwide”.
Akinkugbe added: “In my 50 years in academic arena, I cannot recall this size of donation from a couple or an individual.
“The Alakijas are renowned for their quiet philanthropy.
“This faculty of law complex is being donated without much prompting and soliciting.”
Okoh, who said the donation was not the first by the couple, prayed that God would bless them for the gesture.
He said: “The success of their four children, who are chief executives in various fields, is testimony to God’s blessing over them.”
NAN reports that other dignitaries at the event were a former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and a renowned academic, Prof. Bolanle Awe.
NAN.
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