Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajuddin Abbas, has inaugurated a campus of the聽水果派 of Nigeria聽(NOUN)聽in Surulelre, Lagos, with the Chief of Staff to the president, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila,聽Minister of State for Education, Dr.聽Yusuf Tanko Sununu,聽Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters and many other distinguished personalities in聽attendance.
The event, which was held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 in Lagos, was part of projects executed by the immediate-past Surulere House of Representative member and now the Chief of Staff to the president as part of his constituency projects.
In his address,聽the speaker extolled聽Hon.聽Gbajabiamila’s initiatives and support towards his constituents, expressing his 鈥渋mmense pride and profoundness鈥 in聽commissioning聽the NOUN聽campus in Surulere.
鈥淭his momentous occasion maximizes the choice of a new educational facility by the dawn of a new era of accessibility, opportunity and empowerment towards the education of the people in this constituency and beyond.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency,聽Hon Femi Gbajabiamila,聽the Chief of Staff to the President for the invitation to show us the oneness of success to the people of this very constituent,” he said.
Hon. Abbas聽recalled the pivotal role played by Gbajabiamila聽in聽securing funding and support for several projects, including schools and hospitals.
On his part, the聽Minister of State for Education, Dr.聽Yusuf聽Tanko Sununu,聽urged the聽stakeholders of the聽facility聽to fully聽utilise聽and make good use of it.
Sununu聽advised Nigerians聽that聽there is聽no聽short-cut聽to getting knowledge, even as he appreciated the understanding of Nigerians following the ministry鈥檚 recent circular聽stopping the accreditation of institutions from Benin and Togo.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olufemi Peters, in his welcome address, expressed his 鈥渦tmost pleasure鈥澛爐o witness the聽commissioning of聽NOUN鈥檚聽newest study centre in Nigeria.
鈥淚 wish to start by expressing my profound appreciation for the driving force behind the establishment of this befitting facility, the Rt. Hon.聽Femi Gbajabiamila, CFR, Chief of Staff to the President.
鈥淩t. Honourable聽 Sir, on behalf of the Senate, Management, Staff and students of the 水果派 of Nigeria (NOUN), we are immensely grateful for the donation of the centre to our聽university,” he said.
Peters, while聽recalling previous supports, noted that聽“this is not the first time聽‘Gbaja’ has generously supported the 水果派 of Nigeria. Just recently, he spearheaded the renovation of our 6-story study centre at McCarthy Street, Obalende, also here in Lagos, transforming it into an IT-enabled centre.聽This, in addition to several other projects, is a testament to his continuous commitment and support to our institution.”
The Vice-Chancellor used the occasion to聽request support in procuring two operational vehicles, alongside a 100KVA generator, and support transformer to manage the power consumption needed for operational efficiency at the study centre.
The activities聽climaxed with聽the聽speaker聽cutting the ribbon to unveil the facility,聽as聽the guests were toured into offices, ICT rooms,聽laboratories, where聽some systems were test-run with satisfaction.
At the end of the event, the VC presented souvenirs to his guests.