Nigeria’s billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Mr. Femi Otedola has handed over the completed block A of a multi-billion-naira faculty of engineering complex to Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos State, in fulfilment of his dream to add a lasting value to the institution and its students.
Otedola, who is the Chancellor of Augustine University, handed over the edifice to the school, at the inauguration and handover ceremony held yesterday, 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.
The donor also laid the foundation stone for phase 2 of the faculty complex, which he promised would be completed in not more than two years.
The school named the engineering faculty building after Lady Doja Otedola in appreciation of her passion towards the betterment of the university and its students.
In his remark at the occasion, the serial entrepreneur 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.
Otedola said, “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 faculty of engineering building has become a reality.
“On the 11th of March 2018, at the fund raising dinner organised by my sister, Dame Sena Anthony, I made the commitment to donate one building of the faculty of engineering to the university. On realising 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.
“In fulfilment of this pledge, I am extremely delighted to be also turning the sod today for the commencement of building No 2 of the engineering faculty complex.
“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.”
He said 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.
(ThisDayLive)
