NEW PRESIDENT/VICE CHANCELLOR ASSUMES OFFICE

NEWS FROM BABCOCK

NEW PRESIDENT/VICE CHANCELLOR ASSUMES OFFICE
Babcock President/Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola S. Tayo charts an eight-point agenda as he takes over from his predecessor, Prof. J. A. Kayode Makinde Nov. 30.
His agenda are:
1. Spiritual Consolidation through mission driven policies and programmes;
2. Strengthening of academic structure through responsive and relevance curricula;
3. Financial consolidation through prudent financial administration, accountability and transparency in financial transactions;
4. Consolidation of staff and student welfare through proactive humane policies and programmes.
5. Infrastructural facilities’ consolidation, maintenance and upgrades;
6. Management of external public for the greater gain of Babcock University;
7. Governance and management re-engineering for effective service delivery
8. Explore more opportunities for continuous excellence in medical training in Nigeria.
Prof. Tayo described his installation as “another defining moment for the University,” with a pledge that his team would not only do its very best within every drop of energy and sensibility, but would also do the right things rightly. “As an administration our hallmark shall be creativity, innovation, development, invention and entrepreneurship,” he stated.
ON SPIRTIUALITY:
He pledged the team shall lead by precept and example, role modeling and living a consistent Christian lifestyle devoid of vanity.
ON ACADEMICS:
While commending the last administration for the giant strides in academic development, he said the new administration would aspire for “excellence in academic administration through problem-based learning and integrated curriculum.” This would involve engendering strong fraternity between industries and departments for greater industry exposure.
ON WELFARE:
The new team will further improve staff and faculty welfare, fully automate the HR Department operations to enhance effectiveness, as well as encourage personal housing scheme to facilitate easy retirement.
ON INFRASTRUCTURE: Prof. Tayo promised to “emphasize quality and compliance with internationally accepted standards in future infrastructural development.”
The External Relations office will be restructured to provide quality information creatively and promptly with a view to exploring and solidifying the BU brand. This is in consistency with its reputation as the Education Brand of the Year in Nigeria concretized by the World Branding Awards.
ON ORGANOGRAM: A new University Organogram would soon be made public to reflect current changes in Principal Officers and other positions. The Development & Strategy Division would be “unbundled accordingly and staff assigned to existing offices for supervision.”
ON THE WAY FORWARD:
Prof. Tayo assured the community that his team would not fail and many victories would be won by God’s Grace. “This is the time to lengthen our cords and strengthen our stakes,” he said. “This is the time to push Babcock University to another level.”
MEET THE NEW CHANCELOOR AND PRO-CHANCELLOR
CHANCELLOR:
Chancellor, Dr. Elie Weick-Dido takes over from Dr. Gilbert Wari, immediate past President of the West-Central Africa Division, WAD of the Adventist Church. Until his nomination as WAD President in July, 2015, he was Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Director for five years. An Ivorian by birth, he spent well over two decades in the United States during which he pastored several churches amongst which was the Chicago Bethlehem French Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is graduated in various areas of higher education: BA in theology, BA in French; a master degree in pastoral ministry, a master degree in divinity, a doctorate in theology, A doctorate in missiology from Andrews University, Berrien Springs Michigan. He has also served as pastor in Haiti. He is married with four children.
PRO CHANCELLOR: Currently President of the Eastern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Dr Bassey Udoh takes over from Dr. Oyeleke Owolabi as Pro-Chancellor. By implication, he is now Chair of the University Governing Council. He holds a PhD in Religion (Social Ethics) from University of Calabar, Cross River State. He bagged both B.A and M.A in Religion from Andrews University, Berrien Springs Michigan in 1990 and 1995, respectively. Some of his scholarly publications include: Religion and Society: Socio-Ethical, Religious and Cultural Life of Ibibio people and the Church; The Gate of Hell cannot prevail, a resource manual on growth strategies; Nurture and Retention, among others. He has several Merit and Leadership Awards from within and outside the church. He is married to Enobong Bassey Udoh, one of the pioneer students of the Benjamin Carson School of Medicine and blessed with two sons, Utibe and Andyfon, and a daughter, Imaobong.
PRESS RELEASE

BABCOCK UNIVERSITY SWEARS IN NEW VC, OTHERS
The proprietors of Babcock University have inaugurated a new president/vice chancellor for the institution. He is professor Ademola Stephen Tayo.Tayo is a professor of Christian education and former Rector of Adventist University, Cosendai, Cameroon, and immediate past Dean, College of Postgraduate Studies, Babcock University. He was pioneer director of academic Planning of Babcock University. He brings fresh perspectives into university administration in tandem with modern demands. In his words “vision without mission is an illusory dream, so also mission without vision is nothing less than hallucination or charting a course without a compass.” He noted that his tenure shall be characterized by creativity, innovation, development, invention and entrepreneurship. Professor Tayo will be assisted by the Senior Vice President (Academic), Professor Iheanyichukwu Okoro, a renowned surgeon; Senior Vice President (Management Services), Professor Sunday Owolabi, a celebrated professor of Accounting and a former deputy bursar; Vice President (Financial Administration), Mr. Ilesanmi Akande, a reputed banker; Vice President (Student Development), Dr. Joseph Olanrewaju, an outstanding Christian religion author. Professor Tayo succeeded Professor J. A. Kayode Makinde, who has completed his tenure as president/vice chancellor.The inauguration ceremony also witnessed the installation of the new Chancellor of the University, Dr. Elie Weick-Dido, and investiture of the Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Bassey Udoh. The event took place on Monday November 30, 2015 at the University’s stadium and witnessed by an unprecedented crowd of well-wishers, friends, and the university community.

Makinde: Ode to a hero
After 10 unbroken years on the saddle, Professor James Kayode Makinde bowed out gracefully on Sunday November 29, 2015 as President/Vice Chancellor of Babcock University.As a mark of honour for his stewardship, his tranquility court was a blitz of colours as colleagues, relations, friends and associates gathered to celebrate him.Professor Makinde, who was honoured as Emeritus President/Vice Chancellor of the university, said he would forever be thankful to God for seeing him through the assignment. Professor Makinde, who proceeds on a year sabbatical, said the greatest asset God gave him during the period of stewardship were the students. According to him, he will remain the happiest person to hear all the nice things said about him, even though these niceties are often said at funerals of the dead. He said his wish is to see this administration prosper. He advised faculty and staff to rally round the new President/ Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola S. Tayo, pleading that nobody should work against God’s chosen one. “If the Lord chooses a leader nobody should work against him”. He pleads that nothing should be done to rock the boat but all should join hands and sustain the institution. “I have not worked this long, learned this much for the university to scatter. Don’t go away, stay and prosper this place and bring in more committed people to foster and promote the work of God here. Men of competence, commitment and courage are hard to find. You are his eyes and ears.He assured that wherever he may be he would continue to promote, project and recruit for the university. He thanked his team mates, Ilishan and Iperu land lords, Parents Consultative Forum for the support and selfless contributions to his administration. Above all, he said but for the support and understanding of his immediate family, he would not have made any progress. Chairman of Pacific Holdings Limited and Pro- Chancellor of Adeleke University, who chaired the occasion, Dr Deji Adelele, eulogized Professor Makinde for his passion for the institution. He recalled that as a member of the governing council of Babcock University, he knew the extent to which he fought and prayed hard for Professor Makinde to take over from Professor Adekunle Alalade, thanking God that he did not disappoint but ended well. The University Pastor, Dr Tunde Ojewole thanked Professor Makinde for building him, changing the world and winning all the battles on his knees. “Ode to a hero who works beside his God. God bless you,” he said. The PhD graduates (2012 to 2015) while presenting gifts to Makinde and senior members of his team, said it was in recognition of Professor Makinde’s most significant achievements and the establishment of postgraduate school.