Sanwo-Olu, Others Laud Tunji Bello Over Auditorium Donation To LASU

Minister of eEducation, Dr Olatunji Maruf Alausa, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other dignitaries have commended the philanthropic gesture of the executive vice chairman/chief executive officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Hon. Tunji Bello, in donating a modern auditorium to Lagos State University (LASU), Epe Campus.

The n minister, who announced the donation of a 5mw power plant to the Epe Campus and an 11mw power plant to the Ojo Campus of the university to increase power generation, noted that Bello had shown that he believes in promoting education, and “this is very laudable”.

Commending his efforts, the Lagos State governor and former Ogun State governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, described the gesture as a wonderful effort which should be emulated.

Sanwo-Olu said, “I was at his 60th birthday ceremony when he made the commitment and thank God it has been fulfilled. Despite the difficulties of the time, you did this. God will replenish your pocket. We put education on the front burner in our administration, and we are happy that people like Hon. Tunji Bello are supporting our efforts.

“LASU has space for more donations and endowments like this one. While we will continue to support LASU to be the best, we are calling on others to complement the efforts.”

The education minister, who also commended the donor, praised the vice chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for her giant strides in the institution.

Aremo Osoba said some people would have spent such funds on social celebrations and gatherings.

Speaking on why he donated the building despite challenges, the donor, Hon. Olatunji Bello, said he decided to build an auditorium for the Lagos State University, LASU, as a way of sowing seeds in the vineyard of knowledge instead of lavishly spending on a birthday party when he turned 60 in 2021.

Bello, a former member of the Lagos State Executive Council, also noted that it was in line with his belief that helping public universities fill the infrastructural gap better serves the public purpose.

He spoke in Epe on Wednesday during the inauguration of the auditorium he donated to the Epe Campus of LASU.

“Without wishing to sound sanctimonious or all-righteous, one point I like to seize this moment to make is the consequential choice between transient enjoyment and posterity. Thus, by choosing to invest the money through sowing the seed in the vineyard of knowledge, I believe we are invariably preserving my 60th birthday cake in a way that will be shared and savoured by many generations.

“Besides, this is my humble way of supporting the argument that public purpose is served better by helping public universities fill the infrastructural gap.

“Certainly, the government alone cannot do it. Private individuals who really have the means should invest in public tertiary education to create more opportunities, as prevalent in several developed countries,” he said.

The FCCPC boss told the gathering that he had to sell a property in Magodo, Lagos, a few years ago when the cost of materials shot up drastically.

On his 50th birthday in 2011, the donor instituted annual prizes in five disciplines: Law, Mass Communications, Social Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine at the same university.

“So, as my 60th birthday approached in 2021, the concern was how I could do more. For me, the idea of throwing a big party to mark the occasion was completely off the table. My darling wife, Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, the very able Madam Vice Chancellor of this great university, is the one who initially mooted the idea of building something for LASU to mark my 60th birthday. She was not yet the Vice Chancellor then. I never gave much thought to her suggestion immediately until a few days later,” he added.