Bamire said: “The over 35,000 students that we have on campus and about 4,000 staff and so many others within the university community are going to benefit from this. We thank you for this. We want to wish you all the best. We want to pray for God’s mercy.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire on Thursday received several cartons of drugs donated to the institution’s health facility by a U.S. based Nigerian pastor, Dr Joe Tarkon.
An overtly excited Professor Bamire received Dr Tarkon along with his top management team including two Deputy Vice Chancellors; Professor O.M.A. Daramola (Admin) and Professor M.O. Babalola (Academics) at his office.
He said the impact the donation would have on the university community consisting of over 35,000 students and 4,000 staff could not be overstated.
According to the VC, only someone with the determination of saving lives would make such a donation.
He said: “We’ve been hearing about you. We know that what you’re doing is projecting the image of the entire nation. We know that you will be a source of inspiration for all of us while there (U.S.).
“When I heard of those things, this is somebody that has the interest, the passion and dedication of saving the lives a lot of our students. And those things will really showcase us. When we have equipment that are of this nature, they help a lot to boost the image of the university.
“On behalf of management, staff and students of this institution, we really want to appreciate you. We really have to pray for you. What you have done is not for a single person. The over 35,000 students that we have on campus and about 4,000 staff and so many others within the university community are going to benefit from this. We thank you for this. We want to wish you all the best. We want to pray for God’s mercy,” he said.
Dr Tarkon, an alumnus of OAU who practices medicine in the U.S. where he also serves as the senior pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (City of David) in Atlanta Georgia, promised to continue supporting the university with such donations.
Born a twin, Dr Tarkon said his inspiration for medical mission is from Scottish Presbyterian missionary, Mary Slessor who stopped the killing of twins in Cross River, his state of birth and Dr David Livingston, a British physician who lived and died in East Africa ministering to the locals.
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He added: “Those two people whom I never met but reading from history what they did, inspired me. So, coming out of medical school doing graduate studies and all of that, my passion and being a minister of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
“Incidentally, my General Overseer, Daddy GO and Mummy GO, are fully aware of the things I am doing and they are in full support.
“I have always had a passion for my people- my home town and my alma mater. It is a burden I carry in my heart,” he said.
He said this is just the initial visit as more would come.
“We didn’t have a year to plan this. But by the grace of God, by the time we come back next year, there will be a lot more we will do.
“I believe in the power of education because through education, you can transform minds, you can change communities, you can affect leadership and you can bring transformation. I believe in all of that.”
He said Nigeria is blessed with the resources to guarantee free education for all its people from kindergarten to university level as exemplified by premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
“I have been blown away by what Obafemi Awolowo did. His vision of building this university and providing free education in the then Western Region.
“I know that in this country we have enough to provide free education from kindergarten to university at top level and pay for every student. We have the money. When one man can keep N80 billion, and another one can keep N100 billion, common we have the money.”
Acting Director OAU Health Centre Dr A.A. Olatunji described the drug donations as miracle because it was unexpected.
He said: “We welcome those who are here to give us this huge quantity of drugs. This is not the first time we are getting this kind of thing. But this is miraculous because it is emergency. We were not aware. I just got called yesterday (May 17) that you people were coming.”
Among the individuals that accompanied Dr Tarkon for the visit are; his younger brother, Moses Tarkon, his two children – Emmanuel and Joel, his niece, Favour, head of Evangelism unit of RCCG City of David, Desola George, a pastor at RCCG in Lagos, Ben Arikpo and head of logistics and planning of the visit to OAU, Damilola Kushimo.
