The valedictory address delivered by Oluwaseun Deborah Peters at Redeemer's University on October 3, 2009, celebrates the achievements of the pioneer graduating class. It acknowledges the vision of the institution's founders and expresses gratitude to faculty and staff for their support. The address emphasizes the responsibility of graduates to use their education for positive change in Nigeria and offers encouragement to overcome future challenges with faith.

1. REDEEMER’S UNIVERSITY
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
DELIVERED AT THE FIRST CONVOCATION
CEREMONY
BY
PETERS, Oluwaseun Deborah
03/10/2009

2. Valedictory Address delivered at the first convocation ceremony of the Redeemer’s University,
3rd October, 2009 2
All protocols observed.
I most respectfully welcome you all to the first convocation ceremony of the Redeemer’s University.
To the pioneer graduating class of 2009, I congratulate you all and also thank the University for giving me the
honour of speaking on behalf of us all. I sincerely commend you all for being part of this grand day, the day
that is marking a turning point in each of our lives and all glory and adoration to God that started this journey
with us four years ago, precisely 10th
October, 2005 with 476 matriculated students, and making us part of the
privileged “many” to be graduating today. Some of the students that started this journey with us were
expelled for different gross indiscipline (as the university will summarize there various offences in the
memo), some dropped out for several reasons, while some due to extra courses yet to be taken or passed
could not graduate with us today.
Our heart-felt thank you goes to the Vision-bearer of this great higher institution of character and
learning, Pastor E.A Adeboye and our mother Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye. You had this vision since 1982,
you did not want a university that will be named after you, or want anyone to get the impression that you are
trying to build a kingdom for yourself, because the only kingdom worth building is the kingdom of God and
is being built already. You had a vision for a university which will not be a man’s university; neither will it be
a church university, but “The Redeemer’s University.” A university bigger than all of us, one that will outlive
all of us, called a University because there is no other name for it, an Institution of Power. Your vision for
this country that “one day Nigeria will be the greatest nation on the face of the earth” and this Institution of
Power is what gives us so much confidence that though the vision tarries, one day we will get to a place of
rest.
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oyewale Tomori, you are a father to us, a compassionate and dedicated
academic, a great time manager. I remember your address to us on Friday 24th
February, 2006 during the first
student forum on the issue of discipline, you said:
“You must know by now that I am a stickler for time. I will share with you sometime, the experiences in
my life, where keeping to time made a difference; one positive and the other negative. But today, I want
to talk about discipline of keeping time. It is the mark of the gentleman and lady to keep to time. To be
in class at least 5 minutes before your lecture, to arrive at a function some minutes before it starts, to
behave like a child of God where ever you go, to respect your teachers, to concentrate as the teacher
lectures, to be decent and to carry yourself at all times with decorum, politeness, respectability and
restraint, to separate yourself from bad companies and groups. A man or woman of discipline is one
who according to 2Co 4:2 has renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, is not walking in craftiness,
nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth is commending himself or
herself to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
HE OR SHE HAS RENOUNCED SECRET AND SHAMEFUL WAYS
HE DOES NOT USE DECEPTION
NOR DOES SHE DISTORT THE WORD OF GOD
WE ARE TO SET FORTH THE TRUTH PLAINLY, COMMENDING
OURSELVES TO EVERYMAN’S CONSCIENCE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD.
In conclusion, let me share with you the pain in my heart over these six or seven months since you
first came here. Each time a student is brought before the Disciplinary Committee, I have sleepless
nights, praying that he or she will be exonerated. One more hair on my head turns grey as I fear that I
have to apply the sanction. Each time I hear a student has violated the rule, I think of the parents who
have sacrificed so much to bring such a child here. Each time ….….Each time…I have to apply the
sanction, I cry inwardly and my heart bleeds for the loss of a fine man or woman. I agonise over the

3. Valedictory Address delivered at the first convocation ceremony of the Redeemer’s University,
3rd October, 2009 2
uncertain future, the waste of talent. Another dagger pierces my heart; a teardrop falls off my face
…each time I have to send a student down. Each time…..
Please obey our rules so as not to bring tears into our eyes. Obey the rules, so we can share the joy of
the Lord.
The words I have spoken are for your consideration and not for your ovation.
They are for your contemplation and not for your approbation.
They are for your reflection and not for clapping. Ponder on this.”
Our beloved Pioneer Director of Student Affairs, Pastor E.A Odeyemi, a disciplined yet loving father, a
father who does not find it hard to tell us “I love you,” a great manager of time, you gave us the secret of
managing the 24 hours of our lives. You indeed cooked us as you always say and truly, the difference is clear.
We want to use this medium to tell you that we honestly love you in return. Thank you sir, for all the cooking,
it made us better persons, though not so sweet at first, but when you left, we missed you and felt your absence
and cherished those moments we shared together greatly.
This is an Institution in which you cannot be lost in the crowd, only if you decide to. Most of the
lecturers know you personally and are not only interested in your academic success, but also your success
outside the classroom. So, to all our teachers (they are teachers not lecturers because we are taught in this
University and not lectured), we want to say a very big thank you for all the love and kindness you have
showed to us. You have indeed stood “in loco parentis” during our stay in this institution. How can we forget
all the non-academic staff of this institution who in their own capacity sacrificed for us to help us realise our
dreams. You all have made this academic journey a success.
Finally, to the pioneer graduating class of 2009, we have worked hard to earn the degrees we will be
receiving today, but beyond that, there is nothing we have that we have not received (1corinthians 4:7). We
have been given the opportunity to partake in a standard and quality education; we have been given family,
friends and loved ones who support us from cradle till now. This education we have received is not to be used
as a weapon to further destroy our nation and world, but we should know that we are coming from a
university with a vision to raise graduates who will run Nigeria into a country of trustworthy and upright
youths, frank and candid academics, truthful and honest technicians, reliable and scrupulous businessmen and
women, caring and compassionate doctors, humble and truthful politicians, open and sincere public servants,
decent and law-abiding citizens, just and impartial judges, honest and honourable bankers, and above all, a
nation of men and women of distinction, dignity and decorum. We graduated from a university that need a
group of young ladies and men that will say this is the way we want Nigeria to be and it will be, instruments
of change to our decaying nation. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you want to see in
the world.” We all have the ability to make a difference in the world if we set our minds to it. We should
value what we are given and not misuse it, as the pioneer students of this school, much has been given to us
and much is expected. Therefore, we have great responsibility because the world is waiting for us to see if the
vision is realistic. Some are waiting for our failure but remember that life will present before us many
obstacles that will want to hinder us from realising our goals, but we will overcome by the power that only
Jesus can give. His word says in the 4th
Chapter of Philippians verse 13 that:
“I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” (Good News Bible).
I leave with you the words of Apostle Paul in the 4th
Chapter of Philippians verse 8:
“In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that
are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable” (Good News Bible).
Congratulations to you all. Thank you.