•Dr. Felix Omobude
Former president, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Dr. Felix Omobude, has spoken about his early beginning and how he rose from the very scratch to stardom.
He said he sold newspapers on the streets of Benin to fund his education, reports Saturday Independent.
He disclosed this on the Fire Side Chat with Papa by the youth community during a colloquium to mark his 80th birthday celebration at the Light House University, Evbuobanosa in Orhionwmon Local Government Area of Edo State.
According to Omobude, “I sold newspapers on the streets of Benin to fund my education because I was so desperate to go to school.
“I also went to pluck cherry while my mates were all in school just because my parents could not afford to shoulder my education.”
He noted that all his childhood experiences and poor family background shaped his life and made him a better person, adding that, having been blessed by God, he decided to set up institutions where he can make life better for Nigerians, even the less privileged in the society.
The Chancellor and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the university, Rev. Dr. Omobude, also pointed out that the best decision he has ever made in his life was to have given his life to Christ.
“Such singular action changed my entire life for good, and this is why I will continue to encourage the youths to give their lives to the same God who has turned my life around”, he said.
He further urged Nigerians to always keep dreaming big, stressing that the day one stops dreaming, that marks the end of his life.
The former PFN president also urged Nigerians to see challenges as part of man’s existence noting that, life without challenges, becomes boring but however, in all the challenges, God always makes out a way.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Light House University, Prof. Osemwegie Osarenkhoe Omorefosa appealed to political actors and traditional institution to join in the advocacy for a review of the present laws to allow private universities to benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
He also called on well-meaning Nigerians to contribute their quota in the forms of building of hostels, library, granting of scholarships etc, noting that throughout history, great institutions have always thrived through the partnership of visionary leaders and philanthropists and global citizens who believe in the power of education to transform societies.
Prof. Omorefosa added that universities such as Harvard, Oxford and others became global forces largely because individuals of means and influence invested generously in the future.
Speaking on the theme: “Faith, knowledge and education: Panacea for freedom and national development”, the keynote speaker, Prof. Omokhoa Adeleye, said knowledge and education are keys to national development.
