By Patrick Ochei
Galilee City, the host community for Margaret Lawrence University in Ika North East LGA, Delta State was on 15th March, 2024, agog with the influx of eminent Nigerians from all walks of life to witness the maiden matriculation of the University for 2023/2024 academic session.
At the occasion, the Founder, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Board of Margaret Lawrence University, Mr. Paul Odili bared his secret behind the founding of one of the most sought after academic citadels in Africa.
He said he was divinely directed to set up a University by God in a vision, where the name of his ministry – The Fountain of Joy was revealed to him.
Odili said, having built about six Maternity homes in different communities and also an eye clinic to help the vulnerable, he decided to build a University at a community named the Galilee City in Delta State with a world class medical campus in Abuja to advance the vision of producing children that would become solutions to the world of today and tomorrow.
The Pro-Chancellor appreciated the people of Ute-Ogbeje and Owere-Olubor communities for jointly providing the land for the University, assuring them that as long as he breathes, he would work to bring development to the people.
While pronouncing 30 scholarship slots to the people of Ute-Ogbeje and Owere-Olubor to study in the University, he however, vowed to tar every road not tarred by the government in these two communities in the next five years.
In his well coordinated and articulated speech, the Chancellor and immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa commended Mr. Odili for appointing him Chancellor of the Margaret Lawrence University.
He said, establishing a University in the magnitude of Margaret Lawrence University is a strong demonstration of Mr. Odili’s commitment to the Nigerian project.
Okowa equally asked the matriculants to make excellence their watchword in all facets of their academic endeavours.
Speaking to newsmen at the end of the occasion, the Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly and Chairman, Nigerian Majority Leaders Forum, Hon. Engr. Emeka Nwaobi commended Mr. Odili for his determination to see his vision come through, especially in the areas of human capital development through academics.
Nwaobi applauded the Pro-Chancellor for yet again awarding 30 scholarships to indigenes of Ute-Ogbeje and Owere-Olubor to study in the University, recalling that he was in an occasion sometime last year in Galilee City where Mr. Odili equally gave scholarship to over 40 students to study in the secondary arm of the University.
