These were the words of the First Vice President, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Abioye as Landmark University kicked off the week long Convocation Ceremony with the 5th Convocation Service that held at the Multipurpose Hall of the University in the evening of Wednesday, 11th July, 2018 snowballing into chain of events that will culminate into the release of the Class of 2018 Pathfinders, christened the Elite Set. The event was as crucial as every bit of activities put in place to transform students passing through education mill, noting the key role of Spirituality in the operations of the University.

Speaking on the topic, “Seven Practical Steps to Greatness in Life,” which he described as the summary of his experience and believed the pathfinders would learn from, Bishop Abioye said: “Young people are known for new knowledge, while the old are known for experience. Experience is refined knowledge, no matter what you know, always seek people with experience, as there is nothing you have done that someone has not done before”.  Before reeling out the seven practical steps, he noted that everyone desires greatness in life and it is opened to all, as man was made great at creation. Referencing Genesis 1:26, 26:13-14, Galatians 3:29, 4:29, Isaiah 60:22, Luke 1:32, John 17:18, he emphasized that by covenant and redemption man is great.

The first practical steps he mentioned was possessing greatness mentality. He said: “nobody ever rises above his thinking, think small, end small; think great, end great. Your mentality is your actuality and until you address your mentality, you never become anything in life.” Second was appreciating small beginnings: “think big but start small think global but start local. Small is the womb of big. Zechariah 4:10, Mathew 25:16, 24, also remember that the only thing you start from the top is the grave.” Third was engaging in stewardship: “be delighted in serving people and immediate community including your family. The cheapest way to make profit is to render service. Do not put gain above service (Luke 22:27), because those who bow to serve will rise to lead. You can never stop servants from rising, serve your way into greatness; it is not the name you bear or title but it is the input you make via service that you will be remembered for.”

Fourth was to keep responding to divine guidance: “Proverbs 12:14. 6:25, 23:1, we need guidance because life is very complicated. When God leads, He makes greatness of the led and makes leader of the led. Fifth was to embrace humility: “do not overestimate yourself (Numbers 12:3, Exodus 11:3). Beware of overestimated of self because pride goes before a fall. Condescend yourself to people of low estate. Sixth, live diligently: “there no future for a lazy man, no matter where he lives, whether in Nigeria or America.  Diligence is the ladder you climb to greatness (Proverbs 22:29, 12:24). Diligence turns you into a ruler and makes you preferred in life. 

Finally, seek profitable relationship: “look for people who will add value to you not subtract from you. The company you keep determines what accompanies you. Who you follow determines what follows you and how fast your go in the race of life (Genesis 13:5, 12, 13). Sanitize your relationship and environment. There are dangerous people in life and many are punished not because of the evil they did but for the company they keep.”

Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju noted that the gathering was to celebrate God’s faithfulness in the students’ journeys for the 4 or 5 years of their studentship. He further said that all members of the University community have returned as grateful children to their heavenly Father to appreciate Him at this platform for the completion of a phase in life and commit the activities lined up for the ceremony into God’s  hand, as the University further receive historic charge that will launch Pathfinders into the realm of fulfilling their destinies. He believed as a people endowed with the resource based Chaplaincy and Pastorate that have influenced the community positively, none is ever starved of the anointing and inspiring leadership. 

“To take us further in this service and give phenomenal charge to our Pathfinders the Elite Set is our own Father, Bishop David Abioye. I am very sure that you will be abundantly blessed receiving from the Lord through His prepared Servant today. It is on this note that I congratulate Landmark University community for the privilege of having our Chancellor, Dr. David Oyedepo, and our First Vice-President, Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Abioye on our campus for the 5th Convocation of the University. May you all be richly blessed by every word and action from the Servants of God in the course of this ceremony and beyond in Jesus name.”