On Tuesday, 1st December 2020, Landmark University began a 4-day Induction programme organized by the Directorate of Student Affairs for the newly inaugurated members of the Landmark University Student Council (LUSC) for the 2020/2021 Academic Session

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adeniyi Olayanju stated that leadership is non-negotiable in any social context as it fosters orderliness and direction in life-long activities. He noted that leaders that will succeed must equip themselves with the relevant knowledge and skills which prompted the induction organized to prepare the new Student Council members for the task ahead. While congratulating them on their selection by divine direction, the Vice-Chancellor cautioned them to beware of arrogance and appropriation of God’s glory to themselves, noting that God does not share His glory with and would not make help available to those who think they can do things on their own. He implored them to allow God to lead them and take the glory in all that they do. The Vice-Chancellor went further to admonish that every position is important to the success of the administration, warning that negligence in responsibility may lead to unsatisfactory accomplishment. He therefore urged them to be responsive to their duties and work together as a strong team and an unbroken link.

In her remarks, the Registrar, Miss Fola Oyinloye, had earlier reminded the newly inaugurated executives of the fact that it was God who chose them for the assignment and expressed confidence that the God who had qualified them for the assignment would also help them in their various positions. She noted that God chooses leaders irrespective of age and vulnerability, saying that He qualifies whosoever He has called. She, therefore, encouraged them to rely on God for direction on the journey. Speaking about the importance of the induction, the Registrar, Miss Fola Oyinloye, noted that it has been packaged for learning on leadership for the newly inaugurated LUSC executive members. She said that the University believes that the place of learning is very germane to successful and hitch-free accomplishment. She alluded to a remark made elsewhere by the Chancellor, Dr David Oyedepo, that contrary to popular belief, experience is not the best teacher, but learning, especially from the people that had gone ahead. On this basis, she advised LUSC executive members to maximize their learning opportunities which the induction programme will offer them. While then assuring them of quality delivery of the various topics lined up for their preparation for the task ahead, the Registrar implored them to be attentive and forward-looking throughout the event.

The Dean of Student, Dr Olukayode Adebimpe also advised them to shun distractions that may disconnect them from receiving the life-imparting nuggets available at the induction. 

The first leadership teaching for the first day was taken by the Vice-Chancellor who spoke on ‘Driving Effective and Efficient Student Leadership; The LMU Context’. Professor Olayanju emphasized that both effectiveness and efficiency are key in the delivery of quality leadership. While defining the terms, he juxtaposed effectiveness with efficiency; saying that effectiveness is doing the right thing while efficiency is doing the thing right. ‘So, we expect you as student leaders to be mindful of doing the right thing always. By implication, the end may not always justify the means,’ he added. 

According to the Vice-Chancellor, the expectations of Management from the newly inaugurated LUSC executives include among others providing unbiased leadership to all students, advancing the cause of student leadership through innovative solutions to existing and emerging student challenges, and remaining guided by the University’s core values while discharging their core responsibility of bridging the gap between the University Management and the students. 

The Registrar, Miss Oyinloye, exposed them to “The Roles of Administrative Competence and Diplomacy in Leadership” in the second session. In her submission, the topic was designed to ‘help them understand the import of administrative competency and diplomacy in carrying out their leadership responsibilities’ as student leaders. She equipped them with requisite administrative and diplomatic qualities some of which were knowledgeability, skilful and effective communication, strong negotiation skills, building mutual relationships, effective record keeping and retrieval, order for functionality, availability, and responsiveness. She concluded that all these qualities would facilitate seamless activities that would culminate in healthy teamwork and attainment of goals speedily.