“Pray for Our Peace, Unity” — VC Fawehinmi Rallies UniAbuja Community at Convocation Church Service

By Emmanuel Kwada

In a powerful display of faith, leadership, and collective resolve, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, has called on the entire university community to intensify prayers for peace, unity, progress, and stability as the institution gears up for its landmark 29th and 30th Combined Convocation ceremonies.

The stirring appeal came during a well-attended Interdenominational Church Service held on Sunday at the Chapel of Love, Gwagwalada, as part of the spiritual prelude to the week-long convocation activities.

Professor Fawehinmi, a distinguished scholar of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology with a rich track record in academic leadership, was joined by two prominent members of the Governing Council; Professor Rosemary Iriowen Egonmwan and Dr. Adedeji Adefuye — alongside principal officers, staff, students, and guests.

The service, filled with solemn thanksgiving and heartfelt intercession, set a reflective and uplifting tone for the celebrations, which will see thousands of graduates from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions receive their degrees.

Delivering a thought-provoking sermon, the Chaplain, Professor Emmanuel Ndububa, emphasized the transformative power of consistent prayer and the critical need for the university to continually seek and align with the divine will through perseverance and unwavering faith.

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor expressed deep appreciation to members of the Governing Council, principal officers, dedicated staff, students, and all guests for their active participation. He urged the community to sustain the spirit of prayer, describing it as essential for fostering the harmony and advancement the University of Abuja deserves.

“Pray for our peace and unity,” Professor Fawehinmi implored, underscoring that a stable, united, and progressive institution remains the foundation for academic excellence and national development.

The service forms part of a series of spiritual activities marking the combined convocation, which officially kicked off earlier with a Jummat Prayer and is expected to culminate in grand ceremonies honoring the achievements of over 12,000 graduands.

Under Professor Fawehinmi’s visionary leadership — recently assumed as the 8th substantive Vice-Chancellor following a rigorous selection process — the University of Abuja continues to position itself as a beacon of academic excellence, innovation, and holistic development in Nigeria’s capital.

The university community and well-wishers have welcomed the VC’s rallying call, viewing it as a timely reminder that true success in higher education thrives not only on intellectual rigor but also on spiritual grounding, unity of purpose, and collective prayer.

As the convocation week unfolds, expectations are high for memorable celebrations that will further cement UniAbuja’s reputation as a forward-looking institution committed to producing graduates equipped to tackle national and global challenges.