The Chancellor, Dr. David Oyedepo, Members of the Board of Regents (the highest governing body of the University), the Management team, Eminent Professors, Faculty, Staff, Students and other stakeholders in the University gathered to celebrate the woman of virtue and an internationally acclaimed professor.

At a special chapel service in her honour, the Chancellor, Dr. David Oyedepo extolled her passion and commitment to the vision and growth of the University saying, “You have done well”.

The Chancellor in a word of exaltation stated that life is a race which can not be won by physical appearance or strength but by the grace of God which is made available by constantly acknowledging God Almighty as the Source.

Quoting from Romans 9 verse 16 and 1Samuel 2 verse 9, to establish his point, Dr. Oyedepo reiterated that, “Every time the grace of God is mis-appropriated, it is turned to disgrace.

He admonished the audience to shun pride which he said is the cheapest way to shut the door of grace upon one’s life, adding that, “There is no end to making progress in life but at the point where pride begins, that’s where progress stops”.

Also at the reception organised to celebrate the occasion, the Chancellor further commended her for adding value to other people’s lives and the University. He however urged her to do more and move from the level of diligence to sacrifice.

He said, “You have been diligent over the years; you have worked. Now it’s time to move from the level of diligence to sacrifice. Do not take the grace of God upon your life for granted”. He then prayed for more grace and favour of God upon her even as she continues in her assignment.

Also, various individuals and groups including friends, family members, the Faculty Women Advance (a group of Covenant University women faculty) and Students’ Council eulogised her virtues of selflessness, simplicity, humility and exemplary motherhood.

In her testimony, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Obayan who is also referred to as the Handmaiden of God and the daughter of Africa stated that she was the least qualified, but the grace of God located her.

She said, “I’m the least qualified but grace located me and brought me here. Anyone that knew my circumstances from 1992 to 2002 will know that this is just the grace and favour of God. Many have written me off. Colleagues would see me and turn other way, but grace located me and by the reason of liberation mandate, I’ve found liberation”.

She stated that all she was able to achieve would not have been possible without the support of the Chancellor whom she referred to as Father and Mentor. She expressed appreciation to Pastor (Mrs.) Faith Oyedepo for showing her examples to follow.

She also acknowledged the support of the Management team, particularly the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Charles Ogbulogo and the Registrar, Dr. Daniel Rotimi, Faculty and Staff who she said worked as a family and promised that the grace of God will not be taken for granted.

Professor Aize Oloigbe Imouokhome Obayan was born on March 4, 1960 to the family of Sir and Lady Frank Imouokhome in the then Bendel State, now Edo State.

She attended among others, the famous St. Maria Goreti Girls’ Secondary School, Benin City, Saint Leonards School for Girls, and for her “A” Levels, St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland – a school which has produced many women of international repute.

On her return, she gained admission to the University of Benin, Benin City for a B. Ed (English) degree from 1979 to 1982. Immediately after her Youth Service in Kano, she gained admission to the University of Ilorin where she earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Guidance and Counselling.

Professor Aize Obayan started her academic career as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State in 1986. She rose through the ranks, thus becoming a Reader at the same University in 1995.

For three years, between 1996 and 1999, she was at the University of Roehampton, United Kingdom as a Senior Lecturer in Counselling Psychology. On her return to Nigeria, she was appointed to the Chair in counselling and as Pioneer Head of Department of Human Resource Development at Covenant University, Ota Nigeria.

In July 2003, she was appointed the Dean of the former College of Human Development now part of the College of Development Studies. In October 2004, she became the Coordinator of the University’s School of Postgraduate Studies. In addition, Professor Obayan served as Anchor Person of the University’s Total Man Concept Programme – Covenant University’s home grown in-loco-parentis programme for mentoring students’ and addressing essential student issues.

On February 1, just about one month and three days to her 45th Birthday in 2005, she was appointed the Vice Chancellor of Covenant University.

As Vice Chancellor, Professor Obayan has been privileged to work with the Chancellor and visioner of Covenant University, Dr. David O. Oyedepo, a man with an unwavering commitment to excellence and the restoration of the dignity of the Black man who continues to serve as the main inspiration of Covenant University dream. Professor Obayan is passionate about raising a new generation of leaders which is Covenant University’s driving mandate. She celebrates the vision that gave birth to the University and considers it a unique opportunity to be part of a world class vision to change the destiny of a new generation.

An internationally acclaimed scholar with numerous publications, Professor Obayan serves on the editorial boards of several Journals. She is currently on the Board of the National Universities Commission and is a member of the Quality Assurance and Strategic Development Committees. Also she currently serves as a member of the Central Bank of Nigeria FSS 2020 Human Capital Development Committee.

Among numerous awards, in 2005, Professor Obayan was awarded the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Shell Award for Mentoring and in January of the same year, she was awarded Best Vice Chancellor (Private Universities Category) by the National Universities Commission.

Professor Aize Oloigbe Imouokhome Obayan is happily married to Adetokunbo Uchechi Obayan, a leadership and Organization Consultant and the marriage is blessed with wonderful children.