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‘Pay today, play tomorrow, or play today, pay tomorrow,’ Oyedepo tells students

“The worth of anyone’s time defines the worth of his life,” Mr Oyedepo said.

• January 30, 2026
Bishop David Oyedepo
Bishop David Oyedepo

The chancellor of Covenant University, Ota, Ogun, David Oyedepo, has charged newly admitted students of the institution to embrace discipline and shun peer pressure in order to achieve their goals.

Mr Oyedepo gave the charge during the 24th Matriculation Ceremony of the institution on Friday at Ota.

He restated that discipline may be painful, but its end result is priceless. Mr Oyedepo added that the pain of regret was worse than that of discipline.

“Pay today and  play tomorrow, or play today and pay tomorrow. No one will be more accomplished in his pursuit than he or she who is disciplined,” he said.

Mr Oyedepo also told the students to take their studies seriously.

“The worth of anyone’s time defines the worth of his life,” Mr Oyedepo said.

Timothy Anake, the university’s vice-chancellor, said the university remained committed to investing in world-class infrastructure to ensure seamless learning.

Mr Anake implored the new students to embrace the institution’s seven core values.

He listed them as spirituality, possibility mentality, capacity building, integrity, responsibility, diligence, and sacrifice.

The pro-chancellor of the institution, Faith Oyedepo, urged the new students to be focused.

She emphasised that the path to greatness would be paved with discipline.

She said that the university placed a high premium on good character moulding, saying that without character, talents would become liabilities.

“Pursue your programmes with first-class character,” she urged.

The pro-chancellor said that higher education was a journey and required focus for students to reach their destinations on time and intact.

The university formally admitted 3,070 students, comprising 2,440 undergraduates and 630 postgraduates, at matriculation for the 2025/2026 academic session.

(NAN)

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