Adeboye unveils rehabilitated University of Ibadan Zoological Garden

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Enoch Adeboye, on Wednesday officially unveiled the newly upgraded University of Ibadan Zoological Garden at a ceremony which was also attended by the Vice

Chancellor of the premier university, Isaac Adewole.

While congratulating the school authority for the attainment of its set goal at the garden, Adeboye said the church contributed financially to the rehabilitating of the zoo, adding that man had the duty of preserving the animals which he said was created before him.

“The church donated some amount towards the project but I was not thinking of a rapid transformation. We must thank the Vice Chancellor and the university authority for completing the project without delay. Animals were created by God before man so there must be something special about them. If you handle them well, they can be good friends. Human beings are not predictable but animals are predictable if well handled. I pray that there will be no tragedy or accident in the zoo,” he said, after which he was taken round the zoo by the VC, Director of the UI zoo, Dr. Olajumoke Morenikeji and other members of the school authority.

In her address, Morenikeji said the zoo went through four years of transformation with the help of the VC, corporate bodies and individuals. She also thanked Adeboye for the donation of N45 m towards the project.

She said, “Indeed we are greatly indebted to the magnanimity of Pastor Adeboye who has been a strong facilitator of this project. This project runs into hundreds of millions of naira. For the first time, the zoo is fenced round with blocks. A new vehicle was also given to the zoo.”

Other features of the new zoo are construction of bridges across the Awba stream in the garden, extension of the lions’ cage, wildlife clinic, laboratory, educational unit and library. Over 100 species of animals are now housed in the enlarged zoo.