WATS appoints Gava as new provost

• Published date: 02 February 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The West Africa Theological Seminary (WAT) Ipaja, Lagos has appointed an associate professor of the New Testament Dr. Daudu Gava as its new provost.

WATS, a non-denominational theological institute, was established in 1989 by Prof. Gary Maxey, an American missionary in Nigeria.

Gava's appointment is coming eight months after the death of the school's former provost, Pastor Oluwafemi Martins.

His appointment brings to seven the number of provosts that have served in the institution since its inception.

Gava was presented to the WATS community during a brief but impressive ceremony on Wednesday.

Chairman of WATS governing council Dr. Emmanuel Oluwayemi, the Vice Chairman, Dr. Kelvin Tapere, the Director of Administration, Dr. Tosin Awolalu who has been acting since the transition of Pastor Martins and a host of other lecturers and council members were at the presentation ceremony.

Oluwayemi expressed appreciation to God saying 'tough times don't last but tough people do. Leaders solve problems and see solutions because every problem has a solution. Today, God has answered our prayers because he has given WATS a new provost'.

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He expressed confidence in the ability of the new provost stating that 'God has sent him at a time like this in history to put WATS on the path of progress.'

According to Oluwayemi: 'The arrival of the new provost is timely as the number seven represents perfection.'

He said Gava has been a friend of WATS and also an adjunct faculty member for over ten years. 'Indeed, God does his own things in his own way in his own time and the time is now for WATS.'

While presenting Gava to the WATS community, he said, 'On this first day of February 2023, the Governing Council Chairman officially unveils Dr. Daudu Gava as the new provost of WATS'

The founder of the school, Prof Maxey who could not attend the event expressed joy at the coming of Dr. Gava.

In a message read on his behalf, he regretted he could not be at the event due to ill health.

He however noted that 'WATS has steadfastly passed through eight long months under the interim leadership of Dr. Tosin Awolalu, after the very unwelcome passing away of our beloved provost, Pastor Olufemi Martins.'

Maxey expressed gratitude to Dr. Awolalu for his steadfast leadership during this period saying, ' I for one will never forget it.

'But...