The new Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), Prof Wahab Egbewole, has declared his vision for the institution.
He said on Monday in Ilorin that he would make the varsity to attain global ranking as a 21st century university and best in Africa.
Egbewole unveiled his vision while speaking during his formal assumption of office as the 11th vice-chancellor of Unilorin.
He observed that ranking Unilorin as best in Africa is achievable due to the human capital interest of the institution and collective efforts of the staff to turn the university into an international centre of excellence in learning, research, probity and service to humanity.
Speaking on the theme: “Shuttling to Space”, the vice-chancellor explained that from 2023 the university would be propelled to where it should be, while however admitting that there will be challenges.
“The operational blueprint of overcoming challenges shall be anchored on the principles of inclusive governance, no-door policy, thinking without the box, strengthening of the committee system and reviving the academic culture, among others,” he declared.
Egbewole promised that as a legal practitioner and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he would conform with the extant laws, loyal to the law, rules and regulations.
“Yet as a Professor of Jurisprudence, I shall be just, fair and humane in the decision making process.
“As a Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Arbitrators, I am committed to doing right things in the interest of this great institution and its entire membership, the students and staff,” he said.
The new vice-chancellor stated that the students of Unilorin would be his top priority without compromising staff welfare, adding that students would be the pride of the institution by constantly engaging and making them potential ambassadors of the ideal and values of the institution.
Prof. Musbau Akanji, a former vice-chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, noted that leadership of the universities in Nigeria during the 60s were among the best that were obtainable, adding that this continued during the establishment of the second generation and third generation universities in the 70s and 80s.
Akanji, however, lamented that with time, the typical Nigerian malaise started entering universities in the 90s, while observing that appointment to headship of universities became influenced by region of birth and religious persuasion.
“It has deteriorated so much to the extent that communities where the universities are sited run paid advertisement in Newspapers demanding that their sons and daughters must be appointed chief of executives of tertiary institutions sited in their locations,” he said.
The don however stated that unbiased appraisal showed that a non-indegene is free of encumbrances associated with undue influence of local lords.
He noted that appointment of heading varsities should he based on identifiable and verifiable criteria of merit alone.
He listed some prominent vice-chancellors who were non-indigenes when they were appointed as V-Cs and performed admirably to include Prof. Is’haq Oloyede of Unilorin, Prof. Mahadi of Gombe State University and Prof. Ribadu at Sule Lamido University, Kano, among others.
Earlier, Dr Fola Olowoleni, the Registrar of Unilorin, had advised the new vice-chancellor to ensure academic pursuits is priority after the eight month strike by ASUU.
She pointed out that the vice-chancellor’s professional calling and pedigree as a Lawyer and SAN should brought to bear in administering the affairs of the university with fairness and justice. (NAN)
