Gbenro Adesina
The process to select the 13th Vice Chancellor, who will succeed the immediate past VC, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, who has just been appointed to serve as a Member of the National Advisory Committee on Universities of Technology by the Federal Government, has been a long and torturous journey.
However, as it stated, everything that has a beginning has an ending. Incidentally, the end to the race will come any moment from now, as the governing council of the institution is expected to announce a new VC for the nation’s Premier University in a press conference expected to hold later today. As at the time of filing this report, Council is screening eight candidates shortlisted from 15 aspirants. The eight candidates include: Professor Adeyinka Aderinto, the acting Vice Chancellor Prof A.B Ekanola, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, Professor Ebenezer Olatunde Farounbi, Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako, Professor Kayode Adebowale, Professor Ganiyu Aderounmu and George Olusegun Ademowo.
The expectation of the outcome of the screening by the governing council has caused anxiety and tension in the university, as members of the university community are eager to know the new VC. Thoughts are being exchanged. People are gathering in groups. Calls are being made, but none of the members of the Governing Council can be reached because, it is a standing rule that phones must be switched off during the screening. Questions are being asked. However, hopes are on three candidates. The candidates are, Ekanola, who is described as a VC of circumstances, if emerged, Adebowale and Aderinto, who may heave the sign of relief.
The process, which started in May 18, 2020, was characterised by unimaginable and dirty politics ever recorded in the history of the institution, which was played by different interest groups. This unexpected act in the ivory tower resulted in, first, suspension of the first process, leading to the appointment of an acting VC. The determination of the acting VC to complete the first process was truncated by the Federal government, who ensured that the process was cancelled and a new process began.
The declaration of the new process was characterised with interesting drama as, the acting VC, decided to join the race, to the amazement of the university community. He eventually made it to the last stage. As at now, all eyes are fixed on the governing council to declare and say and the winner is…
