Gbenro Adesina
The submission of applications for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), closes today.
It will be recalled that the previous processes instituted by the Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka led administration was cancelled by the newly instituted Governing Council led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and a call for fresh submission of applications by interested aspirants was made.
The previous process has reached the last stage when principally, the non-academic staff led by Wale Akinremi protested the inclusion of Professors, Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) and Femi Mimiko, the former Vice Chancellor of Adekunel Ajasin University, Akungba, among the six shortlisted candidates for the consideration of the selection board.
The grouse against the two university administrators is that the former was allegedly sponsored by Olayinka, the immediate past VC, who was not in their good books, while the latter was alleged of not being friendly with non-academic staff going by his antecedent in AAUA.
Also, some contestants alleged that the processes were fraught with irregularities.
In a Special Release of July 8, 2021, issued and signed by the institution Registrar, Olubunmi O. Faluyi, where the position of VC was declared vacant, interested aspirants were given six weeks from the date of the publication of the advertisement to submit their application.
As at the time of filing this report, those who have submitted applications for the position of UI VC are yet to be known.
However, from all indications, Professors Adebowale and former DVC Academic, Abideen Yinka Aderinto, who have been major contestants are still in the race.
Also, the claim that the Acting VC, Professor Adebola Ekanola has shown interest in the position cannot be verified at the time this report was being put together.
