Gbenro Adesina
Barely two weeks to the deadline of the submission of applications for the advertised position of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, (UI), more aspirants have emerged, as each of them intensify campaign for their success.
However, it was gathered that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Professor Yemisi Bamgbose of the Faculty of Law is no longer contesting for the position.
It was gathered that aspirants have been meeting notable Nigerians, who will have direct or indirect influence on the process. While the ears of Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari and his Ministers of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, Emeka Nwajiuba are being keenly contested for, the political scholars are not underrating Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the former president of the country as well as The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who is the institution’s Chancellor. The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB (JAMB), Is-haq Olarewaju Oloyede is stated to be highly involved in the on-going vcship politics.
Other eminent Nigerians, who may equally play major role on the emergence of the 13th Vice Chancellor of the Premier University may include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, notable Ibadan indegenes including Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of the institution, Nde Waklek Joshua Mutka, the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka and the immediate past Vice Chancellor, who is also an immediate past Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole will equally play significant roles in the emergence of the 13th Vice Chancellor of the Premier University. The significance of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) cannot be underestimated.
However, for the past one month, Primestarnews gathered that aspirants have been calling their colleagues as well as sending texts messages to seek for their support.
The aspirants also pay unscheduled visits to their colleagues, who they thought could brighten their chances of clinching the coveted post.
At this moment, the aspirants considered arrogant, who have poor relationship with their colleagues were said to have changed, as a lecturer in the Faculty of Education put it, “Now we are important; they can now greet us, play with us and talk to us; all these because they want our support; the moment they get to office, nobody will be able to talk to them again”.
Another lecturer said, “Personally, some of the aspirants, who had earlier indicated their interest in the position have called me and told me that they are vying for the position. They have been reminding me through text messages of their aspiration. All I can say for now is that I wish all of them the best”.
One of the institution’s radical professors in the institution simply commented, “I hope logic and common sense will be deplored in the appointment of the Vice Chancellor. The institution needs an intellectually sound individual, who will vigorously promote scholarship. The institution needs a sound administration, who is well respected and has the carriage and can be pointed to to be the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. The University needs a Vice Chancellor, who will protect the interest of the students, particularly, the female students and safe them from being violated. The University needs who will ensure that members of staff do what they should do; lecturers go to class as at when due and non-academic staff do what they are employed to do. There is no discipline in the system, so, the institution needs a disciplinarian as the 13th Vice Chancellor. The institution needs a Vice Chancellor that will maximally explore both local and international opportunities for our university and ensure that internet works for both students and lecturers and other members of the community. The institution needs God fearing individual as a Vice Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor must be able to attract funds into the university. The Vice Chance must encourage junior lecturers to publish. The Vice Chancellor must be able to raise the Internally Generated Revenue. The University needs a Vice Chancellor that is capable to record more goals than the predecessors. In short, it will be suicidal for a mediocre to emerge as our Vice Chancellor at this particular time”.
The initial aspirants to signify their interests in the office are Deputy Vice Chancellor, Admin, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Remi Raji-Oyelade of the Department of English, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Provost of College of Medicine, Professor Ezekiel Olapade-Olaopa, the immediate past Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Temitope Alonge and Professor George Olusegun Ademowo of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Basic Medical Science.
Others that Primestarnews just got wind of are Professor Babatunde Lawal Salako, College of Medicine, Professor Clement Olusegun Olaniran Kolawole, Faculty of Education, Professor Tal-hatu Kolapo Hamzat, College of Medicine, Professor Babatunde Faronbi, Department of Biochemistry.
One dangerous factor Primestarnews has found out shaping the process is religious divide between the Christians and Muslims.
