West Midlands Open University Ibadan (WMOUI), has inaugurated its governing council, with Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, the former vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), as chairman.
Olayinka is equally the Pro-Chancellor of the University.
Other council members are the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olumide Babatope Longe; Senate Representatives, Air Commodore (Dr.) Akeem Adebomehin; Convocation Representative, Prof. Adenike Osofisan; Mrs. Bisi Asimolowo; Mrs. Deola Ajayi; NUC Representative, Dr. Ligari Gabriel Hadu, and the University Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mr. Adekunle Durosinmi.
The Proprietor/Founder and Visitor of the institution which was licensed in 2023, is His Royal Majesty (HRM), Oba Murtala Adebayo Akande, the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
In his brief remark, Olayinka assured the institution’s founder that the Council would do its best in order to contribute to the sustainable growth and policy direction of the University.
The university administrator pointed out that he has been mentored and socialised into always leaving his comfort zone whenever the opportunity arises hence, he accepted the offer as a call to national service.
He said, “Moreover, I have been a University man throughout my adult life and I am ever prepared and ready to make my humble and modest contributions in any initiative that can provide education to the teeming Nigerians who seek tertiary education. God helping us, we shall excel again with this new Project. We covet the prayerful support of all and sundry to make this a reality.”
He affirmed that the institution hit the ground running with regular meetings of the Board of Trustees, the appointment of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, admission of the pioneer set of students-learners and commencement of academic activities the moment it was licensed by the Federal Government.
“We are now kick-starting the emplacement of the Governing Council as part of efforts of the Proprietor to fortify the Governance structure in the nascent University”, he added.
Recognising the teething problems associated with a newly established institution, he revealed that Oba Akande wants WMOUI to be a legacy project that will outlive all of us.
He noted, “This is most reassuring and comforting. I pledge on behalf of all of us on the Council that we shall leverage our varied experiences and competencies to bear in the assignment given to us by Kabiyesi. I assure you, Sir, that we shall at all times ensure good corporate governance and the highest standards of ethics and integrity. We will piggyback on your personal virtues as a highly successful lawyer, technocrat, entrepreneur, businessman and royal father.”
Olayinka enumerated the responsibilities of the council to include approving the long-term academic and business plans of the University as well as key performance indicators and ensuring their alignment with the interests of key stakeholders, building and safeguarding the good name and values of the university, ensuring that the university complies with the established guidelines of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and with the provisions of the legal instruments by which the university was established, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees (BoT) on the appointment of bankers and other service providers or agents as deemed necessary by the Council.
Others include making recommendations to the BoT for the approval of the annual budgets without prejudice to individual university’s law, ensuring that proper books of accounts showing a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the university are kept and explaining the same and causing the annual reports and audited financial statements to be published promptly and all other provisions specified as the responsibility of Council in the NUC Code of Governance of Private Universities in Nigeria.
