The authorities of the University of Ibadan this morning began the process of appointing a new Vice Chancellor, as 12 contestants gunning for the job gathered at Trenchard Hall of the university for an interactive session with staff and students.
Out of the 12 contestants, only seven attended the session. Those that presented their manifestoes to the school community were: Professor A. E. Oluleye of the department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Professor O. O. Olorunsogo of the department of Biochemistry, Professor O.O. Layiwola of the Institute of African Studies, Professor E. Falaye of the department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Professor Environmental Health, and Professor I. F. Adewole of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, all from the University of Ibadan.
Another aspirant is Professor Jadesola Aderiye of the department of Microbiology, University of Ado-Ekiti.
Absent contestants were the current Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor A. A. B. Agbaje of the department of Political Science, University of Ibadan who sent an apology letter for not being able to attend as a result of the earlier statutory meeting of the university at the College of Medicine; Professor Friday Okonofua of the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin; Professor B. Alo of the department of Chemistry, current Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration; Professor E. A. Bamgboye of the department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, and Professor F. O Egbokhare of the department of Linguistics, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos.
Each of those present took turns to speak about their plans if they were elected as the new vice chancellor, with emphasis on what they would do, like providing uninterrupted power supply and potable water.
They added that they would improve the institution far better than they met it.
Meanwhile, it seems that Professor Bamigbose has withdrawn from the race as the council has re-appointed him as the DVC Administration.
Speaking, the chairman of the occasion, Professor Ayo Banjo lauded the initiative of the university to present all the contestants to all the stakeholders, saying that it was a demonstration of democracy.
He, however, regretted that it was only seven candidates that could attend the session.
Dr. Demola Aremu, ASUU Chairman in the university, suggested that contestants that did not attend the session should be disqualified stressing, “I hereby make a declaration that any candidate invited and does not feel sufficiently compelled to attend this forum is unfit and improper to lead the university”.
However, the moderator of the session, the NBA President, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, urged the university authorities not only to compel the contestants to attend such a session in the futre but the council that would eventually elect the new VC must be part of the process.
The session was closed 2:10pm
By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
I don't know the person that sent me an email to visit Campus Square but whoever it was thought that I should look at what is happening there. I am not aware that I am a social crusader or human rights activist and I doubt my credentials to comment on a matter being attended to by eggheads in an Ivory Tower like University of Ibadan. Right now I have my hands full with my issue with Mr. Nessim Gaon of Israel: http://jonathan-obikpo.blogspot.com/ or http://en.netlog.com/jonathanobikpo/blog but since someone was inspired to direct the matter to me as a responsibility, and based on my experience with life generally, it would be foolish of me to play Jonah with the matter.
ReplyDeleteMy understanding is that UI wants to elect a new Vice Chancellor (VC). There are 12 Candidates for the position, some of them from UI and others from outside. The (s)election process kicked off on Wednesday 18-Aug-2010 with the seven (7) of the aspirants in attendance presenting their manifesto. I also understand that the Council (who and who make up the Council?) would decide on who emerges for the job but has gone ahead to disable one of the aspirants; the Deputy Vice Chancellor, by reappointing him the DVC. Na waooo!
I hear that the ASUU Chairman at UI is not happy with the contestants that did not show up at the venue of the meeting and thinks that they are unserious and should be disqualified, but the moderator thinks that they should not be sanctioned (what with the brouhaha engendered by religious fanatics a few days from the (s)election date). Hmmm, I have not seen that moderator but I guess that he is an original egghead guru. If you were those guys coming from outside and you hear that a Jihad is in progress at UI, what would you do? The Devil is doing overtime with this VC (s)election matter and I think that the Council should look at the issue critically from many angles. They should appoint a clean knowledgeable person who has been proven to be service-to-humanity compliant and has no history of extra-marital affair. The devil has been proven time and again in the use women to destabilize people who originally had good intentions. This is my contribution. I'm out of here before the fanatics unleash mayhem virus in Cyberspace, and I hope that Oga Onovo is listening to his one now ooo!
By the way, I understand that UI still has power and water issues like the rest of Nigeria and that some of the contestants have promised to tackle and solve the problems. Personally, I am disappointed that after so many years of UI that has produced many of Nigeria's best brains, the past egghead RD gurus there did not fix power and water in the UI community.
Jonathan Obikpo