Acting VC, 15 Profs battle for UI vice-chancellor seat

By ALAO ABIODUN

No fewer than 16 Professors from different areas of specialisations and institutions are jostling to emerge as the next vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, The Nation learnt on Saturday.

The new VC, when elected, will assume office for a single tenure of five years.

A Town-Hall meeting organised by the UI Community Forum tagged “The Voice of the Next UI VC, Who is Next?” is scheduled to hold on Monday, October 4.

The Nation reports the process of electing the institution’s VC in the past months had been marred with various allegations, counter-allegations and engulfed in a series of crises due to clashes and misunderstandings between various interest groups.

It was gathered that crisis in the institution started in 2020 when the indigenes of Ibadan land under the aegis of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) insisted that it was time for the host town to produce a VC, who is an indigene of the town after 73 years of its existence on their land.

To Muslim groups, in the last 73 years, no Muslim professor has been elected as the VC of the institution.

They insisted a Muslim must emerge as the VC this time around.

Women also petitioned that a female professor must be considered for the position as they have never been considered at all since the institution’s establishment.

Due to inability to resolve these crises, Professor Babatunde Ekanola of the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts was appointed by the Senate as the acting VC in November, 2020 for a period of six months.

His tenure was extended in June for another six months.

However, the process commenced afresh after a decision to that effect was reached at a meeting of the university Council presided over by its Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The 16 contestants will on Monday present their agenda to the university community, via Zoom (virtual platform).

This forum tagged: “The Voice of the Next UI VC, Who is Next?”, offers a platform for staff, students and other members of the university community to meet the aspirants, listen to them and ask them questions.

The event is organised by the UI Community Forum consisting of five unions in the premier institution ― Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Students Union (SU), Non-Academic Staff Union of University (NASU) and the Non-Academic Technicians (NATS).

The UI Community Forum established in 2000, has maintained a culture of having a town-hall meeting with aspirants to the position of the Vice-Chancellor of the University.

It was learnt that the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Babatunde Ekanola, has joined the race.

Others in the race include: Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science; Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts; Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto of the Department of Sociology; Professor Emiola Oluwabunmi Olapade-Olaopa of the College of Medicine; Professor Temitope Alonge of the University College Hospital (UCH)…

…Professor George Olusegun Ademowo of the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Faculty of Basic Medical Science; Professor Kolawole Clement Olusegun Olaniran, Department of Teacher Education; Professor Ganiyu Adesola Aderounmu, Professor Ebenezer Farombi of Biochemistry, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Faweyinmi of the University of Port Harcourt, Professor Rasaq Olatunde Kalilu of the department of Fine and Applied Arts, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Anthony Kolawole, Professor Oladele Layiwola of the Institute of African Studies; Professor Nazeem Oluwafemi Mimiko of the department of International Relations, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Babatunde Salako. (The Nation)