Scores of Ilorin indigenes under the aegis of Ilorin Association of Friends, yesterday faulted the modus operandi of appointing the Vice Chancellor-designate of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof. Wahab Egbewole.

The Governing Council of the institution about two weeks ago announced Egbewole, a professor of law and jurisprudence, as the vice chancellor-designate.

The tenure of the current Vice Chancellor, Prof Sulyman Abdulkareem, will expire on October 15.

Shortly after his appointment, Prof Egbewole, an indigene of Osun State, extended hands of friendship to his co- contestants, saying: “The university is bigger than all of us.”

He promised to be fair to all the stakeholders in the running of the affairs of the university.

Read Also; UNILORIN students to new VC: opt out of ASUU

The Coordinator of the association, Alhaji Bashiru Aliyu, said: “We have not called this news conference to bore you with the rhetoric or sentiment that an Ilorin man must always emerge as the vice chancellor of the University of Ilorin, even though the process must not be programmed to edge out qualified indigenous candidates of the community, as the university in question is a federal institution opened to any qualified Nigerian; neither are we here to attack any personality.

“However, we are here to register our grievances on the sordid process that produced the least qualified as the new VC-designate against the established standard and convention of the university.

“As stakeholders and concerned citizens of Kwara, where the university is sited, we will like to call on relevant organs of the government and those who have responsibility to oversee the affairs of the university to look into the activities of the council and the entire process that produced the new VC-designate of the University of Ilorin.

“As stakeholders in this community with peace track records, we have resolved to ward off any shenanigan that may threaten the hard- earned peace. We, therefore, want to call on relevant authorities to see to it that there is no miscarriage of justice in this matter.”

The Nigerian Universities’ Pensioners Association (NUPA), Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti chapter, has decried non-payment of 15 years gratuity arrears totalling N1.5 billion.

They appealed to the state government and EKSU management to persuade the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU), EKSU chapter, to suspend its strike for swift payment of their five-month pension arrears.

Read Also; Pensioners occupy Niger Government House over unpaid pensions

Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the Chairman, NUPA EKSU, Chief Samuel Akinwale, said it was disturbing for the university to withhold their pensions since May 2022 due to ASUU strike.

He lamented that many of their members had died in the last 15 years due to undue suffering and neglect occasioned by inability of the university to defray their gratuities as and when due.

The pensioners appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to increase the monthly subvention to the university, urging the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, to embark on aggressive internally generated revenue drive to fund the institution.

Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has approved N12.5 billion for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and dualisation of 35.6km Iwo Road Interchange-Olodo-Lalupon-Odo Oba Road.

The contract covers Oyo State end of  Oyo-Osun boundary linking Ibadan in Oyo State to Iwo in Osun State.

This was made known yesterday by the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof.  Dahud Sangodoyin, after the state executive council meeting presided over by the governor.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the project was expected to be completed within 18 months.

Sangodoyin noted that Oyo and Osun governments would launch the project very soon.

“The road project is subdivided into three parts. The first is the 7.7km from Iwo Road interchange to Olodo Bridge. Also, we will extend the bridge to about 24 metres wide and 12 metres long.

Read Also; Makinde presents vehicles to Oyo police

“On the second tranche, we also want to dualise the 500 metres from the bridge to Ogunmarako Junction and thereafter, we will do a 27.33km from Ogunmarako to Odo-Oba Bridge at the other end of Oyo and Osun boundary.

“We are going to do the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the bridge there and the contract sum is N12, 560,920,000 for duration of 18 months. It was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited.”

The council also approved the restoration, modernisation and maintenance of street lights at 10 strategic junctions across Oyo State at the sum of N247 million, through Alternative Funding Project Approach.

This was revealed by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Seun Asamu.

He said the Executive Council approved the project for the restoration, modernisation and maintenance of traffic lights at designated junctions, using the Alternative Funding Approach.

He said: “We intend to begin with 10 junctions, namely Adamasingba, Salvation Army junction, Queen Elizabeth-Secretariat junction, NTA-Government House junction, Oba Akinbiyi-Premier junction, Secretariat-Bodija market junction and Awolowo-Sango-Mokola-Elewure junction in Ibadan.

“Also, we have Sango-Isaletaba-Ajegunle junction in Saki and Owode junction in Oyo. These were approved for immediate implementation once the administrative process has been completed.”

No fewer than 556 students of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, who are in the first-class category, were yesterday honoured, as the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, marked her first year in office.

The students, drawn from across the 11 faculties and schools, were given 50 per cent reduction/rebate on their fees.

The VC said the students were those whose Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) was not below 4 7.

She noted that delivering the mandate of higher education in Nigeria was being impeded by incessant strikes, which were affecting the synergy between ivory towers and industries.

On the significance of the event, Olatunji-Bello said it showed the swift passing of time, adding that it would not erode her determination to achieve her vision and mission for the university.

Read Also; LASUSTECH students to Sanwo-Olu: fulfill your promises

“My vision and mission is to make LASU the best university in West Africa. On three occasions I applied to be the vice chancellor of this great institution and when it was the appointed time, I was chosen. I have a clear idea of how to achieve the vision and mission I have for this university.

“We are not saying there are no challenges, but with the support of our Visitor, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and a dedicated workforce, management team that shares the same vision with me and world-class students. We are on the right track,” she said.

Wife of the Lagos State governor, Mrs. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Nkem Sofela, hailed the giant strides recorded by the administration of Olatunji-Bello.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented by Mrs. Bola Olujobi, said education had always been a top priority for successive administrations in the state.

Delivering a lecture on “The significance of education to the growth of a nation”, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, said girl-child education must be taken seriously for the development of the country.

Kinsmen of Labour Party standard-bearer in Ondo State Mr. Peter Obi have said the All Progressives Congress (APC) will win the 2023 presidential election.

The Igbo and other non-indigenes in the state said they opted to vote for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because they believed he would bring good things to the country.

They spoke at the inauguration of the state executives of the Emilokan Strikers, a grassroots support group for Tinubu presidency.

The Coordinator, Non-Indigenes, Ondo South Senatorial Zone, Nwamara Euchay, said Obi would step down for Tinubu.

She said they would take the APC campaigns to rural communities and homes of non-indigenes living in Ondo State.

Read Also; 2023: Peter Obi meets Jonathan in Abuja

Euchay said: “APC is a progressive party. No matter the circumstances, we are going to win. Peter Obi is our son. We do not reject anybody. We will call people together and appeal to them. We believe Tinubu will bring good things to the country.

“Obi will step down for us. We are going out to talk about Tinubu. We will preach to them and calm them down to join the queue.”

The state Coordinator of Emilokan Strikers, Mr. Festus Alonge, said the philosophy of Awoism would come to reality under Tinubu presidency.

He said non-indigenes would be reached in their homes to woo them to vote for Tinubu.

Alonge said: “Politics is about numbers and mobilisation. We are people of like mind and same vision. We are working assiduously, which was why we formed this group. Every support group must be in the field to ensure victory.

“If you see the way we organised the structure, we created an office for non-indigenes so that we would reach them. We have each person coordinating in each of the three senatorial districts. They are working in conjunction with those already appointed.”

Arewa community in the Southwest has declared support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It said his emergence as the next president became necessary “at this critical stage, considering insecurity across the nation, particularly in the North.”

The community urged Nigerians to vote for competence ahead of religion, saying there was need for “us to unite for the victory of Tinubu/Shetima and other APC candidates.”

Read Also; Youths, women crucial to electoral victory, says Oluremi Tinubu

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of APC Southwest Arewa Community and Declaration of Door to Door Campaign, the Chairman of APC Southwest Arewa Community, Alhaji Sa’adu Dandare, said the coming together of Arewa leaders would ensure success for Tinubu/Shetima and other APC candidates.

The Special Adviser to Ogun State Governor on Inter-Ethnic Affairs, Hadi Sani, said Nigerians should not vote based on religion, but should elect a dedicated, sound and qualified person like Tinubu as the President.

The Chairman of Oyo State Arewa community, Alhaji Bashir Bubakar, said Asiwaju Tinubu should be elected as the next President for equity, justice and fairness.

He described the Tinubu/Shettima ticket as a perfect combination to move the country forward in 2023.

The inauguration of a 2.4-kilometre Oke-Ola road in Imeko Afon Local Government of Ogun State last week by Governor Dapo Abiodun has been described as the needed tonic to boost commercial and farming activities in the area.

The road, which connects with neighbouring communities in Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, was built by the Ogun State Government to ease movement of farm produce and goods from farmland to urban centres in the two states.

Major communities that make up Imeko-Afon Local Government include Imeko, Afon, Ilara, Okeagbede, Moriwi, Owode, Obada, Iwoye-Ketu, Okuta, Atapele, Idofa and a host of others.

Prince Abiodun, at the inauguration, said the newly constructed road was a departure from the past, as it led and connected Oyo State, which was aimed at boosting business activities in the area with consequent increase in revenue generation into the coffers of the government.

Abiodun said Imeko-Afon Local Government was endowed with abundant and vast land suitable for growing farm produce and also with potential forest.

Prided as an agriculture zone, it was learnt that the building of the road would boost cotton production in the area, which has been described as the best in the country in terms of quality.

A farmer and industrialist, Alhaji Ganiyu Elegbede, said the Oke-Ola road meant a lot to traders and farmers because of its multi-purpose nature.

Read Also: Makinde releases N750m for road rehabilitation in Oyo

He said the road would boost farming and commercial activities, ensure smooth movement of agricultural produce from farmland to towns, while also ensuring that industrial products reached intended markets without stress.

Elegbede said the rehabilitation of the road came at the right time, thanking Governor Abiodun for the kind gesture.

“For the past 15 years of neglect, this road project is coming for inauguration as a testimonial of our administration’s commitment in keeping to our promises.

“Some deceived some people, because they had no good intention. We cannot do everything but we will do those ones that we promise and are of economic benefit to all and sundry. So, we are a promise-keeping administration,” he said

Another resident, Mr. Ebenezer Adekunle, who combines driving with farming, expressed gratitude to the state government for reconstructing the road.

Also praising the governor for keeping to his promise, Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, described Abiodun as a care-giver, a promise-keeper, a lover of people, and a responsive and responsible leader, who puts smiles on the faces of the people.

A seasoned politician, Prince Gboyega Isiaka (aka GNI), while commending the governor for his intervention in bringing succour to residents of Imeko and its environs, who are predominantly farmers, urged Abiodun to take advantage of the vast forest in the area to enhance the economic potential of the state.

Isiaka, an indigene of Imeko and also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the community is endowed with vast forest, but which now harbours all manners of people.