The Vice-Chancellor, University of Benin, Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, clocked three years in office on November 23, last year. The professor of Health Education tells OSEMWENGIE BEN OGBEMUDIA the challenges of keeping UNIBEN at number one in Nigeria as well as his intention to make the institution rank among the first 100 universities in the world.
When you were appointed three years ago, people said a lot of negative things about you, have they been disappointed today?
They are very disappointed! Many of them said they did not expect I would make the achievement I made in the very first year. They did not believe that I will also be able to survive a second year and now I am surviving a third year. I’m very sure I will survive the five years. Those dictators are disappointed they are still trying to detract but they are not achieving their goal.
How has it been three years down the line?
Well, it’s been very challenging, thinking about a change in any community is not an easy thing when people are already used to a way of living. I am happy that I am able to carry everybody along now. My vision and mission that everybody is cooperating has been challenging.
How have you been able to curb killings and other atrocities in the school?
Let me also add that it is not only among the students, but the staff as well. I went to their base and started interacting with them, telling them this are the laws and regulations and that they should be thinking of positivity. We need peace in every academic environment if you need to achieve any goal. I also make sure they are comfortable too. You can see the infrastructural development. I made sure their environment is clean, with available water and light although we can’t depend on PHCN.
We are looking at other areas like solar which we have established in very sensitive areas of the university like the main gate. We are looking at many energy resources. We are going to hydro now and that will reduce our bill.
You talked about foreign exchange with other universities. How many students and staff have you exchanged so far?
Going to 20 for the staff, for the student going about 100. Some of them go for a particular period and come back; some are still over there now. We have established these things not only in Europe but in America and Canada. For example, we just sent two students to Washington, they are there now and they will be there for a while maybe for one year and when they are through, they come back to teach others, and we send another back there.
Talking about the erosion, you have been making an appeal. What is the situation so far?
The situation is the same because the cost of daring the gully is costly. Let somebody come and bail us out. It is there and it is devastating and it’s increasing daily. We have lost over four houses there and it is still moving. That is a major challenge.
I have made representations to everybody in this country even to the world, and some of the universities I am collaborating with; I have been interacting with them on the same issue. The problem is cost/ funding and I believe it can be funded. The Ministry of Education tried in the area of publicity. The National Universities Commission (NUC) even brought a team of journalists here.
What of people encroaching?
People have already encroached at the side, but let me use this opportunity to thank the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and its Governor who graciously provided us with a contractor. We are not really interested in physical cash. If you want to bring your contactor and help us out with the gully, it’s the same thing.
Many people have accused you of playing ethnic politics in Uniben, how true is this?
Uniben is made up of all tribes. I know some newspapers have reported that the Bini are given priority in the area of employment. But if you dare tell a non-Bini person that I employ only Bini, you may get into trouble with them. You can’t tell anybody in this community that I discriminated against them.
