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Tag: ex-VC

  • I have repositioned OAU, says ex- VC

    I have repositioned OAU, says ex- VC

    AFTER a five-year stint, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bamitale Omole bowed out Thursday.  He attributed his success to purposeful and accountable leadership.

    Omole, who assumed office on June 23, 2011 as 10th VC of the Ile-Ife, Osun State based institution, gave glory to God “for  the peace and industrial harmony that prevailed on the campus and which paved the way for the unprecedented infrastructure development and breakthroughs in our research efforts”.

    Giving account of his stewardship, he recalled that in his inaugural speech, he promised to reinsert and reposition OAU into the intellectual market of the 21st century as a world class university in Africa. Five years after, he said in his report: “It is my great pleasure to say that my administration has gone beyond the targets that we set for ourselves.

    “Through purposeful and focus research activities, the ranking of Obafemi Awolowo University improved tremendously, such that the university was, for four consecutive years (2011-2015), rated as the best and number one (1) university in Nigeria and the fifth (5th) best in Africa by the Cybermetric Labs in Spain, a leading assessor in global ranking of universities”.

    Omole explained that with the ranking, the OAU moved from number six in Nigeria and number 79 in Africa. This is a reflection of our commitment to sustain the cherished academic heritage of our university, he said.

    On research outcomes, he said the university during his tenure developed a road map for boosting the institution’s image through cutting edges. OAU, he said, introduced five professional M.Sc. degree courses in Geosciences programmes; won $8 million World Bank grant for establishing the Knowledge Park; acquired state- of -the –art online access to top-rated journals and improved funding for research activities.

    Other achievements recorded by the Omole administration were acquisition of the high-tech equipment Variant Mercury 200 NMR Spectrometer for the Central Science Laboratory; installation of a telepresence studio with cloud computing environmental, first of its kind in Nigeria and establishment of quality assurance and monitoring committee.

    In furtherance of the determination  to make Information and Communication Technology (ICT) the fulcrum of the school’s development,  it increased the bandwith from 39 Mbps as at October 2011 to 800 Mbps as at last April. This, according to Omole, makes OAU the leading university in bandwith among Nigerian universities.

    The former vice chancellor noted that throughout his tenure, the university did not lose a session because of the support he enjoyed from the school community. He urged staff and students to extend the same cooperation, commitment and loyalty to his successor.

  • Honour for ex-VC’s son

    Honour for ex-VC’s son

    The All Africa Students Union has conferred an award on Olawale Soyode, son of the former Vice Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State. Ernest Nwokolo reports.

    The All Africa Students Union based in Accra, Ghana was literally relocated to  Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when its executives hit the ancient town to confer its Africa Ledership Award on Mr. Olawale Soyede, son of the former vice chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

    The event held at the Continental Suites, Abeokut. Among those who attended were Olawale’s parents; the Alaporu of Ilaporu- Ijebu,  Oba Jimoh Quadri; Assistant Director of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs Olutayo Samuel; the Managing Director, FirstBank Insurance Company, Mr. Val. Ojumah; and former member, House of Representatives, Femi Kehinde.

    The duo of Ologun Ayodeji (Nigerian Representatives, Commonwealth Students Parliament) and Ambassador, Dominique Gullaime, described Olawale as a philanthropist, lover of youths, builder of people and accountant.

    Olawale,  a chartered accountant with the Nigeria Agip Oil Company(NAOC), lauded the group for counting him worthy of the award, which he described as reserved only for the “best of minds on the continent of Africa in the area of astute leadership qualities”.

    He pledged his commitment to the ideals and cause of  the students body.

    Describing the students’leaders as future leaders, he urged them to prepare effectively to enable them fit into leadership positions in education, industry, science, commerce, politics and governance in future.

    He advised them to embibe integrity, accountability, transparency, and honesty in their activities, if they want to succeed in their career and become exemplary leaders in future.

  • FUTA mourns murdered, ex-VC, Ilemobade

    FUTA mourns murdered, ex-VC, Ilemobade

    The management of the Federal University of Technology (FUTA) in Akure, the Ondo State capital, at the weekend, paid a condolence visit to the family of the former Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Albert Adeoye Ilemobade, who was gruesomely murdered by two of his domestic staff.

    At the home of the late don, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, who led a delegation of the institution’s Principal Officers, was received by the widow of the deceased and his children.

    Daramola described the late don as a patriarch of FUTA whose immense contributions and sacrifice for the development of the institution will remain evergreen.

    He said in and out of office, Ilemobade showed keen interest in the development of FUTA. He further said the late Vice Chancellor would be sorely missed for his valuable counsel as an elder statesman and a renowned academic who boasted an enviable track record in university administration.

    While paying his tribute to the deceased, Daramola wrote in the condolence register: “The last few days have been very terrible for us at the Federal University of Technology, Akure.  This is particularly so given the fact that our former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ilemobade was in the University less than 24 hours before his death  to grace a wedding ceremony. The news of his kidnap and eventual death under a most gruesome condition has left us all in shock and grief.  On behalf of the Governing Council, Staff and Students of FUTA, we say ADIEU OUR DADDY. May your gentle soul rest in peace in Jesus name.”

    He said the University was in close liaison with the family in order to give the former Vice-Chancellor a befitting burial.

     

    The Daramola-led delegation included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development, Professor Tolulope Akinbogun; Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Ajayil; Bursar, Mr. Emmanuel Oresegun; the Chief Librarian, Dr. Femi Oguntuase and the Principal Assistant Registrar, Public Relations, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo.

  • Ex VC lauds progress

    Ex VC lauds progress

    Plus size pupils can do very well in sports if challenged.

    Goodness (Red) House of Wellspring College, Omole Phase 2, Ikeja, Lagos, knows how to make use of its very big members.  They serve the house well during the Tug of War event of the school’s inter-house sports competition.  Last year, the house easily overpowered others in the event.

    The plus-size boys and girls repeated the feat at the ninth edition of the school’s inter-house competition held at the Agege Stadium recently.

    They showed the others were no match for them, pulling the teams from Grace (Blue) House and Favour (Green) House over the line in no time and demonstrating that they were heavy for a good purpose.

    However, it was not only in the Tug of War that Goodness showed class.  Its athletes dominated most of the track events decided that including the sprint races (100m, 200m), the relays, sack race, and lime and spoon races such that a parent, Mrs Ifeoluwapo Akintola, joked that they used performance enhancing drugs.

    At the end of the day, the House won 15 gold, eight silver, nine bronze medals to lift the overall winners’ trophy.

    Praise (Yellow) House came second with nine gold, 12 silver, 12 bronze; while Grace House came third with eight gold, 10 silver, and six bronze.

    Favour House had the least number of medals – six gold, eight silver, and 11 bronze.  However, this did not detract from the feeling of accomplishment of its members as they won the gold in the march past event with 50 points.  Given the level of preparation they put into dressing their king, queen, princess and royal family, as well as the display they put up, the gold meant a lot to them.

    Mrs Akintola, whose daughter, Faith, acted as the princess of the entourage, was particularly happy as she also sewed the beautifully-designed Indian Attire worn by the entire group, which added colour to their performance.

    On the stands, she made parents around her laugh when she exclaimed: “Up Green! Yes O! They can’t beat us.  I fasted o!”

    Praise came second with 47 points in the March Past, while Goodness was third with 46 points.  Favour came fourth with 42 points.

    Speaking seriously, Mrs Akintola told The Nation that schools should encourage pupils to do more of sports, physical activities and healthy eating.

    “Schools should do more sporting activities; they should let children exercise more.  Also, when they eat a lot of fruits rather than junk food, they tend to have more energy,” she said.

    In her speech, the principal, Mrs Oluwayemisi Oloriade, said sport does a lot of physical and social good.

    “In addition to promoting good health among the competitors, an occasion such as this also forges good relations and goodwill among competitors in the spirit of sportsmanship. It a universal truth that sports has gone a long way in reducing ill will among nations today and new bonds of cooperation and loyalty are formed every day in world politics. Hence, the world has stayed for over seventy years without a third world war. If only sports should be enthroned without any form of selfishness, pride and self-aggrandizement, rancor, ill feeling and war among nations and groups would be a thing of the past,” she said.

  • Delta varsity bids ex-VC farewell

    Delta varsity bids ex-VC farewell

    Staff and students of the Delta State University (DELSU) thronged the University Chapel for the thanksgiving service for  their former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Eric Arubayi. ESE OKODUWA (400-Level Home Economics Education) reports.

    For the immediate past Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Delta State University (DELSU), Prof. Eric Arubayi, the last five years were significant and eventful. Having been sworn-in on December 1, 2009, Arubayi completed his five-year tenure on November 30, leaving behind a worthy legacy.

    Last week, members of the university community, including students, rolled out the drums to mark Arubayi’s exit.

    There was excitement at the thanksgiving service held at the University Chapel in Abraka.

    The event, organised by a committee of friends of the former VC, coincided with the 60th birthday of Arubayi’s wife Prof Diana. The thanksgiving drew dignitaries in the state, including  wife of the governor, Mrs Roli Uduaghan, members of the academia, traditional rulers, religious leaders and students.

    After becoming VC in 2009, Arubayi spearheaded what his admirers described as uncommon revolution, leading to the social and infrastructural development of the school. Staff at the thanksgiving attributed Arubayi’s development plan to his experience in educational planning and management which, they said, prevented students’ demonstration and ensure peace throughout his tenure.

    In his sermon, Most Revd S.G. Onibere, enjoined members of the university community to pray for the grace of God to manage success whenever their breakthrough came and ensure that they keep themselves in check under the watch of their creator, so as not to deviate from doing God’s will.

    Giving testimony of Arubayi’s tenure, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof Peter Ikoya, said: “The managerial and well-coordinated effort, which Prof Arubayi made tremendously improved the rating of the school in terms of infrastructure. This is evident in three major key areas, including faculty complexes, lecture theatres and laboratories, which he achieved through his rare initiative of good application of Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR), steady collaboration with the state government and agencies, such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).”

    Prof Dicta Ogisi, the Dean of the School of Post-graduate Studies, while praising the outgoing VC, said Arubayi achieve his aims because of his wife’s support. “We thank God for the wonderful companion, whom God gave Prof Arubayi to enable him pilot the affairs of the university in a manner that yielded positive results,” she said.

    In his vote of thanks, Arubayi attributed the achievements recorded by his administration to the unflinching support of the state government, principal officers and students.

    The professor of Educational Administration expressed his gratitude to those, who made his tenure successful, praying that God continue to lead the institution in the right direction.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, Oghenero Odiefe, a graduate of Fine Arts and former General Secretary of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), said: “Arubayi’s administration did not only promote peace between the school and the host community, it also afforded staff and students to play active roles in taking the school to where it is today.”

  • EX-VC praises Jonathan

    EX-VC praises Jonathan

    A former Vice Chancellor of the Ekiti State University, Prof Israel Orubuloye, has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for allowing private universities to thrive in the country.

    Orubuloye, who is the director of Special Projects at the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, said the President’s partnership with the private universities had helped the transformation of the ivory towers within the last three years.

    The former VC, who was given an Officer of the Order of Niger (OON) award on September 29, said the national honour would further propel him to do more.

    “The President has not only done me proud with this honour, but I am pleased to see university education being transformed through public-private initiative.

    “Today, a private university, such as Afe Babalola, has become a beacon to others in Africa because the Federal Government is motivating privately-owned universities.”

    Orubuloye thanked the management of ABUAD, particularly its founder, Aare Afe Babalola(SAN), for establishing a paradigm shift in university education.

  • ‘Covenant Varsity ex-VC not suspended’

    The management of the Covenant University (CU), Ota, Ogun State, yesterday denied an online report that its former Vice-Chancellor, Prof Aize Obayan, has been suspended for alleged examination fraud.

    The story, allegedly published by saharareporters.com, said Obayan was “suspended from her current position as Director of the Education Commission of the Winners’ Chapel for altering examination results for several students in the Department of Mass Communication.”

    But the university, in a statement, said the story was a mere conjecture designed to malign the school’s good name and others mentioned in it.

    It said Prof Obayan’s excellent performance as Vice-Chancellor for seven years led to her appointment as Education Secretary to oversee all educational institutions, under the Living Faith Commission Worldwide, for a year.

    The university said the purported altering of examination results in its Mass Communication and Chemistry departments is also untrue.

    Both departments, CU said, are blessed with erudite scholars of international repute, who can never be manipulated.

    The university added that it appoints credible external examiners from reputable institutions within and outside the country to vet its examinations scripts.

    The school said while it is true that Prof Obayan’s daughter graduated from the Mass Communication Department, she earned her grades through hard work. It stressed that her academic records are there for verification.

    CU also said it is not true that its former Registrar, Pastor Daniel Rotimi, has married a former student of the university as a second wife.

    “This is rather mischief at its worst. Pastor Daniel is a pastor in the Living Faith Church and believes and abides by the Church’s doctrine of one man one wife,” the university said.

    CU stressed that it has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

    “As a Christian Mission University, our mandate and core values negate such practice as we drive a zero tolerance policy for examination malpractice or fraud in whatever guise.

    “It is sad that the University was never contacted for her side of the story before these malicious allegations were published by a reporter from Saharareporters.com.

    “Journalism is a noble profession. The pen is mightier than the sword, it should, therefore, be used with caution and responsibility.

    “The university, therefore, enjoins those behind the report to desist from this kind of mischief-making.

    “We wish to restate our commitment to our core values of spirituality, integrity and responsibility in our match to becoming one of the top 10 world-class universities in 10 years.

    “We appreciate our well-wishers and stakeholders who have been calling to ascertain the truth for their concern and support.

    “We assure them that all is well at Covenant University,” the statement added.