In line with the recent directive by the Ministry of Education through the National Universities Commission, the Senate of the University of Ibadan has appointed Prof. Adebola Ekanola, as the acting Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
The appointment of Ekanola followed the logjam that trailed the appointment of the 13th VC of the university after the five-year tenure of Prof. Idowu Olayinka, who bowed out of office on Monday.
The Ministry of Education had directed the Senate of the university to appoint an acting Vice-Chancellor pending the appointment of a substantive VC.
Aside from Ekanola, other professors nominated were, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo; former Dean, Faculty of Technology, Prof. A. Oluleye; former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Adigun Agbaje and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Gbemisola Oke.
Ekanola polled 275 votes to emerge as the winner; Prof. Adeyemo had 13 votes; Prof. Oluleye, 80 votes; Prof. Agbaje,15 votes; while Prof. Oke polled 14 votes.
The Senate ratified the results and immediately adjourned its meeting.
The Director, Public Communication of the University, Mr Olatunji Oladejo, confirmed the election of Ekanola as the VC to one of our correspondents on Monday.
He said, “It is confirmed that Prof. Ekanola, current Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academics has been elected the new acting vice-chancellor.
“The Governing Council of the University of Ibadan has approved the appointment of Prof. Adebola Ekanola, as the acting Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan at its meeting on November 30, 2020 on the recommendation of the Senate.
“The meeting was presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Nde Joshua Waklek Mutka.”
Meanwhile, some aggrieved members of the Senior Staff Association of Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities of the institution made a symbolic protest farewell to the VC by ‘sweeping his feet out of office.’
Members of the two unions swept the floor from the VC’s office to the main gate of the Premier University to press home their points.
The Chairman of SSANU, Mr Wale Akinremi, said, “Why we are here today is not to dissipate energy or make noise but to appreciate the almighty God for seeing us through the end of the regime of Prof. Idowu Olayinka. We suffered untold hardship under the watch of Prof. Idowu Olayinka as the VC. We pray that never again would any Vice-Chancellor put both the staff and students of the university through such a journey.
“At the time Prof. Olayinka came in 2015, the Federal Government was not owing us promotion arrears in 2014, how come that it was in 2015 that he came in that they owed us promotion arrears? The fact is that his regime was an abysmal failure. For five years, both academic and non-academic members of staff could not get promotion arrears. We must have lost about two and half years of academic calendar to the wasteful regime of Prof. Idowu Olayinka.
“Prof. Olayinka tormented teachers of staff school for about five years. Teachers of staff schools were collecting pension deductions from the Federal Government and they were signing monthly return forms under Prof. Olayinka. To date, he has not paid them.”
PUNCH