For some months now, the university of Ibadan has been being run by an acting vice Chancellor, Prof. Ekanola. He has been running the affairs of the university for a few months due to the incompetency to appoint a vice Chancellor for the university. No fewer than 16 professors from different areas of specialisation and institutions were hustling to emerge as the next vice Chancellor of this prestigious university and that no surprise as the university is the first and best in the history of Nigerian federal universities even though the students do not claim the history as true until they become graduates, the university's graduates pose to be valuable and competent in the job market after passing through the university.
The office of the VC is a prestigious one and only one candidate has to be chosen to seat in the office for the next five years, it was reported that the process of electing the new institution's VC in the last few months had been tied with numerous allegations and counter allegations which resulted in strive and misunderstandings between several groups and organisation including the university's electoral committee which has denied them from getting a new VC for a few months now. Below is the list of the past 12 vice Chancellors of the university:
Prof. Kenneth Onwuka Dike
Prof. Thomas Adeoye Lambo
Prof. H. Oritsejolomi-Thomas
Prof. Tekena N. Tamuno
Prof. Samson O. Olayide
Prof. L. Ayo Banjo (Acting)
Prof. L. Ayo Banjo
Prof. Alien B.O.O. Oyediran
Prof. Oladosu A. Ojengbede (Acting)
Prof. Omoniyi O. Adewoye
Prof. O. O. Olorunsogo (Acting)
Prof. Ayodele O. Falase
Prof. A.O. Bamiro (Acting)
Prof. A. O. Bamiro
Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole
Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka
Prof. Adebola Ekanola(Acting)
Inter tribal, Inter religious crises among others came into play as women also stood for those rights and insisted to have a female vice Chancellor, due to the incompetency to select a VC, Professor Babatunde Ekanola of the department of philosophy, faculty of Arts was appointed by the Senate of the university as the acting VC since November last year, his tenure was also extended in June which I guess was part of the reasons why he also entered the race of being the next VC of the university.
The last eight candidates which were shortlisted yesterday from the 15 aspirants we had a few weeks before now. The last 8 aspirants were:
Professor Adeyinka Aderinto
Professor Ekanola
Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi
Professor Ebenezer
Professor Ganiyu Aderounmu
Professor Adebowale
Professor Babatunde Salako
Professor George
The winner of the VC's slot was therefore announced at a press conference held shortly after the council has screened the last eight shortlisted candidates as PROFESSOR KAYODE ADEBOWALE!!!🥳🥳🥳. He was until appointment the academic debuty vice Chancellor and has now emerged the 13th vice Chancellor of the university of Ibadan.
After announcing Prof Adebowale as the 13th VC, he walked up the stage and said “It is a privilege for me to serve. The Professor Adebowale seated here is not the best out of the candidates.
“God just wants me to serve. The University has gone through some challenging times and there are so many things we have learnt there.
“I am not the best but God just put me there because there is a work to be done.
“With the support of Council, Senate, workers, congregation and all others, we shall move this university to a greater heights.”
It is expected that with the appointment of the new VC of the prestigious university, peace and unity would be for once more restored in the university after all the crises and misunderstandings that prolonged the electoral process...
Congratulations to Professor Adebowale.
Enjoy as you read❤️