A group, Concerned Alumni of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye , Ogun State, has urged authorities to desist from compromising standards in the appointment of a new vice chancellor for the university.
A statement issued by the group in Lagos noted that the recent eligibility criteria announced by the university was an aberration that could affect the performance of the next vice chancellor of the university.
‘’ Our attention was drawn to a recent newspaper notice wherein the first of the eligibility criteria is that the candidate shall possess NUC recognised Ph.D. In addition, he shall be a Professor of not less than five (5) years standing . This is appalling and most ridiculous, five years’ experience for a university of 40years!
‘’It is always gratifying to recall that the first Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof John Olubi Sodipo was a giant academic, a seasoned scholar whose foundation stride was so solid that the University soon became a reference point of excellence. His academic stature was able to attract his contemporaries from older universities in the neighbourhood. We were truly great, in character and learning. Prof Sodipo had as his deputy Prof Titus Olabode Bankole who became a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Ibadan in 1977.
‘’The aberrant nonsense should be rejected by all stakeholders. What is the ASUU of this University doing about this negative publicity of the University?’’
‘’ In 1990, the University placed advertisements in Newspapers for a new Vice-Chancellor to succeed Prof Olubi. The applicants were required to have a minimum of 10 years of experience as a Professor. Prof Bankole with 14 years’ experience was appointed in 1991. His Successor was Late Yinusa Oyeneye who also responded to an advertisement requiring a minimum of 10 years of experience. It was the same with Professors Afolabi Soyode and Tola Osilesi.
The first breach of this standard was in 2012, when the then Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel caused the council to lower the standard to 5years. The current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ganiyu Olatunde was reported to have responded to an advertisement that required 7 years. This is obviously a compromise of the enduring standard, but it is certainly incomparable with the ridiculous 5 years expected of his successor.