The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), has assured all stakeholders that he would leave the institution better than he met it when he assumed office a little over two years ago.

Prof. Ambali stated this last Monday (February 16, 2015) while fielding questions on a Unilorin 89.3 FM live interview programme, “Talk to the VC”.

The Vice-Chancellor, who restated the commitment of his administration to providing a conducive environment for teaching, learning and research as well as staff welfare, observed that the ongoing infrastructural development being witnessed in the University was a clear indication of his commitment to the vision and mission of the University's founding fathers.      

 Prof. Ambali disclosed that about 15 new projects will be ready for commissioning by October this year, during which the institution will also mark its 40 years of existence.

Prof. Ambali highlighted the projects that are nearing completion to include the Moringa Factory, the new Faculty of Arts complex, as well as the Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre among others.

Other projects, which the University has also embarked upon, according to the Vice-Chancellor, include the Senate Building Annex, the new Faculty of Science Lecture Theatre, an extension of the University Clinic, the Optometry and Vision Science Building and the Unilorin Guest House at Abuja, which, he said, would be “for commercial purposes and for staff who may be in Abuja for one function or the other.”

On the University's forthcoming 40th anniversary, Prof. Ambali said, “We want to document those historical events that have taken place in the last 40 years; it is a pride to everyone. We are going to make sure that it is colourful and historic; and that it is at a point whereby a new agenda will be set for the University probably for the next few decades”.

On Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and linkages signed with other universities both within and outside the country, Prof. Ambali disclosed that the University of Ilorin has partnered with the Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete, and four other African universities to form the U6, with the aim of accelerating development in the continent especially in the development of African medicine.

The Vice-Chancellor also disclosed that an herbal research center is to be established in the University of Ilorin where scientific research into African herbal medicine will be harnessed. “Charity should begin at home, let the African universities come together because we know and appreciate our challenges better; we should be able to evolve local solutions to our problems”, he stressed, adding that the University intends to begin the Dentistry programme and the Science Laboratory Department in the next academic session.

On ICT, Prof. Ambali submitted that over 90 per cent of the University campus is now connected to the internet facility, which has also been extended to the staff quarters on campus. He disclosed that the over 12,000 students admitted for the 2014/2015 academic session will receive their PC tablets on resumption for the second semester.

            While urging students to concentrate on their primary responsibility of education, the Vice-Chancellor restated his administration's commitment to providing a comfortable environment for learning with adequate accommodation facilities on campus. He said that efforts are in top gear to facilitate the provision of more buses to improve the mobility of students within and outside the campus.

Prof. Ambali also restated his commitment to staff well-being and debunked the claim that the salary scale of other Federal universities in the country was higher than that of the University of Ilorin.

The Vice-Chancellor, who also admitted that he nearly believed the speculation, explained that he set up a committee to ascertain the true position of the issue. “I almost believed it until I said okay, let's take a census of what is happening  in other institutions, and we set up a committee and they went round, and after almost a week of visiting other sister universities, we found out that we are in good shape, everything is okay within the University of Ilorin”, he assured.

 Prof. Ambali observed that although part of the arrears of the earned allowances was paid in 2014, he pointed out that the Federal Government was preparing to pay the remaining 50 percent outstanding allowances.