... say we're still consulting

Who succeeds Professor Is-haq Oloyede as the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin?

The poser raised by penultimate Monday's vacancy advertisement for the post, which would be vacant in October is gathering momentum.

Names of some Professors of the University that meet requirements for the position and are interested in the plum job have already emerged.

The University in an advertorial of Monday May 14, signed by the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Olufolake Opeyemi, requested for applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of the Vice-Chancellor.

Oloyede would be completing his five-year single tenure in October having taken over the mantle of leadership of the university in 2007.

It can, however, reliably be reveal the names of some professors of the University who any moment from now could be throwing their hat into the ring.

The candidates, according to sources, include the former Dean, Faculty of Business and Social Sciences of the university, Professor Hassan Salihu, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali, Head of Department, Department of Linguistics and Nigerian Languages, Professor Sulaiman AbdulSalam and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Kolade Ayorinde.

Others are another former DVC, Management Services, Professor Albert Olayemi, Director, Academic Planning Unit and former Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikma University, Ilorin, Professor Musbau Akanji, as well as former Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Professor Bolaji Sule.

Other names are expected to join the league as the contest takes shape.

As at the time of filing this report, none of the candidates has sent application to the Registrar as stipulated by the advertorial, it was gathered. They have up till June 25 to do so.

But most of the candidates said they are still thinking and consulting.

Salihu disclosed to our correspondent in an interview that he would be applying but added that he was still embarking on consultation in view of the magnitude of the office, ditto Ambali, who simply said in a telephone chat, "I am still thinking and making consultations".

Both Salihu and Ambali, Professors of Political Science and Avian and Aquatic Animal and Medicine respectively, who hail from Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, contested the same position in 2007 but were defeated by Oloyede. Professor AbdulSalam also hails from Ilorin.

Ambali was particularly disqualified because the university was not running veterinary programmes whereas an applicant for the position must be from one of the disciplines offered by the university.

Following the establishment of the faculty on 21" September 2010, Ambali left the University of Maiduguri, where he cut his teeth as an academic and was appointed the pioneer Dean.

Another source said, "I think the post of Vice-Chancellorship is not that of the Principal of a secondary school. The candidates are actually biding their time to consult, strategise and marshal out their plan of action. Don't forget that they still have like three weeks to submit application.

"What is paramount to all members of the University community is the emergence of a successor that would carry on with the laudable works of Professor Oloyede especially in terms of the stability in the university calendar. Anything short of this would not be in the interest of all and sundry.

"Students, especially, are happy that in Unilorin, they are sure of completing their programmes in less than four, five or six years as the case maybe and so any change in the current system would be resisted by the students themselves".

Meanwhile, following the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Academic and Management Services) of the University of Ilorin, Prof. K. L. Ayorinde and Prof. A. B. Olayemi, the Senate of the University has elected new Deputy Vice-Chancellors.

At the 226th meeting of the Senate held last Friday, both Prof. Raheem Adebayo Lawal of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education and Prof. Felix Ayotunde Olaclele of the Department of Plant Biology were elected in to the two offices According to the University bulletin.

By Abdullateef Aliyu (National Pilot)