Newly-elected executive officers of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kwara State University Branch on Wednesday formally took the oath of office following the official inauguration of the union at the institution. The officers were elected at the first ASUU Congress held at the University Auditorium with impressive turnout of members, cutting across all the six colleges of the institution.

This was sequel to a circular sent by the Management to the University Community on December 4, 2015 to officially commence union activities on campus. To ensure transparency, fairness and justice, an electoral committee, chaired by Prof. Mohammed Gana Yisa, was constituted by the Congress to conduct elections into various offices of the KWASU branch of ASUU.

At the end of the electoral process, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Administration, College of Humanities, Management and Social Sciences, Dr. Issa Abdulraheem, emerged as the Chairman of the academic Union. Delivering his inaugural speech after the election, Abdulraheem pledged to protect the interest of all members of the union.

He added: "We want to assure you that we will jealously guide and protect the interests of all academic staff of the university. Staff welfare is our priority and we will ensure that the rights of our staff are protected. We will also ensure that our great university competes favourably with other universities across the globe. Standards will not be compromised and as academics we will work hard to build a world class university.

"We are ready to work with all stakeholders in ensuring peaceful academic environment in the University. We appreciate the efforts of all those that have tried to unionise before now and call upon them to join us in this renewed endeavour. Part of the mandate of the university at the inception was that after five years, unions such as ASUU, SSANU, NASU, ASUTON and Students' Union Government will be allowed to start their activities. As responsible and disciplined academics, we have acted upon this franchise to give KWASU a befitting 21st century compliant union. We therefore call upon you all to join us as we begin a new journey of greatness."

Dr. Abdulraheem thanked the management for officially announcing the birth of unions in the institution, just as he appreciated all the academic staff for the confidence reposed in them to stir the affairs of the union.

The new executive members aside from the chairman include: Umar Hussain, Vice-Chairman; Dr. Olubukola Dada, Secretary-General; Ibrahim Babatunde Mahmood, Assistant Secretary-General; Adebola Isaiah, Treasurer; Moshood Salahu, Financial Secretary; Rasaq Mustapha, Investment Officer; and Ismail Yusuf, Auditor.