Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun has commended the management of the University of Ilorin for adopting the state's initiative of Opon-Imo.

The Ogbeni also commended UNILORIN for developing "a seamless strategy for a stable academic calendar" in the institution, just as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, praised the existing love and harmony among the University staff, which he identified as the reason behind its consistent progress.

The duo made the observations last Friday (January 22, 2016) when the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), led top officials of the University on separate visits to the Osun State Governor's Office, Osogbo, and the Enuwa Palace, Ile-Ife, respectively.

The University's management team, which included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (RTI), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji; the Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Obafemi; and the University Librarian, Dr. Joseph Omoniyi, was in Osun State to felicitate with the new Ooni on his recent appointment and installation as well as to thank the Governor for honoring the University's invitation to its recent 40th anniversary and 31st convocation ceremonies.

Governor Aregbesola, who described the University of Ilorin as "the only public university in Nigeria that has escaped the customary breaks in academic calendar", noted that "the University is doing very well". He said, "When a student enters your school, the fear of not completing his/her education on time is totally eliminated".

Pointing out that "this is Unilorin's most important contribution to sustaining a credible academic environment in the country", the Governor told the Vice-Chancellor, "We commend those who have developed this seamless strategy and we also commend those of you who are sustaining it".

The Governor also commended the University's "commitment to modernisation and knowledge tradition" with the distribution of i-Pad tablets to all its students. He said, "I am very much impressed by your adoption of the latest easy-to-carry-about and easy-to-use IT device".

Ogbeni Aregbesola further noted, "That you have introduced and made compulsory the acquisition of this modern IT device by your students is a feat that must be seriously commended by those who genuinely want our nation to be at par with the best practices all over the world".

The Governor also commended the University for its successful migration to STM 4, which is the latest technology in internet access, saying, "With this, the University has broken the digital divide between the developed and developing world and I am enthused by your leap in that direction."

The Governor also expressed happiness that indigenes of Osun State constitute a substantial percentage of the staff and student population of the University.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor had congratulated the Governor on his re-election for a second term in office, saying this was a clear evidence of the people's confidence in him.

Prof. Ambali disclosed that about 1, 400 of the newly admitted students of the institution are indigenes of Osun State. Pointing out that the state is also well represented on the University's staff list, he said, "In fact, one of my Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Olatunji, is a proud son of Osun State."

The Vice-Chancellor acknowledged Governor Aregbesola's contributions to educational development, especially the "Opon Imo" (i-Pad) initiative for secondary school students in the state.

Prof. Ambali then reeled out some of the achievements of the University, which include the one-student-one-iPad initiative; the upgrade of the University's classrooms to be IT compliant; upgrading of the internet connectivity on campus with the recent migration from STM 1 to STM 4; the operation of a paperless Senate; and a massive development of sundry plantations for teaching and research and for raising the University's internally generated revenue (IGR) base.

Earlier at the Enuwa Palace of the Ooni of Ife, the royal father had commended the love and unity among the staff of the University of Ilorin, saying this was responsible for the stable academic calendar being enjoyed by the institution.

Oba Ogunwusi said, "I see love from Ife spreading to Ilorin and among University of Ilorin staff. You are working as a family and your oneness is the reason behind your progress" .

While thanking the Vice-Chancellor and the management team for the visit, Oba Ogunwusi promised to support the University of Ilorin in the area of the provision of hostel accomodation for the students.

The royal father said, "I am in discussion on the accommodation problem. I am deeply concerned about the need and I will work with you".

He described Ife as a land of love, stressing that it is the love that makes descendants of the town to be playing critical role in the development of the University of Ilorin.

Oba Ogunwusi added that the Yorubas are a people blessed with rich tradition and culture. He thanked God for the wave of Unity among the Yoruba people, describing this as "a good development".

In a show of his commitment to the provision of adequate hostel accommodation for students of the University of Ilorin, Oba Ogunwusi introduced one of his foreign friends, Mr. Laresh, an Indian and Managing Director of ML Construction Company to the Vice-Chancellor and his team. ML is a leading supplier of building materials in Nigeria.

In his own address, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the royal father on his ascension to the throne of his forefathers, praying that God will help him to achieve all his good plans for the Kingdom.

Prof. Ambali explained that the purpose of the visit was to rejoice with the king on his recent installation, adding that it was also to show that the University of Ilorin greatly cherishes the monarch.

"We cannot talk about University of Ilorin without talking about the language we speak. We appreciate you and we want you to continue to think of Ilorin as one of your brothers in diaspora", Prof. Ambali submitted.

Other top officials of the University on the Vice-Chancellor's entourage included the Deputy Bursar, Mr. Munirudeen Dere; the Director of the Advancement Centre, Dr. Jeleel Ojuade; the Deputy Director of the Advancement Centre, Dr. Lateef Onireti; and the Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun.