The immediate past Dean of Student Affairs, and current Director of Academic Planning, University of Ilorin, Prof. O. A. Omotesho, has cautioned students against acts capable of destabilising their academic pursuits, noting that students are the biggest beneficiaries of a stable and peaceful campus.

Prof. Omotesho stated this last Tuesday (April 12, 2016) at a send forth programme organised for him by the Student Affairs Unit of the University of Ilorin, to celebrate his four-year tenure as Dean, Student Affairs. The former Dean, who pointed out that he had spent over 32 years in the University, described the 41 months he spent as head of the Student Affairs Unit as "the most exciting".

Noting that "maintaining peace on our campuses is a call to national duty", Prof. Omotesho said, "I enjoyed working in the Students Affairs Unit and I want to thank my Sub-Dean, who made the job easier". He recalled that he was also a former Sub-Dean, saying, "That fact helped in my relationship with my Sub-Dean. When you carry people along in leadership, you will have peace of mind and achieve collective success".

Prof. Omotesho then thanked all the staff members of the Student Affairs Unit, who worked with him, saying, "I truly appreciate you all and whatever little success we have achieved is because of you staff of the Unit who work as a family". The new Director of Academic Planning called on the staff of the Unit to continue to improve themselves and give their best to the University, saying that, "the Students Affairs Unit is the heartbeat of the University".

He commended the University for producing credible and very good Students' Union leaders, urging everyone in the better by far University to clean their small corner and perform their responsibility to the optimum. In his remarks, the Sub-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. A. Yusuf, described Prof. Omotesho as "the Dean of Student Affairs to the core", stating that the former Dean "understands the psychology of students".

Dr. Yusuf submitted that Prof. Omotesho's tenure as the Dean of the Student Affairs in the University of Ilorin was the finest period in the history of Student Unionism in the country, noting that his tenure gave birth to the best Students' Union leadership in the history of the University. He said that as Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Omotesho made the unit relevant in the system and that he ran an inclusive administration. Dr. Yusuf pointed out that the former Dean consulted a lot, noting that those who consult widely never fail.

According to him, the former Dean "never issued query to anyone but has a way of managing crisis and made us ready to die for the Student Affairs because of the way he cared for us and loved us". Earlier in his opening remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Talabi, said that it is important that the people who have served should be honoured and recognised, admitting that the Student Affairs Unit is not an easy place to work. He said, "It is very demanding and those who have worked there successfully should be honoured".

Some other members of staff were also honoured along with Prof. Omotesho for having served in the unit at various times and in different capacities. Among those honoured were Mr. Ayoku Amori, former Secretary; Mr. Omomeji Atere, Mr. Abiodun Lawal Ahmed and Miss Inioluwa Fayomi, a National Youth Service Corp member who recently concluded her service with the Unit.

In her closing remarks, the Deputy Registrar, Student Affairs, Mrs. K. W. Sallee, thanked everyone who made the day a reality and prayed for Prof. Omotesho to continue to succeed in all his endeavour. Gift items were later presented to the former Dean and others as staff of the unit poured encomiums on their former colleagues.