The authorities of the University of Ilorin have announced the promotion of 48 of its academic staff to the rank of Professor, while 59 others were elevated to the status of Associate Professor in the latest promotion exercise carried out at the university.

This announcement was made by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), at a meeting held with the new Professors at the university's main auditorium.

The Vice-Chancellor, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), explained that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, had, in the exercise of his powers, approved the request of the University's Appointments & Promotion Committee. This culminated in the promotion of the new Professors from their previous Reader/Associate Professor positions.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the Minister's approval was necessitated by the absence of a properly constituted Governing Council for the University, which should have discharged this responsibility.

The new Professors, whose promotions were also backdated to October 2022, include Prof. F. D. Babalola of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. O. O. K. Ibrahim of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, and Prof. O. M. Ameen of the Faculty of Communication and Information Sciences.

Others include Prof. K. A. Abdullahi, Prof. L. E. Odeh, Prof. J. O. Friday-Otun, Prof. K. A. Rafiu, and Prof. R. O. Ogunade, who are all from various Departments of the Faculty of Arts.

The new Professors also include Prof. Z. A. Suleiman, Prof. I. K. Kolawole, Prof. L. O. Omokanye, Prof. A. S. Adeniran, Prof. M. B. Abdulkadir, and Prof. A. A. Nasir, all from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences.

Six new Professors also emerged from the Faculty of Education, namely Prof. Patricia Agnes O. Etejere, Prof. Nafisat A. Adedokun-Shittu, Prof. O. O. Obielodan, Prof. C. O. Olumorin, Prof. Mulkah A. Ahmed, and Prof. Hamdallat T. Yusuf.

Those elevated from the Faculty of Engineering are Prof. Temitope E. Odetoye, Prof. J. F. Opadiji, Prof. Nazmat T. Surajudeen-Bakinde, Prof. I. I. Ahmed, Prof. Y. L. Shuaib-Babaita, and Prof. S. O. Bilewu. Prof. Abdulateef Iyanda Bako and Prof. Ganiyu Amuda-Yusuf were elevated from the Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

Those promoted from the Faculty of Law are Prof. B. A. Abdulkadir, Prof. Mariam A. AbdulRaheem-Mustapha, and Prof. A. O. Sambo. From the Faculty of Management Sciences, Prof. Khadijat Adenola Yahaya and Prof. Y. I. Mustapha, while Prof. O. D. Owolabi of the Faculty of Life Sciences was also elevated to the prestigious rank.

Two lecturers from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences also benefited from the promotion exercise: Prof. A. Giwa and Prof. Rashidat O. Ayanniyi. From the Faculty of Physical Sciences are Prof. O. M. Ameen, Prof. S. O. Owalude, Prof. O. O. Ige, Prof. S. Olatunji, Prof. Marili F. Zubair, Prof. E. O. Titiloye, Prof. Yidiat O. Aderinto, Prof. A. O. Olawepo, and Prof. A. A. Abiodun. The Faculty of Social Sciences also produced two new Professors through Prof. K. A. Iroye and Prof. L. Saka, while Prof. J. O. Aiyedun was promoted from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

During the meeting held with them, the Vice Chancellor congratulated the new Professors for attaining the peak of their careers and expressed confidence in their dignity and competence. Prof. Egbewole noted that their promotions were meritorious and well-deserved, commending their dedication to achieving the University's corporate objectives through quality teaching, meaningful research, and impactful community services.

The Vice-Chancellor encouraged the new Professors not to rest on their laurels but to work harder on their responsibilities to justify the confidence reposed in them by the authorities of the University and society at large.

Speaking on the expectations and challenges ahead of the new Professors, Prof. Egbewole charged them to ensure they deliver their inaugural lectures within the next twelve months. The Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, congratulated the new Professors on their promotion to the pinnacle of their teaching career, informing them that their promotions would have a retrospective effect from October 1, 2022.

Responding on behalf of the newly promoted Professors, Prof. Jaiye Opadiji of the Department of Computer Engineering expressed profound gratitude to the Vice Chancellor and the university management for their consistent support, culminating in accomplishing their dreams of attaining the peak.

Prof. Opadiji, acknowledging the expectations placed on them, assured the university's authorities of their continued dedication to the institution's services and humanity. He also pledged their determination to intensify efforts towards advancing academic excellence and the overall success of the University of Ilorin.