Professor Samsu-deen Amali, vice-chancellor University of Ilorin restores stability at the university after a prolonged crisis leading to the exit of many lecturers and his predecessor

When Samsudeen Amali, a professor of theatre arts was appointed vice- chancellor of the University of Ilorin following the exit of S. A. Abduraheem, his predecessor, the odds had piled against him. It was shortly after Abduraheem had sacked 44 lecturers of the institution, an action which attracted widespread condemnation. How has he managed the apprehension and other incidents, which followed his assumption of duty?

"I received a very warm welcome here on my arrival in the university. I have a great respect for the host community and my colleagues in the university community. They have demonstrated a good spirit of brotherliness. The government has been very wonderful…We also have a good relationship with the groups, Muslims and Christians alike. The Kwarans have been wonderful to me".

But that was at the beginning. Between March 15 and 18 this year, trouble reared its ugly head at the university in the form of a violent protest by students of the institution. The students were protesting non-availability of water in the campus, and what started as a child's play snowballed into a big conflagration with scores of vehicles and other properties belonging to the school, being burnt. The rumour of the killing of a student of the school by a porter in the course of the crisis, only ignited more violent reactions.

The rumour was later proved false in the end, but the school had to be closed to avoid further trouble. Amali blamed rumourmongers for magnifying the institution's problems. "I must say that the incident was exaggerated. But we have now put the past behind us and we are forging ahead, to achieve better things for the school. The university has tremendous potentials and we are committed to maximising these potentials," said Amali.

Having settled down to work, what have been the major challenges at the moment for the Benue State-born prolific author, theatre director, translator and cultural advocate? "The greatest challenges I have faced are that of consolidating the smooth and uninterrupted academic sessions in the university. This we have successfully done. There is peace and stability in the university. We have successfully matriculated and graduated two sets of students, that is the 2001/2002 and the 2002/2003 sets. We have not had any cause not to graduate students as and when due", he explained.

The vice-chancellor has also fought a relentless war against cultism in the university? "Generally, we have achieved tremendous result in that regard. Students found to be belonging to unregistered and anti-social organisations are promptly arraigned before the students disciplinary committee. Decisions are taken promptly too based on the university rules and regulations. Posters and handbill are printed to expose those implicated in infamous activities", said Amali.

Is Amali also planning to follow the footsteps of other school administrators by banning the use of indecent dresses on campus? "Indecent dressing is a moral and societal problem. I think, personally, that the solution should come from parents and guardians. The society should also play its own part too. We are mindful of the problem of indecent dressing and the University of Ilorin is alive to its responsibility as a moulder of characters since university degrees are awarded to those found worthy in both character and in learning. We usually emphasise that they must be found worthy in both character and in learning," he stressed.

Amali who was a former two-time deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Jos, told Newswatch that he was bent on making a difference in the institution through the conscientious use of both internally as well as externally generated funds. "We have built on the achievements of my predecessor, Professor Abduraheem. We are continuing with the physical and academic development of the university. New structures are being built in addition to ongoing inherited ones. New courses are also being introduced and postgraduate programmes have increased. We now have a college of medicine and we have won prizes for academic excellence", he said. According to him, he is committed to leaving behind a legacy of excellent academic productivity, excellent physical and administrative development at the University of Ilorin.