Unilesa At 1: Gov. Adeleke Should Be Commended For Making It Possible – VC, Prof. Asaolu

It was a moment of joy yesterday, Wednesday, 19th June, 2024, at the University of Ilesa where the management team had a meeting with members of staff of the institution to celebrate one year of the takeoff of the institution as facilitated by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State.

Highlighting his achievements within a year, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Taiwo Asaolu commended the Governor for his leadership prowess, noting that whatever the institution has achieved within the year under review was due to the commitment of state government and the Governor must be commended for making it possible.

Prof Asaolu who was flanked by his management team took his time to itemise what the University has recorded with respect to staff welfare, facility upgrade, approval of new courses, admission and matriculation of 2,000 new students, etc.

He noted that people who would have retired unfulfilled, by virtue of the establishment of the University, are now aspiring as associate professors. He revealed that the Governing Council has approved promotion of nine (9) senior lecturers to the cadres of associate professor as seven more are still in the pipe line. Also, to the cadre of the senior lecturers, Prof Asaolu noted that many of them have been promoted.

Speaking on the composition of the governing council, the University don further commended the Governor for appointing men and women of integrity to form the council as they don’t joke with their work in making sure the University is well placed in the comity of other institutions both within and outside Nigeria. He reminded the staff how Governor Adeleke paid homogeneous amount of money to offset peculiar allowance which had been owed since 2016.

On the temporary staff of the institution, the Vice Chancellor said the management team has held discussions with various group leaders to iron out how it will be implemented as the governing council had already given its approval. The two hundred and thirty (230) temporary staff were so elated as they prayed for the administration of Governor Adeleke for putting smile on their faces.

As it’s imperative to go into farming, Prof Asaolu informed the staff what the University is doing in the area of agricultural development, he said the institution has 7,500 fishes, 18 turkeys, snails, 10 grasscutters, 30 rabbits, 20 sheeps, 8 cows, cassava, 1,200 heaps of yam and many others.

On academic programme development, the Vice Chancellor said the National Universities Commision (NUC) approved 32 programmes for the take off of the university, as the institution is proposing another 35 new programmes in addition to the 32 already approved. The institution matriculated 2,000 students.

On staff welfare, the Vice Chancellor lauded Governor Adeleke for not taking with levity the welfare of the staff of the institution as the University had put in place shuttle buses on the road between Ile-Ife to Ilesa and Osogbo to Ilesa to ease movement of staff who reside in those towns. In the same vein, the institution has concluded arrangement to give car refurbishing loan to all categories of staff.

Also, the governing council under the leadership of Hon. Gbenga Olugbogi has approved rebate on tuition fees for biological children of staff at 50% of tuition fees.

According to the Vice Chancellor, he said Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved brand new five vehicles for the principal officers. He said “I decided to give you that background because some people are not so happy that the university is making progress and they wrote a petition to the Governor that Asaolu and his management team have used the University money to buy vehicles for themselves and Mr Governor confirmed it that he bought the vehicles for the principal officers.”

The Vice Chancellor informed members of staff on the ongoing repair of road networks in the institution. He stated that “The road networks on campus were last attended to in 2015. Nineteen years after. Governor Adeleke has approved that the roads be repaired and work has commenced earnestly.”

Speaking one after the other, the staffs were full of praise to Governor Ademola Adeleke, the governing council and management team for what they have been able to do in the last one year. They said what they have experienced in the last one year is unprecedented and these were made possible through the commitment and ingenuity of the current administration in Osun state. They assued the state government of their commitment in making sure that the school move forward.

The Vice Chancellor, however, urged members of staff to rededicate themselves to their duties and they must not be found wanting. He warned those who indulge in activities capable of wrecking havoc on the reputation of the University to desist henceforth as he will not hesitate to deal with such individuals if caught.