Moving UI forward

BY Sunday Saanu

Close to seven hours, authorities of the University of Ibadan (UI ), alongside various stakeholders, including Deans and Directors engaged themselves in what could be described as a critical institutional evaluation exercise of the Nigeria’s premier university with a view to truly making the institution “First and the Best” without self-deluding meretricious mantra. The occasion which was also used, largely though, to evaluate the third year in office of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Folorunso Adewole, equally served as a platform to set agenda for the remaining two years left for the Adewole led regime.

In a fierce clash between the pull of tradition and the push of modernity, the stakeholders argued vigorously, battled intelligently and later resolved mutually to bestir the university towards greatness through rededication, cost rationalization and resource optimization. The brainstorming session which began about 8.30am with a presentation by the Vice Chancellor on his achievements and challenges in the last three years in office, later dovetailed into a critical assessment and proffering of solution towards moving the 65 years old university forward. Prof. Adewole whose strategic plans were anchored on five thematic areas including academic affairs, quality assurance, welfare of staff and students, infrastructure and governance was generally applauded for a good performance so far, though there are still challenges.

So far, he has, according to observers, delivered bountifully in all the areas he promised just as he has equally added to his enviable achievements by creatively managing emerging challenges to the uplifting of the University. According to the presentation, there have been tremendous improvements in teaching and learning facilities with, for instance, installation of microphones and speakers in 22 lecture theatres. Beyond renovation of many lecture theatres and purchase of multimedia projectors, Prof. Adewole’s administration has devotedly facilitated the promotion of 114 senior lecturers to the professorial  cadre,while 119 others have been elevated to the reader’s level- all in an attempt to reposition UI

As a way of widening the intellectual horizon of the university, five new departments have been created including Departments of Aquaculture and Fishery Management, Wildlife and Ecotourism, Botany, Microbiology and Music, just as Faculty of Environmental Design and Management has been established. Library in the university now operates 24 hours  a week with provision of inverters in all hostels to take care of nagging electricity problem.

Determined to fully empower the human capacity  Prof. Adewole-led administration in 2011/2012 session, spent close to N40million on staff development, sending deserving staff members on local and international conferences. Indeed, his innovativeness in hiring Tutorial Assistants in order to help  in handling larger classes at lower levels is commendable. The university spent about N25million in this direction in 2011/2012 session.

Again, Prof. Adewole’s creativity in establishing post-graduate scholarship scheme in which all first class graduates are enabled to pursue their masters’ degree programmes in UI is certainly enriching the system. This idea brews budding scholars who are properly and firmly entrenched in academic osmosis in UI. But the university is spending over N75million here! So much more on academic affairs

On infrastructure, it is on record that Adewole’s regime has completed all inherited projects from previous administrations before embarking on fresh ones. Since his assumption of office, however, he has awarded and completed several projects to the extent that there is no single abandoned project in UI. Perhaps, one of the amazing feats his administration will be remembered for is the construction of auditorium for Faculty of Pharmacy which hitherto, could not boast of a befitting faculty. Prof. Adewole has equally done so well in Teaching and Research Farm, passionate to make the farm self-sustaining.

Above all, it is beyond dispute that the high point of his regime is the welfare of staff members and students. Long after his tenure in 2015, Prof. Adewole will go down in history as one VC who cared so much for the well-being of the workers and students. He promised to take care of the workers’ welfare. He never dithered. Salaries are paid between 22 and 25 of every month, with or without allocation from Abuja. Besides, his regular interventions at critical point such as “end of the year package” have been putting permanent smiles on the faces of the people. He has really done well here. He equally sent student leaders abroad for international exposure. He wanted the students to imbibe international best practices in leadership. For Prof. Adewole, nothing captivates the hearts of the people better than consideration for their well-being. He is a kind man with magnanimous mind.

But then, there are still challenges! One of the challenges confronting the system and Adewole’s regime is the nagging electricity problem. Despite billions of naira that have been sunk into the provision of energy, the system is yet to overcome the energy problem. Even as this writer was writing this piece, there was no hope of getting light to process it. One was, as at press time sweating profusely putting this together! More efforts should still be directed toward this sector as there is little or nothing one can do without electricity.

In all sincerity, observers have said, Prof. Adewole should still find a way of fine-tuning the reward system he craves to institutionalize in UI. He has good intention but the first attempt to reward hard working staff members could not be said to be excellent. His attempt to reward hard working members of staff was probably too elitist. There was no single driver, security men, and junior staff among those who were rewarded for the year 2011. Although it was a committee decision, Prof. Adewole could have stopped a system that rewarded professors with financial gain at the expense of junior workers, some of who are dying for the system. Professors have reached the pinnacle of their careers. If they were not diligent, they would not have become professors. In other words, the next award should encompass all categories of workers as lower cadre workers need more motivation than retiring professors.

In the same vein, isn’t there a way of infusing more disciplinary actions into the system? There is so much impunity. Some people seem to be too territorial in the system. Every dog calls himself a lion.  A 21st century university aspiring to become a world-class institution cannot afford to be impervious to modern demands which include pragmatism, innovativeness and cutting edge competence. Prof. Adewole could still do more to re-orientate the workforce by impromptu visits to different offices.

With still 22 more months to lead, Prof. Adewole certainly can still do more to reconstruct the institutional template. It is not yet time to start ounting days. There is still ample time to keep innovating towards uplifting UI. There is no doubt that he has done so much and so well too, but he can still do more as there is still a distance to destination. For UI to be truly “the first and the best” as students have been touting, all hands must be on deck to do the needful.

* Saanu writes from University of Ibadan