OSOGBO — Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Council of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, charging its members to uphold peace, accountability and good governance in the institution.
The governor also approved the extension of the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, for another two years.
Adeleke stated this on Monday at the inauguration ceremony held at the Banquet Hall of the Osun State Government House, Osogbo, where he described UNIOSUN as one of the enduring investments of the people of Osun State and a source of pride to the state.
The governor said the reconstitution of the Governing Council was undertaken in the larger interest of the university and the state, particularly to strengthen its governance structure, guarantee continuity and prevent conflicts.
He announced that Professor Adewale Apeluoso Sokun had been retained as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, noting that his experience and understanding of the university would provide continuity as the new council members assumed office.
“For the record and emphasis, Professor Adewale Apeluoso Sokun has been retained as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council. His experience and understanding of the university place him in a strong position to provide continuity while working with the new members of the Council to take this institution to greater heights,” Adeleke said.
According to Adeleke, the Pro-Chancellor represents him as Visitor to the university and Governor of the state on matters concerning the institution.
He therefore urged all members of the council to work together and support the Pro-Chancellor in taking UNIOSUN to greater heights.
“In your tenure, the continued peace and progress of UNIOSUN are not negotiable. I repeat, in your tenure, the continued peace and progress of UNIOSUN are not negotiable,” the governor said.
Adeleke cautioned the Governing Council against interfering in the day-to-day administration of the university, stressing that the council and management must not operate as competing centres of authority.
“The Governing Council and management must not see themselves as competing centres of authority. Rather, they must operate as complementary arms of one institution, guided by law, mutual respect and the common objective of advancing the university,” he said.
The governor charged the council members to approach their new responsibilities with humility, integrity, courage and commitment to public interest.
He further assured the university community of the continued support of his administration for initiatives aimed at improving UNIOSUN’s academic standing, research capacity, infrastructure and overall development.
Earlier, the outgoing Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Wale Oladipo, commended Governor Adeleke for giving the university council the freedom and autonomy to operate.
Oladipo said the support provided by the governor had contributed significantly to the progress recorded by the university, including its improved academic ranking.
He disclosed that UNIOSUN had recently produced its first set of 90 medical doctors and had secured increased admission quotas for Medicine, Law and Nursing.
According to him, the university currently has 75 international research grants and has recorded growth in student population, while several infrastructural projects have also been completed across its campuses.
He listed the Senate Building, the computing building at the Osogbo campus, lecture theatres, roads and other facilities among the projects executed during the council’s tenure.
Oladipo also highlighted the completion and commissioning of a modern stadium at the Osogbo campus, saying the facility had helped the university meet accreditation requirements for some of its programmes.
He said the university’s decision to network its campuses for academic activities had reduced the need for lecturers to travel frequently between campuses, saving the institution an estimated N300 million and reducing the risk of accidents associated with inter-campus movement.
The former council chairman pledged that the new council, under his leadership, would maintain the principle of non-interference in the day-to-day running of the university.
He warned members of the council against seeing their appointments as an avenue for personal financial gain, stressing that the Governing Council was a place for service and not money-making.
“The university council is not a place where you make money. Anybody that is looking for what to eat should not come to the university under my chairmanship. It is not available,” he said.
Oladipo also commended the university management, led by Professor Adebooye, as well as the state government for supporting staff welfare and the implementation of improved salary arrangements.
He expressed confidence that the new council would build on the achievements recorded by the institution and further position UNIOSUN as one of the leading state universities in Nigeria.
“At the current rate, this university, by the time this particular council winds down its operations, will be the number one state university in Nigeria,” he said.
He also recalled an interaction involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, saying the university responded to a request for documents by making the relevant records available, which he said demonstrated the Council’s commitment to accountability and transparency.
In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye expressed appreciation to Governor Adeleke for the autonomy, liberty and support given to the university administration.
“Your Excellency, sir, I want to thank you on behalf of the university for what you have done for us. The autonomy you have given us, the liberty, the freedom and that complete clearance to administer the university in line with the best global standards are well appreciated,” he said.
Adebooye promised that the university management would continue to work diligently to consolidate the achievements recorded during his first tenure.
“The second tenure, by the grace of God Almighty, will be successful just as the first one. This second tenure will surpass in achievement the first tenure,” Adebooye said.
He said the university would continue to uphold high standards in teaching, research and administration, and prayed for continued success, good health and divine protection for Governor Adeleke and his administration.
The governor also reflected on his relationship with his deputy, describing it as a model of cooperation and mutual respect, and highlighted his administration’s focus on workers’ welfare and industrial harmony in the state.
The inauguration was attended by government functionaries, members of the House of Assembly, permanent secretaries, political leaders, university officials, members of the new Governing Council and other stakeholders.
