The circumstances which caused the National University Commission, NUC, to order a fresh selection process to produce anew Vice Chancellor, VC, for the University of Ibadan may continue to linger as many conflicting stories and information continue to generate concern among stakeholders.

Traditionally the VC of any Nigerian university has a five-year tenure upon which a new one is chosen to occupy the office.

Following this, the request for a successor was made about six months ago as it was known that the outgoing VC of the UI, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka’s tenure would soon run out.

This request produced eighteen applications from within and outside the institution.
Among the applicants were; Professor Kayode Adebowale from the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ibadan, the same faculty which produced the outgoing vice chancellor, Former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Adeyinka Aderinyo from the Faculty of Arts, Professor Bunmi Olapade, former Provost College of Medicine, Professor Raji Oyelade, Former Dean of Arts.

Others are; Professor Olusegun Kolawole, Former Dean of Education, Professor Tunde Salako, Former Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Olusegun Ademowo, Professor Farounbi, Professor T.K. Hamzat, Professor Femi Mimoko, among others.

As part of the selection process for choosing Senate representatives into the election board, a body which is expected to grade and ratify the appointment of the would-be vice chancellor were nine contestants who vied for two seats on the council committee.

Professors Peter Olapegba and Ezekiel Ayoola have already emerged but it was alleged that the outgoing VC played an influencial role in their emergence, a situation which did not go down well with other contestants who faulted the process.

The emergence of Professors Olapegba and Ayoola also generated a number of petitions from individuals within the university community.

The petitions in addition to the one by the members of the Joint Action Committed made up of Non Academic Staff Union, NASU and Senior Staff Association, SSANU U.I. Chapter, which were forwarded to the Federal Minstry of Education compelled the NUC to issue a directive ordering a fresh selection process devoid of the interference of the outgoing VC.

The memo which recommends that the 18 applicants be re-invited, also orders manual voting as against electronic voting earlier used.

Five members of the council committee comprise the governing chairman, two members nominated from the senate of the university, one representative from the federal Ministry of Education and a fifth from the NUC.

Sequel to the NUC memo of 23rd November 2O2O ordering a fresh selection process, a Senate meeting was held between Monday 23rd and Thursday 26th of November, 2020, where Professors Peter Olapegba and Ezekiel Ayoola emerged for the second time as Senate representatives of the governing council.

Some council members who were not pleased with the development walked out of the meeting.

This notwithstanding, a council meeting had been scheduled for Monday 30th November, 2020.

On Wednesday 25th OF November, the presence of security personnel comprising the men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Army were observed on the UI campus.

The heavy presence of security operatives according to findings was to prevent a breakdown of law and order as there have been previous threats of physical attacks within the premises.

Who would be named as the new VC of UI?

What are political antics being deployed?

What are the interests of unions in the selection process?

Is the whole drama and struggle worth it?
Radio Nigeria will follow up and keep you up to speed.

Rotimi Famakin

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