NEW UNILORIN VC, PROFESSOR EGBEWOLE UNVEILS SMART AGENDA FOR RUNNING THE UNIVERSITY
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By Adeola Abdullah
Newly appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Kwara State; Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN) has unveiled what he termed as his SMART agenda to run the affairs of the University during his five-year-tenure.
Egbewole while speaking at a ceremony in Ilorin on Monday, to officially mark his assumption of office, said that he would pursue sustainable development, monumental achievements, adaptive capacity, rapid response to change and, team building.
He said, “I have been part and parcel of this University for some two and a half decades and I am infinitely aware of its nature and texture. I have taken time to study the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) that.
“My vision for the University of Ilorin is
all about attaining global reckoning as a 21st Century university and the best in Africa.
“This is not a tall dream as I believe strongly in the human capital of this University.
Together, we can take the university to the topmost league in Africa if we are SMART.
“The SMART University mantra entails that my Administration, with your support, will be
purposively geared towards achieving:
Sustainable development,
Monumental achievements,
Adaptive capacity,
Rapid response to change and
Team building.
“While there shall be opportunity to expound these five cardinal foci, it is apposite to
emphasise that the smart mantra for a smart university that I envision will be geared
towards achieving the vision of the University “to be an international center of
excellence in learning, research, probity and service to humanity”.
“Being Africa’s numero uno (number one) University definitely requires efforts and
sacrifices on our part as stakeholders. This is why, “Beyond the Frontiers” (2019-2023),
as the current Strategic Plan of the University is tagged, we shall be “Shuttling to the
Space” as from next year to propel the University to where it should be, right among the galaxy of stars. The specific strategies of how this shall be achieved shall be highlighted
before the relevant organs of the University in due course. As fine feathers make fine
birds and great people make great universities, the University can be the best. All that I
solicit is your cooperation and prayers.
“However, one thing is certain. There will be challenges, which are natural by the way.
But we shall soar above them like an eagle and with determination cum unity of
purpose, we shall get there. The operational blueprint of overcoming challenges shall be
anchored on the principles of inclusive governance, no-door policy, thinking without the box (not just outside the box), strengthening of the committee system and reviving the
academic culture, both its diverse attitudinal and professional components. For
example, some of the attitudinal components include critical thinking, objectivity,
evidence-based conclusions, depth, frugality (avoiding wastages), effective deployment
of human and material resources, self-respect, collaboration, integrity, fairness and
3uprightness while aspects of the professional dimension concern mentorship (guided freedom), academic freedom, effective teaching, innovative research and institutional autonomy all in conformity with the extant laws.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, I shall be loyal to the law, rules and regulations because I know the implications of subverting laid-down procedure and due process. Yet, as a professor of jurisprudence, I shall be just, fair and humane in the decisionmaking process. As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators, I am committed to doing right things in the interest of this great institution and its entire membership, the students and staff. For all of us, the sun shall rise again and it shall be a new beginning.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, we shall be concerned about the environmental policy regarding clean and conducive environment. When we save the environment and think green, we save ourselves and become green. We shall prioritise research and development as drivers of progress. We shall activate a code of conduct based on ethics, professionalism, punctuality, promptness, feedback and attitudinal change. Definitely, we cannot achieve all these without putting staff welfare at the front burner. There is no limit to human ability if there is motivation and in this regard, mechanisms of promoting welfare will be put in place while training and retraining opportunities shall be created to boost productivity and effectiveness. This is our university and it is ours to build together.
The tripartite mandate of the University begins with teaching which entails that the interest of students should be a top priority without compromising staff welfare.
“Therefore, we shall make our students our pride by constantly engaging them and making them potential ambassadors of the ideals and values of the University enshrined in the motto, probitas doctrina or character and learning. There is no doubt that if we lead by example, our students will be inspired. When our students are inspired, the society is better.”
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