ALFANLA NAMED AS UNILORIN'S SEVENTH REGISTRAR

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By Adeniyi Onaara

The selection of Mr. Mansur Alfanla as the University of Ilorin’s designate registrar has been approved by the university’s governing council.

Alfanla, a Deputy Registrar and the institution’s Postgraduate School Secretary, will succeed Dr. Fola Olowoleni as Registrar when her term expires in April.

The appointment was one of the highlights of the 183rd meeting of the Council, which was held last Thursday, March 23, 2023 and presided over by its Acting Chairman, Professor Saburi A. Adesanya, according to a statement made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Saturday by the institution’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Kunle Akogun.

The change came about as a result of the Selection Committee’s reports being thoroughly examined, which evaluated the eligibility of the candidates shortlisted for the interview to fill the soon-to-be-vacant position.

“With this appointment, Mr. Alfanla will become the university’s seventh registrar and secretary to the governing council, and he will be the third person to hold this position who rose through the ranks of the university’s administrative hierarchy before reaching the top of his career at the same organization.

Mr. Alfanla, a native of Kwara State’s Ilorin West Local Government Area, was born there on August 28, 1970.He obtained his primary education diploma from the renowned Ansarul Islam Primary School in Ilorin. He also attended the Omupo Grammar School in Omupo, where he graduated in 1988 with a West African School Certificate.

“In 1990, the Registrar-designate proceeded to the Bayero University, Kano, for his Bachelor of Arts (Combined Honours) degree in English/Mass Communication, which he earned in 1995. Mr Alfanla also attended the University of Ilorin between 2006 and 2010 for his Bachelor’s degree in Common Law.

He followed his LL.B. up with his attendance of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja at the end of which he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012. He, again, in 2015, enrolled for his Master’s degree in law and completed the programme in 2016.

“After offering his mandatory national youth service (NYSC) programme at Girls Commercial School, Nanka, Anambra State from 1995 to 1996, the Registrar-designate joined the services of the University of Ilorin as an Administrative Assistant during the tenure of the 6th Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem in 1998. He was promoted to the rank of Administrative Officer in 2001. He became an Assistant Registrar in 2005.

“Following his consistent hard work and loyalty to the University, Alfanla was elevated to the rank of Senior Assistant Registrar in 2009. He became a Principal Assistant Registrar in 2013. This outstanding university administrator was eventually promoted to the rank of Deputy Registrar in 2016.

“In the last 25 years of his services to be nation’s most sought-after University, Mr Alfanla has served in various capacities and on several committees either as the Chairman or Secretary.

“Among the several responsibilities he was saddled with was the University’s Admission Officer, which he competently offered under two different administrations headed by Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede and Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali between 2009 and 2013. He also served as the Deputy Registrar, Academic Support Services.

“A thoroughbred administrator and veteran unionist, the Registrar-designate initially served as Secretary and later as the Chairman of the University of Ilorin’s Chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SAANU) from 2004 to 2007 and between 2007 to 2015, respectively. He was also the National Treasurer of the Association between 2015 and 2016.

“Alfanla, who has attended many conferences, seminars and symposiums, is also a member of many professional bodies including the Association of Nigerian Universities Professional Administrators (ANUPA), the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), among others. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administrators of Nigeria (ICAN).

“Despite his tight schedules, Mr Alfanla found time to serve as the Secretary, Ilorin Emirate Staff Association, University of Ilorin. He was also at a time the Secretary, University of Ilorin Muslim Community as he was the Imam, Senior Staff Quarters’ Mosque, Main Campus, Ilorin, between 2009 and 2021.

“Until his new appointment, Mr Alfanla has been a member of the University’s Governing Council, representing the University Congregation.

“Alfanla is happily married and blessed with children,” the statement added.