*Says the university has gone digital, students can vote wherever they are

By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Vice chancellor, University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, has stated that the university would not disenfranchise any of its students from voting in the forthcoming general elections.

He said the university would not suspend its academic programmes for students to vote because, according to him, the institution has already designed a programme “whereby students can attend virtual classes and also vote wherever they are”.

“We won’t suspend our lectures for voting because UNILORIN is already digitised”, he clarified.

Egbewole made this known while fielding questions from reporters during his maiden media parley at the institution on Wednesday.

He said in the last 100 days of his assumption as vice chancellor, the University has attracted N500m Tettfund grants for hostel accommodation for its students, and another N400m for broad band from the Ministry of Communication, as well as N200m grant for ICT.

Similarly, the VC said some staff of the institution have also attracted a N100m grant through their research works for the University, adding that the University “has patented 18 to 20 products of its research works”.

Egbewole also announced plans by the University to complete its long initiated Tanke – UNILORIN rail transportation system to ease the transportation hiccups being faced by the students and staff, adding that the University is already engaging the Embassy of China to handle the project which, according to him, had been initiated about 10 to 15 years ago.

In addition, the VC said the University is planning an “electric bus transportation system at the micro level” to ensure students have a smooth ride, adding that this becomes imperative in view of the growing population of about 60,000 to 70,000 people resident in Tanke area with at least 18 to 20,000 people being transported in and out of the university daily.