By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Association of Ilorin Emirate Professors has pledged total support to the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh.

The Association made the pledge at a meeting convened by the new Vice Chancellor to solicit the cooperation and support of the members of the Association.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Association and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Professor Abdulganiyu Funsho Alabi, who led other members of the Association to the meeting, commended the new Vice Chancellor for convening the meeting shortly after the announcement of his appointment.

Professor Alabi noted that the new Vice Chancellor was known for his humility, and his calling for the meeting was commendable and indicative of his visionary leadership style which has been in play since he was the Acting Vice Chancellor.

“I thank you most sincerely for your humility and the way and manner you have been piloting the affairs of this institution since you became the Acting Vice Chancellor till the present moment that you have been appointed as the substantive Vice Chancellor. We will all be there for you,” he promised.

Professor Alabi pledged that the Association would do everything humanly possible to give the new Vice Chancellor all the support needed to pilot the affairs of the institution to greater heights.

“We will work in unison, we will speak with one voice and with good mind for you to achieve your desired success as the third substantive Vice Chancellor of this great University.

“Inviting us to a meeting, and for the fact that this meeting is your maiden meeting after your appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor further demonstrates your humility and large heart. It shows that you hold us in high esteem, and we must reciprocate this rare recognition by giving you the unalloyed support for us to collectively move KWASU forward,” he pledged.

Professor Alabi who added that the culture in Ilorin which is rooted in Islam enjoins the belief that it is only Allah that gives and takes power at will, and prayed God to guide the new Vice Chancellor in his new assignment.

In his comment, the immediate past Dean of the School of Post Graduate Studies, Professor Hamza Ishola Abdulraheem, commended the new Vice Chancellor for his wisdom and courage demonstrated by calling the meeting, saying that the Association appreciated his wisdom and large heart.

Professor Abdulraheem commended other contestants for the Vice Chancellor position from the Association for accepting God’s verdict, pointing out that their presence at the meeting showed that they have accepted the new Vice-Chancellor whole heartedly.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, said he called the meeting to solicit the support and prayers of the Association and expressed joy at the large turnout.

Professor Jimoh, who recalled that he had met with the Association when he became the Acting Vice-Chancellor to seek their support and to resolve an issue a few months ago, explained that this meeting was to again, seek their support to work collectively to achieve a common goal.

He emphasized that while his emergence was a manifestation of God’s will, the support and cooperation of all was imperative to him succeeding in the task ahead.

The Vice Chancellor stressed that he holds Ilorin in high esteem and considers Ilorin as his home, especially as his teacher, Shaykh Muhammad Yaqub Alawo, from whom he became grounded in Arabic and Islamic Studies, was from Alawo Compound, Okelele area of Ilorin.

Professor Jimoh added that as a scholar of Islamics, the many Islamic scholars from Ilorin are held in high repute.

“I’m your son, brother, and friend, and I need your support and cooperation.

“Let’s work as a team and as a family,” he reiterated.