By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin, Surveyor Abiodun Aluko, has outlined his plans for the University in the next four years, laying out his unwavering commitment to making the institution better than he met it.

Surv. Aluko, who is a former Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, stated this during an interactive session with a cross-section of the University Community, including the Provost, Deans, Directors, Union leaders, and Student Union executives, at the University Auditorium.

The Council Chairman who said he understood most of the challenges facing university administrations in Nigeria and the policies that have effectively diminished the autonomy of universities, leading to difficulties for federal institutions,
pledged to work with the Conference of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Universities to find a lasting solution to the challenges militating against the advancement of university education in the country.

Surv. Aluko disclosed that he was not new to university administration, having served as Council Member of several Nigerian universities since 2009, including Bayero University Kano (2009-2013), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (2017-2021), and the University of Uyo (2021-2023).

He said: “I understand the challenges that Nigerian universities face. When universities transitioned to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) in 2021, Vice Chancellors lost their powers, and the policy caused significant staff shortages in federal universities because Vice Chancellors cannot employ, contributing to challenges within the Nigerian university system.”

Chief Aluko assured his audience that the external members of the Governing Council are committed to the realisation of the University’s vision, explaining their intention to contribute their intellectual capacities, political connections, and relationships with industries and individuals to assist the University.

He also acknowledged that funding is a major challenge but expressed confidence that it can be overcome.
While highlighting their commitment to providing necessary training and retraining to advance the university, the 14th Council Chairman stressed the importance of meeting and interacting with the staff before commencing their inaugural meeting and expressed his pleasure at working with esteemed individuals.

Chief Aluko affirmed the University’s reputation as the most stable and crisis-free institution in Nigeria, particularly in academics, and recognised that this success is due to the dedicated efforts and intellectual contributions of the staff.

The Council Chairman pointed out that he and other members of his team are committed to making a difference by adding value to the University of Ilorin, stressing the need for staff cooperation to succeed. He outlined his goal to improve the university’s ranking both nationally and globally before the end of his four-year term, aiming to achieve a ranking of 1:10:100, placing the university among the top 100 in the world.

He stressed the importance of students as vital stakeholders and urged them to maintain peace and seek resolution through dialogue. He also expressed his gratitude to the students for their cooperation with the management, noting that UNILORIN is a university that many Nigerian admission seekers and their parents aspire to join due to its trusted graduation date.

He also acknowledged the University’s enviable reputation and the significant contributions of its scholars to international journals, calling for continued support of all stakeholders for the growth and progress of the institution, while stressing the importance of dialogue and fair compromises if any issues arise.

He assured the stakeholders that no one would be denied the benefits or promotions they deserve. He expressed confidence in achieving peaceful coexistence among staff, management, and council members.