Absence of governing council stalls selection exercise for new UI VC

The selection exercise for a new Vice Chancellor for the University of Ibadan that would succeed Prof Isaac Adewole has been put on hold for now.

The reason for the suspension Daily Sun learnt is due to the absence of a Governing Council for the nation’s premier university.

The selection process to pick a new helmsman for the university was kick-started by the Chief Wole Olanipekun-led governing council in which 13 Professors applied for the plum job.

Less than two weeks after the Olanipekun-led council started the selection exercise for the 14th VC, President Muhammadu Buhari dissolved all Federal Government boards, parastatals and agencies.

The university Director of Communications, Mr. Olatunji Oladejo told our Correspondent on phone that the selection exercise has been suspended because of the dissolution of the governing council by the federal government.

He disclosed that as soon as the government appoints a new Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, the selection process would start even as he noted that the election of two Senate members into the selection board were concluded before the dissolution of council.

Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) UI chapter, Prof Segun Ajiboye also confirmed that the selection ha s been put on hold adding ‘’the council is not in place for now. It is only internal members that are on ground’’.

Prof Ajiboye however stated that ASUU is not involved in the selection process and hoped that a new council chairman would be appointed before the expiration of Prof Adewole’s tenure in November 2015.

The tenure of the incumbent VC, Prof Adewole would end in November 2015. Already 13 Professors had indicated their interest in the office and two are from outside the university.

The aspirants jostling to replace Prof Adewole include Prof Oluwole Adedeji, from the College of Medicine Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof Muphta Adekunle Kenzie Smith from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof Oladele Layiwola of Institute of African Studies, Prof Olusegun Olusina Akinyinka from Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, UI and Prof Francis Egbokhare of the Department of Linguistics and African Languages, UI.

Other candidates are Prof Arinola O. Sanya of the Physiotherapy Department, UI, (only female aspirant), Prof O. Fagbemi of the Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, UI, Prof Labode Popoola of Forest Resources Management from the university, Prof A. I. Olayinka of Geology Department, Prof Ayodeji Emmanuel Oluleye of the Industrial and Production Engineering, Prof O. D. Olaleye Virology Department, Prof A. E. Falaye of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Management and Prof A. A. Agbaje of the Political Science Department.