Ku8+ VCs commend Egbewole’s leadership
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Chairman of the Consortium of Universities in Kwara State (KU8+) and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has been commended for his visionary leadership, commitment to collaboration, and sustained support for emerging universities in the state.
This was the consensus of the Vice Chancellors and Principal Officers of member institutions of the KU8+ in different goodwill messages delivered penultimate Saturday (January 24, 2026) at the 3rd anniversary celebration of KU8+. The event was held at the Council Chamber of the University of Ilorin, where they described the Consortium as a transformative initiative that has deepened inter-university cooperation, mentorship, and strategic resource sharing.
Leading the discussion, the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED), Ilorin, Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman, expressed gratitude to the University of Ilorin for accepting her institution into the Consortium and for releasing her to serve at KWASUED.
Prof. Salman acknowledged the steady institutional backing she received from UNILORIN since her assumption of office, noting that the support was particularly evident during the successful conduct of the University’s Matriculation.
She appealed to other member universities to continue to strengthen mutual assistance and solidarity as KU8+ continues to grow and consolidate its achievements.
On his part, the Ag. Vice Chancellor of Jimoh Babalola University, Ilorin, Prof. Muftau Adeniyi Ijaiya, praised the University of Ilorin for the extensive mentorship provided to his institution, especially in key areas such as resource verification, staff training, library development, and admission processes.
Prof. Ijaiya explained that the technical and professional guidance accessed through KU8+ significantly eased the early operational challenges of the University, adding that the Consortium had created a dependable framework for sustainable institutional development within Kwara State.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the African School of Economics, Abuja,who is also the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Ahman Patigi University (APU), Pategi, Prof. Mahfouz Adebola Adedimeji, described the establishment of KU8+ as a landmark development within the Nigerian University system.
While noting that the collaborative model adopted by the Consortium has begun to inspire similar initiatives in other parts of the country, Prof. Adedimeji said the leadership provided by Prof. Egbewole had helped to reposition the universities as engines of access, capacity building, and national development through shared resources, friendship, and collective growth.
The Ag. Vice Chancellor of Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Ganmo, Prof. Abdulrauf Ambali, acknowledged the direct mentorship role assigned to the University of Ilorin by the National Universities Commission (NUC) over his University and other young ones.
While noting that the Registry support, staff deployment, and administrative guidance from UNILORIN were critical to stabilising the young institution during its formative stages, Prof. Ambali reaffirmed his University’s commitment to learning from the KU8+ experience and sustaining the gains already recorded through continuous collaboration.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh, described the formation of KU8+ as a legacy initiative with far-reaching impact. He noted that the Consortium provided clarity, direction, and confidence for relatively young universities that initially faced daunting start-up challenges.
He stressed that many of the achievements recorded by his institution were directly linked to the mentorship, guidance, and leadership offered through the KU8+ platform.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Alade Jimoh, applauded Prof. Egbewole for initiating the establishment of the group.
Prof. Jimoh recalled that the idea of inter-university collaboration in Kwara State had long been advocated by past leadership before it finally materialised under the current KU8+ structure.
The Registrar of the University of Ilorin, Mr. Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, lauded the Chairman’s hands-on leadership style and the collective commitment of KU8+ members in translating ideas into measurable achievements.
Mr Alfanla observed that the success of the Consortium was driven by prompt institutional responses, dedication of staff, especially staff of the University of Ilorin, and a shared determination to make KU8+ a national model that could be adopted as policy across states.
The Director of Administration of KU8+, Mr John Aiyedun, described his engagement with the Consortium as a rare professional learning opportunity that broadened his exposure through close interaction with university chief executives.
He acknowledged the capacity-building benefits of the platform and advocated the deliberate inclusion of Registry and non-teaching staff in future KU8+ international conferences to encourage wider participation and institutional learning.
In his view, the Vice Chancellor of Ojaja University, Ilorin, Prof. Jelil Ojuade, commended the Chairman of KU8+ and Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for initiating and nurturing an idea that has grown into a model of inter-university collaboration admired within and outside Nigeria. He noted that the vision introduced at the formative stage of the Consortium has translated into practical benefits that have made administration, research collaboration, and capacity development easier for universities in Kwara State.
Prof. Ojuade also praised Prof. Egbewole for providing inclusive and selfless leadership that has mobilised the expertise of academics and administrators across disciplines in support of KU8+. He acknowledged the commitment of the Principal Officers and staff of the University of Ilorin, whose readiness to support the Consortium reflects the leadership example set by Prof. Egbewole and has been central to the sustained success and growing impact of KU8+.
