Every Unilorite to have a mentor-Akande
By Abubakar Imam
A Professor of Public Health at the University of Ilorin and Director of the institution’s Mentorship Centre, Tanimola Akande, has said that efforts are being perfected to ensure that every student and junior staff member of the University has at least a mentor that would provide him or her with adequate guidance.
Prof. Akande gave this assurance last Tuesday (April 7, 2026) while featuring on “Table Talk”, a current affairs programme of UNILORIN 89.3 FM. The programme was anchored by Mr Abdulkadir Yinka Saliu (Magaji Nda).
The Director said that the University is working towards connecting every student and junior staff member to a highly experienced person because of the realisation of the fact that everyone who intends to become great in life requires the illumination of those who are not only older but more experienced in every profession and life at large.
Since no one could see farther except he relies on the experience and wisdom of those who are much more experienced and endowed, Prof. Akande said that mentorship would always bring out the best in the mentees as it would enable them to realise their full potentials.
Prof. Akande, who was accompanied to the studio by the two Deputy Directors of the Centre, Dr Taiye Ishola, who teaches at the Department of Geophysics and Dr AbdulWaheed Isiyaku of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, explained that the creation of the Mentorship Centre by the current management of the University under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was informed by the realisation of the significance of mentorship in the life of every individual, particularly younger persons.
He explained that the creation of the Centre would go down in the annals of the University as one of the most important interventions that would catalyse the achievements of corporate objectives of the University.
Prof. Akande, who said that the Centre has a well-streamlined structure designed to assist it to achieve its essence, explained that the Centre has officials at the Faculty and Departmental as well as at Unit levels that would monitor the quality of mentorship obtainable at their levels.
The Director thanked the University Administration for the magnitude and quality of support the Centre has enjoyed so far, saying that the support would never be taken for granted.
Prof. Akande, who is also a Consultant Epidemiologist at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, said that in order to stimulate the interest of members of the University community towards appreciating the significance of mentorship, the Centre has concluded arrangements to stage a public lecture, titled “Mentorship in the Era of Economic and Security Crisis: Issues, Challenges and Solutions”.
The lecture, according to the don, would be delivered by the Kuliya of Ilorin and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Osun State University, Osogbo, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 beginning at 11am at the University Auditorium.
While saying that the programme is for all, Prof. Akande enjoined staff members and students as well as members of the general public to attend the lecture punctually, which he said promises to be very interesting, educative and illuminating.
