UNILORIN, CIPM set to deepen collaboration
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has reaffirmed the commitment of the institution to strategic partnerships, saying that a University of its stature cannot afford to operate in isolation, particularly in areas that enhance staff capacity and institutional efficiency.
Prof. Egbewole made this known last Monday (April 27, 2026) while receiving the leaders of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), who paid him a courtesy visit ahead of the body’s induction ceremony at the University.
The Vice Chancellor explained that engagements with bodies such as the CIPM are critical to improving administrative professionalism and aligning the University’s operations with global best practices in human resource management.
The Vice Chancellor, who described the Registry staff as the engine room of the University system, noted that their roles are central to the smooth functioning of academic and administrative processes. He, therefore, advocated for their active membership in professional bodies like CIPM, noting that such exposure would significantly enhance their personal growth and professional competence.
According to him, the proposed collaboration with CIPM would create a mutually beneficial relationship, offering opportunities for knowledge exchange, capacity building, and institutional development.
Prof. Egbewole, who was honoured with the Visionary Leadership Award by the Kwara State Chapter of the body, appreciated the CIPM national body for initiating the partnership, describing it as a timely intervention that would further strengthen the University’s administrative framework and improve its service delivery.
Earlier, the President and Chairman of Council of CIPM, Mr Ladan Ahmed Gobir, said that the decision to visit the University of Ilorin with the full complement of the Institute’s National Executive Committee says a lot about the high regard in which the University is held.
Mr Gobir explained that the visit was multifaceted, encompassing the induction of new members from the University of Ilorin, interaction with students studying human resource-related courses, and the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University.
The CIPM President further revealed that one of his key mandates upon assuming office was to establish a formal partnership with the University of Ilorin, a goal he described as both strategic and necessary. He added that the visit was a deliberate step towards fulfilling that commitment.
Reflecting on his assumption of office, Mr Gobir noted that while he received over 100 congratulatory messages, the one sent by Prof. Egbewole stood out, describing it as thoughtful and indicative of the Vice Chancellor’s forward-looking leadership style.
Joining the Vice Chancellor to receive the team were the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services, Prof. Olalere Adeyemi; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Muhtar Adeiza Etudaiye; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, Mr Abiodun Lawal; the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; and the Ag. Director of Legal Services, Mrs Faridah Funmilayo Sheriff; among others.
