Ambali, Alfanla seek closer ties between UNILORIN, host community
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), University of Ilorin, Prof. Suleiman Funsho Ambali; and the institution’s Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla, have called for a closer relationship between the University and its host community, particularly the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU).
The duo made this call separately last Thursday (January 11, 2024) and penultimate Friday (January 5, 2024), respectively, in their offices while receiving copies of this year’s edition of the IEDPU annual calendar from the National Secretary of the Union, Mr Abubakar Sidiq Imam
They also said that it is very important for an institution like the University of Ilorin and its host community to be on the same page, saying that such would not only promote positive symbiotic relationships between the two but also enhance the achievement of the University’s corporate objectives.
Prof. Ambali, who is also the Chairman of Ilorin Emirate Staff Association (IESA), University of Ilorin, said that he expected the relationship between the University and IEDPU to be much stronger than it is.
While saying that the present management of the University was ready to work with all stakeholders towards advancing the cause of the institution, Prof. Ambali noted that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, is particularly interested in working with the IEDPU for the benefit of the University and its host community.
He specifically thanked the National Secretary of the IEDPU, who is also an Assistant Director (Information) at the University for working tirelessly towards improving the existing relationship between the umbrella sociocultural organisation of the people of Ilorin Emirate and the University.
As part of efforts towards cementing the existing good relationship between the University and the people of Ilorin Emirate, Prof. Ambali announced that the IESA would institutionalise an annual prize for the best graduating student of the University from Ilorin Emirate in the humanities and another one for the best graduating student in the sciences produced by Ilorin Emirate.
Prof. Ambali explained that the essence of the prizes is to encourage academic excellence among students of the University, particularly those from the institution’s host community.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor also assured the IEDPU that the IESA would support its developmental projects and institutions with its widow’s mite.
On his part, Mr Alfanla, who is the 7th Registrar and Secretary to the University’s Governing Council, acknowledged the positive impact of the IEDPU and the greater Ilorin Emirate community towards the sustenance of the stability, peace and progress of the University, saying that without the cooperation of its host community the University wouldn’t have been as enviable as it is.
While recalling the specific efforts of the University that were targeted at advancing the corporate interests of the people of its host community such as the Centre for Ilorin Studies (CILS), the Registrar assured that the University would continue to do more to ensure that the impact of the University is felt more by the people of its host community.
Mr Alfanla, who said that sizeable number of staff, students and other categories of individuals and groups who benefit from the existence of the University since its establishment about 50 years ago are indigenes of Ilorin, called on the people of Ilorin Emirate to always support the University’s developmental agenda through deliberate and greater fraternity with its staff and students.
The Registrar, specifically called on well to do indigenes of Ilorin Emirate at home and in diaspora to take advantage of the public-private partnership agenda of the University to build more private hostels on the University campus towards reducing the problems of accommodation among students of the University.
Mr Alfanla, said that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, and members of his management team are fair minded individuals who do not discriminate against anyone or group.
Speaking earlier, Mr Imam said that he was at the Offices of the two Principal Officers of the University on behalf of the Union’s new National Executive Council to thank the University management for honouring its invitation to the opening ceremony of its last national conference despite other pressing engagements.
Mr Imam, who is the Deputy Editor of UNILORIN BULLETIN, thanked the management of the University for its efforts targeted at sustaining and promoting the prevailing cordial relationships between the University and the people of Ilorin Emirate.
He added that the establishment of the University has been a blessing to the people of Ilorin Emirate as he expressed the conviction that the University would continue to be sensitive to the interest of members of its host community for the relationship to be sustained in the interests and yearnings of the two partners.
Mr Imam, who said that the strength of the Union is dependent on the magnitude, quality consistence of support derived from privileged indigenes of the community like the duo, assured the management of the University of Ilorin that the IEDPU and the people of Ilorin Emirate at large would continue to support the University for the institution to remain the nation’s most sought-after University.