Aremu bows out as Provost, COED, Oro
By Mustafa Abubakar
As his five-year tenure of Prof. Mukaila Aremu as Provost of the Kwara State College of Education, Oro, ended penultimate Sunday (June 14, 2026), the don has reflected on his stewardship, highlighting major achievements recorded under his administration while expressing appreciation to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and other stakeholders whose support contributed significantly to the institution’s progress.
Prof. Aremu, a former Head of the Department of Marketing, University of Ilorin, noted that his administration was driven by deliberate efforts targetted at repositioning the institution through academic reforms, infrastructural development, improved institutional governance, staff welfare, and policies aimed at strengthening long-term growth and sustainability.
According to him, priority was placed on creating a better academic environment capable of promoting quality teaching and learning while ensuring institutional stability and operational efficiency.
The former Provost explained that notable improvements were recorded in infrastructural renewal, renovation and upgrading of facilities, as well as reforms introduced to improve administrative efficiency and strengthen the College’s standing within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
He acknowledged that these accomplishments were made possible through the commitment and support of the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, whom he commended for consistently prioritising education and supporting developmental programmes across state-owned institutions.
Prof. Aremu also extended appreciation to members of the management team of the institution, academic and non-teaching staff, students, Governing Council members, alumni associations, traditional institutions, members of the host community, and other development partners, stressing that the progress recorded by the College was a product of collective effort, professionalism, sacrifice, and shared commitment toward institutional advancement.
Meanwhile, the Oloro of Oro Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, JP, has commended Prof. Aremu for what he described as a remarkable and era-defining administration that transformed the institution and repositioned it for greater academic relevance and stability.
In a statement made available to UNILORIN Bulletin last Monday (July 15, 2026), the monarch described the outgoing Provost’s tenure as a period marked by academic excellence, structural transformation, and deep institutional stability, noting that under Prof. Aremu’s visionary leadership, the College overcame longstanding challenges to emerge as a highly respected and fully accredited centre of learning.
The royal father further highlighted the digital transformation of the institution under the Administration of Prof. Aremu, particularly the total revitalisation of the Information and Communication Technology infrastructure and Computer-Based Test Centres, developments which significantly modernised academic and administrative operations within the College.
Oba Titiloye also noted that the Administration of Prof. Aremu successfully revived the institution’s culture of intensive scholarly research and restored the prestigious Inaugural Lecture Series after a sixteen-year hiatus, describing the achievement as one of the defining intellectual milestones of the Administration.
The monarch seized the opportunity to also appreciate Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his unwavering commitment to strengthening tertiary education in Kwara State, while also commending the Commissioner for Education, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, alongside past supervising commissioners, for sustaining progressive partnerships with the institution.
Describing Prof. Aremu as an exceptional leader, astute manager of human capital, and dependable development partner who consistently carried the host community along in his developmental strides, the Oloro offered prayers for the outgoing Provost as he begins a new chapter of service.
