Don’t make Inaugural Lectures your valedictory outing, Egbewole tells new professors
By Tajudeen Babamale
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has challenged the 43 newly promoted Professors in the institution to ensure that they deliver their Inaugural Lectures promptly, describing the exercise as a critical academic responsibility that must not be delayed or misconstrued.
Prof. Egbewole gave this charge last Wednesday (April 1, 2026) during a meeting with the newly elevated Professors at the University Auditorium Basement.
The Vice Chancellor stated that Inaugural Lectures should be delivered within the first 12 months of attaining professorship, noting that the essence of the lecture is to formally present a Professor’s body of scholarly works and intellectual contributions to the academic community.
He cautioned against treating the Lectures as valedictory exercises, explaining that they are instead foundational platforms that mark the transition to a higher level of academic responsibility and productivity.
Prof. Egbewole added that the Inaugural Lectures offer Professors the opportunity to articulate the trajectory of their research, highlight the work that earned them the professorial rank, and project future directions for scholarship and impact.
Describing the attainment of professorship as a confirmation of hard work, merit, and proven academic excellence, the Vice Chancellor noted that the title comes with expanded responsibilities in leadership, mentorship, and institutional development.
He urged the new Professors to mentor their younger colleagues and foster an environment where emerging academics are guided and inspired to attain similar heights. He added that impactful research remains a core expectation at the professorial level and should involve and uplift junior academics as part of a sustainable academic culture.
Prof. Egbewole also warned against complacency, stressing that Professors must remain actively engaged in teaching, student supervision, and departmental responsibilities. He noted that their visibility and commitment are now more critical, as they have become symbols of academic leadership within the institution.
He further encouraged the scholars to ensure that their research goes beyond theoretical contributions by addressing societal needs and impacting their immediate communities. He also urged them to build networks, collaborate with peers, and contribute meaningfully to academic discourse within their areas of expertise.
While congratulating the newly promoted Professors, the Vice Chancellor urged them to make their professorship count by demonstrating excellence, integrity, and commitment, particularly through sustained contributions to the growth of the University and the society at large.
Responding on behalf of the 43 newly elevated Professors, a former Head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Prof. Isaac Dayo Olorunshola, assured the Vice Chancellor that he and his colleagues would uphold integrity, demonstrate hard work, and serve as seasoned mentors to their junior colleagues across their various Departments and Faculties.
Prof. Olorunshola appreciated the Vice Chancellor for what he described as his timely and insightful guidance, noting that the advice given centred on intellectual depth, leadership, and responsibility. He assured the University management that the newly promoted professors were committed to justifying the confidence reposed in them by the University.
