INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Egbewole pledges continuous gender inclusivity
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has assured stakeholders that the University would continue to embrace gender inclusivity and diversity, saying that the institution would never discriminate against anyone or group but would continue to celebrate excellence and not gender.
Prof. Egbewole stated this last Friday (March 8,2024) while participating on a special interview programme on UNILORIN 89.3 FM as part of the celebration of this year’s edition of the International Women’s Day. The programme was anchored by the trio of the Head of the Station, Mr Idris Akintola Ibrahim (Alooma), Ms Bimbo Durojaiye and Mr Temitope Olawuyi.
The Vice Chancellor explained that the University decided to celebrate the International Women’s Day as a way of showing the importance it attaches to women interest as he stated that the University would henceforth be involved in the annual celebration of the Day.
He added that his administration would continue to change the narratives by celebrating anyone who deserves to be celebrated not minding the gender of the person involved.
Prof. Egbewole, who is also the Secretary-General of the Association of West African Universities (AWAU), explained that the University would continue to pay more attention to the interests of girls, ladies and mothers as he also explained that the participation of the University in the International Women’s Day is also to appreciate the female members of the University community towards the progress of the institution and the women at large.
He expressed the conviction that the University would be able to achieve and sustain its corporate objectives and particularly his vision 1:10:500 if women as well as men are encouraged to embrace them.
Speaking further, the Vice Chancellor explained that the University has not been discriminating against any gender, considering the fact that five of the 16 Faculties at the University are headed by females, which, he said, represents 30% of the number of Deans of Faculties. He also noted that 9 out of 16 Deputy Registrars of the University are female.
Prof. Egbewole went further to say that the Head of the University’s Legal Unit and the institution’s Director of Audit are both females among several others who are feholding key offices in the non-teaching cadres of the University.
The Vice Chancellor expressed delight that all the women occupying high positions at the University became what they are through personal capacities and not because they are specially favoured to get to the positions.
He added that it was the appreciation of the University for the capacities of the female members of staff that accounted for the encouragement a few of them were granted by the University to secure appointments as Chief Executives of sister universities. He cited the cases of the Vice Chancellors of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Prof. Temidayo Oladiji; and the Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Ramota Olabisi Karim, who prior to their present positions were Deans of the Faculties of Life Sciences and Agriculture of the University of Ilorin, respectively. He added that the same conviction encouraged the University to support the bid of Dr Saudat Salah-Abdulbaqi to become a Council Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) last year.
Prof. Egbewole also expressed delight with the rising profiles of the female alumni of the University including the Minister of Youth Affairs, Dr Jamilah Bio Ibrahim and Mrs Kemi Nandap, who was recently appointed as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service.
The Vice Chancellor explained that in order to make life easier for female students and to produce more women who would make the University proud upon their graduation, the University allocate 70% of its hostels to female students so as to ensure that they are less vulnerable.
He added that the University would continue to relate with all its graduates not minding their gender so as to encourage them to give back to their alma mater.
Also speaking, Prof. Oluyemisi Fawole, Prof. Mistura Azeez, Prof. Adedoyin Omede, Prof. Patricia Omojasola and Prof. Nimah Modupe AbdulRaheem, who are Deans of Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine, Social Sciences, Life Sciences and Law, respectively, appreciated the Vice Chancellor of the University for his support.
They thanked the Vice Chancellor for leading members of the University management to celebrate the women folks, pointing out that they are assured that the female members of the University community would continue to work and act in a way that the University would always have reasons to celebrate them.
The special interview session was graced by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olubunmi Abayomi Omotesho; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Suleiman Funsho Ambali; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research, Technology and Innovation), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla and the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr Kunle Akogun, among others.