Campus News

Egbewole tasks postgraduate students on ethical, transformational leadership

Isaac Lewu

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, has charged postgraduate students of the University to lead a new era of ethical and resilient leadership in Nigeria.

Prof. Egbewole said this while speaking during the opening ceremony of this year’s edition of the institution’s Postgraduate Students Association (POGSASS) Week held last Thursday, (July 3, 2025) at the University Auditorium.

The Vice Chancellor, who commended the  leadership of the Association for its positive roles, said  that ethical leadership is more important than mere holding of power as he said that leadership must go beyond ambition.

 He charged members of the Association to cultivate integrity and values that truly serve the public good. He also called for a shift in mindset,  stressing that followers play a crucial role in shaping the quality of leadership in the society.

In his address, the Dean of the Postgraduate School, University of Ilorin, Prof. Bamidele Victor Owoyele, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to cultivating ethical and resilient leaders fit for national transformation.

He stressed that the situations at the moment called for such leadership more than ever before, urging postgraduate students to embrace their roles as future academic and institutional leaders.

Prof. Owoyele also provided updates on key academic and administrative strides recorded under his watch. He noted that the Postgraduate School had successfully resolved issues relating to ID card generation, email allocation, and registration, stating that only students with matriculation numbers could now be processed for official identification.

 He emphasised the importance of using University-provided email addresses for communication and reiterated the new policy requiring Ph.D. students to publish at least two articles before graduation.

These initiatives, he said, were designed to enhance the integrity and academic excellence of UNILORIN’s postgraduate programmes.

The Dean also celebrated the institution’s rising national profile, revealing that the University of Ilorin was recently named among 18 federal universities selected to train academic staff nationwide.

 He praised the efforts of students and past leaders for collectively positioning the University as a leading citadel of learning.

 Highlighting improvements recorded in result processing timelines and increased postgraduate enrolment, Prof. Owoyele urged students to act as ambassadors of the school’s values, expressing optimism that through continued collaboration the dreams of both the institution and its scholars would be fully realised.

In his presentation, the keynote speaker, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Religions, University of Ilorin, Dr Olusola Olayemi challenged Nigerian youths, particularly postgraduate students, to rise above mediocrity by embodying ethical values and resilience in their leadership pursuits.

He described leadership as a sacred responsibility that must be anchored on integrity, empathy, and moral courage.

Dr Olayemi, whose paper was entitled “Cultivating Resilient and Ethical Leaders,” pointed out the relevance of moral consciousness in public service and institutional development as he said that “Leadership without a rooted ethical compass is nothing but a ticking time bomb.”

Drawing references from religious, cultural, and historical perspectives, Dr Olayemi  urged upcoming leaders to cultivate inner discipline, emotional intelligence, and a strong sense of purpose.

Also speaking, the Chairman, of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, Mr Sulyman Muhammed Hassan Kosemani, said that Nigeria  is in dire need of principled and forward-thinking leaders as he noted that such leaders are essential for national rebirth.

The highlight of the event was the conferment of the award of excellence on a prominent legal practitioner, Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN; a renowned financial technocrat, Dr  A. W. A. Ibrahim; and the Personal Assistant to the Emir of Ilorin, Dr  Muritala Raheem.

The event was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare- Odunola, and a Deputy Registrar, who is also the Secretary to the Postgraduate School, Mr Suleiman Dagbo, among others.