IWD: Omojasola, Babamale, Suleiman hail Egbewole’s support for women’s development
By Abubakar Imam
As the global community marked this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) penultimate Sunday (March 8, 2026), the Director, Centre for Gender Studies, University of Ilorin, Prof. Patricia F. Omojasola, and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Industrial Chemistry, Dr Haleemat Funmilayo Babamale, as well as the Principal Counselor at the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL), Mrs Kudirat Suleiman, have commended the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, for always encouraging female members of the University community to offer more qualitative services to the University and the larger society.
Prof. Omojasola stated this last Wednesday (March 11, 2026) while speaking with UNILORIN Bulletin on the celebration.
While she noted the increasing qualitative and quantitative contributions of the UNILORIN women, the Director said that it is encouraging that under the leadership of Prof. Egbewole there has been a supportive atmosphere that recognises and values these contributions.
She added that one notable milestone of the Egbewole Administration is the establishment of the Centre for Gender Studies, which has continued to serve as a platform for scholarship, dialogue, and initiatives that promote gender awareness and encourage a culture of respect, fairness, and opportunity for all within our University community.
Speaking on the celebration, Prof. Omojasola said, “Each year, the International Women’s Day offers us a valuable moment to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women globally, while reflecting on the progress we continue to make towards a more inclusive and equitable community.
She added, “As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate the dedication, resilience, and achievements of women across our campus. We also reaffirm our shared commitment to nurturing an environment where everyone; women and men alike, can contribute their best to the advancement of our University.’’
On her part, Dr Haleemat Funmilayo Babamale, who teaches at the Department of Industrial Chemistry, also praised the Vice Chancellor for encouraging female staff members of the University to be the best they can.
Dr Babamale noted that under the watch of the renowned Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, the University of Ilorin has produced two female Vice Chancellors.
She recalled that it was in the course of his tenure that the University produced the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University of Education, Prof. Medinat Folorunso Salman and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology, Gambia, Prof. Sirajudeen-Bakinde with several others such as the Commissioner for Health in Kwara State, Dr Aminat El-Imam, among several others.
While encouraging female students of the University to emulate the sterling qualities of the two Vice Chancellors and the Commissioner, among others, Dr Babamale encouraged women within and outside the University to continue to pursue excellence in their careers for them to achieve their aspirations.
Also speaking, Mrs Kudirat Suleiman said that the administration of Prof. Egbewole has done quite well for women in the services of the University.
While Mrs Suleiman pointed out that many female staff members of the University have attained the pinacle of their career under the current management, she noted that women are gaining more visibility in the leadership of the University as they are also doing very well to justify their recognition and elevation. She cited the appointment of the Head of the Department of Chemistry, Prof. Modinah A. O. Abdul-Raheem, as Director of the CODL as one of such fascinating cases.
Mrs Suleiman, who hoped that more women would be tasked with leadership responsibilities, expressed conviction that UNILORIN women would continue to make the University proud by remaining hardworking and exemplary.
