Campus News

UNILORIN SSANU celebrates milestones, honours past leaders, members

By Mustafa Abubakar

The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ilorin Branch, Mr Naheem Olushola Falowo, has expressed gratitude to past leaders and members of the Union for their individual and collective contributions to the growth and development of the Association.

Addressing members at the 2025 SSANU Day celebration penultimate  Thursday (May 15, 2025) at the SSANU Secretariat Complex, Mr Falowo noted that this year’s celebration marked the first to be hosted at the new Secretariat. He also noted that the event was equally designed to celebrate distinguished members on the new milestones recorded in their careers. These included the Registrar, Federal University, Lokoja, Dr Rebecca Okojie; the Registrar, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara. Kogi State, Mrs Funke Hudson; the Registrar, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun State, Mr Kassim Kayode Babamale; the Registrar of the Kwara State University, Malete, Dr Wasila Kikelomo Salleh, and the Registrar, Federal College of Education, Ilawe-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Mrs Khadijah Wuraola Garba.

Others were Engr Tunde Saheed, the Director of Works & Physical Planning Unit, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun; Osun State; Mr Abdulrasheed Atanda Ahmed, the Bursar, Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru; the  Bursar, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Mr AbdulGaniyu Olaniyan and the Ag. Registrar of the newly-licenced Abdulrasaq Abubakar Toyin University, Ganmon, Ilorin, Mr Emmanuel Dada Obafemi.

He also commended the contributions of interim leaders including Mr Kayode, Wasilat Olabimpe Ojulari, and Olumayowa Oyedepo, describing them as “our heroes and legends.”

Mr Falowo lauded the support of Congress members, executive council members, committee chairpersons, and staff for their roles in steering the union’s affairs.

“Our accomplishments would have been impossible without your prayers, advice, and constructive criticisms,” he said.

Speaking on the history of SSANU Day, Mr Falowo recalled that the annual celebration dated back to the tenure of Mr  Alfanla, the current Registrar of the University.

He, however, noted that it was halted in 2020 due to the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

According to him, the disruption affected non-statutory deductions that often financed the celebration.

            “We resumed deductions in late 2023 and remain committed to clearing the backlog of 186 retirees as of December 2024,” he assured.

Mr Falowo, who also highlighted anomalies in union’s dues remitted by IPPIS to other unions, urged affected members to update their records at the secretariat.

On the 2025 SSANU Day, the Chairman commended the Welfare Committee for organising the celebration within the constraints of current economic realities.

“Though modest, all financial members will benefit from what we have provided,” he said.

Highlighting his administration’s achievements, Mr Falowo outlined the completion and furnishing of the SSANU Secretariat Complex and the establishment of a crèche with modern amenities to assist staff who are nursing mothers as well as regular payment of the employment of the secretariat staff.

He equally cited the hosting of the 72nd Zonal Executive Committee Meeting, the facilitation of payment of hazard and responsibility allowances for staff and the resolution of long-standing issues such as the University school teachers and partial restoration of four months’ withheld salaries, among several others.

The Chairman also announced that the Union had succeeded in reviewing the career structure to enable members attain Level 15, with the Council approval pending.

He emphasised that there are                                                                                              ongoing engagements with the University management on welfare issues, including the release of 2021 earned allowances.

Mr Falowo congratulated several members of the Association who secured one  appointment or the other in institutions of higher learning across Nigeria.

While reaffirming his commitment to the services of the Union, Mr Falowo,who thanked all members for their support, noted that the University of Ilorin continues to “export excellence” through its members as he prayed for the repose of the souls of deceased members.

The event also witnessed the distribution of welfare package to members, presentation of certificates  to deserving committee members, and special recognition of members appointed into higher positions.