The University of Ibadan branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the incoming 14th Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Peter Olapegba, to prioritise staff welfare and sustain cordial relations with the university community.

The union made the call at the valedictory ceremony organised in honour of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, at the university’s Trenchard Hall.

The ASUU branch chairman, Dr Adefemi Afolabi, represented by the vice-chairman, Dr Tayo Ajibade, luaded Adebowale for his friendly disposition towards staff welfare during his tenure.

The union urged Olapegba to build on the outgoing vice-chancellor’s record by maintaining constructive engagement with staff unions and addressing issues affecting employees’ welfare.

Adebowale, who described the institution he was handing over as “strong but not perfect”, said more work was needed to position the university as a world-class institution.

He identified funding and infrastructure as critical areas requiring sustained attention, adding that the university needed adequate support to strengthen its academic and research capacity.

Reflecting on his tenure, he said leadership required consultation, integrity and respect for due process.

“Leadership is a burden. Every decision carries the weight of lives and destinies. I have led by listening to the community and through consultations. I have insisted on due process, defended autonomy, and governed with integrity,” he said.

He added that the university had continued to attract outstanding students and scholars, while strengthening partnerships with government agencies to ensure that its research addressed the country’s needs.

The valedictory ceremony, themed “Celebrating Leadership, Legacy and Service,” was chaired by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr Olumuyiwa Enitan Caleb.

Caleb praised Adebowale for preserving the university’s heritage and strengthening its institutional capacity, noting that his leadership had helped build a more resilient and responsive institution.

He also said the Federal Government’s ongoing civil service reforms, aimed at improving efficiency, productivity, integrity and citizen-centred service delivery, would benefit the university system.