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VC urges student leaders to sustain unbroken academic calendar

By Eno-Abasi Sunday
23 April 2015   |   12:09 am
The Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has charged the institution’s newly elected students’ union leaders to maintain and sustain the five-year unbroken and peaceful academic calendar in the University.

vcThe Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun, has charged the institution’s newly elected students’ union leaders to maintain and sustain the five-year unbroken and peaceful academic calendar in the University.

Prof. Ajibefun gave the counsel at the opening ceremony of a three-day annual leadership retreat titled, “Leadership and Good Governance,” organised by the university for the student leaders at the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Ondo State.

He said, “Creating and sustaining an unbroken academic calendar is one of the unique selling points that AAUA students have bequeathed to their alma mater. As AAUA student leaders, you have a responsibility to continue to guard this initiative jealously and hand it over to your successors.

“The deliberate initiative explains the reason we make waves as a public institution that not only has unbroken and peaceful calendar in the last five years, but also always graduates its students in record time. While we are happy that you all benefit from it as students, we are happier that we are producing responsible leaders as our own contribution to national development.”

The vice chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Prof. (Mrs.) Oluyemisi Adebowale, also urged the students to always dialogue with the school’s management in all situations, have respect for superior argument, respect constituted authorities, exercise financial prudence and fairness.

He added, “As leaders, you must recognise that you hold your offices in trust. The over 14, 000 students of this university have surrendered their rights to you to take decisions and act on their behalf. Therefore, there is the need for you to inject the kernels of responsibility, selflessness, responsiveness, transparency, honesty, equity and fairness.

“You must compose and comport yourselves in a manner that will improve on the character traits that qualified you for election. You must always endeavor to keep your integrity and name intact. As Adekunle Ajasin University student leaders, you must realise that the university has not only made a name, but has also set a standard in responsible student unionism in the nation that you cannot fall below.”

The vice chacellor noted that the annual retreat was to integrate the newly elected student leaders into executive, legislative and judicial procedures in order to ensure their effective performance.

He said the successes student unionism has recorded in AAUA in the last six years have made the loud statement that “we are on the right course.”

Prof. Ajibefun paid tribute to the immediate past helmsman of the institution, Prof. Femi Mimiko, whom he described as “the architect of responsible student unionism in AAUA” for bringing his leadership acumen to bear on responsible student unionism and university governance.

While thanking the past dean of Student Affairs Division, Dr. Olujide Ajidahun, for leading the students in the right direction, he appreciated members of staff in the division under the incumbent acting dean, Dr. Bolanle Ogungbamila, for organising the befitting retreat.

Meanwhile, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) recently commended the directorate of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) of the institution for being the most vibrant in the Ondo/Ekiti jurisdiction.

The fund also extolled the university’s management for sustaining the cordial relationship between it (ITF) and the school.

The Ondo/Ekiti Area Manager of ITF, Mr. Jacob Olaniyan, gave the commendation when he led a five-man delegation of ITF on a courtesy call on the vice chancellor of the school in his office.

Mr. Olaniyan said, “We have a robust relationship and synergy with the directorate of your SIWES unit under the leadership of Dr. Francis Gbore. Honestly, you have the most vibrant SIWES directorate in our jurisdiction.

“We want to thank you and the management team of this great university for your support and cordial relationship with our organisation. We also want to thank you for the enormous support and attention that you are giving to your SIWES unit.”

The ITF boss said the essence of the visit was to felicitate with Prof. Ajibefun on his appointment as new VC of AAUA.

Mr. Olaniyan, who noted that ITF had a good working relationship with Prof. Ajibefun while he was rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, expressed confidence that his wealth of experience would be brought to bear in the university.

Prof. Ajibefun thanked the visitors for their interest not only in AAUA, but also all the institutions in the State.

He lauded the collaboration between AAUA and ITF in training of staff and students of the university.

The vice chancellor said, “I want to assure you that, as a university, we will continue to collaborate with you, especially in the area of capacity building not only for our staff, but also our students. We will also look at other areas that we can collaborate with ITF.”

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