Give my allowances as Pro-Chancellor to students, Bisi Akande tells UI 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, University of Ibadan, Chief Bisi Akande, has asked the university to use his allowances to take care of the education needs of deserving students who are studying either Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology at the university.

The gesture was conveyed to the university through a letter written to the Registrar, Mr. Ganiyu Saliu. The Guardian sighted the letter dated August 21, 2024, on Friday.

Akande noted that his working for the university was not meant for personal gains but more of service to humanity.

The former Osun governor said: “I consider my appointment as the Pro-Chancellor and as the Chairman of Council for the University of Ibadan as a national call to service from which I do not intend to earn any remuneration.

“However, if the position is entitled to any allowances, for example for attending meetings of the Governing Council and its committees in accordance with the prior approvals of the Federal Government of Nigeria, you will be kind enough to assist me to apply any payments which may be due to me from such allowances solely for the benefits of some deserving undergraduate students of this university who are offering Science courses, namely in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology only.

“I expect the benefit to be in form of a kind of endowment for something like annual scholarships or any other form of awards so as to cover the cost of accommodation and other officially approved fees charged by the university for such deserving science students.”

Akande disclosed that a foundation has been set up to ensure the continuity of the programme.

“I suggest that the Dean of Student Affairs office or any such university academic officer shall be involved in coordinating the selection of such eligible science students.

“In the possible event that any such anticipated allowances to me from this university’s appointment become terminated by whatever circumstances, to prevent any student beneficiaries of this endowment arrangement from becoming stranded, there is an already incorporated Adebisi Akande Foundation for similar purposes which would augment any shortfall arising from any such commitments incurred from the awards.”

“This memo is being copied to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the said Adebisi Akande Foundation to enable him to liaise with you for an efficient and smooth implementation of this directive,” Akande added.