OAU Students React To Emergence Of New VC

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife has reacted to the emergence of Professor Ayobami Taofeek Salami as the new Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Some of the students who spoke with us expressed diverse opinions concerning the new Vice-Chancellor. Some of them described the appointment of Prof. Ayobami Taofeek as a welcome development while some noted otherwise.

One of the students who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said: ”The students are interested in having a stable academic calendar. The new VC must ensure that the calendar is ‘hitch-free’, students must graduate at the stipulated time. In this way, the institution will continue to attract more students.”

But, with the controversy surrounding the new Vice-Chancellor, coming from the Non-Academic Staff Union of the Universities (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

The students noted that the crises will definitely affect them. ”Already the ongoing orientation courses for the university’s fresh students who just resumed two weeks ago was disrupted on Tuesday.

“If care is not taken, the crises will soon result to strike action and the students will suffer at the end.”

They, however, urged all the NASU, SSANU, and others to settle amicably so as not to disrupt the academic calendar.

It will be recalled that the Governing Council of the institution approved the appointment of Prof. Ayobami as the new VC of the institution. He succeeds Professor Bamitale Omole whose tenure ends on June 23, 2016.

The Council took the decision at its meeting on Monday after a long deliberation but the non-teaching staff of the university, including Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), kicked against the procedure for the selection.