Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Prof Wahab Egbewole, has attributed the non-disruption in the school’s academic calendar throughout the Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Education Institutions (NASU)/Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) strike to the responsible and considerate labour groups in the school.
Speaking at the iftar (breaking of fast) organised for journalists, at the weekend, Egbewole said he had always prided himself of having responsible, reliable and considerate union leaders in the school. “With them, the school has remained easier for me to lead,” he added.
Commending the two unions in their roles during the prolonged NASU and SSANU strikes, Egbewole said: “As regards the NASU and SSANU strikes, I have said it over and again that our unions in UNILORIN are responsible unionists. Our primary concern is our students and that is why it was possible for us to have our examination without any hiccup.”
Commending the unions and the general staff for their responsible behaviour, he said: “They obeyed, and I want to say with all sense of responsibility that the unions obey their leaders at the national level and went on strike but because of our understanding in the university, the union that were not on strike assisted in creating a seamless process.”
“I am pleased to tell you that UNILORIN is the most outstanding university in Nigeria today.”
The VC, however, reiterated the commitment of the school management to create an enabling environment for the university to achieve its SMART agenda.
“We created an enabling environment for our students to learn, for our staff to ply their trade and for the university to achieve its SMART agenda,” he said.
Recalling that during his inauguration and assumption of office, he initiated strong belief in the human capital interest of UNILORIN, he enthused: “Together, we can take the university to the topmost league in Africa, if we are SMART.
“The SMART university mantra entails that my administration, with your (journalists) support, will be purposefully geared towards achieving Sustainable development, Monumental achievements, Adaptive capacity, Rapid response to change and Team building.”
