By Adebayo Olodan
Academic and non-academic staff of the University of Ilorin have been urged to provide their unalloyed support to the Vice Chancellor designate, Prof. Sulyman Age Abdulkareem in order to consolidate on the achievements of his predecessors.
The Convener of Oro Professional Forum, Ademola Rahman, gave this advice in a statement signed by him and the President of the forum, Bode Tomori and made available to National Pilot at the weekend.
According to them, Age, who is a professor of Chemical Engineering, is a man of proven track record that has never been found wanting in the various positions he has held within and outside the institution.
“Let me first express the appreciation of the entire members of Oro Professional Forum and Oro community at large to the Governing Council of the University of Ilorin led by the Pro-Chancellor, Abdullahi Oyekan for their thorough job in the selection process which led to the emergence of Prof Sulyman Age Abdulkareem.
“We also appreciate the entire university community for their support and those that vied for the position of the Vice Chancellor with Prof Age. We wish to state here that there is no loser in the contest and this is the time for everyone, both academic and non-academic staff to close ranks and join hands with the new VC to move Unilorin, which is the most preferred university in the country to greater height,”
The group also applauded the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali for his tremendous achievements, adding that he has set a template for his successor to build on.
“Prof Age has prepared himself for the job judging by his impressive record as the Vice Chancellor of the Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and we have no doubt he will excel in the new task he has been entrusted with but not without the support of the entire staff of Unilorin,” the statement read.
In a related development, the Oloro of Oro in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Abdulrafiu Ajiboye Oyelaran, has described the appointment of Prof. Age as highly commendable.
According to the monarch, the appointment of Age was a clear testimony of the unprecedented socio-economic development in the community.
He said that the people of the community in showing their appreciation had held an inter-religious prayer in seeking for a successful tenure of office for the new vice-chancellor.
Ajioye enjoined the people of the community to extend their support and cooperation to Abdulkareem in the heinous task ahead.
Age, 63 and a University of Detroit graduate and former Dean of Students Affairs of Unilorin was last Monday named the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and will take over from the incumbent VC, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali, who is expected to bow out of office on October 15, 2017.
